Celebrities Books

"Friends have often told me that I should write my story and describe the world of my youth, which was so different from that of today," writes Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan in the Foreword of her autobiography The Glitter and the Gold.

Indeed, the world she described has all but disappeared, and was certainly inaccessible to the majority of people who lived in her era. It is difficult to imagine a life so full of privilege, opulent jewels, and extravagant gowns. She describes beautiful balls, famous people, and earth shaking world events from a first person point of view. From her early life as a member of America's richest family, to her ascent into British nobility, surviving World War I, and fleeing Europe during World War II, she lived through these days and she is sharing them with us.

Consuelo brings her readers into her world, yet we get only a few glimpses into her own heart and mind. Her opinions - of people, situations, politics, the pointlessness of British formality - are often clearly spelled out, but she glosses over much of her emotions and feelings about her personal life. Her writing style implies a great deal, but she was not the kind of woman to write a "tell all" account of her life, in the modern sense of a memoir. Instead, she chooses her words very carefully, using "Mr. X" to describe someone whose identity she wishes to protect. You get the sense that she does not want to divulge too much, and she virtually skips over the juiciest details of her life with a just few well thought out phrases.

For example, we know from the beginning that her mother forced her into a loveless marriage with the Duke of Marlborough, and that she was crying tears of sorrow on the morning of her wedding. She makes her opinion of her husband quite plain, but in a 19th century elegance that needs to be decoded a bit. Appearances were very important to him, and he expected her to memorize long lists of people with whom they would associate. She was not yet 20 and was charged with organizing and hosting lavish parties for England's most important people.

We know she is not happy with the Duke, and yet the couple had two sons. The practicality of such a coupling, when they did not care for each other and maintained separate bedrooms, raises a few questions that Consuelo was too tasteful to explain. What must her emotions have been, knowing she was having a child with a man she did not love, and who did not love her? On that significant point, she is silent.

After several years of what she vaguely calls "solitude," she finally marries French aviator Jacques Balsan for love. She does not talk at all about their courtship, why she fell in love with him, or what their lives were really like. She titles the chapter "A Marriage of Love," and we know that she was indeed happy with her new husband. But I expected more details leading up to the marriage. Instead, in one paragraph she talks about waiting for her divorce to be final. In the next she writes, "On July 4, 1921 I was married to Jacques Balsan in the Chapel Royal of the Savoy at nine in the morning." Rather to the point. She goes on to say, "...life with Jacques Balsan has brought me the profound happiness companionship with one equally loved and honoured means." But she does not say much more about their relationship. She provides virtually no details of their private lives, but she does devote several pages to describing his professional achievements. His accomplishments in the French military are impressive, but I would have liked to know more about how they got back in touch, how he proposed to her, and how her emotions were vastly different at her second wedding than they were for her first. We don't even know if her mother attended the second wedding! That would have been an interesting conversation.

One of my favorite things about Consuelo is her wit. She was so refined, and yet she had a sense of humor that comes across in her writing, perhaps more than if one knew her in person. She recounts tales that makes you smile, if not laugh out loud. Although she did not connect with many of her husband's family in any meaningful way, she found a lifelong friend in his cousin Winston Churchill. He did not get along well with Lady Astor, and Consuelo writes of an amusing exchange between them: "After a heated argument on some trivial matter Nancy, with a fervor whose sincerity could not be doubted, shouted, `If I were your wife I would put poison in your coffee!' Whereupon Winston with equal heat and sincerity answered, `And if I were your husband I would drink it.'"

She provides the reader with details about life inside British royalty that one cannot find anyplace else, showing them as human beings. For example, in describing the coronation of Queen Alexandra, she "watched the shaking hand of the Archbishop as, from the spoon which held the sacred oil, he anointed her forehead. I held my breath as a trickle escaped and ran down her nose. With a truly royal composure she kept her hands clasped in prayer; only a look of anguish betrayed concern as her eyes met mine and seemed to ask, `Is the damage great?'" This reminds us all that life can throw you a curveball, royalty or not!

At times Consuelo goes on for paragraphs describing people the reader has never heard of. And if it weren't for her refinement, and the knowledge that she is writing about her own reality, it may come across as name dropping. Someone as classy as Consuelo is not trying to impress you. She is merely recounting her life, which happens to be amply sprinkled with British royalty, famous writers and artists, and the crème de la crème of society. Still, it was a bit tedious to read litanies about "the former Mrs. So-and-so, who later became Duchess of This-and-that."

My biggest complaint about her narrative is its abrupt ending. I hadn't realized there was an index in the book, so I naturally assumed there was some kind of epilogue or afterward to wrap up her story in the pages that were left. I was enthralled by her escape from Europe after the Germans invaded France. I was tense, wondering (although I already knew!) if she would get out all right, and how she and her husband would get their visas and board a ship or plane bound for America. And in the midst of the tension, she simply quit writing! We know nothing about her life for the duration of the war or afterward, and a quick internet search provided few additional details beyond her death date in December 1964 (over 10 years after she published The Glitter and the Gold).

I have not been to Europe, but I understand that Blenheim Palace, Consuelo's former home with the Duke of Marlborough, is open to the public. Her book describes the lavish home in detail, but there is only one photo - her massive, luxurious bedroom at Blenheim. Also included in the illustrations is a portrait of Consuelo and her son Ivor, which is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A few years ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit Marble House, one of Consuelo's childhood homes in Newport, Rhode Island. The entire home is constructed of Marble, and I would love to return, now that I have read more about the venerable Consuelo who was virtually imprisoned there before her mother forced her into a loveless marriage with the Duke. I recall the superb audio tour recounting the Vanderbilts' parties, their sumptuous lifestyle, and the hundreds and hundreds of staff members it took to keep the place running. Well worth a stop if you find yourself in Newport.

I enjoyed The Glitter and the Gold, and am enthralled enough to read more books about the Vanderbilt family. This book was not a "quick read," because of the flourish of the prose, but was definitely enjoyable.

A comprehensive look at several generations of the Vanderbilt family, particularly Consuelo, and the enormous wealth they enjoyed.

Excellent book to read. Right from the person who had lived it.

I had just recently had the pleasure of visiting Blenheim Palace and I remember our tour guide talking about the beautiful American Duchess Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan and how she had written a book about her life. After viewing that lovely portrait found on the front cover of her book I just had to find out more about this woman. While reading the book I found that she was a courageous and talented woman who had the rare chance of being part of the British upper class. It is an interesting life that this woman lead being forced into a marriage that she did not want to be in, having to live with a man who was worlds apart from her and having to wait so long to marry her true love.

Despite all of this she does not let this stop her from helping the poor especially women, and fighting for women's rights. She also is in France during the start of World War II and throughout her life meets some amazing people especially one person most people will know Winston Churchill. It also will give readers a peek into the late Victorian era and into the lifestyles of the wealthy.

Keeping in mind that this is an autobiography this book can be tedious at times. She mentions a slew of names that most readers will not know and she seems to keep the reader at arm's length and does not go into deep details of her personal life. I believe this is due to the time period in which she lived where people did not share great personal feelings to strangers.

I think this is not a book for all but those who have visited Blenheim or have an interest in the upper class of this time period will find the book to be interesting and will have fun researching all the famous people she mentions. I enjoyed this book and it made my visit to Blenheim wonderful.

Another reviewer said that Churchill was born at Blenheim during one of the weekend functions she was forced to host. Churchill was older than Consuelo by a few years, so this isn't true, although it is true he was born at Blenheim. That reviewer also describes her as extremely well educated, which I also take issue with. She was educated until the age of 17 by private tutors or in small group settings. More was apparently spent on her education than the average Aristocratic woman in England, but it is a stretch to call someone who had not even attained a bachelor's degree extremely well educated. I know college education was rare for women at the turn of the century, but it wasn't unheard of even before her birth.

What this book really does is give us Americans a clue about the social hierarchy in England and other European nations. I simply didn't understand how ingrained this culture was until reading this book. I think I understand it now for the first time at a gut level. For instance, she describes an embarrassing situation early in her career as Duchess where she failed to leave the table in the correct order of precedence. Then she was introduced to a book that gave her the numbered ranking of the aristocrats (including her own) so she would know what order to follow. Amazing. I had no idea one's social rank was so constantly at issue and thrown in your face. I just thought there were general levels and everyone on one level was more or less equal. Not so according to this book.

So, don't read this for juicy gossip as the other reviewer's comments are correct about that. Read it to understand how the class structure worked in Europe at this time, and you will be pleased. If you aren't interested in that, I wouldn't bother.

Oh yes, I believe she did have a ghost writer on this book. Some people have posted that she wrote it herself. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure I read somewhere that she had a ghostwriter.

This book definitely qualifies as compelling entertainment to those who find the "behind-the-scenes" behavior of celebs interesting, but I'm STUNNED at this guy's "moronitude." He doesn't let himself entirely off the hook in his misdealings, but he plays himself off as a victim..when his CONSTANT weakness in fulfilling the insane demands of certain nightmarish celebrities makes him contemptible beyond belief. I wanted to like Tonken - he tells a breezy story & is apparently paying the price for his participation in financial scams...but I didn't find much of a soul there. To get involved with Roseanne at the late date he did shows judgement that can't really be justified. I would have liked to hear more about the (perhaps few) GOOD Hollywood/Washington, D.C. people - he alludes to them from time to time but goes back to the same self-indulgent nonsense of the others. It's a good read but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Nothing he wrote was a true shock (except, as mentioned before, Ray Charles' alleged cavalier acts)...but as seen through the eyes of someone who clearly has NOT learned from his misdeeds, it didn't really satisfy.

There is something perverse about forgiving Aaron Tonken his stupidity because he dishes out honesty; after being pimped for so long by so many all cut from the same cloth.Birds of a feather do flock together pal! You just have to be sympathethic to the author because he really wasn't in it for the money- he wanted the approval of the glitteratti.Chapter after chapter he does the same thing, starting small and moving up the ladder.No matter the rung the story is always the same, ego driven behavior fuels monkey see monkey do greed and a sense of entitlement.This book is a riot, and so badly needed now that the last bastion of tabloids- the National Enquirer- has joined the star-pucker bandwagon and chooses to befriend the celebrities in the hope that something good will rub off on them- or that the favors will be returned.
Read the book though and note the genuine , compassionate and refined minority that Aaron does have dealings with , including The Reagans, Englebert Humperdink, Red Buttons,Charlton Heston,and some other less than household names. Have some fun and read the book-

this book is the closest expose of the greed that runs rampant with the most unlikely hollywood and political celebrities. it gives the reader an insight not seen before and absolutely dispels and exposes who and what these people are really about. they are not what the public see's or how they are hyped by the media in a positive vain but rather greedy heartless and completely insensitive to the charities they are supposedly helping. you will be amazed at the their insensitivity.

This book gives a truly pathetic look into a man who chooses to be a perpetual victim. He supposedly lives this lavish lifestyle, yet has nothing to show for it. He's obviously not up front about all his financial gains from his swindeling. Nor do I recall him ever giving any amounts that were actually donated to these charities.
And poor Cynthia Gershman! He befriends her only to badmouth her & use her the entire time. Even after she becomes a widow, he discloses her private affairs to readers.
No, he's not a con. He's not smart enough to be! He got taken by the money sharks & was warmly welcomed by others, only to betray trusts.
The raw truth is, he couldn't hang! He was too greedy & wanted it all at any cost. THEN at the end, he has the audacity to mention the love of Jesus! What a hypocrite!
I only read this book because it was given to me as a gift & I felt obligated. The only people he conned were people into buying this piece of garbage.
I hope his cellmate's name is Bubba!

I had never heard of Aaron Tonken - I just bought this book because I like Hollywood scandal. Well! About halfway through the book, I did a Google search for him and imagine my surprise when the first 10 hits were news stories about Tonken's arrest and how it might affect Hillary Clinton!

Wha??? This got my attention because I have no love for Shrillary or her heinous husband and enjoy anything that takes a poke at them. So I scanned on ahead to get to the "meat" of the book - the part that was driving the FOBs nutty.

Tonken talks in the book about his Clinton fundraising efforts, but this by no means is the Clinton bash book the critics made it out to be. Shrill and Bill are mentioned along with many other famous names that cheated charity for their own personal gain. Sure, the Clintons are the most powerful of the bunch, but many celebrities, including the whole cast of "Friends", get a major drubbing as well.

As for the book itself, Tonken couldn't be more self-serving and pathetic. He gets taken for a ride over and over and over, yet is so star-struck that he keeps going back for more. He tries to pretend that he's some choirboy and didn't realize what he was doing was wrong - that he was all for the charities every step of the way. But we all know that's horsecrap. I've spearheaded a few charitable events myself and I can't believe it's that different in the big time.

So this book gets 3 stars - 2 for revealing petty Hollyweirds for the selfish greedy pigs they are, and 1 for good dirt. He loses 1 star for his pure ignorance and another for trying to pass himself off as a naive do-gooder who got taken.

This book is very informative and the techniques really are amazing. Worth my money.

I bought this book for the purpose of gaining new and insightful makeup tricks and tips. I didn't find them in this book. I own many makeup books and have learned many techniques over the years. Unfortunately this book didn't really impress me. Every make-up book explains what foundation is and why you need to pluck your brows, but I need something new! I wouldn't recommend it if you own at least one of the popular makeup books

This book starts with the premise that everyone has unique qualities that are beautiful. Rather than expend large sums of money, suffer the pain and risks and possible dissatisfaction of permanent surgical options, the author suggests using makeup. Sharing techniques she honed as a professional make-up artist, the author takes regular people, wrinkles and all, and transforms them. Each step is photographed and described in the text and the make-overs are impressive. The models include the author, her family and friends and she addresses everything from covering tattoos and age spots to enhancing the eyes, straigthening the nose and enhancing the bust line.

Scattered throughout the book are the author's "pearls of wisdom", essentially cheap and easy beauty tips. There is a section on make-up tools and how to buy makeup.

I enjoyed this book for its upbeat tone and simple and clear instructions. It is basic but the results can't be beat. I applaud the author for advocating a healthy approach to beauty. People should learn to feel good about themselves and accept that age and beauty are not incompatible. The models in the book represent a good cross section of the population including minorities, young girls, and seniors. All are refreshingly individual--no botoxed Barbie dolls here. This book is more than a manual, it is a mood lifter too!!

The techiques in this book will stop anyone from going under the knife for a small lift. Portrait style pictures and the stage pressence of my clients and self have never looked better.

I had the opportunity to attend a lecture/demonstration by Ms. Pearl at the International Makeup Artist Trade Show in Pasadena a few years back. She is an amazing artist and has lots to offer. While her methods echo methods found in other artists' books, I was pleased to see someone finally compile these techniques in an easy to follow format specifically for people considering plastic surgery.

Ms. Pearl not only describes methods for disguising flaws; she also outlines the risks and costs associated with the surgical option. As a makeup artist living in Los Angeles, I can't tell you how many people I have encountered who are suffering severe complications (and in some cases, disfigurements) from their elective surgeries - surgeries they didn't really need. You can accomplish so much with makeup; I would encourage anyone considering surgery to try makeup first.

Many of the reviewers have expressed concerns about "caking" too much makeup on. In some instances that's necessary (tattoo cover, raised freckles), but in most cases you don't have to cake it on as long as you put the right product in the right place, and blend it well. Good luck!

I found "Dish" very entertaining as well as educational. I think the historical aspect is very good. However, after reading another reader review that criticized sloppiness with names (spelled wrong, first and last names transposed), which now does make me wonder just how truly careful and thorough the research was. The way I feel right now is that fumbling the names was not due to the author not knowing what she was writing about, but just that her writing (editing, proofreading) wasn't great. I did get the feeling that this book was rushed to print, which might have led to the name fumbling. The different chapters read like separate articles, without much of a transition from chapter to chapter so there wasn't a real cohesive feel to the book as a whole. I wish I could rate this book higher, because I think there is good content but it's not presented as well as it could be.

Not as lightweight as the title would have you believe, this overview of the growth of celebrity gossip is fascinating. The author chronicles the events which took gossip from a limited group of tabloids to the pages of some of the world's most prestigious newspapers as well as the surprising successful efforts of celebrities to control their public image.

I picked this book up on a whim and what a treat. Gossip, whether you like it or not, has definately altered the course of history. Dish definately introduced some concepts I would have brushed off as trivial in the past.

I couldn't put it down.

This book completely EXCEEDED my expectations! As a former journalist (who is now a ventriloquist believe it or not) I've always been interested in how and why gossip has grown in our news media.

I got THAT answer in this wonderful book written in a breezy, solid style that made it hard for me to put -- plus a LOT MORE.

Starting with Matt Drudge's meteoric rise, DISH backtracks to trace the growth in gossip over the years. You'll also find new revelations in here. In the end our news media (what it printed and NEGLECTED to print over the years) will make sense to you. And it reads like a novel. Some tidbits:

1. The overnight rise of Matt Drudge, using a computer his dad gifted him. Everything you wanted to know and what you didn't want or need to know (i.e. his alleged sexual preferences; media suspicions that he got some scoops through hacking) about him and how his lively internet column took over, confounded mainstream media and made him a huge multi-media star.
2. How the Hollywood studios along with fawning California politicos crushed Confidential magazine, the 1950s gossip sheet which dared to undermine the carefully-constructed phoney public relations images of many stars (some stars are named in the book).
3. Mike Wallace's pioneering role in bringing show biz to news, his fall from grace and professional rebirth on 60 Minutes.
4. The birth of the National Inquirer and why it's located in Florida (fears of problems from the Mob).
5. Why there wasn't more MAJOR NEGATIVE published gossip on the Kennedy administration (they virtually destroyed one person dabbling in info about them and many journalists were intimidated.) JFK's other marriage.
6. The OJ case, Elvis Princess Diana case, the gossip columnists of the 40s and 50s and their replacements, the explanation of why Rona Barrett had such a sudden rise and fall. The birth of People Magazine and it's influence on pushing tabloids to another level...which pushed the national media to a new level (or low?).
7. Hardball-playing p.r. and private detectives who contolled their clients images and staved off major scandals -- and how they do it (bullying, getting the dirt on and confronting critics and making sought after clients inaccessible to offending journalists).

This is a highly ENTERTAINING book, with lots of facts, quotes and info that you haven't read elsewhere. It's solidly written but an EASY read and you'll REGRET it when you come to the last page. It answered a LOT of questions for me about what "really" went on and why our news media is the way it is today. SUPERB!!!

If you read The National Enquirer, The Globe or Star weekly or enjoy gossip columns or shows like Entertainment Tonight, this book is for you. Full of history and detail, you get the inside scoop on how gossip is made and reported, and how it's changed the face of "legitimate" news organizations. It's a great read and very informative. I couldn't put this book down. Sure, stars complain about the tabloids, but wait to you hear celebrities' true role in it all.

I received this book as a gift, and gave another copy as a gift. I thought it was a lot of fun. It's really interesting and can be a bit addictive sometimes...

Excellent book to have in your hand as you wander around NYC or LA, these people just seem to fall over you.It obviously includes some great actors and actresses who should be noted for more than giving sterling support but who deserve to be fully in the spotlight.

Thank you! The book made a wonderful Xmas gift for a friend of mine!

"Hey! It's That Guy!" is a neat little guide to character actors. It has thirteen chapters devoted to various types of roles (the courtroom, the hospital, the office, and the precinct, for example) and features pictures and descriptions of actors that are best known for playing those types of roles. There are also various very helpful icons used throughout the book such as award winner, straight to video, villain and deceased. Also included in the portrait of each actor is a timeline with his or her most famous roles listed.

For the most part, this is a very useful guide for looking up actors that look familiar. The descriptions of each actor are humorous but informative. There are several useful indexes in the back of the book and best of all a section with the pictures and names of all the actors featured in the book. Unfortunately, the book is on the small size; I would have preferred a larger book, with more roles listed for each actor. And some of the pictures are movie stills and not very clear, which is shame since the pictures should be the strong point of the book.

All in all, movie and trivia buffs will enjoy this reference book.

This book was interesting in that you finally had a name with some familiar faces, but it was a little too irrevant. I wanted more info on the actors themselves not just some wisecracks that the authors thought were funny. I think the authors were a little too impressed with their own wit. I like having a name with a face, but the authors could have gone further with backgrounds on the actors even using one page bios.

I was really looking forward to reading this book but I am very disappointed after doing so. Not only is the book riddled with errors, but the writing style is childish, to put it mildly, and very irritating. I find it hard to believe that Matera has actually written other books! Most annoying is Matera's constant use of clichés. If a high school freshman had written this book as a term paper, it would come back to him marked up with so much red that you wouldn't be able to see what he had written. On top of that, Matera's incorrect use of words is actually pathetic and his attempt to sound "hip" is not only corny but it's also not appropriate for the time period he is describing. The book is also loaded with so many factual errors that it loses all credibility.

I will try an experiment to prove this point. I am going to randomly open the book and see what I come up with.....O.K.- on page 46, Matera mentions a Kroger store robbed by Dillinger and his gang. Matera says that Kroger was a department store and that it was the precursor to K-Mart. Not so! Kroger IS a grocery store and it has absolutely nothing to do with K-Mart. In fact, a quick check of the facts reveals that Kroger is 125 years old and it is the third largest retailer in the United States after Walmart and Home Depot. It still exists and is thriving. Not only is it NOT a precursor to K-Mart, but it isn't even in the same business!

Every page filled with such errors. I really got a kick out of the quotes supposedly made by Dillinger's father. If you have seen old film clips of Dillinger's father, you know that he was a simple, uneducated farmer. But the quotes attributed to him by Matera sound as if they were made by a PhD!

Apparently, the publishers never bothered to even proof-read this book because it is filled with spelling errors, grammatical errors, and punctuation errors. That may not matter to some readers but it indicates a carelessness that permeates this book. This is an example of very poor writing. I cannot recommend this book. There are much better books on the subject.

When I climbed into "John Dillinger's getaway car," a 1933 Hudson Terraplane, and ripped off a piece of the torn leather back seat, I had no idea just how famous, or infamous, Dillinger really was. Fortunately for me, I was but a child, Dillinger was recently dead, and his car was on display at a local fair which was passing through town. I still have that small piece of leather, so, as you might imagine, I've always had an interest in John Dillinger, even though I've never taken the trouble to read much about him.

Prior to reading this book, about all I knew was that Dillinger was a bank robber and that he was gunned down in front of the Biograph Theater in Chicago thanks to the mysterious "lady in red," who, as it turns out, wasn't even wearing red. But, as you will find by reading this book, John Dillinger was more than a simple bank robber and his brief career as America's "Public Enemy #1" involved much more than mere bank robbery. As a matter of fact, his adventures and misadventures were so surprising and interesting, and at times death defying, that, although I already knew the outcome, I found myself rooting for John to pull it off one last time and somehow escape the long arm of the law. But of course, that was not to be.

I really enjoyed this book, once it got rolling, i.e., when Dillinger was paroled after ten years in prison and began the career which made him famous throughout the world and which helped J. Edgar Hoover create the FBI. My only complaint about the book, and it's a small one, is that in the beginning I came feel that the author was overdoing it. By that I mean that he was attempting to convince his readers of the book's authenticity by stating the name and history of every person that Dillinger ever knew and every street address at which he had ever visited or lived. Once the story got moving, however, there was no putting the book down. I only wish it had had a slightly happier ending, but, then, I sat in Dillinger's getaway car.

"John Dillinger" by Dary Matera proved to be the page-turner I hoped it would be when I purchased it purely on impulse.

Matera gives brief attention to the early life of America's favorite Depression-era desperado, noting the death of his mother when Johnny was a three-year-old and his early forays into small-time crime. Sentenced to a "whopping ten-to-twenty" in the penitentiary for his youthful crimes in 1924, Dillinger spent nine years in the pen before being granted clemency by Indiania Governor Paul V. McNutt in May 1933.

In the fourteen remaining months of his life, Dillinger engaged in a crime spree, robbing banks, raiding police stations for weapons, and staging jail breaks to become America's most colorful prince of thieves and Public Enemy Number One. The narrative is swept along with one shoot-out and getaway after another, and the cast of characters includes all the gangsters I was fascinated with as a boy -- Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, Homer Van Meter, Alvin Karpis, and a dozen others in Dillinger's changing gang of thugs.

The gun molls play their part and the often-bumbling lawmen, with J. Edgar Hoover at the head of the newly-formed FBI. There was a tender side to Dillinger, shown to his family and girlfriends, his generosity with the needy, and a fierce sense of loyalty to his gang members, for whom he would risk his life to insure their freedom.

Demonstrably well researched, the book has few flaws other than an occasional factual slip-up and a few niggling errors of syntax that annoyed me. But it is definitely a rip roaring read!

The other reviewers are kinder than I--I got 50 pages in before I gave up on the book, annoyed by the author's factual errors; odd attempts at humor, such as making a pun based on a getaway driver's name, Parker; contemporary slang, such as stating that Dillinger's gun was "righteous heat;" and down right peculiar observations, such as calling a Kroger grocery store "a precursor to K-Mart." There are so many other books on Dillinger that there is no need to wade through this one.

This new book about the life & crimes of John Dillinger has some new insight into some previously unknown bank jobs by the Dillinger gang, with some new photographs. There are many books on Johnnie boy and his gang and although this book is lengthy (over 400 pages), I think it would be a worthwhile addition to anyone's library. I would recommend this book to those interested in the "Dillinger Days."

Moving collection of real life stories that make you appreciate Hellman's plays. A must read for anyone interested in her relationship with Dashielle Hammett, who penned some of the, if not, Thee best crime novels in American literature. Read his works first, then read this, then read Hellman's plays. You'll feel as though you've spent time with them over a life. (Lillian has 2 further books of memoirs to complete her trilogy.) Her and Dashielle were 2 of the clearest examples of the cliched hard drinking writer of the 20th century.

Lillian Hellman's PENTIMENTO, A loose collection of autobiographical essays and stories, has been both controversial and famous, and very specifically so for "Julia." In this particular tale, Hellman describes her attempt to aid a friend by smuggling money to support anti-Nazi efforts in 1930s Germany--and subsequently finding herself unable to protect Julia from the ferocity of the Nazi machine. Powerfully written, it is the centerpiece of the book, and in 1977 was adapted into a very popular and much-praised film starring Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave.

It was at this point, however, that controversy arose. The film caught the attention of Muriel Gardner, who promptly asserted that she was 'Julia' and the story itself was significantly based on her own life and work in pre-World War II Germany. She also stated that she had never met Lillian Hellman--but it transpired that she and Hellman had at one time shared the same attorney, who was well aware of her past and who could have described it to Hellman.

Hellman flatly stated that Gardner was not 'Julia' and insisted that the story, while altered re details and circumstances to protect the identities of those involved, was indeed factual. As more details of Gardner's life came to light, however, it seemed increasingly likely that Hellman had indeed made use of it in creating the story, and the dispute continues to provoke strong feelings even some thirty years after the deaths of both Hellman and Gardner.

It was not the first time Hellman had been accused of literary fraud and it would not be last. During her long love affair with novelist Dashiell Hammett, Hellman was frequently accused of draining his ideas to further her own work. In 1979 writer and critic Mary McCarthy prompted a suit for slander when she described Hellman's work by saying "every word she writes is a lie, and that includes 'and' and 'the!'" But regardless of how Hellman came by her ideas, there is no getting around the fact that she had the gift: at her best, she was the equal of the best of the best, turning out several masterpiece dramas and three autobiographical works that jolted best seller lists from end of the country to the other.

PENTIMENTO is the second of these autobiographies, published in 1973 between the equally famous UNFINISHED WOMAN (1969) and SCOUNDREL TIME (1976.) And although "Julia" remains the most famous--or perhaps most infamous--work in the collection, Hellman is actually at her finest in the other stories she tells, most particularly those that center on her childhood home of New Orleans.

In both these writings and others, Hellman shows a remarkable gift for capturing place, time, and character, zeroing in on her New Orleans family, her lover Hammett, and the legendary Tallulah Bankhead to name but a few. From the lunacy of personalizing condoms in Hollywood to the drunken jitters of opening night on Broadway, Hellman makes you see it, feel it, touch it, taste it. It is a brilliant accomplishment--and if you suspect that the stories on which she hangs these talents are at best misrecalled, at worst deliberate falsifications--is this not, after all, what we demand that writers do? Recast reality in order to spin a good story? Strongly recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Lillian Hellman was a fascinating woman but it has been well-established that most of her anectodal vignettes are complete fabrications. Not only"Julia", but also the story about her cousin Beth and "Turtle". The writing is great but is diminished when you read this work as it is, mainly fiction. Then, the actual style is simply bad fiction writing. A pity, such a talented woman had to write these sad fictionalizations in the service of her own neuroses.

I do not have the knowledge or tools to judge whether Hellman has written the truth here. However, what I do know is that it is splendidly written in a quirky style, which I studied when younger, and the stories are full of psychological depth and personal reflection. While I find her plays and scripts somewhat shallow with easy-to-label characters, I admit that I liked this book as a fully realized work of art.

While I do think it matters if she consciously fictionalized her life, whatever the facts this is a good read. I will leave it to scholars and critics to hash out the debate.

There are many memorable scenes that live in my mind: her floating in a storm and remembering an incident of killing a snapping turtle, with reminiscences of Hammett as her great love. The scene wanders into a rumination of death and loss, which I thought was real literature. Of course, there is the story of Julia, but there are many other notable scenes, like Hemingway competing with Hammett over his sppon-bending abilities. It is also a window into the past that is vividly rendered.

Warmly recommended.

There was no "Julia." Hellman helped herself to Muriel Gardiner's life story. ALL of Hellman's memoirs must be read with extreme caution -- her "inaccuracies" go well beyond what is normally expected in any autobiography. (And I also think they've been overrated as literature.)

This was my first book written by Judith Henry Wall and I am an immediate fan of hers. This book was super intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. I could not put it down and read it in a few days. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read. I'm looking forward to reading other books written by this author!!!!

I loved this book. I thought it was beautifully written and loved each character, even the evil ones. Each character was built up, you didn't have to just "guess" why he/she was the way they were. Plus I just loved Jamie, and in the end, thank Gus for what he did for her. This book will make you think things through when faced with a situation that looks good, but doesn't feel good.

The Surrogate is a story of a young woman with financial problems contracting with a rich family as a surrogate mother to produce a baby. She finds that there are deeper mysteries and hidden motivations during the pregnancy, hightails it away from the isolation she agreed to, and tries to escape the family's wrath, baby in tow.

It is intense, a well-paced story, and a believable rendition of a frantic surrogate on the run.

The bad guy, however, is the classic ultra-rich, orders people killed, has hitmen always around to do his bidding, women on command, government in his pocket, et cetera, kind of guy. In other words, he is hard to escape. Use an ATM or make a phone call? You are located. Stay too long at one place? The black vans show up.

This is a nifty story about the concerns and trials of a surrogate working with a very weird family. The weirdness of the family detracts from the story. Consider this book briefly entertaining.

This book is about a desperate girl who became a surrogage mother for the money and found herself moving from "the pan into the fire" when she realized she was in danger and had to literally run for her life and that of her baby's.

I liked this book because I found myself pulling for the surrogate mother all through it. She faced so many difficulties and obstacles and was so smart and clever. I particularly liked her demanding to have a dog when she was going to be kept on the ranch because she had the foresight to know she'd get lonely being cut off from the world. If I had been in her shoes, I probably would have given up much sooner. I admired her bravery, resourcefulness, cleverness, and love for the baby she carried. I felt so sorry for her when she was having the baby all alone. It was defitely a "cloak and dagger" novel that was pretty believable. That's what I thought made it so interesting and even a bit scary to think something like that actually could happen. I wish the author would have let Jamie's dog live though--that was very sad when the dog got killed.

Although this book portrayed the primary Christians as big hypocrites, it did also include a few who really did show God's love to Jaimie. I thought Joe was very smart too and was so happy when they found each other after all those years apart and he was willing to help her. He was really great!

Karen Arlettaz Zemek, Author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

Try as I might, I still can't stifle my perpetual yawn having read Judith Henry Wall's THE SURROGATE. Excited to see an Oklahoma author with a Simon & Schuster trade paperback title, I began this book with great expectations. Yet I was instantly disappointed by writing that was trite, uninspired, and one-dimensional--prose as flat as the Texas panhandle where much of this novel is based. And what makes matters worse is this tired prose tries to tell the story of a young mother on the run from some nasty Bible thumpers; and the implausible ending is an absolute howler.

As to her villains, Ms. Wall unimaginatively perpetuates the stereotype of evil evangelicals--abusive hypocrites who wield their power over the masses by influencing elections and presidents. The result is one series of contrived cliches after another--trite storytelling that is literally agonizing to read. And the dialogue? How's this as a corny and hapless example?

"You are my hero. And you are the only man that I've ever loved and ever plan to love."

"And you are the love of my life. We are going to get through this, Jamie. We have to."

Quick. Give me some gravel to gargle so I can get the icky taste out of my mouth. But alas, such is the myopic nature of this alleged romantic thriller. And as an observation to lend credibility to the story, no one will ever find a Gen Xer named Joe or Lester; nor will any young 21st Century mother name her infant Sally Ann. Such is the annoying nature of the reading experience THE SURROGATE so aptly provides.
--D. Mikels, Author, THE RECKONING

Great Book with women as they should be seen. But you've got to be mature enogh to appreciate it and for the guys looking for cheap porn and not art recommend you just skip this! But if you want to see women without makeup or any fancy hair style this is a definite recommendation to add your collection.

I LOVE THE BOOK... IT IS A COMBINATION OF GREAT ART AND ENTERTAINMENT!

I like this book alot, I love b&w pics, I feel that the ladies are not being completely natural for as soon as they open their eyes they see someone with a camera. Great pics though.

The concept of this book was to shoot candid photographs of women doing their normal activities in the morning, following on the successful book done with men in the morning. The purpose was to get the real person behind the polished facade of the famous. Ms. Vial wanted to see "raw, real, natural . . . no makeup, no posing, I wanted their souls." Each photograph was done without additional lighting and was based on a few candid rolls. The book notes the time when the photograph was taken in most cases. Most are from 7 to 10 a.m. The images catch the subjects in bed (alone, and with pets, a mom, children, and men), bathing, showering, with kids, wearing robes, wearing no robes, dressing, exercising, smoking (too many of these), brushing their teeth, drying their hair, putting on make up, having coffee, meditating, making breakfast, eating breakfast, and even working. The concept works best for those who are still half conked-out while they are being photographed, and those who are not professional models. The bright-eyed professional models look just as great as they would on any fashion shoot. It's testimony to their talent for posing without direction. The book contains lots of notes about the subjects, both written in calligraphy and in printed captions at the end of the book. The book would have been a lot better with much more editing. Many of the images add little, other than to make the people look bad. Some of these women looked like they were coming off an all-night drunk or a drug-based party.

The images here would often earn the book an R rating if it were a motion picture. There is total nudity in some cases, but of the modest sort.

A major drawback to doing candid shots in available light is that many of the images end up looking like semi mug shots, because the light was so poor. I feel that more of these should have been eliminated.

The brief foreword by Sean Penn didn't do anything for me. I suggest you skip it.

One of the touching photographs in the collection is of Demi Moore in bed with her dying mother.

Other touching images include mothers playing with their children, pregnant woman struggling with their temporary girth, and women with their pets.

Despite the limitations of the book, I liked many of the photographs either because they did give a window on the soul or because the woman was just so beautiful or interesting that she overcame the circumstances of the photography.

Here are my favorites: Reese Witherspoon; Helena Christensen; Uschi Obermaier; Julia Stiles; Laetitia Casta (7:17 a.m. and under water); Ingrid Seynhaere; Emily Watson; Mia Kirshner (2); Sophis and Tess Medina; Charlotte Flossant; Amanda De Cadenet; Emma Thompson (2nd one); Dyan Cannon; Frederique van der Wal (2); Diane Warren; Eileen Ryan Penn; Debbie Morgan; Sofia Coppola; Sigourney Weaver (2); Joely Fisher; Lisa Marie; Lumi Cavazos; Angie Everhart; Cheryl Tiegs (2); Gina Gershon; Lois Chiles; Jennifer Beals; and Emmanuelle Sallet.

After you finish enjoying this book, I suggest that you do your own version of this photography with the people in your family. Get them at various times in the day when they are at their most open. It will make a wonderful scrapbook!

Find the natural person behind the prepared mask and response, . . . and cherish them!

I normally don't like to write these reviews, I feel art and music are such subjective experiences, you really need to check it out for yourself. But I had to say that this was a very beautiful book. Its an intimate view into a world, most of us men rarely get to be a part of, especially living in such a fast paced world. Veronique Vial captures these passing moments, tip toeing her way through the homes of some well known and before-they-were-famous woman. All the more reason to appreciate this book. Being a photographer, I can also appreciate the clean straight forward layout, that really shows off her great work. Her previous Men Before Ten am, I found too dark and over designed. Its hard to compare the two, because of the subject, but the printing on Women is superior and it has brighter and livelier feel. Her photographs really capture the moment, which is what great photography is all about.

I would compare her to the likes of the great Magnum photographers like, Bresson, Bruce Davidson, Elliot Erwitt. Her ability to capture the "life" in her subjects and "the moment" shows through in these photographs and her other work (see O Cirque du Soleil).

I gave five of these as gifts to woman friends and they loved and enjoyed this book, seeing themselves captured in these beautiful moments.

Very cute book! Very easy read, won't take you more than an afternoon or a day (depending on quickly you read). If you are looking for something light and fun, this is the book for you!

If you like books like The Nannie Diaries, First Assistant, Second Assistant and Citizen Girl then you will love this quilty pleasure. This story reads more like an autobiography which makes sense since it is supposedly 98% true. The thing that sets this book apart from the numerous others is that it is from the perspective of a seasoned veteran who had survived in her trade for over 20 years... It is not just those starting out that get treated so badly by the exorbinately weathly and famous... although the difference is that Corki's celebrities seem to actually need her, and want her help. They just have no clue how to act.

Chore Whore also has some great moments between mother and son. If you are also looking for a book that explores this mother/son relationship I recommend The Time Keeper by Kevin E. Cropp. Although certainly not as lighthearted, it has a get meaning.

Books by ex-celeb assistants are springing up like dandelions -- of course, who can blame the poor people, after having to be all-around gofers to people who can afford anything and everything? Heather Howard treads well-worn paths in "Chore Whore: Adventures of a Celebrity Personal Assistant," but manages to add some wonderful comic flourishes to a rather loose storyline.

Corki Brown is a hardworking widow, with a teenage son. She also works as a simultaneous "chore whore"/assistant/mommy to three different celebs: a sweet-natured star, Jack-Nicholson-style lothario Jock Straupman, and bratty Lucy Bennett,. Corki's job: Do the messy, the urgent, and the bizarre, like going shopping for someone else's condoms.

Then Lucy's personal and professional lives start to unravel. Her son starts causing trouble at school, while Jock's house is robbed of his "special" DVDs featuring trysts with underage girls, and Lucy becomes infatuated with a raging cowboy actor with a penchant for foursomes. Finally Jock and Lucy go too far -- worried mom Corki won't be used, abused, and taken for granted anymore.

Celebrities need not sweat -- while dozens are name-dropped, Howard doesn't dish dirt with any names included. It's really not even clear that Jock and Lucy are based on just one person each. But it is obvious that Howard has based Corki's nightmarish experiences on her own -- picking up the underwear of a one-night stand, because the maid won't? Ew.

Howard does a fairly good job with the comic elements of "Chore Whore," upping the absurdity factor to the max. But the multiple storylines are only loosely connected, and it's sometimes hard to keep all the maids, celebs and amours straight. And the whole matter of Corki's husband being alive or dead is brought up, then dropped.

But Howard does make some deeply likable characters, and she gives them a lot more depth than most "Devil Wore Prada" characters have. While we may despise Lucy and Jock, they have good points and human weaknesses. And while Howard never gets specific about why Corki's son is rebelling, she lets us see what happens when Corki has to play "Mom" to everyone except him.

"Chore Whore" runs along the same track as other such books, but Howard does provide some humorously human foibles for her bosses-from-hell. A fun light read.

First of all this book IS a novel. The author did work as a 'personal assistant' in Hollywood, but for obvious reasons, the novel format is used because there would be law suits if real people were mentioned. Real people ARE mentioned: Jennifer Anniston, Meg Ryan, Angelica Houston etc, but only peripherally ie. seen at a restaurant, attended her client's dinner parties and so forth. Corky Brown, the main character and 'chore whore' of the title, is a 40 year old woman of colour with a son to support. She is trying to raise her son and do her work in a way commensurate with her own morality and beliefs. Naturally this is impossible to achieve when your clients are superwealthy, engaging in group sex and expect you to clean up their physical and emotional messes with discretion! At one stage her son catches her lying for one of her clients and takes her to task for it and the reader feels the dilemma that Corky is caught in.

I think she has been careful to cover the identities of her main clients, although real names are frequently dropped in relation to them. Is Tommy Ray Tommy Lee Jones?? Who knows. I read this book in a couple of hours and did enjoy it. It got me thinking AGAIN about the emotional and moral vacuum the super rich seem to inhabit and the legions of support people who are trying to cope on very minimum wages in a city like Los Angeles. It all works out for Corky in the end. She seems a genuinely good person, with great skills who has spent most of her life struggling on a minimum wage, her work mostly taken for granted or unappreciated. It was nice to see her vindicated. She applies for a job as Jennifer Anniston's main assistant in the book and makes the final cut, turning the job down at the last minute out of loyalty to her oldest client (who then turns on her in a most spectacular fashion). You wonder how things might have turned out if she'd taken a job with this actor who the author makes a point of telling the reader is known as a fair and good employer.

Women like Corky survive by reaching out to friends around them, supporting them and in turn being supported by them. Corky's friendships are the most uplifting part of this book. Friends and family, the ties that bind, are what makes a crucial difference to all of our lives especially when things go pearshaped. I think that this is what the reader takes away from this book, underneath the glitter that is Hollywood.

Chore Whore is just the kind of book you want when picking up a fictionalized tale about celebrities. Great gossip, snarky commentary, and some truly scandalous dish on some barely disguised A-list stars by someone in a position to know what she's talking about.

Our heroine, like the author herself, is a celebrity assistant who works for a wide variety of A-list actors and musicians. The neurotic main character Lucy (Jennifer Aniston? Angelina Jolie? Laura Dern? all of the above are people the author has worked with) and her Billy Bob Thornton-ish husband is the most delicious to read about. Other fun characters in the book include a Jack Nicholsonish character who involves our heroine in a blackmail scandal and a relatively nice celebrity who actually treats the heroine well. You will finish the book genuinely liking and empathizing with the main character, as well as learning some hilarious gossip about real-life celebrities.

I don't know if this book REALLY is, as it claims to be, "98 Percent True," but it is definitely 100 Percent enjoyable. Recommended.