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What are you guys reading?
Topic Started: Dec 10 2012, 07:42 PM (655 Views)
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I am reading a history of MGM (Mary, I know), Free Air by Sinclair Lewis, and The Science of Good Cooking by America's Test Kitchen. Just finished a biography on Judy Garland and a great skeptic must-read book called Paranormality (which explains the science and psychology behind "psychic phenomena").

How about you guys. Anything good? Suggestions? I'm on an old Hollywood kick right now, so any biographies in that vein would be cool. I'm thinking about something on Greta Garbo.

Let's talk about books!
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apartment four
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A few months ago I started reading SECRET HISTORIAN by Justin Spring but got distracted. I`ll probably start it again tonight. It`s a biography of very gay Samuel Steward.

Just finished two by Simon Schama - The Embarrassment of Riches and Landscape and Memory. Read them concurrently. Arduous at times.
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Tybee
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I finished up Errol Flynn's autobiography "My Wicked Wicked Ways" last week. Once my eyes recover fully (I have glaucoma) I'm thinking of getting Lena Horne's biography "Stormy Weather" next.
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Have you read any on Greta Garbo or Joan Crawford? I have no interest in that made-up bullshit-fest Mommy Dearest, but others on Crawford?
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Tybee
Dec 10 2012, 08:00 PM
I finished up Errol Flynn's autobiography "My Wicked Wicked Ways" last week. Once my eyes recover fully (I have glaucoma) I'm thinking of getting Lena Horne's biography "Stormy Weather" next.
I think I read that one back in the 80s. Is that the one that alks about him connecting a group of ducks with a piece of fat tied to a string?
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Tybee
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Yes, he claimed the fat went through their bodies so quickly it was undigested and then another duck would swallow it, and then another ending up with a line of ducks all connected by strings coming out of the duck in front's rear vent. I don't know if I believe it or not though.

Regarding Crawford I read "Possessed: The Life Of Joan Crawford" several months back. If the author was telling the truth Joan was a tough broad and could be a mean drunk, but the vast majority of things written about her (especially by her daughter) are mostly lies.
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BenZ

Pollyanna Prisspot, School Marm
Dec 10 2012, 08:02 PM
Have you read any on Greta Garbo or Joan Crawford? I have no interest in that made-up bullshit-fest Mommy Dearest, but others on Crawford?
Barry Paris's bio of Garbo is probably the best. Antoni Gronowicz's book about her is complete trash. I haven't really read any Crawford bios, but Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud by Shaun Considine is delicious.

FWIW, I think Christina was mostly telling the truth about Joan, who was a walking borderline personality disorder.

And if you're interested in Bette Davis, Ed Sikov's Dark Victory and James Spada's More Than a Woman are the best. Spada's book is more dishy, but Sikov's is quite insightful as well.

ETA: You must read the Marlene Dietrich bio written by her daughter, Maria Riva. You'll plotz when you read it, although Riva is nuts and I don't believe some of the shit she wrote.
Edited by BenZ, Dec 10 2012, 08:32 PM.
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apartment four
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Quote:
 
ETA: You must read the Marlene Dietrich bio written by her daughter, Maria Riva. You'll plotz when you read it, although Riva is nuts and I don't believe some of the shit she wrote.


Big yes on this one. I don't care how much of it is true, it's a fascinating read. I couldn't put it down
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BenZ
Dec 10 2012, 08:29 PM
Pollyanna Prisspot, School Marm
Dec 10 2012, 08:02 PM
Have you read any on Greta Garbo or Joan Crawford? I have no interest in that made-up bullshit-fest Mommy Dearest, but others on Crawford?


FWIW, I think Christina was mostly telling the truth about Joan, who was a walking borderline personality disorder.
Totally agree.
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Dec 10 2012, 09:00 PM
BenZ
Dec 10 2012, 08:29 PM
Pollyanna Prisspot, School Marm
Dec 10 2012, 08:02 PM
Have you read any on Greta Garbo or Joan Crawford? I have no interest in that made-up bullshit-fest Mommy Dearest, but others on Crawford?


FWIW, I think Christina was mostly telling the truth about Joan, who was a walking borderline personality disorder.
Totally agree.
A lot of it was confirmed on the talk shows of the day when the book was first released. I realize now it was a big deal. The standard talk show hosts like Merve and Mike Douglas were inviting old faded stars on their shows. Little nothings like June Allyson. The talk show hosts would pay their respects to has-beens' careers for a minute or two, tell them how good they looked - *applause*, and then dive in with the hard questions about JC.
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June Allyson is NOT a nobody.

She was the kind of actress one could really DEPEND upon.
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Pollyanna Prisspot, School Marm
Dec 10 2012, 09:22 PM
June Allyson is NOT a nobody.

She was the kind of actress one could really DEPEND upon.
By the 70s the best she could get was a nearly non-speaking part in THEY ONLY KILL THEIR MASTERS.

I liked her, and I agree with you but Hollywood executives felt differently. I was delighted to see her on those talk shows, and also a bit disappointed, even cheated, when the subject veered to Crawford instead of her. But it didn't only happen to her. Other old time stars were given the same treatment. June happens to be the only one I remember vividly.

Mommie Dearest was that huge.
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Valley of the Dolls. At this point, still don't understand why this is a gay fav.
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LizBien
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Pollyanna Prisspot, School Marm

ETA for context. Whoops.

Quote:
 
I'm on an old Hollywood kick right now, so any biographies in that vein would be cool.



"Star", the something or other type of biography, about Warren Beatty is not half bad in terms of borderline trashiness. It is actually boring in parts as such a thing pertains to his films but in an informative way. You can learn a lot about (the late) Robert Altman and his artistic process from reading this book. Paula Prentiss was the only lady who turned down his advances and she was :love all kinds of sexy back :love in the day. She's been married to Richard Benjamin since approximately the year one.

"Mae West" 'It Ain't No Sin' By Simon Louvish is really cool. You can learn of how Mae West was actually like as well as the history of vaudeville and the early days of cinema all in one book. Lovely pictures in that book as well. The stories about her sister alone are not known to many people as near as I can gather.

I don't recommend Jane Fonda's autobiography because it is just a tiresome read in terms of wanting to learn of her films. Her brother Peter's autobiography is far more informative and cool.

"Knock Wood" by Candice Bergen. You get to learn about the days of vaudeville, radio, her modeling, the movie version of "The Group", Louis Malle, and so on and so on. She keeps things as honest as sin throughout and it is great.

"Mommie Dearest" is great. I have the original first edition paperback and like to put it on the coffee table when my pals come over with their kids to be silly. That book is like if half of what Joan Crawford was like was true, then that was half too much. But, there is no way in heck that Christina Crawford could have almost like recreated all that 'dialogue'. So I dunno.

"My Mother's Keeper" by BD Hyman is basically fiction. She thought Bette Davis was going to pass on and so she wrote a book in which she basically tried to keep up with "Mommie Dearest." I don't believe a thing in that one. Anyone who knows most anything about Bette Davis doesn't either. It is a pure trash read. But, here is the thing. The gal writes this book thinking her mother is to pass on, right? But, she doesn't just yet because she is Bette frickn' Davis. Bette Davis writes her own book ("This 'N That") and includes this as her retort to her daughter as an open letter in her own book...

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"Dear Hyman, I am now utterly confused as to who you are or what your way of life is. Your book is a glaring lack of loyalty and thanks for the very privileged life I feel you have been given. If my memory serves me right, I've been your keeper all these many years. I am continuing to do so, as my name has made your book about me a success."
Edited by LizBien, Dec 11 2012, 05:50 PM.
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BenZ

B.D. Hyman is looking shockingly like her mother in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? these days. It's quite funny. Yes, her book is almost complete fiction, although Bette did have problems with alcohol in her later years and could be a raging bitch. But she was nothing like Crawford, who was clinically insane.
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Edith Goetz
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Hey Prisspot, if you love old Hollywood read Michael J Mann: Wisecracker.

Story of William Haines, movie star, decorator and best friend to Crnaberry (JC). More dirt in that book than anything I've ever read. Lezzie Stanwyck, and so many others. You'll need a shower after reading it.
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Tybee
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For juicy behind the scenes goings on in the business called show, I heartily suggest the following 2. Both loaded with juicy scuttlebutt. "Full Service" is far more salacious as Bowers reveals things about loads of big names from the 40's on up that will delight you, and possibly revolt you.

Langella's book is also chock-a-block with juicy tidbits. I've always thought Langella was as gay as a Christmas goose, but it seems he's actually not, at least primarily. He alludes that he may have let a boy kiss him once. I think he may have liked it.

"Dropped Names: Famous Men & Women As I Knew Them" by Frank Langella

"Full Service" by Scotty Bowers
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apartment four
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Shelley Winters' autobiography is loads of fun, as are two by David Niven. Haywire is also an engaging, well written, read.
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BenZ

Have you ever read Our Lady of the Flowers, Miss Prisspot?
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No, I haven't Benz. I am willing to give it a try, though.

I admit I am very intrigued by Full Service, Tybee. I don't care if it's trashy (I love trashy), but I do want it to be factual. Hasn't Bowers been highly criticized for being full of shit?

Otherwise, I would definitely want to read it.
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Tybee
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Gore Vidal said the following about Bowers and his book.

"I have known Scotty Bowers for the better part of a century. I'm so pleased that he has finally decided to tell his story to the world. His startling memoir includes great figures like Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Scotty doesn't lie - the stars sometimes do - and he knows everybody".

I imagine the only people who claim he's lying are relatives, and some of the few still living friends of the people he wrote about.
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That does it. I'm ordering that Bowers book on Amazon.

More!
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I was going to pick up a copy of The Sociopath Next Door, but I decided to come here and watch it unfold live instead.

:wink
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Dec 14 2012, 12:27 PM
I was going to pick up a copy of The Sociopath Next Door, but I decided to come here and watch it unfold live instead.

:wink
R23, if you're going to be a cunt, just own it.

Don't half-ass it by winking at me.

Pathetic.

Now, back on topic...
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Pollyanna Prisspot, School Marm
Dec 14 2012, 10:58 AM
That does it. I'm ordering that Bowers book on Amazon.

More!
Me too. Mary Christmas to me!!! :wink
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Found both at the second hand shop here. Bowers and Langella. Thought he was gay too.
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Tybee
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Can't wait to hear what you think of all the "juice" in both! :eek
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BenZ

I recently read Radclyffe Hall's seminal lesbian novel The Well of Loneliness, and loved it.
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I just finished Full Service. Holy Jeezus that was salacious. I'm all about trashy bios, but that was full on porn.

I need a cold shower.
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Tybee
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It's a fun read IMO. Really eye opening.
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BenZ

I am currently reading Ms. Flannery O'Connor's classic Southern Gothic short story collection A Good Man Is Hard to Find.
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I love her, BenZ. I took a class in college on southern women writers, and she is one of the best. That story is one of the creepiest things I've ever read. If that old bitch had just kept her mouth shut...
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BenZ

Have you started The Divine Feud yet?
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Not yet. I'm reading Sinclair Lewis's Free Air (I needed a classic after that Full Service trash). Divine Feud is next on the pile.
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Here's my review of Full Service. I am linking to it only b/c you asked what I thought of the book.

http://recoveredbaptist.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/full-service-by-scotty-bowers/

I'm curious if you guys agree.
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Tybee
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I generally agree with what you wrote, although I think I found it more revealing than you apparently did. We've all heard the rumors over the years that Katherine Hepburn might have traveled on the wild side a few times during her life, but I had no idea that, according the Bowers, she was a full on bull dyke off the set. And I was not aware that Spencer Tracy had engaged in a bit of man on man action himself or that the fabled Hepburn/Tracy love story was in fact a complete fraud.

Frankly, I found the sections of the book he devoted to his early life when he was routinely diddled by the farmer up the road the most boring part of the book. I thought he went overboard on his early life and I would have preferred it if he had trimmed that down and expounded more on the juicy details in Hollywood. I read there was much more info that was cut from the book for legal reasons.

I don't know why he wrote the book when he wrote it, but can only assume he wanted to make sure everyone he wrote about was dead. He's an old man now and it's entirely possible he needs some money. Any time someone writes a tell-all book about celebrities there are going to be those who claim it's all a pack of lies. Personally, unless and until I have very good evidence someone is lying I treat everything someone says or writes as the truth.
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Just finished Divine Feud. Loved it.

http://recoveredbaptist.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/bette-and-joan-the-divine-feud-by-shaun-considine/
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Tybee
Dec 10 2012, 08:16 PM
Yes, he claimed the fat went through their bodies so quickly it was undigested and then another duck would swallow it, and then another ending up with a line of ducks all connected by strings coming out of the duck in front's rear vent. I don't know if I believe it or not though.

Regarding Crawford I read "Possessed: The Life Of Joan Crawford" several months back. If the author was telling the truth Joan was a tough broad and could be a mean drunk, but the vast majority of things written about her (especially by her daughter) are mostly lies.
I've read Possessed isn't very good and was not well-researched.

I need a break from biographies for now. I'm reading a new collection by David Sedaris and am giving Stephen King another try with 11/22/63.
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I'm reading a non-fiction book titled BURNED by Susan Nayer. I know her sister Anne. It describes the years, decades even, following a gas leak and subsequent small explosion in the basement of a vacation home they had rented on Cape Cod back in the 50s. Neither parent was expected to survive but they did, most surprisingly their mother, who was the most severely injured.

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