Marilyn & Me: Sisters, Rivals, Friends

by Susan Strasberg

The daughter of Actors Studio guru Lee Strasberg recounts her bittersweet relationship with Marilyn Monroe, describing how the Strasbergs became Monroe's surrogate parents and recalls her own adoration and resentment of Monroe. Reprint.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Media Tie In

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Strasberg is the daughter of Lee, founder of The Actor's Studio and teacher of the Method, and Paula, former actress and later the coach of Marilyn Monroe, discusses her life and relationship to the glamorous star. Monroe was often in the Stasberg home for sessions with Lee, for dinner, and sometimes even to sleep over. Susan's stories range from personal anecdotes to objective interpretations.

This book is unique because it is not a full biography and includes a lot of information that has not since been reprinted in other books. It spends more time discussing Monroe the person instead of hashing out stories about her love life. It is an honest and fair depiction.

[Jamie Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eerie and lyrical at once, this a tour-de-force literary accomplishment from a woman who, to me at least, was every bit as talented a writer as she was an actress. Now, I would have sworn that I would never read a biography of Marilyn Monroe. I know the woman's basic story from many years of reading about classic Hollywood, and honestly have never found her as fascinating as most other people seem to. My interest in this book, in fact, is what it has to tell, first-person viewpoint, about the life of Susan Strasberg. That it happens to include a lot of information about Monroe is, for me, by-the-way. What I found so captivating about this work was the intertwining of the two lives, the tsunami of human emotion on both sides, and in the end how phenomenally illuminated a writer Strasberg really was. I guess I, and I think many others, make the mistake of limiting a known actor/actress, thinking, "Well, if they're that good on screen, surely they can't be that wonderful as weavers of words." I have been schooled. Susan Strasberg, as a sporadic writer, was far better than many another full-time author I've 'met.'

In the last analysis, I would recommend this often tragic but always brilliant book to anyone who has interest in the Hollywood that used to be.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would it be like if Marilyn Monroe came to your house when you were a teenager, started taking classes from your father, was coached by your mother, and stole attention away from you? Quite an interesting situation to be in, and worthy of memoir. This took me two library loans to get through, as she was pretty thorough with the details, but I appreciated that she shared even the unflattering aspects of her family. I thought she seemed a reliable narrator (I'm skeptical about all of these kind of memoirs because I wonder how anyone could ever remember so many details.) This was well-written, smart and insightful.

[Delia Shugrue · Rating 5 out of 5]

“only she isn’t gone. she’s still here.
my mother believed Marilyn was ‘a true star, a self illuminating body’. now Marilyn is like one of those stars we look up at to make wishes on. it has died, but it’s light is still traveling toward us.
and we are holding a good thought for her.”
this book was so beautiful and now might be my favorite about marilyn. susan strasberg is an incredible writer and to read about her relationship with marilyn was so beautiful.

[Karen Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Strasberg family became a huge influence in the last 7 years of Marilyn Monroe's life. She left the bulk of her estate to them when she died. Susan's book offers a peek into life with Marilyn, as she often crashed at their home and became an unofficial member of their family. Susan often felt competitive with Marilyn for her parents' attention, hence the title. Although the family was pretentious and full of themselves, it's an interesting read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up randomly at a friend's house when I was bored. In addition to some insight about MM, it contains some thought-provoking commentary on acting (daughter of Lee Strasberg is author), relationships, and learning to find and accept who we are in our own skin. Very well written and intelligent.

[Malcolm Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strasberg details the relationship between her and Monroe but that between her and her parents. Her father treats her truly abysmally. Her mother acts as a buffer.
Her mother seems to assume an importance which nobody else acknowledges. A really excellent memoir

[Therese Wiese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her life with Dad Lee Strasberg and Monroe. Light and fluffy - great beach read. Don't let the three star rating keep you from reading this!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. I have read many books about Marilyn and this is the first one that portrayed her as a real person with no illusions or conspiracy.

[Rick Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used it as a research book in learning as much as I could about Marilyn Monroe. I think I learned as much from Susan Strasberg's book as from any of the more famous bios on MM.

[Paul Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd time reading this :)

very informative to get a backstage glance into the life of Marilyn and Susan. i loved the little anecdotes she had about Marilyn and also Richard Burton ;)

[Elbrozzie]

Despite her confessional and seemingly intimate style, Ms. Strasberg comes across like a cliché. So does Monroe. The reading this book was like eating Oreos. Couldn't stop even though no nutrition.

[Helen Waddington · Rating 4 out of 5]

For once a book about Marilyn written by someone who was actually there. Often quoted in other biographies it was interesting to read what it was actually like to be in Marilyn’s presence without there being any hidden agenda by the writer. Recommended.

[Laura S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few errors here and there (not Susan’s fault) which have been debunked (MM abortions/Joe D arranging MM funeral guests) but overall a beautiful personal account of Marilyn’s life with the Strasbergs

[Dave Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Susan Strasberg was a beautiful writer.

[Elizabeth Periale · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://xoxoxoe.blogspot.com/2012/07/m...

"In Marilyn and Me: Sisters, Rivals, Friends, Susan Strasberg tries to tell what it was like to have Marilyn Monroe enter her life and the life of her family. Her father was Lee Strasberg, head of the Actors Studio, and guru to many of the film and stage actors of the 1950s, '60s and '70s (Marlon Brando, Geraldine Page, James Dean, Elia Kazan, Eva Marie Saint, Paul Newman, Jane Fonda, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, etc.) Her mother was former actress Paula Strasberg, who became Marilyn's personal coach and factotum. For a short spell their home was a haven to Marilyn, who had fled Los Angeles after her divorce from Joe DiMaggio. Marilyn was looking for a new life as an actress, and was scheming with photographer Milton Greene about starting her own film production company, which would free her from the dumb blonde roles that her studio Twentieth Century-Fox was determined to lock her into."

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago. I found it to be a very interesting look into the time Marilyn Monroe spent with the Strasberg family while she was attending Lee Strasberg's Actors' Studio. Susan and she became close friends and her parents treated Marilyn like one of their own children.

This book gives a very interesting, alternative insight into the life and death of Marilyn Monroe.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Susan Strasberg, trying to be a teenage actress while her parents--the most well-known acting coaches around--are tripping over themselves coaching, nursing, mothering, fawning over freakin' Marilyn Monroe who's living in their house! #bless #payattentiontoyourkids #gohomemarilyn

[April Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only read this cause of the Marilyn connection, would not recommend to the casual reader.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. Gave true picture of the life of Marilyn Monroe from one that lived with her and saw her in a day to day setting. I really enjoyed the depth of the final chapter.

[Laurie Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my first book i started reading

[Trina Kubicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know how I finished this.

[Marlen Saniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

touchy..3

[Marlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first biography ive read..makes me feel sad about her

[Cheryl]

Rather boring read. Could not finish, too many good books out there.