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Yes, I read ‘that’ book, Mary Anne’s book. This is not a review of the book, of it’s literary merits or historical value. It’s how the book made me feel and my feelings about the book. This book actually made me somewhat uneasy, the feeling you get when you are in the presence of knowledge that was supposed to and should have have stayed private. It’s not earth shattering revelations, but it touches upon something that is fast eroding in our society and that is privacy.

This book was touted as a loving tribute to a great star by a former personal assisstant and friend. And ,yes, there is mention how nice and kind Doris Day is , but then, in the next breath, details that are very private are revealed. It didn’t feel like a loving tribute, but a blatant invasion of Ms. Day’s privacy.
Health workers, lawyers and other professionals  are guided by their code of ethics when dealing with patients or  clients, and if they breech these laws they are liable to be sanctioned. Just recently when George Clooney sustained injuries from his motorcycle accident ,several health professionals were suspended for a month for reading his chart. In reality, they invaded his privacy and broke their professional code of ethics.
Priests are expected to keep the revelations in the confessional a secret and private secretaries are also expected to keep their employer’s secrets. The word secret is firmly embedded in the word secretary.

Friends ,also, have the responsibility not to reveal the secrets they have been entrusted with , and , when your friend is a world beloved star, guarding her privacy is even more essential.

A person’s home is their sanctuary from the pressures of life. It’s a place where we should have reasonable expectations of privacy. In essence, it’s a place  where we can be ourselves, with all the ups and downs that entails. Doris Day, despite being famous, also has the right to her sanctuary, to her private sphere. This is the only place she can truly be herself. But, ironically the most private of stars lost her privacy in her own home. In writing some of the details in her book, Ms Barothy betrayed a trust that was placed upon her.
Do I recommend the book? No.
End of sermon.