Born with Teeth

by Kate Mulgrew

Raised by unconventional Irish Catholics who knew "how to drink, how to dance, how to talk, and how to stir up the devil," Kate Mulgrew grew up with poetry and drama in her bones. But in her mother, a would-be artist burdened by the endless arrival of new babies, young Kate saw the consequences of a dream deferred. Determined to pursue her own no matter the cost, at 18 she left her small Midwestern town for New York, where, studying with the legendary Stella Adler, she learned the lesson that would define her as an actress: "Use it," Adler told her. Whatever disappointment, pain, or anger life throws in your path, channel it into the work.

It was a lesson she would need. At twenty-two, just as her career was taking off, she became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter. Having already signed the adoption papers, she was allowed only a fleeting glimpse of her child. As her star continued to rise, her life became increasingly demanding and fulfilling, a whirlwind of passionate love affairs, life-saving friendships, and bone-crunching work. Through it all, Mulgrew remained haunted by the loss of her daughter, until, two decades later, she found the courage to face the past and step into the most challenging role of her life, both on and off screen.

We know Kate Mulgrew for the strong women she's played--Captain Janeway on Star Trek; the tough-as-nails "Red" on Orange is the New Black. Now, we meet the most inspiring and memorable character of all: herself. By turns irreverent and soulful, laugh-out-loud funny and heart-piercingly sad, BORN WITH TEETH is the breathtaking memoir of a woman who dares to live life to the fullest, on her own terms.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Star Trek

302 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2015

About the author

Kate Mulgrew is an American actress noted for her roles as Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, Mary Ryan on Ryan's Hope, and, most recently, Galina "Red" Reznikov on Orange Is the New Black. She has performed in numerous television shows, theater productions, and movies. She is the winner of a Golden Satellite Award, a Saturn Award, and an Obie Award and has been nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy.

Reviews

[Book Riot Community]

I listened to this in audio almost entirely so that I could hear Kate Mulgrew say “born with teeth” through her teeth. Listener, it was worth it. I loved watching Mulgrew as Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager because of her strong, commanding presence, the way she was in charge of that whole star ship, the way she’d say “we’re just trying to get home.” (I really like her voice, okay?) People always praise Amy Poehler and Tina Fey for their no-holds-barred attitudes in their memoirs, but theirs are nothing compared to Mulgrew. Mulgrew never says she’s lucky, never thanks anyone for their help, never says that she is blessed: she had talent, she worked, and she was successful. End of story. I’ve never read a memoir by a woman that was less apologetic. It was fascinating and refreshing and almost off-putting to read about a woman who was 100% ego. I kept checking to make sure I wasn’t accidentally listening to Kate Mulgrew Reads Hemingway’s Autobiography or something. Mulgrew is a better writer than I expected–there are some lovely sentences–and she tells some great stories about her big Irish family, New York theater, and the Kennedys, but the real reason to read this is to hear Kate Mulgrew talk about her hero, Kate Mulgrew. — Jesse Doogan



from The Best Books We Read In May: http://bookriot.com/2015/06/02/riot-r...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Mulgrew

Inspired to become an actress in grade school, Kate Mulgrew strove to fulfill that goal and - by dint of ambition, talent, hard work, and good luck - succeeded. Kate grew up in a large Irish family with somewhat eccentric parents - an artistic mom and a free-spirited dad - who drank hard, partied hard, and had child after child. Though there was apparently much love in the family, there was never enough food or attention to the children. The tragic illness of a young sister made the situation even more difficult.


Yearning to get professional training as an actress, Kate left home at a young age to go to school and study her craft, and soon landed roles that kick-started her career. These early parts of the book are compelling and touching.



While pursuing her career Kate had a series of romantic entanglements. It seems that Kate was prone to falling in love, and when a man attracted her she made it her business to snag him - even if he was involved with another woman. In one case this led to an unexpected pregnancy and a daughter given up for adoption, an event which haunted Kate for decades.

Kate also married and had two sons whom she apparently loved, but neglected for her career.







The marriage soured and came to a difficult end and Kate was soon after another man. Kate’s inevitable breakups were as dramatic as the beginnings of her relationships, and led to much heartache. Kate describes all her romances in some detail and I felt they took up too much of the book.


Kate Mulgrew with her first husband Robert Egan


Kate Mulgrew with her second husband Tim Hagan

Intermingled with the romances, however, were touching/amusing scenes in which Kate interacted with friends and family or hobnobbed with fellow actors. She talks about getting the role of Captain Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager and narrates a compelling tale about a trip she took with her mother prior to her mom's serious illness. These sections were interesting and it would have been great to read more of them.


Kate Mulgrew as 'Captain Janeway' in 'Star Trek: Voyager'


Kate Mulgrew as 'Red' in 'Orange is the New Black'

All in all the book is just okay for me. I felt like some of the scenes didn’t ring true (perhaps too much author’s license) and that the story was too much about Kate’s love life and too little about her professional life. Still, the book is worth reading and gives some insight into the life of a talented and successful woman.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew is a 2015 Little Brown and Company publication.

Kate Mulgrew is one of my husband’s favorite actresses, not because of her theatre or stage accomplishments, but for what is perhaps her best known role- that of Captain Janeway, in the television show “Star Trek Voyager”.

From my personal standpoint, I remembered this actress from wwaayyy back in the day, when she had a key role on the soap opera “Ryan’s Hope” as ‘story’ my mother frequently tuned into. I also remembered the short lived series- “Mrs. Columbo”, but the truth is, I knew absolutely nothing about Kate’s personal life. I had no idea if she had ever married, had children, and knew nothing of her personal struggles, her background or any of her other acting roles. When I saw this book advertised on Goodreads, I was intrigued by the title, and so with genuine curiosity, I waited for quite a while for the book to become available at my library, but it was a worth it.


Sometimes I was genuinely puzzled by Kate’s attitude in certain situations, felt deeply for her as we saw her heart broken time and again, and felt her moods swing from happy,sad, tenacious, regretful, determined, and at last peaceful. I didn’t always agree with her choices, but enjoyed the way she opened herself up, letting people see her humanity, her triumphs and failures, her ups and downs, and how she manages face it all with aplomb, sticking to her personal convictions, without arrogance, or self-pity, flippancy or excuses. It is what it is, which is very interesting indeed.

The book is very well written for a first person perspective of one’s own life. It was told with honesty, and highlighted many key moments in the actress's personal life as well as her professional one. Her childhood was marred with some shocking developments and tragedy, her professional life was spent doing what she loved most, but her personal life was fraught with doomed romances, a huge decision that affected her life for decades, which is the tale that stands out more than any other in the book.

There were a few times when I wondered about a situation or a person she mentioned and felt as though something was missing from the story, and it does feel like some areas are glossed over, but overall, this one is very well organized, and is devoid of dry, self- serving promotions. Thank goodness!

For fans of the actress, you will not want to miss this memoir, and for those who are not as familiar with Kate, you will find her love of stage performing and other lesser known facts about her life to be quite fascinating. Kate has certainly lived a full life, lived it with gusto, and is still churning out ground breaking performances.

Overall this one gets 4 stars

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

“But the fact is,” I continued, “that despite their sadness, and despite my guilt, and despite Egan’s anger, I went ahead and did what I needed to do for myself. In the end, it’s selfish.”

“I think you’re wrong there. It feels selfish at the time, because the pain is excruciating, but there is no nobility in hanging on to something that is miserable and false. We have to fight for our happiness in life.”

I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it. I love Janeway (the captain from Star Trek: Voyager, who Kate Mulgrew played for seven years, for those of you who are somehow unaware), and I love Red (her character on Orange is the New Black). She always plays these super-in-charge, competent yet vulnerable women that I'm instantly drawn to. Turns out a lot of it has to do with Ms. Mulgrew herself, who is a take no prisoners, ballsy Irish broad who has no qualms about loving her profession, and taking pride in her work.

What I didn't expect was to find that not only is the book entertaining, it is absurdly well-written. Her writing is lyrical and moving, and it has a style all its own. She writes about her life, from birth until the year 2001, in a series of vignettes that manage to capture the things she cares about he most, the events in her life that have shaped her into herself. And it's all anchored by the imagery of that title, Born With Teeth, which is a reference to her having been born with a full set of neo-natal teeth. But it works nicely as a metaphor for the way she comes at life.

She takes us through her early family life, as one of eight children in a sprawling Irish Catholic family, the deaths of siblings, her burgeoning career, her most significant professional achievements, and her most personal sorrows. The blurb on the book makes a big deal of the daughter she gives away at the age of twenty-two, and then spends years mourning, regretting her decision. The births of her second two children, her marriages, her successes, all have that running undercurrent of loss. The blurb would have you believe giving up her daughter was the centerpiece of her life, but really it's just a single piece in a very large puzzle (even if it is a large piece that affects all the other pieces in some ways . . . this metaphor is falling apart).

She writes so eloquently about falling in love, being assaulted, loving her work, bad jobs, the special bond of female friendship, the end of a marriage and the birth of her children. Perhaps the only thing that began to grate after a while is that she does focus very much on her love life, and I kept wanting more professional stories (especially about Star Trek), and stories about her family (including her burgeoning relationship with her adopted daughter). But I feel like that's a personal reaction. This is her life story, and she writes about what makes her her, love being a very large part of that.

I highly recommend this book, especially in audio. She reads her own story with aplomb, and it ends up feeling very confessional, like an old friend is sitting down with you for coffee or drinks and unburdening her soul.

Here are some quoteses:

“They loved her because she was an independent spirit, unafraid to speak her mind, passionate, impetuous, and brave. Seldom lauded for her beauty, Mary Ryan had something else to offer, something women could grab ahold of and understand. She had a powerful sense of self, and this proved more magnetic and more relatable than any other single quality.”

“Actresses. What a bunch of sad saps we are, I thought. Madly in love with the child. Madly in love with the craft. Trying desperately to forge an alliance between the two, and constantly failing. If I were a man, I said to myself, none of this would be in question ... Picasso wasn’t in conflict, you can bet your bottom dollar on that. He said, Scram! I need to work, and his mistresses and their spawn ran for the hills. Dickens wasn’t in conflict. He had ten children and wrote as many novels in almost as many years, because it was both understood and appreciated that he was gifted, famous, and rich. The male artist has always been respected.”

“Grief moves through the system much as love does. It seeks expression. So I put my grief where it naturally belonged, in the company of an old and experienced wound. I gathered my feelings, shattered, scattered, and wild, and locked them in the same place where I kept my feelings about my daughter. The work did not let me down, and neither did the part. When Mulgrew suffered, Janeway picked her up. And when Janeway felt like giving up, Mulgrew slapped her into shape. I was put to good use in every way, and this saved me.”

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should be renamed "Kate falls in love a few times" because thats basically what the book is about. A couple of siblings dying, getting the role in Startrek and ending a marriage are all summarised in a few lines or a paragraph, but every new love gives us the word for word details of every single date and meeting at the start of all the relationships. The analysis of a single card received by a new lover took up more space than most of the childhood years.

I was hoping for a story of a strong woman living her dream in the tough acting industry but its not. Its the story of the romances of a self absorbed woman who sometimes seems to act.

[Jakalak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reading copy of Kate Mulgrew's memoir Born with Teeth for free through Goodreads First Reads and, in the spirit of that program, I am providing some honest feedback:

A moving and engrossing story. Kate Mulgrew has edited her life into a flowing narrative that reads more like a novel than a celebrity memoir. The prose is lovely, and I was pleased to find that I had to look up a word once or twice. I got the flavor of who Kate Mulgrew is and where she came from, and I liked that she didn't shy away from difficult topics. The personal photographs that accompany each chapter are also a nice touch. There are a few mentions of famous people she has worked with, but it doesn't devolve into the boring name-dropping that plagues some memoirs. The synopsis on the back describes Kate as a "born storyteller," and that seems like the best way to describe this rich narrative. My only real complaint was that the ending seemed a bit abrupt, and I wanted more. Highly recommended for anybody who likes learning how other people have experienced life and for anybody who wants to experience a celebrity memoir done well.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok, but not a must read. It felt like you were skimming over her life, and things didn't always make sense in the flow. Though if I was remembering things from a few decades back, my story might not be coherent either. For instance, her mother often jetted off to London, or the family to Ireland; but she had to work a couple jobs to raise money for school. Or things would be introduced, but then dropped. I felt like I only had half the story. She'd mention she worked with a certain actor, but then little if nothing about what it was like to work with them. Nothing one couldn't read in wiki or other online entry. It also ended rather abruptly. I would have liked a bit more depth, or a shorter story. The only parts that did have more depth were those involving her daughter. There, you felt like you were really getting the story. Recommended for her fans, but others probably wouldn't be that interested.

[Maggie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so hard with autobiographies to judge the quality of writing more than the story itself, or (more importantly) the narrator. So, for the quality of writing, I give it four stars. But I don't think Kate Mulgrew and I could ever hang out.

I will say I tore through this book in about five days of reading on the train, so it was definitely a page turner. A great beach read or something for a long plane ride.

[Jeffrey Caston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot. She's a remarkable person that has gone through success and horrors and seems like all kinds of stuff in between. I wish it had talked just a little bit about the time she was in the Remo Williams movie. But it was well done.

[Kathi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books where I wish Goodreads had a star rating between “It was okay” (2) and “I liked it” (3), because Born with Teeth falls into that imagined crevice for me. I wonder if I would have felt differently if I had read the book instead of listening to it, narrated by Kate Mulgrew. Her narration was wonderful; clearly she is not just an actress, but a stage actress. The writing was good, but I found myself increasingly rolling my eyes over what she considered “agony” and the word hyperbolic came to mind dozens of times as I read the book. Also, Mulgrew either has a near-photographic memory when it comes to conversations and actions that took place many years ago, or she was perfectly comfortable taking plenty of literary license.

Would I read this book again? No. Can I recommend it? Not really. But am I glad I read it? Yes. Kind of a mixed review, at best, but I didn’t want to simply put my 2-star rating without clarifying it for those who might want an explanation.

[Antigone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Mulgrew doesn't bother with preliminaries. She's not going to tell you what prompted the writing of this memoir or why she chose to do it now. To locate those answers you'll need to scour through recent interviews from the up-and-running publicity tour, where you'll find her crediting her current role in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black with providing the requisite literary impetus. Galina "Red" Reznikov, an overweight and profoundly haggard Russian inmate of the prison in which the series is set, required a hefty divestment of vanity from the actress, and an embrace of middle-aged vulnerability that allowed her access to the mettle she needed to accomplish this task.

She had been fearful of judgment, especially over her choice to give a child up for adoption - in part for the child's welfare, but also in order to continue her pursuit of an acting career. This helps to explain why an honest recounting of her life would not have seemed appealing during the Star Trek years, when the maternal Captain Kathryn Janeway was attempting to shepherd her rag-tag crew home from the Delta Quadrant. (Woe the cold Internet troll to snark: Hey Captain, I think you missed one.)

And now we have some context, along with the single criticism I possess of this memoir. For while it is ridiculously well-written - bold, lyrical, intense; she's got that Irish love for a tale, a lustful appreciation for words; how they dance, how they paint, how they work - and fully inhabited in terms of emotion (the pain, the joy, the arrogance, the confusion), there exists a definite absence of explanation that left me frequently at sea. To be fair, providing context is not a vital element in the skill set of an actor, so I imagine Ms. Mulgrew's lapse on this front emerges from her attempt to cross from one artistic medium to another (and no doubt why many such memoirs are produced with an assist). Yet even with this allowance, the elucidation is missed. Several of the dots on this journey, in lieu of being connected, are arbitrarily abandoned. Born with Teeth, on this score at least, is less a memoir than a vortex of recollection; a hurtle through a wormhole of barely-mediated reflections.

Approached from that angle, though? It virtually sings. Fierce, courageous, complex and entertaining. A fine first volume in what, according to the scuttlebutt, may prove to be a series.

[Marina Kravchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in February, I had a great opportunity to read an advanced reading copy of Kate Mulgrew's new memoir Born With Teeth. To say that I was impressed by it is to say nothing. I was completely floored. I admit that I had expected it to be well-written, having heard Ms. Mulgrew speak on multiple occasions at various events. And, being a fan, I could guess at some of the themes she would be certainly discussing in the book. What I did not anticipate was just how powerfully and beautifully her eloquence and intelligence translated into the written word. This is an excellent and worthy read even if you do not have emotional or intellectual attachment to her or to the characters she played.
Very aptly titled Born With Teeth is an intensely honest memoir written by an extraordinary and yet very human individual. Within its pages, Ms. Mulgrew provides an exceptionally personal glimpse into some the crucial events of her fascinating and complicated life. This book will fill you with admiration for her strength, passion and tremendous courage. Highly recommend it!

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain Janeway was a fascinating character to me. As a devoted Star Trek fan, the first female captain was a big deal. At first her voice bothered me, but I got used to it quickly, and from there I developed a real liking for the character, and I wanted to learn more about the person.

Kate Mulgrew wrote and narrated this autobiography herself. In some ways I learned a lot about her life, but in other ways, I felt she skimmed over some important events, about which I would have liked to have learned more-most especially her work with the rest of the cast on Star Trek: Voyager.

Ms. Mulgrew is a strong woman. She makes no apologies for her choices, and I respect that. She works hard and it seems she has a close-knit family. But in some ways, it seems like her life has been charmed. As of the end of the book, she still has both parents, (though it was mentioned at one point that her mother had an incident which sounded like the onset of dementia to me. I would have liked to have learned more about her feelings regarding that, as my own mother was diagnosed with dementia last year.) She was able to be reunited with the daughter she gave up for adoption. (Did she regret giving her up? She never says so, exactly, though she did search for her for years.) There is another reunion at the end, which seems to put the final touch on it-she gets everything she wants.

Where she sort of lost me for a while was during her divorce, when she was relating how she hadn't worked for a while and that she was broke. She calls whomever, finds out she has only $10,000.00 left and decides to take her two boys to Ireland for the summer. Apparently, Ms. Mulgrew and I have VERY different ideas about what it means to be broke. (My idea of it involves no vacations or any sum over $10.00.)

Kate Mulgrew can write and write well. Combined with her narration, it made this autobiography a joy to listen to. Despite the rather abrupt ending, I recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating woman.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved listening to Kate Mulgrew tell her story in her own voice. Her life has been filled with drama, but given her family history which imbued her with strength, she has weathered events that many would have used as excuses for giving up. And she never has. That family, large and loving, has been a constant, and at a recent personal visit, she revealed she couldn't have written this book until after both of her parents had died. And she insisted on not using a euphemism. She said she was close to her parents, loved them deeply, but had to write honestly and in order to do so, had to wait until now to do so. And this book rings with authenticity. My only quibble is that it ends 13 years ago. A lot has happened that is in suspension until she writes another. And she will. She's promised.

[britt_brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Grief moves through the system much as love does. It seeks expression. So I put my grief where it naturally belonged, in the company of an old and experienced wound.”

I could listen to Mulgrew tell stories all day. Her voice is rough, yet soothing. Her writing is lovely. She’s had an intriguing life, but something throws me off a bit. The ego, maybe? Nonetheless, I liked this memoir.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Either Goodreads has been busy eating reviews or I just thought I posted a bunch when, in reality, I didn't. I could have sworn I had for this, though. But who knows. I'm old and senile and have no idea what's going on in my life anymore.
So here's a review, better late than never.

4 stars. Entertaining!

This totally sounds like a novel, not an autobiography, which may have something to do with Mulgrew reading her own book. Still, it reads like Cheaper by the Dozen mixed with "A Christmas Story", at least at the start. Delightful family life that I'm rather glad I didn't have.

Of course I know Mulgrew from her time as a Starship Captain but even back then, I recognized her from commercials and from some show on TV that I didn't watch but was on the cover of TV Guide from time to time. Now I love her as Red on "Orange is the New Black" and that was all I needed to want to read her biography. I learned a lot about her, such as the name of the show that was sometimes on TV Guide ("Ryan's Hope" - remember that?), how she got along with her family, what led her to a career in acting, and what happened to the daughter she had and gave up when she was young and not ready to be a mother. I loved hearing the Star Trek stories, though I never really followed Voyager, being ridiculously devoted to The Next Generation and believing nothing could compare so why even bother. Meh, that's what NetFlix is for, overcoming self-imposed obstacles leftover from youth.

Mulgrew is often wry, she's sharp, and she's fully aware of herself. She knows she's self-involved, she knows she's got some arrogance going on and she uses that to her advantage. However, she is also open and up-front and isn't afraid to show her vulnerabilities. I admired her before but after reading this, I admire her even more.

Side note: I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a parent look for you and then be excited to see you. If it ever happens to me, it’s going to be because he needs something. Like a kidney or money or a place to hid from the Feds. Mulgrew's story regarding her daughter was both confusing to me (see above) and touching.

Saddest sentence from inside this here book: A woman can count on one hand the number of times in her life when she actually feels beautiful. Ouch.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Kate Mulgrew's memoir Born With Teeth touches on some of the iconic roles that brought her to the public eye, the focus isn't on her career but instead on the personal choices that made her who she is. And while the Star Trek fan in me hopes that someday she'll revisit her time on Voyager in greater depth, I can't help but really like what Mulgrew shares here.

She's not afraid to be unconventional, witty and self-deprecating, many times within the same paragraph. As Mulgrew relates the story of her life and how that shaped her into the actress and person she's become, I couldn't help but be fascinated by it. Mulgrew is just as quick to point our her shortcomings and faults as she is her strengths. And this memoir is the stronger for it.

Hearing of her decision to give up her child to adoption early in her life and career and then impact that has on her made me think. Mulgrew's story is one of love and redemption and you can't help but begin to cheer for her as her life unfolds.

I feel like I understand a bit more of what Mulgrew brought to the role of Janeway and it makes me appreciate her work on Voyager a bit more. It also makes me appreciate her more as an actress and a person.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoy her as Red on OITNB, I've never been a big fan. However, I thought here is someone who would have had an interesting life/career. What's frustrating is that too much of the book focuses on the men in her life. The book reads like a trashy romance novel. She blows the auditions for Janeway the first time around because she's in loooove--with a guy who frankly treats her just short of contempt. For someone who was playing strong, independent woman at a time when that was rare, she seems like a throwback to the 50s in her focus on relationships over career.

She gave up a baby for adoption when 20 and finding this child is also a focus of the book--despite having 2 other children who see her about a few hours a day tops because of her career. We learn very little about these two. Her life is incomplete because of the first child, but the other two get very little mention.

If this were a movie script it would be of the quality of a Lifetime movie. She brings her scenery chewing acting style to the page. And don't get me started on the ending. It's abrupt and nonsensical. Chronology I think she ends the book in 1999 and there's nothing about the last 10-15 years of her life.

[Alesia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate's memoir is well written and tells the story of quite an interesting life. Having not known much about Kate's life and career, this made for a fun read, and I would hazard a guess that fans will then absolutely love this book. I always enjoy looking through the lens of another person's perspective, especially when they are so unlike yourself -- makes for a thought provoking read. This memoir is engaging and a very fast read. Pick up if you're a fan or you would like to live in a different world for a moment.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read the galley of this book, truly fabulous.
it can make you laugh and cry simultaneously, and keeps your attention through out. i never knew she was such a good writer, and and didn't know a lot of what she tells the reader of her childhood and personal life. she does a great job of keeping the flow of the book, not something lots of writers can do. Kate Mulgrew is a wonderful inspiration, actress, and writer.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Mulgrew's voice is lyrical and her words powerful. Her stories captivated and affected me; I was brought to tears on several occassions. I loved this memoir, and am glad I bought the audio version.

My only complaint is that it ends too soon. Where are her stories from the last 15 years? But I will not subtract a star for my disappointment. It ends well.

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've known Kate Mulgrew as the actress who plays Red (my favorite character!) on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black.  I had no idea until I read this memoir that she's had an amazing career in theater and previous success in television, including the lead role of first female captain in Star Trek: Voyager.

I've read glowing reviews of this memoir on my favorite bookish app, Litsy, and I'll admit the cover really drew me in.  It's a captivating photo of Mulgrew and one that made me feel like she had a secret to share.

And share she does in this beautifully written memoir!  From her childhood in a big Irish Catholic family, the loss of two sisters, training in New York under the legendary Stella Adler, to her successful career and passionate love affairs. 

Mulgrew has led a life of privilege from the beginning but she has obviously worked hard to get to her level of success as an actress.  I loved her willingness to share with readers all of the details, whether they placed her in a good light or not.

The most surprising thing I learned about Mulgrew was that she became unexpectedly pregnant as her career was taking off when she was just twenty-two.  She chose adoption and selected a family for her child through the Catholic Home Bureau.
After the birth, she received only the briefest glimpse of her daughter, which was not allowed.  Her decision haunted her for years, especially when she learned through a private investigator that her daughter was taken out of state and adopted by a different family than the one she had chosen.

Throwing herself into work, passionate love affairs, and jetsetting, Mulgrew eventually married, had two sons, and suffered through a painful divorce.  She willingly admits she often chose work over motherhood and the book makes evident her romantic life also interfered with motherhood at times, yet she makes no excuses for her choices and I appreciate that.

Eventually, Kate had the opportunity to meet her birth daughter and it was a beautiful and honest account that made me emotional.

Born with Teeth is a captivating memoir, well written and honest, by a woman who has lived her life without apology and has a fascinating story to share because of it.

For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned to love Kate Mulgrew as Captain Janeway. I had no inkling of any of the other work she had done before or since. Her life seems full of pivotal events and tumultuous relationships. But her writing is so evocative, at times whimsical and at others exciting or brutally honest, that I think she could make eating a cucumber sandwich sound exciting.

I find it astonishing that despite all the gossip-worthy events of her life, that the media were so reticent. Mulgrew says they were respectful back then (in the 70’s) and had integrity.

She narrates the audio version herself, which is also a huge dollop of icing on the cake, and there’s an interview conducted by Rosie O’Donnell at the end which is wonderful.

[Cheyenne Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some very lovely writing in this, mainly when she was falling in love with Tim Hagan, but I did a fair bit of scrolling to get past some of the rather dull (to me) actressy bits. Still a decent read.

[Jeff Koeppen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Born With Teeth is Kate Mulgrew's memoir covering her life from birth to around 1999, while in the midst of her stint as Captain Janeway on Star Trek : Voyager. The first page of each chapter has a black-and-white photo of Kate which relates to the chapter's content.

This book was a real page turner. She has many interesting stories to tell, varying wildly from the tragic and unspeakable to the joyful and jubilant. The prose flows easily, this feels like it was written by a trained actor who is a fan of poetry. There is no shortage of ten-dollar words. She approaches her life story in a straight-forward, no-nonsense manner and doesn't pull any punches.

What I didn't care for was hearing the details of the several relationships she's had. Unfortunately for Kate, they start out great and then end poorly and we hear how rotten the person actually was. I guess I just can't relate to the Hollywood dating and temporary marriage scene.

Overall, I would say that this was a good read, although I wish I would've bought it in audio and had Kate read it to me.

[Laurel-Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first daughter of Joan and Thomas Mulgrew came into the world with four tiny baby teeth, and while the parents were amazed and crowed over her beauty, the friends and neighbors in Dubuque, Iowa, worried that being so proud of her looks would bring nothing good.

Eventually, however, the tiny teeth were removed by the doctor, and the baby grew normally, developing a zest for solid food.

Thus began the life of Kate Mulgrew, who was followed by several more babies, until the family eventually moved to a larger house in the country, one they came to call Derby Grange.

Born with Teeth is a memoir, but it reads like a fictional story at times, and I held my breath, wondering what would unfold next. Not having read much about this actress before this book, I was drawn into the story of how she came to attend Stella Adler’s Studio of Acting as a teenager; how she starred in various productions through the workshop; and eventually joined a soap opera called Ryan’s Hope. While on that show, she fell in love with a young man…and got pregnant. The pregnancy was written into the show, but sadly, afterwards, she gave up the baby, a girl, for adoption. This loss would follow her throughout the years.

Theater was her first love, but she came to appreciate television production, and went on to be a part of another TV show called HeartBeat, in which she starred as a doctor. I remember this show, and enjoyed watching her perform.

Love came along, too, and two beautiful sons. But the marriage would not survive….and she escaped to Ireland to heal. Where she met her true soul mate. But would that relationship survive, with all the obstacles that stood in their way?

Meanwhile, her biggest show yet was about to come. Star Trek: Voyager would come to be one remembered by most people. The show was on for seven seasons.

Now she is a wonderful star in Orange Is the New Black, where she inhabits the role of Red as only she can.

Would Kate eventually find the happiness and love she longed for? Would her life settle into something peaceful? Turning the pages was a very satisfying experience for me, as I wanted to find the answers, too, and I enjoyed her writing style, which felt as though we were having a conversation. Then, in the final, suspenseful chapters, I felt a wonderful satisfaction about the events that unfolded. 5 stars.

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second best autobiography I have ever read. The best? That is claimed by The Days of My Life: An Autobiography by Julius Sumner Miller

Well Kate Mulgrew is absolutely nothing like I imagined. The cover photo shows a young person, whose resting face gives off a “worried innocence” combined with a little sadness, and after reading the first few chapters, I can see why. The photo on the slip cover at the back of the book has a mischeivous “See. I'm not what you thought I was -” air about it. And boy, is that true.

Kate has no reservations about revealing the private parts of her life, maybe for shock value, or maybe she found it a cathartic experience just to put it out there. Some parts I would rather she kept to herself...but it's printed for all to read nonetheless. It seems she is a hopeless romantic as well as having a fanatical devotion to theatre which surprised me. I was sure she was much more into the motion picture scene, or the small screen, but frankly, that's all my prior knowledge of her extended to – Captain Janeway and Red from Orange is the New Black. But she's so much more. She comes across as determined, fierce (in a good way), lonely and of course, highly talented.

One thing that comes through strongly, is that Kate Mulgrew has more action in just one year of her life, than I have had in my entire life. Her writing skills are excellent - engaging, and while I found a couple of chapters to be a little mundane, I was still happy to read them. Her writing skills might be genetic, but I think they are honed from a lifetime of descriptive diary entries..

Negatives? Well not really a negative; maybe just a disappointment. It seems that Kate has no interest in Science Fiction, referring to things like “realigning the dilithium crystals” and “overloading the warp core” as technobabble...which she apparently despises. I'm no Trekker, or Trekkie, or whatever they are called, but I have seen every movie/episode in the Star Trek franchise, and I was a little let down to find one of my heroines is not even a Sci Fi fan. Sad face.

I do hope she writes another biography encompassing her time doing Orange is the New Black. I know I'll be reading it.

[Jo Marjoribanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Mulgrew is a very talented actress, and also, as it turns out, a beautifully gifted writer. Her lyrical eloquence weaves a tale so vivid and engaging that I could see it all playing out in my mind as if it were a movie. Kate lays out in unapologetic honesty a life filled with adventure, grief, trauma, and, above all, a tremendous passion for her work and her family. As she shares the intimate details of the pain of giving up her daughter for adoption, surviving a rape, losing two sisters and the kind of heartbreak only true love can bring, we are also treated to riveting stories of romance, travel and the drama of stage and screen. Kate is an astute observer of human nature and she uses this skill to craft dynamic and colourful depictions of the variety of interesting people she has encountered throughout her fascinating life.

Being the massive Star Trek fan that I am, the chapters about Kate’s time on Voyager were a real treat and I’m certainly delighted that she included them, but even if they hadn’t been there I would still have absolutely loved the book. At times intensely passionate and at others desperately sad, this was a memoir that had me completely hooked from beginning to end and left me with a profound sense of gratitude towards, and a greater understanding of, a woman I have admired for most of my life.

[Jamie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Born With Teeth is wonderfully written. I was captivated from the first chapter. Kate Mulgrew tells the story of her life with great passion and honesty. What a journey! I Loved it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last week, my friend and manager of Trappist Caskets Sam Mulgrew and Kate's brother, gave me a copy of her memoir. I read it quickly and enjoyed it. It's a book for fans of "Ryan's Hope" and "Star Trek: Voyager." Growing up in Dubuque and leaving for Sella Adler's acting classes in New York at 17, she landed a job and created a character that was much loved on TV and acted in many plays. There were parts in the book in which Kate was brutely honest about her life and actions and I admire her for telling them, although they were difficult to read. She ends the book a few years back and does not mention some of her recent stage work - "Equus" on Broadway with Daniel Radcliffe or the current show she is on. Or her mother's descent into Alzheimer's. But that's for a few years down the road in the next book. I like a lot the cover photo taken by her brother Joe.