Mary Karr's unconventional childhood is the basis for the memoir "The Liars' Club." Growing up in an industrial Texas town with alcoholic parents coulMary Karr's unconventional childhood is the basis for the memoir "The Liars' Club." Growing up in an industrial Texas town with alcoholic parents could have made her a victim, but Ms. Karr is made of stronger stuff. She learned to curse like a sailor, fight like a cornered rat and repress any memory that could prevent her from overcoming the odds. Only later in life did she confront the past and write this classic autobiography.
I can see why it is a favorite of many women who also grew up in adverse circumstances. The writing is almost poetic the reader is quickly drawn into her world. 3.5 stars....more
I always watch Tod Browning films when they are shown on TCM. I even nicknamed a neighbor's dogs the "unholy three." So I was very interested when I dI always watch Tod Browning films when they are shown on TCM. I even nicknamed a neighbor's dogs the "unholy three." So I was very interested when I discovered that "Dark Carnival" existed. Author David Skal did a masterful research job considering the subject was long dead and did not leave behind any journals or memoirs. Even interviews with Browning are few. However, there were still some surviving friends and family who helped, and the studio records of his films were still intact.
The result is a thorough timeline of Tod Browning's life and works with anecdotes and criticisms. I was surprised to learn how many other silent films he wrote or acted in before becoming a director. Sadly, many of these are lost. His personal life was a rollercoaster of successes, failures, tragedies and recoveries. He loved alcohol and fast cars with the expected results, but he also had a relatively stable marriage with regular vacations to Europe between the wars.
The epilogue detailing Browning's influence on future filmmakers and artists was worth the price of admission alone. He was loved by the surrealists and references to his work can be found in many modern films. His epic "Freaks" still has the power to shock audiences today and was influential to authors (Katherine Dunn) as well as artists (photographer Diane Arbus for example). My appreciation for Browning's body of work has grown as a result of "Dark Carnival."
Cher admits she's hard to figure out. In her "Memoir - Part One" she tells her story as she saw it, and it can be confusing for anyone trying to keep Cher admits she's hard to figure out. In her "Memoir - Part One" she tells her story as she saw it, and it can be confusing for anyone trying to keep score. Why does she keep going back to Sonny Bono, knowing that he's going to screw her over, again? Why does she keep listening to people she knows don't have her best interests in mind? Despite her repeated mistakes and bad decisions, Cher persevered and became a successful star of stage and small screen. The big screen will be addressed in Part Two.
I did learn a bit and remembered a lot that I had forgotten. Sonny & Cher were pervasive during my youth. Between the music and the TV shows it was hard to escape their presence on the entertainment landscape. I was too young to pay much attention to the gossip so many of those backstage stories were new to me. Cher tells her story well and I could absolutely hear her voice as I read her words. Yes, it is a bit fluffy, but it is enjoyable fluff....more
"Earth to Moon" is what Moon Unit Zappa's mother, Gail, would say to her to get her attention. This memoir draws from Moon's journals that she's been "Earth to Moon" is what Moon Unit Zappa's mother, Gail, would say to her to get her attention. This memoir draws from Moon's journals that she's been writing since the age of five. The better part of the book deals with a very fractious mother/daughter, love/hate relationship and a mostly absentee celebrity father (Frank Zappa). Moon was not raised in a "normal" American style which put her out of step with most of her contemporaries. As a result, she suffered from low self-esteem, rode an emotional roller-coaster and tried every form of new age therapy. Along the way she worked as an actress, writer and interviewer, jobs that came to her thanks to her success with the song "Valley Girl."
I can see how readers might be put off by Moon's low self-esteem, hysteria in crises and general cluelessness about ordinary life. She ricochets around emotional episodes. always searching for stability and a better relationship with Gail. For me, this was fascinating reading. Most music related biographies deal with alcohol and/or drug abuse but, thanks to Frank, she avoided those pitfalls. Instead, she suffered from toxic parenting for which there is no 12-step program. There are moments of joy, redemption and celebrity encounters, so it isn't a total bummer.
My one disappointment was that she did not mention her time on the set of the movie "The Spirit of '76" where she had a scene with teen idol David Cassidy. I thought that might have potential for comedy or pathos, but I guess it didn't stick with her as a notable memory. Oh well....more
I'm sad that I didn't read her autobiography before she died. Teri Garr has always been one of my favorite famous people and she was in many films andI'm sad that I didn't read her autobiography before she died. Teri Garr has always been one of my favorite famous people and she was in many films and TV shows I love. Her book "Speedbumps" goes into all that and shows us how she was, and wasn't, that ditzy mom character she played so often. Of course, she also tells us of her medical struggles with multiple sclerosis (MS). I was afraid that part of the book would not be as interesting as the backstage antics, but I actually learned a bit about MS and how unpredictable it can be. It is a quick read but full of good stories....more
Jim Tully recounts his years as a hobo in "Beggars of Life." It is a brutally honest account of life on the rails and was a best-seller in 1924. TodayJim Tully recounts his years as a hobo in "Beggars of Life." It is a brutally honest account of life on the rails and was a best-seller in 1924. Today, it seems painfully too real. People who want to clean up "Huckleberry Finn" should stay far away. However, we shouldn't let modern sensibilities erase the truth of the past and that truth includes a lot of racism, misogyny and violence. How can we measure how far we've come if we don't know where we've been? Thankfully for the author, there was also a lot of kindness and generosity that kept his body and soul alive.
That said, it was an interesting book, and you can easily spot Tully's influences from the library books he stole. My favorite chapter, "Kangaroo Court" could have come from the pen of Mark Twain. ...more
Under the pen name "Linda Brent," Harriet Ann Jacobs recounts her life as a slave in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Though she was spUnder the pen name "Linda Brent," Harriet Ann Jacobs recounts her life as a slave in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Though she was spared grueling field work and whippings, she was still tormented psychologically and physically. Luckily, she had a freed grandmother nearby for education and support. Her eventual escape to the North did not end her problems, as her owner kept trying to capture her or lure her back. It is a gripping tale and profoundly sad....more
I picked up "Capote's Women" since I am enjoying the TV miniseries "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" and I wanted a little more background. Since the serieI picked up "Capote's Women" since I am enjoying the TV miniseries "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" and I wanted a little more background. Since the series was based mostly on this book, I found what I was seeking. Laurence Learner's book is more linear than the show which I appreciated. It also makes clear distinctions between the "swans" and gives more biographical details than the show. I do wish I had read it before embarking on the miniseries since I was too young to be paying attention to the events as they were happening. ...more
Author Bradley Lewis presents the life and times of Mickey Cohen in the biography "Hollywood's Celebrity Gangster." It is a deeply researched but not Author Bradley Lewis presents the life and times of Mickey Cohen in the biography "Hollywood's Celebrity Gangster." It is a deeply researched but not well-written book. Narrative flaws aside, the reader gets a deep dive into the early days of Hollywood and Las Vegas. It is a bit amazing how much organized crime infiltrated so many aspects of life at that place and time. Also amazing is how often Mickey Cohen avoided death by bullets, bombs and copious amounts of ice cream. It is a fun but sometimes frustrating read....more
Biographer Cynthia Carr does a fantastic job exploring every side of an intriguing personality, Candy Darling. Candy was a reluctant pioneer in genderBiographer Cynthia Carr does a fantastic job exploring every side of an intriguing personality, Candy Darling. Candy was a reluctant pioneer in gender dysphoria, transsexualism and gay liberation. She was also a Warhol superstar who performed in plays and films that went beyond the Factory. Glamourous but demure, tough but vulnerable, shy but ambitious; these were some of the many shades of Candy Darling captured perfectly in interviews and journal entries. "Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar" builds on previous biographies. The author also had unprecedented access to her subject's personal diaries and was even allowed to dig through the Warhol archives. The result is an absorbing story of a fascinating and ultimately tragic life....more
Langston Hughes travels a bit and comments on the state of the Harlem Renaissance in "The Big Sea." It is interesting to note the reception he gets inLangston Hughes travels a bit and comments on the state of the Harlem Renaissance in "The Big Sea." It is interesting to note the reception he gets in other countries as compared to America. Why he chose to keep returning to the USA is a bit of a mystery since he really seemed to enjoy traveling and being immersed in other cultures. ...more
Joe Sanderson of Urbana, IL is the "Last Great Road Bum" in Hector Tobar's somewhat fictional memoir/biography. All events and persons are based on JoJoe Sanderson of Urbana, IL is the "Last Great Road Bum" in Hector Tobar's somewhat fictional memoir/biography. All events and persons are based on Joe's journals and letters as well as interviews with family and friends. Tobar chooses to call the book a fiction because there was a bit of speculation and uncertainty involved. Once the reader understands this, it is a hell of a tale.
Blessed/cursed with wanderlust, Joe travels the world aimlessly with no visible means of support. He writes letters to his parents and brother and keeps a journal in hopes of one day publishing a book. Joe traveled to countries that would soon be engulfed in war and disaster, so he becomes a sort of chronicler of a better, simpler time. Eventually he takes on the cause of the rebels in El Salvador and joins the resistance. The last third of the book details his life as the "gringo guerilla" and his fate there.
Joe is like the many surf bums and hippies who were always on the move looking for the next wave or spiritual experience, except he was not a surfer or pilgrim. He just couldn't stay in one place for long. I found it to be a fascinating tale, one that could not be repeated today....more
"The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois is an essential book in the line of African-American writing. From Frederick Douglass to Malcolm X and bey"The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois is an essential book in the line of African-American writing. From Frederick Douglass to Malcolm X and beyond we can see the progression of thought as Black Americans slowly become empowered to change their situation. There is still a long way to go but it is interesting to see Du Bois take on Booker T. Washington in a battle of ideas about the place of Blacks in America after the failure of Reconstruction. I'm sure this book has been banned in Florida since it is a key component in critical race theory....more
When Michael Wallis says "Life and Times.." he means it. Not only is this a thoroughly researched biography of Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd but it is alWhen Michael Wallis says "Life and Times.." he means it. Not only is this a thoroughly researched biography of Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd but it is also a vivid portrayal of life in the poor Midwestern United States in the 1910's to the early 1930's. The reader is led to understand why bank robbers and other "social outlaws" were admired and protected by the general population while being relentlessly pursued by law enforcement with death warrants. Many myths and legends about "Choc" (he was not fond of "Pretty Boy") are debunked or questioned. The reality is just as fascinating. ...more
"Once Upon a Tome" is a glimpse into the world of antiquarian book selling from a London store that is older than many of the books they sell. The aut"Once Upon a Tome" is a glimpse into the world of antiquarian book selling from a London store that is older than many of the books they sell. The author never had any ambitions in this area but was hired as an apprentice because all the previous hires had moved on. Despite his general laziness and apathy, the author learns the trade and eventually helps the store adapt to retail in the 21st century. There are many amusing anecdotes and memorable characters. Recommended for book lovers looking for a chuckle....more
Hayley Mills has written an autobiography and it is full of nostalgia and behind the scenes peeks at the British and American film industries of the 1Hayley Mills has written an autobiography and it is full of nostalgia and behind the scenes peeks at the British and American film industries of the 1960s. "Forever Young" is an apt title as most of the world is still watching her as a child star in "Pollyanna", "The Parent Trap", "Whistle Down the Wind" and many others. Thanks to the Walt Disney company, she had full access to the archive of photos, correspondence and internal memos that helped prompt her memories of that time. My only criticism is that she ends the book with the birth of her sons Crispian and Ace and her divorce from their father, Roy Boulting. Perhaps there is a second half in the works that will cover 1977 until the present.
The book is a joy, despite her teenage angst brought on by the spotlight. Thankfully, she never became a victim of Hollywood and managed to live a relatively peaceful life in Britain. Her one scary moment came when she went on a date with George Harrison and was almost torn to pieces. Her story is full of family drama, bad financial decisions. and self-doubt yet she always seems to be able to rise above. For this, she acknowledges that her world travel and exposure to different religions eventually led her to inner peace. Like mother, like son as Crispian is the main force behind the band Kula Shaker who have many songs delving into spirituality. That's not in the book but she does thank him profusely in the acknowledgements for being the one who got her through the process of writing a memoir. ...more
I always had a feeling that Barack Obama would not have been as successful without Michelle by his side. In her autobiography "Becoming" she is a bit I always had a feeling that Barack Obama would not have been as successful without Michelle by his side. In her autobiography "Becoming" she is a bit humbler than that, but she does take credit for many achievements (and failings) of her own. Michelle Obama tells us a lot about herself and much of it was new to me. It wasn't new because the information wasn't out there, it was new because it had been hidden behind all of the gossipy media that distracted America from the real person. Her efforts to curb child obesity and promote good nutrition overall would be praiseworthy enough, but she did so much more. Michelle is also a devoted daughter, wife, parent and friend you can't stop from admiring. I smiled a lot while reading this book because it brought me back to a time before Trump when hope for a more united country really was alive.
This was also the last book my Mom read before passing. She loved it and had talked about it a lot while she read it. When I inherited her Nook, I knew I would have to read it from the same device. That factor added a level of satisfaction I can't even begin to describe....more
"Soul on Ice" has been a touchstone for many social and political movements, from the Black Panthers to hip-hop. Eldridge Cleaver wrote the essays tha"Soul on Ice" has been a touchstone for many social and political movements, from the Black Panthers to hip-hop. Eldridge Cleaver wrote the essays that make up this book while incarcerated. He obviously used his time in prison for education and self-improvement. You can see his vocabulary and understanding increase as you turn the pages. His views on Black Americans and their evolving place in the global society have been studied alongside with Malcolm X and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
While many of the attitudes expressed are quite dated now, his sincerity shines through. It is hard to believe he later became a Mormon and Republican. Absolutely worth a read for any students of social and political unrest in the 1960s....more
"Yippie Girl" is the memoir of Judy Gumbo, the feminist of the Nixon-era anti-war activists. She stood alongside of Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Eldrid"Yippie Girl" is the memoir of Judy Gumbo, the feminist of the Nixon-era anti-war activists. She stood alongside of Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Eldridge Cleaver, Paul Krassner and her lover Stew Albert, but she never got the same name recognition. I certainly was not familiar with her or her story. Now I will be looking for her in any documentary about the Yippies, Black Panthers, etc. and their exploits.
This may be the only book I've ever read where the author thanks the FBI. Her 20-pound file provided a unique counterpoint to her recollection of events. Gumbo also digs deep into her personal life to help us understand how and why a Canadian Jewish teenager set off to find herself and her calling in California just before the Summer of Love. She doesn't pull any punches and the reader is compelled to admire and loathe (sometimes simultaneously) almost everyone in the book. She saves her harshest criticisms for herself, admitting when she acted foolishly but also taking credit for actions that have been historically attributed to the men.
"Yippie Girl" should be on the reading list of any aspiring revolutionary or those who study them....more
Author David Maraniss' father was dragged before the House Un-American Activities Committee for writing for a communist newspaper. David was an infantAuthor David Maraniss' father was dragged before the House Un-American Activities Committee for writing for a communist newspaper. David was an infant at the time but has spent much of his adult life researching the case. What he found was that his father, other family members and their friends were members of communist organizations in their youth, but they were also more patriotic Americans than those who sat in judgement of them. They fought, and some died, against fascism in Spain and WWII. They paid their taxes and were upstanding citizens in their communities. They loved baseball, hot dogs and drove American automobiles. Yet they were blacklisted and haunted for years for refusing to snitch on other people they knew in those youthful, communist organizations.
This is a sad and tragic tale of a dark period in American political history. Some came out of it okay in later years but it was the ruination of many others, for no real good reason. Recommended as a fresh take on an old topic. The stories of joining the Abraham Lincoln brigade to fight Franco seem especially relevant at this time when Russia is invading Ukraine....more
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