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Myth vs Truth

Revisado: 01-25-24

Sam Staggs has done an excellent job in separating the Gabors's fanciful tales from hard stone facts. It is a hilarious as well as a heartbreaking story. The narrator is excellent in relating their triumphs and tragedies. I personally love the author's Hollywood tales, and this is his best work. He really put his heart and soul in this book! No matter what you think about the Gabors, this is a fascinating book! Highly recommended!

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Four stars, not Five

Revisado: 02-13-19

I would have given the book five stars, but I happen to believe that Christina Crawford is telling the truth about her child abuse. So did much of Hollywood. Both authors practically called her a liar. However, other than their smear on Christina and her adopted brother Christopher, I appreciated the text describing Joan's career and life. She needed this kind of attention because she deserves a critical look at her life, movies and times.

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esto le resultó útil a 9 personas

Sally's "Pieces" from the Heart is transforming

Revisado: 09-30-18

Sally Field produces a well-written, dramatic landscape of her life and thoughts. From her needy childhood to her teenage success (which made her uncomfortable) to her romances (including a bossy Burt Reynolds), Ms. Field had a final destination: to find herself. How do the pieces fit? Like all women, she discovers that she is the herorine of her story. And that compelling story will transform other readers and listeners. The audible is wonderful to hear with Sally's soft yet authoritative voice. This book reminds me of Jane Fonda's autobiography of My Life so Far which Fonda also narrated. Both discuss complex family relationships with parents and stepparents, including sexual abuse. Most listeners will become Sally's friend even though she insists she has few of them. Maybe she doesn't know how much the people in the dark love and appreciate her.

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Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know

Revisado: 12-24-12

Like Lord Byron, Dennis Hopper lived his life with no moral boundaries. This may be shocking to some listeners, but somehow I think Hopper would be pleased that he is at last considered worthy of a biography. I have not read this book, and, after listening to the wonderful narration, I don't think I want to. The narration keeps the book entertaining because the narrator adapts all forms of accents (Australian, British, etc.) and gives a close interpretation of Hopper's voice, even Hopper's weird laugh. Hopper's life included so many others: Peter Fonda, James Dean, Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, etc. From Hopper's beginning in Kansas to his death in 2010, the author gives a revealing and honest look at Dennis Hopper's life, art, and philosophy.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Hitch's life and phobias keep you "Spellbound"

Revisado: 12-24-12

Having read this book decades ago, I was thrilled to purchase this audiobook. It's just as fascinating as I remembered. If you are looking for technical details of Hitchcock's movies, forget this one. However, if you want a psychological analysis of Hitch's life and his many phobias, you will be spellbound. Born the son of a Cockney grocer, Alfred Hitchcock began writing titles for silent movies. All Hitchcock's movies contain his fears, fascinations (especially with his leading ladies), and phobias. The author, Donald Spoto, was the first to dehumanize Hitch's genius by revealing his dark side, but somehow this makes future viewings of Hitchcock's films more fascinating.

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esto le resultó útil a 20 personas

The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe

Revisado: 12-24-12

Monroe's life is full of mystery, from her birth to her death. Donald Spoto tries to solve this mystery, but I don't always agree with his conclusions. For example, was Monroe's psychiatrist responsible for her death? Was Robert Kennedy completely innocent of an affair with Monroe? This is Spoto's conclusion. However, I'm glad this audiobook finally made it to Audible. Narration is fine, not great. The afterword gives some thoughtful reflections on the Monroe "cottage industry" that was primarily started by Robert Slatzer and others.This book will keep you thinking about the unanswered questions of Monroe's life and death, even if you don't agree with the author's conclusions.

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Not Necessarily for the Novice

Revisado: 07-08-12

The novice reader may not know Ayn Rand's philosophy, although the author does attempt to explain her philosophy within Rand's biography. Perhaps first acquiring "The World of Atlas Shrugged" (available on audible.com) will make Rand's philosophy more understandable. If you are familiar with the concept of "Objectivism," you will enjoy listening to how Ayn Rand's personal life led her to her ideology that many Libertarians and economic advisors (Allan Greenspan) have admired. The narration is well-read, but the overall story is actually more dramatically presented in Barbara Brandton's book "The Passion of Ayn Rand" (not available in audible). However, I've enjoyed listening to this biography on several occasions and I've learned something new each time, but be aware that a little background on Rand will be helpful.

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Witty, informative biography

Revisado: 06-13-12

In spite of Dorothy Parker's sad, tragic life, her point of view gives a cynical, humorous twist to all the tragedies she encounters. I've heard this book many times and I always enjoy it because of Dorothy's complexity (insanity?) and the people she knew: Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Gerald and Sara Murphy, and, of course, the Algonquin Round Table (Robert Benchley, Alexander Woolcutt, etc.). Dorothy's sarcastic quips are a quick relief from the heartbreaking choices she makes as a pre-feminist writer: hiding her Jewish background, selecting handsome (gay?) men that she emasculates, attempting suicide several times, embracing the fast life of NYC and Hollywood, naively supporting Communistic causes, and failing to complete a long-awaited book. However, Dorothy Parker's short stories and poetry are still relevant today, especially for feminists and literature lovers. Narration is fine, but a couple of phrases like "turn over the tape for side 2" can be jarring. I hope you enjoy this audiobook. I did and still do.

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An American History Masterpiece

Revisado: 06-03-12

Trying to understand how slavery became a Southern legal institution is essential to understanding American history.The author attempts this arduous task by revealing the relationship of two families through four generations, one black, another white. The Hemings and the Jeffersons were entangled long before Sally Hemings came into Thomas Jefferson's life. Sally was the half-sister of Thomas Jefferson's deceased wife--a mind-boggling thought the author tries to articulate. This audible book is as fascinating as the book and is narrated well. One criticism: the author keeps explaining again and again how we need to realize attitudes were different during the formation of the Jamestown colony. That is pretty obvious, although I don't remember thinking that as I read the book. However, all sides of the slavery issue are presented, including philosophical questions of the fact that the United States permitted slavery while proclaiming itself a democracy. The best part is the "love" story between Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Why didn't Sally remain in Paris instead of going back with Jefferson as his slave? Did she regret her choice? Why did Jefferson make a "treaty" with Sally to "free" her adult children? Did Jefferson love Sally or is it impossible to love someone you legally own? The answers are not fully resolved because scholars simply don't know, but the questions are intriguing and thought-provoking.

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A Must Have for Hollywood Fans

Revisado: 03-02-09

The biography is one of the best written of all Hollywood biographies, and to have the author, Lauren Bacall, read her memoirs in her smoky voice is sheer heaven. Highly recommended.

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