Before I embarked on this reading journey, I must admit that my knowledge about Marilyn Monroe was rather limited. However, as I delved into Spoto's biography of her, I was pleasantly surprised.
At certain moments, it did feel as if I were perusing a textbook, with the detailed accounts and extensive research presented. But despite this, I found the biography to be refreshingly honest. Spoto did not shy away from presenting the less glamorous aspects of Monroe's life, painting a more complete and accurate picture.
The level of thoroughness in this work was also impressive. Every aspect of Monroe's life, from her early years to her tragic end, was explored in great detail. And for the most part, the author remained objective, allowing the facts to speak for themselves rather than imposing his own opinions. Overall, I would highly recommend this biography to anyone interested in learning more about the iconic Marilyn Monroe.
A respectfully written, detailed account of the most famous woman of her time is a captivating story. She was a complex figure, misunderstood, mistreated, and misrepresented. The result of both her atrocious childhood and the unforgiving Hollywood machine, her life was a rollercoaster of emotions and events.
The ending was truly devastating. Just when she seemed to be on her way back up, with plans to remarry Joe and film roles lined up, giving her hope for the future, fate had other plans. That housekeeper/governess/spy-for-the-psychiatrist has a lot to answer for, as do the Camelot lot and the strange creeps who paid to be buried next to her or in a crypt above her, face down, forever. It's all rather disturbing.
To quote from the song 'Eat Me, Drink Me' by Marilyn Manson: "But then our star rushes in, feeling like a child and looking like a woman. She has been forecast with an attempt to kill herself, but the ending didn't test well." This song seems to capture the essence of her tragic life.
All anyone really needs to say about this particular book is that it holds a prominent position as one of the top 3 most reliable books when it comes to Monroe.
Undoubtedly, no biography can claim to be entirely perfect. However, this one manages to achieve a relatively high level of accuracy, hovering around 95%.
This means that it provides a wealth of detailed and trustworthy information about Monroe's life, his achievements, his struggles, and his overall character.
If you have a genuine interest in learning about Monroe, whether it's for academic purposes, personal curiosity, or simply to gain a deeper understanding of this historical figure, then this book is truly the perfect choice.
It offers a comprehensive and engaging account that will surely satisfy your thirst for knowledge about Monroe.