Oh the Hell of It All: A Memoir

By Pat Montandon

Book Overview

The glamorous Pat Montandon lived a seemingly perfect life, complete with multimillionaire husband Al Wilsey, loving son Sean, and a penthouse overlooking San Francisco Bay. She socialized with the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061146064
• ISBN13: 9780061146060
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 353 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

I swallowed the book!

I start reading the book with the dictionary near and...I swallowed the book or book swallowed me(it's impossible to say now!)I didn't stop even to clear unknown words as I'm Not English well speaking girl(excuse me,woman).

Larger than life and then some!

I've been a fan of Ms. Montandon's writing since 1975 when her non-fiction thriller "The Intruders" was published. Fast forward 33 years via "Whispers from God..." and the reader recounts her extraordinary journey incorporating the highest of highs (literally, by residing in a celebrated, sky-high San Francisco penthouse) to the lowest of lows: a former best friend secretly orchestrating the seduction of Pat's rich husband, "dairy & eggs man" Al Wilsey. Good over evil prevails when Pat, whose parents were Oaklahoma preachers, channels determination, indomitable spirit, and at times, sheer force, into becomming a recognized peace-maker commencing in the early 1980s. Received by world leaders from Mother Teresa to former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, Pat quickly engages the reader in her exploits as she decends upon country after country, charming her way into the hearts and minds of those in power. Meeting Pope John Paul II was inspirational; coordinating an intercepted food drop by outwitting the Russian mafia was a page-turner; and learning how she illegally unrolled the "Banner of Hope" along the Great Wall of China was fascinating. I read "Whispers..." in a weekend; the story does confirm than one person truly can make a difference.

There's quite a spirited debate going on here...

between the reviewers of this book. And, it all seems to pertain to the character of Dede Wilsey, castigated in both Pat and Sean's books. I picked up Pat's book last week in Powell's in Portland. I had had no idea Sean's Mother had written her story, but was very pleased with both her writing and her candor. I was particularly taken with her reaction to Sean's book. When I read his book a few years ago, I thought he was brutal about his father and his step-mother (the saint/devil Dede), but was quite loving about his mother, Pat. He did write about her failings as a parent (quite understandable when going through such a vicious divorce) but I also saw the love and admiration he held for her, even when he was going through the rough patch in his childhood and adolescence. Pat evidently was quite hurt by his portrayal of her, but she really needn't have been. And, looking at the pictures, I'd say she looks fabulous for almost 80 years old! I'd love to know who did her face-work.

A fascinating read

From her very humble beginings as a preachers daughter in Oklahoma to the prejudice she faced as an "Okie" in California to her stint as San Francisco's "Golden Girl" and eventually as a world peace advocate and finally (now) as a loved mother and grandmother, I enjoyed getting a chance to peak into this womans remarkable life. While she could have dwelt on the negative times - and she had some doozies -she talks about them, but moves on.... What most struck me was her refusal to be beaten down by people or experiences. I finished the book wanting to know more about her. Apparently she had to edit her original book down from 1000+ pages to a little over 300. I hope her publisher comes out with a sequel.

Now the story makes sense

I read Sean Wilsey's book and was dumbstruck at how all the adults around him put themselves first, his narcissistic father, his pathological step mother and his broken mother. Reading his mother's story rounds the whole tale out. Beaten on by local writers, abandoned by her grubbing social climbing friend, Dede Traina Wilsey and her philandering husband, Al Wilsey, (who was unfaithful to Dede until his death), Ms. Montandon didn't break. She nearly broke, but she didn't. Instead, she listened to her inner wisdom and stepped out of herself, reaching out to give a voice to all the fears on the planet about nuclear obliteration. Across nations, she found children AND adults who were brave enough to speak out for peace. We need her now, its time to get the voices of the people connected again. Her life work is astounding and this is a great, simple to read, well edited book, it unfolds her story and the story of a global peace movement. She was able to bring peace to herself and her son, just not to the self centered, shallow ex-husband and his harpy, money hungry and jewel hungry wife Dede.