What is particularly germaine in the book is Buddy's revelations of the Foster family, a high strung, tumultuous family if there ever was one. Speaking first hand, we have his account of the wars between the ambitious mother of the Foster brood, Brandy, and their USAF officer father Lucius. They divorced while Brandy was pregnant with Jodie, but they had several break-and-smash reunions afterward.

Buddy's respect for his sister particularly shines in the analysis he gives her movies, notably her directorial efforts "Little Man Tate" and "Home for the Holidays." He comes out understanding the latter film better than most of the critics did.

While reading this, I could feel the disapproving eyes of Ms. Foster over my shoulder, and I'm sure Buddy is to this day subject to his sister's shunning. I'm sure, as well, that the onetime Mayberry actor wrote the book for some needed money. (Buddy fesses up well to his own professional and personal failings.) But the resultant book is by no means a tabloid effort, and due to it I have come to a better appreciation of this unique lady and talent his sister is.