Bette Midler: Still Divine

by Mark Bego

Bego's biography of the Divine Miss M covers the singer and actress's life from her early years in Hawaii where she was born to her current standing among the entertainment elite. Midler's career as a brassy and bawdy nightclub act moved up a rung when her cover of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" entered the Top Ten in 1972. By 1979, she had earned an Oscar nomination and a Grammy for her contributions to the film The Rose. Since then she has won over audiences with her performances in Down and Out in Beverly Hills , Ruthless People , Beaches , and The First Wives Club , and earned a second Oscar nomination for For the Boys . As a singer, she's scored successes with "From a Distance" and the number one single "Wind Beneath My Wings." Fans of this all-around entertainer, who continues to appear in films and record music, will find that Bette Midler is the authoritative resource on the star's life.

Genres: Biography

440 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 1987

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up a self-proclaimed "ugly, fat little Jewish girl with problems," Bette Midler traded in her job at a Hawaiian pineapple processing plant for a trip to the Big Apple where, in the early 1970s, she re-created herself as the Divine Miss M, a brassy, bawdy cabaret act performing in a gay bathhouse.

By the end of the decade, she had an Oscar nomination (for The Rose) to go with her two Grammys, two Golden Globes and Tony award. After a rough start (her 1982 movie Jinxed was prophetically titled; it was followed by a breakdown and a slump in record sales), the '80s found her excelling at writing a children's book (The Saga of Baby Divine, 1983), wedding Martin von Haselberg (1984), revitalizing her film career with a string of Disney hits (including Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People and Beaches) and motherhood.

Bego has churned out more than 40 star bios in the last 25 years (Cher: If You Believe in 2001 and Madonna: Blonde Ambition in 2000), and he's in top form with this fast-paced, affectionate and incredibly detailed biography of the diminutive belter. Midler fans will also appreciate the exhaustive filmography, discography, concert tours, Web sites, memorable quotes from her films and episode guide to her failed sitcom, Bette.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bego is respectful, affectionate and obviously enthusiastic about his subject - this is updated version of 1987. book and could be easily be updated again, since Midler still goes strong. I always liked her, although can't exactly say why because honestly she never wasn't either greatest actress or singer - in movies she usually makes faces and in music she goes for camp overkill - but her public persona is so hugely enjoyable in its off-beat craziness that I can't help but to love almost everything she does. Author details every step in recording studios, concerts and such - I was surprised to find out that my personal favorite "Broken Blossom" album happens to be fan favorite as well, how strange that this never translated in chart success. Midler comes across as extremely likable, though I wouldn't mind less adoration and more insight (or at least guessing) into what kind of person she might be under all that cellophane - someone who is always expected to be funny, outrageous and bawdy might in fact be completely different in private life.

[Deb Bartram · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a horrible mess written by a stalker fan. Don't waste your time!

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

there was a lot of information and some wonderful pictures, but the tone was pretty dry and not very compelling.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea what Bette's background was and how she got to where she is today, a great entertainer. Love her shows, singing and personality. This book shared the basis of what makes Bette tick.

[Kirsikka71 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a back burner book on my iPad, took me a long time to finish it BUT I really liked it. I like Bette Midler and the book gave me insights to her life and career so job well done.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

What poor writing!!! Great material on the Divine Miss M, but you have to wade through this disjointed book.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

A friend lent me this book because she had really liked it and I expected it to be an entertaining read. It was very oddly written with whole pages devoted to outlining the plots of films she'd been in and lists of song tracks on albums. It was just like a badly written Wikipedia article in book form. I've read quite a few biographies recently which I've really enjoyed but this one was pretty dire.