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Oh the Hell of It All: A Memoir | 
 enlarge | Author: Pat Montandon
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $3.70
You Save: $22.25 (86%)
New (20) Used (21) Collectible (2) from $1.74
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 189737
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.7
ISBN: 0061146064
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.92092
EAN: 9780061146060
ASIN: 0061146064
Publication Date: April 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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 elite, and was immortalized as a character in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. Then everything fell apart. Wilsey divorced her and Sean abandoned her, both opting instead for the affections of Montandon's once-close friend, Dede Traina. Penniless and contemplating suicide, Pat needed to reinvent herself . . . again. Casting her old life aside, she became a humanitarian for peace, a voice speaking out for the world's helpless children. The preacher's daughter, celebrity, and socialite had a new mission: to spread a message of hope in times of crisis. A sumptuous feast of a memoir, Whispers from God is the tale of a poor-girl-turned-rich-turned-poor-again who has found peace through her devotion to something far greater than wealth and fame.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 A life of importance October 12, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'd admired Ms. Montandon for decades and finally had the opportunity to meet her at a booksigning. What a treasure.
 There's quite a spirited debate going on here... July 7, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
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.
From someone who doesn't read books often, Oh the Hell of It All is great. May 15, 2007
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
I fell in love with Sean Wilsey's "Oh the Glory of It All" so when I saw that his mother wrote her own memoir I knew I had to read it. Going into the book I thought I might be bored reading about all the peace trips she took but to my surprise Pat Montandon was able to ditch the boring stuff and keep the book moving at a fast pace. I recommend that you read Sean Wilsey's memoir first and if you enjoy it move on to Pat Montandon's.
 Waste of time! April 26, 2007
7 out of 24 found this review helpful
This is a tiring story about a woman whos husband left her for a younger better looking woman. She has been collecting alimony for thirty years now and is still complaining about it like she was the only woman in the World to lose a husband. The half of the book that doesn't carp on her failed marriage(s) talks about her draggging a group of children around the World in an attempt to get World leaders to meet with her. The sad thing is that this synopsis makes the book seem more interesting than it is.
What might have been interesting would be some contrition, insights, or growth. Instead this is a stale and bitter tale- the millionth story about a poor little rich girl which is hard to identify with or feel sorry for.
A fascinating read April 25, 2007
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
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.
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