Ghostbuster's Daughter, by Violet Ramis

Harold Ramis has always been an enormous inspiration to me. His mischievous yet heartfelt brand of comedy has been as instrumental to the person I am as any artist I've admired in my life. He always seemed so cheerful and had a naive quality to his performances.

I've been meaning to read his daughter's memoir for quite some time, and I recently used a Downpour credit to purchase the audio edition.

I was enjoying the first half of the book. Violet Ramis's vocal delivery is infectious and details about her father's upbringing and early life are fascinating. I like the tales of her childhood amid the backdrop of show business.

As she got older the narrative began to irritate me. She gleefully recounts incidents of her rebellion, but none of it is interesting or endearing in any way. There's little to like about a spoiled, vindictive rich kid. Especially one who tries to live the life of a street criminal. Cue in William Shatner's version of Pulp's "Common People".

I reached a point where Violet, an adult in her early twenties, is wheedling her father to financially support her pregnancy. The baby was with a man she barely knew, and it was against her father's wishes. Harold had already bought her an expensive apartment in NYC.

Had she stood her ground and informed her disproving dad that she was having her baby and would do it on her own to prove him wrong, I would have applauded. Instead it irked the hell out of me.

I think of Joe Hill, who if anything came from a richer family than Violet Ramis. Hill tried to make his way in publishing without his father's help. Big Steve instilled a strong work ethic in his children and Joe has worked his ass off to be his own person in literature. I'm sure Steve helped in many ways, but I doubt it was as blatant as with the Ramis's.

Would I have been as spoiled if I had been a Hollywood brat? Probably. Would I be worse? Maybe. The thing is, I wasn't. I had no help along the way, and I raised children in financially desperate circumstances. It rankled me to hear Violet Ramis recount her privileged life.

I do have some sympathy, especially considering a painful situation where her mother's boyfriend abused Violet. Harold's first wife comes off as unhinged and wildly irresponsible.

Maybe it's better not to know the truth in situations like this. Ghostbuster's Daughter only degraded my feelings about Harold Ramis. I didn't need to know he was a philanderer, or about his chain-smoking, drug-taking habits. Plebeians like me need our illusions, just as the riche need their vacations in the South Seas and France.

I realize I am coming off as judgemental about a family situation I cannot comprehend, but Ghostbuster's Daughter really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't hate all rich people, but I have never liked their obnoxious kids.

I think Violet Ramis finds redemption by the end of Ghostbuster's Daughter, but honestly, I couldn't stand to go on another minute after the segment where she was begging her beleaguered father to pay for her pregnancy needs.

Ms. Ramis has been praised for her honesty in Ghostbuster's Daughter. Since we're all being honest here...

I hate this book.

Written by Mark Sieber