Norma Jean

by Fred Lawrence Guiles

Biography. Hardcover with dust jacket. Fred Lawrence Guiles, Author. McGraw-Hill Publishers, 1969. The dust jacket is faded, inside the dust jacket, it is age toned, the jacket shows light shelfwerar and several small tears on the top and bottom of the spine area, the book itself is very good. The boards are navy cloth with silver lettering. Printed in the USA. The endpages are hot pink. Book Club Edition. Pages are age toned (lightly tanned). Total 373 pages. The spine is tight and straight, the pages are free of markings and tears. Norma Jean, is better known as Marilyn Monroe. "For the first time it brings Marilyn Monroe's life clearly into focus and explains much about her that, up to now, has been too hush-hush to be told. Once begun, it is not to be put down. It is like finding a new novel by Dickens." A remarkable "serious, solid and intelligent biography, a work of dedicated research, about a movie heroine, both famious and notorious in the folk mind, who appears in these pages as fascinating, complex, charming, entertaining, pathetic and eventually tragic." Another great book you will want to add to your Marilyn Monroe collection. This book is not easy to find just in any used bookstore, so don't wait too long to order this one from us at our special and competitive price. *9BC1

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Americana, Film, Biography Memoir

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Michael Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first biography I read. I'd seen Some Like It Hot at the age of 14 and something indefinable clicked - you can debate that amongst yourselves as I have no idea. This though is not a scandalous biography, there are no conspiracies in it and thankfully no gibberish about murder, but it is thorough. It's about a life, just a life and all that happened in it, at least all that we're allowed to know. The general air is one of thoughtfulness, for the subject and the reader, which is no bad thing. There was an updated version published in the mid-80s, but it didn't add a great deal, except an "-e" to the name "Jean", as Marilyn preferred it

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it was informational and very intriguing. As Elton John put it: she was a 'candle to the wind', snuffed out too soon.

[Rebecca I · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not much to compare this with as I have read very little about Monroe in the past and am not of the same generation. I found all of the book enlightening. I learned much and now I see the short life of Marilyn as more complete than I previously had. I suppose if I now have more than a passing interest I can read some of the other books about her life. What I found was an enigma, even to those who purported to be close to her. Something I did not appreciate about the author's style was that the time frames seemed fuzzy just because he writes about someone we know has died and so he tries to look at things that happened in a way that analyzes what we should have realized or predicted would have happened and in a looking back at the facts historically and what it all has meant. I try to put it in my mind in a timeline because I am a visual learner. I would like to see a timeline of events that were significant in her life and when she met certain people, and see the overlap of the Hollywood and New York experiences and existences. It is a good book with food for thought on how her life affected the idea of a star in terms of who she was at the time and how she survives as an icon.

[Ilena Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I heard of this book, a female relative checked it out of the local library and said the story was so "tragic." This woman read a lot, but sadly, she had a non-existent social (translate: love) life. I think she read stuff like this to fill her lonely time. For years I wanted to read it, but I think about 10 years passed before I got it from another library. It was the first MM book I read. Over time, I read everything I could about her. Even the book that her maid wrote. Sadly, so much is gone in the mists of time. She was determined to be a "serious" actress and in a way, she did. But her schizophrenia got in the way. Every time one of her movies comes on TV I have to watch it. Once, I even asked for a bottle of Joy perfume for a present. This was her favorite fragrance.

[Michael John Paul McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have owned this paperback book by Fred Lawrence Guiles for many years and only recently picked it up to read. I have read many books about Marilyn, but none so informative as this one. Starting with her grandparents, then her mother and Norma Jean's birth, the book tells Norma Jean's story. Her start in modelling, the bit parts in films, onto her rise as an icon and a legend. But what a sad and at times lonely life she had. I was surprised to note that George Barris was never mentioned in this book, considering he took the last photos of her in relaxing mode along with possibly one of her last ever interviews with him. But as it was only written about six years after her death, maybe Guiles was unaware of the fact. Well worth a read.

[Brett buckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

And excellent examination of her life with an academic's eye to detail, minus many of the salacious rumors that plagues Monroe long after death. There's conjecture, to be sure. It would be impossible to tell her story without it, but most are backed up with research and interviews by those who knew her. For example, the affairs with JFK and RFK make up only the a small portion of her troubled final years.

And yes, Marilyn Monroe most certainly killed herself. There's no presidential conspiracy. The real question is whether she actually wanted to die, or was hoping to be saved, yet again.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Marilyn bio I read. A great intro to a great woman. Couldn't put it down.

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
You were bigger than the whole sky
You were more than just a short time

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in paperback years ago, probably as soon as it came out. The cover was so pretty. Good book. I recommend it.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a detailed, "factual" account of the life of Marilyn Monroe. As you probably know, she brought herself up from very meager circumstances to movie star status. It read almost like a history book. I was glad it was not sensational. On the other hand, although this narrative of her life was interesting, there was no "color" at all to the story.

[LJP1610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

the saving grace of this book 1-writer actually interviewed miller. and pat newcombe (for wat thats worthe) miller is at times not complimentary but honest. wwriter freely admits not mentioning RFK's name when book was first published as RFK was currently politicalcandididate. but names him in foreward.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok, not the best Marilyn bio I have read, but ok. It was written soon after her death, and I think maybe he wanted to be respectful and not dig too deep.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was a VERY boring book about such an interesting woman

[Alison Young]

Learnt quite a lot about Marilyn's early life. Not a bad read.

[Eirene Hogan]

Very good.

[Steve Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rewrite of a previous edition. The gold standard of Marilyn biographies.