Marilyn: The Passion and Paradox

by Lois W. Banner

Like her art, Marilyn Monroe was rooted in She was a powerful star and a childlike waif; a joyful, irreverent party girl with a deeply spiritual side; a superb friend and a narcissist; a dumb blonde and an intellectual. No previous biographer has recognized -- much less attempted to analyze -- most of these aspects of her personality. Lois Banner has.
Since Marilyn's death in August of 1962, the appetite for information about her has been insatiable. Biographies of Marilyn abound, and whether these books are sensational or flawed, Marilyn's fans have always come out in bestselling numbers. This time, with Lois Banner's Revelations , the fans won't be disappointed. This is no retread of recycled material. As one of the founders of the field of women's history, Banner will reveal Marilyn Monroe in the way that only a top-notch historian and biographer could.
In researching Revelations , Banner's credentials opened doors. She gained access to Marilyn intimates who hadn't spoken to other biographers, and to private material unseen, ignored, or misinterpreted by her predecessors. With new details about Marilyn's childhood foster homes, her sexual abuse, her multiple marriages, her affairs, and her untimely death at the age of thirty-six, Revelations is, at last, the nuanced biography Marilyn fans have been waiting for.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Biography Memoir, Film, Womens, Pop Culture

528 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

A founder of the field of women's history in the 1970s, Lois Banner is Professor of History Emerita at the University of Southern California. Banner graduated from UCLA, with a Master's Degree in European History and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in American history. Along with Mary Hartman, she founded the Berkshire Conference in Women's History, the biennial conference that has been held ever since and that is considered the major event in the field. She was the first woman president of the American Studies Association, and in 2006 she won the Bode-Pearson prize of the American Studies Association for Lifetime Achievement in the field. Professor Banner is also a past president of the Pacific Coast Branch, American Historical Association, and of the Coordinating Committee in Women's History of the American Historical Association. She has also been a fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation, of the Radcliffe Institute of Harvard College, and of the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.

Reviews

[Carl Rollyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you have Marilyn Monroe fatigue, you should read Lois Banner's book. She had access to new primary sources--much of it in a filing cabinet that only recently became accessible to biographers. Banner generously mentions that she drew on my research, especially concerning Monroe's study of acting. You will also learn a good deal about the impact of Christian Science on the young Marilyn Monroe. In many ways, this was a woman ahead of her time even as most people thought of her as simply an expression of her time. Don't miss the revelations.

[Katherine Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was 14 years old, I bought a book about Marilyn, written by a person I had yet to hear of, Gloria Steinem. It was filled with beautiful, yet painful, images of a woman who I was captivated by. The images were taken in the final months of Monroe's life and, ever since then, I have always had an interest in Marilyn -- especially the inner conflicts of a woman who appeared to have it all, yet suffered from deep anxiety, depression, self doubt, gynecological problems and relational issues.

I heard Lois Banner on NPR, and while I was not impressed with her interview (Banner came across as overly defensive of her scholarship, and somewhat narcissistic), I was intrigued by the topic at hand: a feminist cultural analysis on the life, death, and imagery of Marilyn. I mean, how could this be anything but absolutely fascinating??

Sadly, the book was a bit of a let down. Banner is frequently redundant in her sharing of nuts and bolts type information. She offers some of her own analysis, which often creeps into the direction of psychoanalysis (which Marilyn underwent over the course of her adult life). However, Banner is no psychoanalyst, and her analysis is often weak and careless. It's laughable how she assumes to know (or at least firmly believe) Marilyn's intents when it came to exertion of agency and purpose in some episodes of Marilyn's life, yet in others (where even a novice therapist would focus in immediately) she throws up her hands -- "one would wonder why Marilyn did _____".

Banner is a historian, grounded in feminist social/cultural criticism -- and if she had remanded grounded here, it would have made for a much tighter biographical narrative and analysis. Additionally, she seems to have narcissistic aims in her writing, and inserts herself in the narrative at points. I found this to be totally unnecessary -- and this made for some confusion in defining the book's purpose and goals. I can only assume she was attempting to express some form of empathy with Monroe, but this seems out of place when considering what the book was purported to be.

All this said, I still enjoyed reading the book and learned quite a bit. I *do* appreciate the feminist exploration of the paradoxical nature of Marilyn's self, personalities, and activities. I wish there had been a lot more of it. While the chapters on her early life are a bit meandering, I really enjoyed the later chapters, especially the ones on her time in New York and her final days in Los Angeles.

In the end, I feel like I have a better understanding of Marilyn, and am now curious to watch and re-watch a number of her films, now that I have a better understanding of the context of her life during those points in time.

I waffled between 3 and 4 stars..... and decided to bump it up to 4, because even with the many flaws of this book, it is still highly readable and fascinating.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read anything about Marilyn Monroe. Sure, I've seen some old movies with her in it and I've heard about a conspiracy theory surrounding her death. But beyond that, I was pretty clueless until I immersed myself in Banner's Marilyn. It took me a while to really get a connection to this book. It was really dry reading, with alot of time spent with Banner explaining why her research of Marilyn was correct and why everyone's before her was not.

But getting past that, she did offer some fresh perspectives about Marilyn's life. Was she manipulated by men or was she in charge of her own destiny is for the reader to decide. But I was intrigued in learning about Norma Jean's (her real name) childhood, her rise to stardom and her many men. I particularly enjoyed the photographs in the book. It really added to the story seeing her in so many different places and with so many different people. Her life was simply captivating and tragic.

If you are a Marilyn fan or simply like to read biographies, I urge you to pick up Marilyn by Lois Banner. Even though it's a bit unorthodox in places, meaning the author's whatfors and how comes, it really is a compelling piece of fiction.

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too long....repetitive throughout the book and boring. In fact, in many places, I would say to myself, "hey wait a minute, did I lose my page?" I just read about this incident or person and the author had moved on...only to return to that person/incident to go into more detail. ehh:(

Back in the 1970's, I remember reading a book about Marilyn, and really enjoyed the read. I wish I could remember which book it was...not that I would want to read the same book again.

Sometimes, I feel as though authors writing biographies often want to change the perception of the person they are writing about to fit a certain agenda. They focus on certain events and life experiences and ignore others. Just saying...

[clarenina · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absorbing look at the contradiction that was Initials MM featuring a lot of information that was new to me. It was great to read a perspective not preoccupied with that tired trope in which MM is depicted as a victim of Hollywoodland and menfolk. Instead, the book centres more on her psychological make-up and the author's feminist readings of MM as an icon. My only criticism is that there is a degree of repetition (quotes, general information, anecdotes) which I found a little distracting. Nonetheless, those with a fascination for, and fondness of, MM and the golden era of American cinema will find this to be an enjoyable and educating read.

*If I were able I'd actually give this ✮✮✮1/2

[Sandra Heitzman · Rating 1 out of 5]

How is it possible to write a boring book about Marilyn Monroe? This book was tedious.

[Anna Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marilyn Monroe is still on of the most recognized sex symbols to come out of America's history and make her way into the world conciousness. This book is an attempt to analyze the different aspects of Marilyn's personality: her troubled childhood, the dueling longings for a successful career and a family of her own, the partying contrasted with the religion, the dumb blonde versus the very smart girl. The author, Lois Banner, takes a feminist approach and treats the material like a slice of women's history that is in need of understanding. Banner managed to gain material that has never been seen before, interviews with Marilyn's personal friends, and facts previously ignored by other biographers. Banner has also gotten new details about Marilyn's childhood, abuse, and all of her other personal tragedies. I went into this biography expecting to read something new and fresh to the world's enormous collection of books about the myth and realities of Marilyn Monroe. The stuff about her childhood as Norma Jeane Mortenson was horrific. I couldn't imagin a child being shifted around that much, abused, neglected and NOT coming out of it with major problems as an adult like Norma did. But once we started getting into her movie career, it was the same old stuff that is rehashed everywhere. I don't care what the synopsis for this book says, it was not anything that was new enough to interest me. Not to mention that the author spends a lot of time analyzing Marilyn's every action and word instead of just reporting the facts. This was less of a biography and more of a very amateur psychological analysis. Seriously, what businees does she have purporting to know the inner thoughts and screw-ups of woman who has been dead for half a century? This book was just not for me. If you want to see Marilyn nitpicked to death and be bored out of your mind I encourage you to keep going after finishing the second half of the book. Otherwise, don't even bother.


VERDICT: 1.75/5 Stars


*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published July 17th, 2012.*

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ambitious, scholarly study of Marilyn Monroe, looking both at the narrative of her life and her place in history. While I don't agree with every part of it, I found Banner's perspective to be brilliant at times. She gives the reader a sense of why Monroe is so hard to pin down as a character, and how she seems to embody so many contradictions. This is a thoughtful, provocative read, analysing MM as an American icon. But if you're looking for a more straightforward biography, this may not be an ideal read. (As an alternative, Michelle Morgan's 'MM: Private and Undisclosed' is an excellent place to start.)

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so popular that I had to wait several weeks to get it from the library. It is the most recent semi-academic book about Marilyn and Banner is a specialist on her and her politics. Yes, Marilyn as both a woman and an icon was/is terribly political. The book follows the typical biography outline, beginning with Marilyn's grandparents. Slowly, the early years of her development unfold and we learn about the tragic events of her childhood (including her abandonment by her mother and molestation by an older man). At this point, Banner alludes to some psychoanalyses of Marilyn based on her childhood. Although this can be commonplace in biographies, Banner succeeds at psychoanalyzing Marilyn with the practiced expertise and sensitivity of the scholar that she is.
My favourite chapter in this book is by far the most academic one, wherein Banner describes Marilyn's rise to fame as simultaneous with her growth in power as a business woman. Marilyn did contribute to feminism and to equalizing the roles of men and women in the business world by heading her own production company and thereby having control over the profits from her films. Although she often portrayed coquettish, innocent "dumb blonde" characters on and off camera, her naivete was indeed feigned. She exaggerated these roles and got away with the greatest of deceptions, as well as a lot of money. Men were duped and drooling, while she built an empire.
This wealth did not bring her enough joy to offset the traumas of her youth and the loneliness she felt as an adult. Banner suggests she was not sure who she really was, making it easy for her to emulate hollywood starlets. Though she may have become empowered thanks to her own sex appeal, it was really her only choice, as she felt others had decided her identity before she had time to fashion one herself.
She did have an independence about her that set her apart from others, and this she often expressed through fashion, hair and make-up. She started many trends by creating looks that flattered her face and figure and she wasn't afraid to go beyond what was considered acceptable (obviously).
This book does a wonderful job of showing the passion of Marilyn and I think it is a great read, especially for women.

[Elan Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marilyn is the love of my life, and this is the best birthday gift I could have gotten. After reading this book, i feel like i know so much more about her then i had learned from any other biographies on her. I love the research put into this book, and the amount of material it covers. It really does explain her in a way that seems more real. She really just needed some one to love her for who she was. Unlike other Marilyn biographies, I find she is looked at more as a person, rather then a just a troubled movie star. We all have hardships, but Marilyn got it rough for sure. This book made me lover her even more.
I highly recommend this to any Marilyn fan!
XO

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a feminist, this book was an interesting account of Marilyn's life. Some of the writing was a little, I don't know, familiar? Like the author would refer to a place she lived, like Hawthorne, and she wrote that it was described as a slum but " I lived there and I know it wasn't like that." I don't know, to me that seemed odd. It was very heavily annotated and I would love to see some of the primary sources used to research this book, like the things Marilyn wrote.

[Lizzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Banner is determined to get to the truth of events, and mostly succeeds. Her ambition with this book is really admirable and she does her best to understand and explain why Marilyn was the way she was. Feminist thoughts very interesting too, worth discussing at length. Full review here: http://littlewordsreview.wordpress.co...

[Christina McLain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this biography to be tasteless and self-serving at times. The author has done a lot of creditable research into the life and times of one of the most enduring icons of our time but in the end what Ms. Banner has to tell us is undermined by her own attitude, a strange hybrid of academic dogmatism and tabloid sleaziness. Do we really need to know so much about Marilyn's abortions, her vaginal fluids, her painful periods? And are these factoids really germane to cracking the code of the elusive Norma Jean? At one point the author vows to demonstrate Marilyn's bisexuality and yet that titillating revelation is never successfully proven. In the middle of the biography we get a dissertation on Marilyn as a feminist icon. Honestly!! In truth we may never really know what made Marilyn tick. Possibly because of her troubled childhood she was terrified of abandonment and yet her high maintenance erratic behaviour invited it. She longed for self respect and could never say no. In the end she came across as someone who just could not get her demons under control. Drugs obviously exacerbated her problems until she destroyed herself or was destroyed by the dirty underside of her life, her liasions with Hollywood lowlifes and the Kennedys not withstanding. Conspiracy theories abound. I just found this sad story was told to us in a strangely idiosyncratic way.

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I picked up a Marilyn Monroe biography, I was nine years old. It was Maurice Zolotow’s Marilyn, written while she was alive. An afterword mentioned it was unsure if her death was suicide or accidental. We had few cable channels at that time (1981), and the movies I saw tended to be older. I was familiar with Marilyn, but now I was hooked. Beauty and tragic death appealed to my pre-teen self.

Even when I got over my teen angst for tragedy, I still liked Marilyn. The number of her movies is finite, so I would pick up any biography of her. In the ensuing 30 years, I’ve read around a dozen. Even my most conservative estimate still says there are at least 15 I haven’t read. Many claim to be the definitive book on Marilyn, with interviews of friends who previously kept quiet, shocking secrets, and previously unpublished photos.

So why read another biography of Marilyn Monroe? You could read the one that first piqued my interest: the aforementioned Marilyn by Maurice Zolotow. However, because she was alive at the time of writing and it was published in a far different social climate, there was a lot he couldn’t or wouldn’t say. Anthony Summer’s Goddess (1985) provides more, but his tone came across as contemptuous in many places. Gloria Steinem’s Norma Jeane (1986) is more sympathetic, but she seems compelled to apologize for thinking about Marilyn Monroe as a worthy biographical subject. And then there’s Norman Mailer’s Marilyn, which is less of a biography than an example of how much he can type while simultaneously masturbating.

If you’d like more examples, there’s the whole slew who are less interested in Marilyn the living woman than they are with her corpse. More specifically, their pet theory on who made her one. A beautiful, famous woman could not have possibly wanted to end her life, and more than a few books devolve into a bad Clue scenario.

Was it Dr. Greenson in the bedroom with a syringe? Bobby Kennedy in the living room with an enema? Housekeeper Eunice Murray in the laundry room with the sheets? J. Edgar Hoover in the unmarked van with the listening device? Black helicopters, disappearing tapes, mysterious ambulances, and cooperating FBI/Mafia/LAPD hit squads show up with numbing regularity.

Lois Banner’s biography of Marilyn Monroe is by far the best I’ve read. Banner’s introduction mentions she is the first academic scholar, feminist biographer, and gender historian to have studied Marilyn. This is why, whether you’ve read a dozen others as I have or only know Marilyn through the work of Andy Warhol, you should read this one.

Every biography will tell you the basic facts. Marilyn was shuttled through foster homes, married young, became a model, became an actress. Oh yes, and she claimed to have been sexually abused as a child. I have never seen anyone write about how brave Marilyn was for talking about her childhood sexual abuse. This was just not done in the late 1940s. Even worse, many writers of Marilyn always make sure to mention her first husband’s insistence that she was a virgin when she married – see, nothing really bad could have happened. Gloria Steinem in Marilyn: Norma Jeane is the rare one who believed her. Never mind that sexual abuse does not preclude technical virginity; it’s safer to think of Marilyn as exaggerating or outright lying. Banner’s detailed study of the climate in which Marilyn was brought up – a shy child born with the societal stigma of illegitimacy, grandmother and mother in asylums, passed from one foster home to another, reveals what an easy target she would have been. Marilyn stuttered, was an insomniac, suffered from severe endometriosis, and became addicted to sleeping pills. As a girl, she wasn’t even considered pretty. It took incredible work and effort to become Marilyn Monroe. Prior biographies mention all these things, but Banner not only places it all within historical context, she performs an excellent and informed analysis of how the difficulties the young Norma Jeane experienced affected the adult Marilyn. In the proper framework, much of her adult behavior considered unorthodox or just plain bizarre seems less that of a spoiled and/or crazy star, and more that of a woman trying to cope with many demons, not the least of which was fear of being like her mother.

Banner’s study and access to source materials gave me the first new revelation I’ve ever had about Marilyn, which Banner discloses with the utmost delicacy. Marilyn felt attraction to other women and was terrified of both those feelings and the thought hat someone might learn of them. At various times, Marilyn made oblique references such as, ”There was also the sinister fact that a well-made woman had always thrilled me to look at.” When asked directly about this quote by an interviewer, instead of the surely expected denial, she responded with: ”No sex is wrong if there’s love in it.”

Most reporters didn’t ask. The world’s most famous bombshell could not like the girls too.

To make Banner’s research more compelling, she herself was brought up just a few miles from where Marilyn was and even attended the same high school. She also won beauty contests and was encouraged to try acting but chose scholarship over a film career. Banner’s study of Marilyn is not just research; it’s more personal. She remembers the social climate which shaped young Norma Jeane Mortenson, even experienced some of it. That experience creates a fuller picture of how a regular, even plain girl became Marilyn Monroe.

Lois Banner has created an insightful and electrifying portrait of the life of Marilyn Monroe. And when it comes to her sad and early death, Banner resists ghoulish speculation in favor of, as with her work throughout Marilyn, conclusions backed up with verifiable evidence, and carefully footnoted.

[Keith Kropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read so many Marilyn biographies, including her own autobiography ,as well as all the crazy ones with the Q-Anon type conspiracy theories about her death, I wasn't sure I was ready for another one until I read some of the reviews.

This is "hands down" the best Marilyn biography I have ever read! Lois Banner is a highly qualified professional historian who writes in an easy to read manner. Her biography is well researched and presented in a manner that is easy to follow.

I have been a huge fan of Marilyn's since her films began appearing on television in the late 1950s. I have always admired and respected her. Those who were close to her were in awe of her intellect and talents. She was truly a self-made phenomenon who will be forever remembered. She is only now getting the respect and admiration she has always deserved by a wider range of humanity.

[Elizabeth Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book to read about Marilyn Monroe!! The facts and research are impeccable!! The writing is superb and it gives a vivid, clear eyed, engaging, insightful analysis of Marilyn Monroe with fascinating and excellent relevant cultural information!! Absolutely without reservations recommend this book!!

[Adrián · Rating 1 out of 5]

El libro de Banner Marilyn de Passion and Paradox es uno de los libros menos fiables sobre Marilyn, y voy a explicar por qué. Dice muchas mentiras o exageraciones muy sensacionalistas, especialmente en temas como la muerte, la sexualidad y la política de Marilyn. Respecto a la muerte, Banner sugiere que Marilyn pudo haberse suicidado por no poder controlar sus impulsos lésbicos. Esto es simplemente absurdo, más absurdo que cualquier teoría conspiranoica de asesinato. Por que Marilyn se suicidaría a la edad de 36 años y no antes si tenía unos supuestos impulsos lésbicos incontrolables. También de por sí no me parece muy normal suicidarse por algo como tu sexualidad. Además, Marilyn defendió abiertamente a Montgomery Clift por ser gay. Entonces, si realmente veía bien la sexualidad de otros, ¿Por qué tendría complejo con la suya? No tiene ningún tipo de sentido. Además, Pat Newcomb dijo que Marilyn no tenía ningún tipo de ansiedad hacia la homosexualidad. Entonces, todo lo que dice Banner es muy cuestionable respecto a lo que dicen otros autores. Respecto a la sexualidad, Banner intenta decir que Marilyn era 100% bisexual, algo que no está confirmado, ya que se basa en rumores sensacionalistas posteriores a la muerte de Marilyn. La mayoría de autores dejan el tema de la bisexualidad bastante abierto y de hecho Sarah Churchwell sugiere que algunos lo usan para crear ideología. Además de esto, lo cierto es que en el libro Fragments, donde se exponen varias cartas y escritos de Marilyn, en muchos de ellos dice sus pensamientos y preocupaciones, no hay nada relacionado con relaciones sexuales con mujeres, ni preocupaciones al respecto por algo así. Entonces, lo que dice Banner en este sentido es bastante cuestionable. También respecto a la sexualidad, Banner dice algunas cosas que a mí personalmente no me parecen muy creíbles, como que una vez con un reportero que le iba a hacer una entrevista, Marilyn le preguntó si podía peinarse, el reportero accedió y bueno, básicamente Marilyn se puso a peinarse el vello púbico, no me parece creíble. Pero lo cierto es que lo peor es la política, porque aquí Banner miente descaradamente respecto a las ideas políticas de Marilyn. Intenta venderla como una izquierdista radical, algo que no es cierto. Primero que nada dice cosas como que The Seven Year Itch, el personaje de Marilyn, indirectamente critica al capitalismo y al consumismo, algo absurdo y algo que nadie ha visto jamás sobre esa película. Pero curiosamente Banner no menciona, por ejemplo, que en Hometown Story, una película en la que Marilyn actuó, es propaganda capitalista o está considerada así por mucha gente. Menciona además que en muchas de las actuaciones de Marilyn, ella interpretaba trabajadoras como coristas, cantantes, modelos y dice que el más destacado sería el de Class by Night, donde Marilyn hace de una obrera. Esto Banner lo interpreta como algo ideológico, algo absurdo en mi opinión. No sabía yo que interpretar a una obrera en una película era algo político, pero bueno. Curiosamente Banner no menciona. que en El príncipe y la corista, una película en la que Marilyn además era productora y tenía bastante influencia sobre el guion, el personaje de Marilyn, Elsie Marina, literalmente defiende, apoya y promueve la democracia y tiene una actitud ciertamente patriótica hacia Estados Unidos. Pero lo peor de todo no es esto. En su libro dice para intentar vender este izquierdismo radical de Marilyn, dice, por ejemplo, cosas como que una carta que Marilyn escribió a Lester Markel en 1960, dice que Marilyn aquí muestra un apoyo a líderes comunistas contra el capitalismo y el imperialismo. En concreto se refiere a Castro. Marilyn en esta carta habla de Castro, pero no lo apoya del todo explícitamente y en 1960 Castro no era comunista. Además, Marilyn dice literalmente que fue criada para creer en la democracia. Esto lo dice en esta misma carta. También dice que literalmente que su presidente ideal sería William O. Douglas y que, por ejemplo, también dice que admira a rockefeller Curioso, ¿no? Una anticapitalista que admira a rockefeller Lo que dice Banner es simplemente absurdo. Lo de Castro, Banner lo repite en varios artículos. El más problemático es uno de La Vanguardia en donde dice literalmente que Marilyn apoyó a Castro en primavera de 1962. Bueno, esto es completamente falso, no hay ninguna prueba que avale esto y de hecho la propia Banner no lo menciona en su libro. Curiosamente lo que Marilyn sí hizo en primavera de 1962 fue el Happy Birthday Mr. President. Es decir, un apoyo público a Kennedy donde Marilyn no solo le cantó, sino que lo admiró públicamente en un momento de gran tensión entre Kennedy y Castro. En otra entrevista Banner dice que Marilyn se declaró socialista poco antes de morir. Una vez más esto vuelve a ser falso, no hay ninguna evidencia de que Marilyn se declarara socialista poco antes de morir y de hecho Marilyn rechazaba las etiquetas, por ejemplo en su última entrevista dijo que dijo que ser un sex symbol es algo que no le gusta, porque no le gusta ser una cosa. En otra ocasión dejó por escrito que no le gusta pertenecer a grupos porque en grupos tienden a discriminar y ella no ha sido muy buena en grupos, ni siquiera en grupos de dos. Curiosamente, Banner se desmiente directamente a sí misma, ya que en la entrevista anterior de La Vanguardia, antes de decir lo de Castro, dice literalmente que Marilyn era muy progresista si es que no era socialista. Osea, en una entrevista no parece tener claro si Marilyn era simplemente progresista o si llegaba a ser socialista y en otra no solamente lo tiene claro, sino que dice que Marilyn explícitamente se declaró así. Bueno, esto es simplemente absurdo. En su libro Banner también dice cosas absurdas sobre personas cercanas a Marilyn para intentar vincularla con esta idea de izquierdismo radical. Por ejemplo, dice que Lester Markel era un simpatizante comunista. Bueno, esto es simplemente absurdo. Lester Marquet era un liberal moderado del New York Times. No hay ninguna prueba de que fuera comunista, ni siquiera fue investigado por el FBI en la época del macartismo, que investigaban a todo el mundo por la más mínima sospecha. También dice que Carl sandburg era un radical y menciona que Marilyn dijo que él era el poeta del pueblo, para el pueblo y por el pueblo. Esta frase así sin contexto suena muy populista e intenta vincular la idea de que Marilyn pensaba esto sobre un radical. Para intentar vincularlo con esa idea suya de izquierdismo radical de Banner. Pero la realidad es mucho mucho más simple. En realidad Carl sandburg había sido miembro del Partido Socialista de América en la década de los años 10, pero lo había dejado, de hecho, casi 10 años antes de que Marilyn naciera. Para cuando Sandburg conoció a Marilyn llevaba décadas siendo un liberal progresista y haciendo campaña por el Partido Demócrata. Respecto a lo de la frase, pues Marilyn lo que dijo realmente fue que los poemas de Sandburg eran canciones del pueblo, para el pueblo y por el pueblo. Y bueno, esto, claro, sin contexto puede sonar populista, pero en realidad es una referencia a un discurso de Abraham Lincoln al cual tanto Marilyn como Sandburg admiraban. Como se ve, es bastante absurdo todo lo que hace Banner para intentar vincular a Marilyn con un izquierdismo radical. Claro, como Banner intenta vender al lector la idea de que Marilyn se volvió una izquierdista radical, no puede mencionar nada de la admiración que tenía Marilyn por los Kennedy a nivel político, ideológico. Osea, Banner en su libro habla de los Kennedy, ya que no puede obviarlos, pero no menciona su admiración política. Menciona simplemente como una amistad o quizás un posible romance de Marilyn. Pero lo cierto es que Marilyn admiraba a los Kennedy políticamente y hay muchas fuentes de ello, desde el Happy Birthday Mr. President hasta varias cartas y escritos de ella, así como diversas personas que conocieron a Marilyn que cuentan historias al respecto. Entonces es algo evidente y que Banner obvia por completo, bueno, no obvia, simplemente no lo menciona porque no le interesa. De hecho, lo que he mencionado antes de Carl Sanburg, la frase esa Marilyn la dejó en un escrito suyo y justo esto debajo de esa frase de Sandburg, Marilyn dijo literalmente que Pres y Robert Kennedy son símbolos de la juventud de América, del vigor, de la brillantez y de la compasión. Entonces, claro, esto está en el mismo escrito y Banner menciona uno intentando venderlo como algo populista y los segundo se lo calla. Es evide que quiere manipular la narrativa. En resumen creo que he dejado claro que este libro no es nada fiebre, está al nivel de Frank capell y Thomas wolfe, si quieres una biografía fiable de Marilyn recomiendo sobretodo las de Donald spoto, barbara leaming o Charles casillo.

[Christiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promoted as a feminist biography of Marilyn Monroe, this book has so much promise. Once Banner stops trying to convince the reader to read her book--which she does constantly throughout the introduction and first couple chapters (I'm exaggerating, but it reads like: people who have never been interviewed before! Was Marilyn a lesbian? Only I know the truth!, etc.) --it becomes a fascinating insight into a tragic, misunderstood actress and celebrated cultural figure.

Marilyn comes off as smart--she read constantly and was known for analyzing poetry with loved ones and costars. She identified with the working class, and developed a radical political identity. (How I wish she had done more with this!) She knew how to promote herself and wanted to be seen as a savvy businesswoman and taken seriously as an actress. She was even aware of her objectification and how she was treated as a "piece of meat" by the men she loved. Banner's analysis of Monroe's films and photographs is especially interesting (although some of her assumptions about "what first comes to mind" when seeing photographs come off as a bit far-fetched). Marilyn is sympathetic here, and she comes alive as a kind, intelligent individual. All too often, I think people infantalize her or only see her as a sex goddess with her skirt blowing up. Even Banner calls her childlike, and relishes a bit in Marilyn's sex life, but not to an extreme like others have. While she could do a better job of it, Banner connects the dots between Marilyn's childhood and how it affected her struggles in adulthood: her fear of abandonment, her insomnia and dependency on prescription drugs, etc. Thus, while Marilyn was flawed and frustrated many of the important figures in her life (directors, costars, spouses, friends, etc.), her flaws are much more understandable put into context.

The book has potential...but it doesn't follow through with it. Banner is a USC professor, who had four research assistants, as well as the editors at her publishing house and yet there are still silly errors throughout this book, both factual and typographical. Within the first couple pages, when Banner starts claiming that Marilyn's childhood sexual abuse caused her to be attracted to women, my red flags were going up. Banner also uses phrases like "post-feminist" (feminism didn't end) and claims that the feminist movement didn't start until the 1960s. She sees herself as a pioneer in this movement, but I find that hard to take seriously. The typos are minor, but they are abundant and it bothers me that no one took the time to make sure that spelling and punctuation was absolutely perfect before publication.

I would cautiously recommend this book to people who are already familiar with film history, with the Monroe legend, and are willing to read it critically: use it as a guide to better understand Marilyn as a person, as a woman and as a legend.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a gushy, glitzy tell-all recounting the splendor of Marilyn Monroe's Hollywood existence, this is not the book for you. Rather, it's a moving study of Marilyn's conflicted personality and the effects of her trauma and mental illness. Banner, a Monroe "scholar" of sorts, examines the oft overlooked contradictions separating the woman herself from her movie star persona, and susses out her true character, a figure that seemed to hover somewhere between "Norma Jeanne" and "Marilyn". The "dumb blonde" was actually well-read and introspective, determined to hone her skills as an actress and pleading to be taken seriously. The quintessence of "sex object" was actually a politically astute feminist, and was as unsure of her sexuality as she was of her grasp on her sanity. Marilyn is presented as more dimensional than ever before, in a very frank and balanced fashion. The only big issues I had with this book was in the editing, as it was rife with awkward grammar and misspellings, (a few here and there is okay, but in this case, I had to determine what several words were by context.)and the writing dragged a bit. All in all, it was a richly satisfying biography, and I felt more connected to the true Marilyn at the end, making me wish even more strongly that she was still alive today.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marilyn Monroe is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me so it follows that I've read everything about her, watched all of her films, etc. I really liked parts of this book such as her raise to stardom, her marriages, her addictions, her mental illness- all of which are examined outside of the male glance. It's so nice to see MM as a woman in today's definition of womanhood. She slept her way to the top? Lot's of actresses do that! She was bipolar/schizophrenic/depressed/unknown mental illness? Lot's of women are! She was one way professionally and another way personally? Of course she was! Hooray for Banner for not apologizing, criticizing, or condemning MM for her behavior.
On the other hand, I skipped the chapters about MM's childhood, last days, and death. It felt like Banner was playing armchair psychologist/conspiracist. I also didn't like her fantasy of what Marilyn may have become had she not died or if she was a feminist (spoiler alert: it involves wearing mens clothing).

All in all a quality Marilyn Monroe book and a firm recommendation for anyone who would like to see the woman behind the image.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifty years after her death, Marilyn Monroe remains one of Hollywood's most beloved figures. Born as Norma Jean Mortenson, she grew up in several foster homes, became a model during World War II, and made her mark in movies. But America's biggest sex symbol had a dark side. Her personal relationships were tumultuous, her rise to stardom was costly, and her emotional weakness and physical ailments would plague her to the end.

None of this is very new. After all there are literally dozens and dozens of biographies about Marilyn (some worthwhile and others salacious or outright fraudulent), including her memoir "My Story". But Lois Banner is able to take an oft-told story and present it in a new light with stunning conclusions and amazing results.

Read my full review at TheCelebrityCafe.com

[Adam Tschorn]

This is the second book on Monroe penned by the USC professor of history and gender studies, and one that she spent a decade researching. It's a dense, detail-packed book, so much so that in recounting Monroe's early years and the people in her life as she was shuttled from home to home, it's easy to lose track of all the players and places.

But Banner's throughline isn't hard to follow: The woman who started life as Norma Jeane Mortenson worked hard at creating and then meticulously honed to perfection every last aspect of the Marilyn Monroe persona, and Banner's book lays out the theory that childhood sexual abuse laid the groundwork for it all.

(Originally appeared in "All Things Marilyn Monroe" in the Los Angeles Times)

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one. This is the third MM bio I've ready (also have read Goddess by Anthony Summers and The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe by Randy Taraborrelli), and each one seems to add something to the Marilyn mystique. Banner's work, while attempting to present a more feminist view of Marilyn's life, falters in the manner described by other reviewers here. I got the feeling Banner was trying to project in her book that she'd done a better job of researching Marilyn's life than other biographers. As others here have noted, too, there is some repetition in the book that distracts.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This detailed and complex bio was of great interest to me. I was impressed with the sources who actually knew the great MM and had proof of her communications with them. This appears to be an honest account of a troubled star who fought her insecurities all her life. She had many sides to her, which could be true of all of us, and the public only some some of those personalities. The author made the point that if MM had lived longer or been born later, she would perhaps not have suffered as a pawn by so many men in show business and/or her personal life. I enjoyed reading another view of this talented trail blazer's much too short life.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent ideas but very poorly edited book that repeats information and is rife with misspellings, which unfortunately detracts from the strength of the research work. Banner is a fan with a strong academic background who clearly cares passionately about her subject, so it's especially disappointing that this book is so slipshod at times. There is serious scholarship here that almost gets lost in the mix. I wanted this book to be better than it was and am confident that with proper editing it would have been.

[Randy Briggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. The author is very self-congratulatory, pointing out how much more significant HER findings are than any other biographer. She also inserts herself into the narrative, which is not necessary in this genre. She indulges in baseless speculation, often presenting it as fact.

[Merja Pohjola · Rating 3 out of 5]

20.8.2012: Wish I could give it 3,5 stars, that's what I'd give... a review... well, I have lots of handwritten notes on it, so a review will follow ;-) Edit: 2018. No More than 3 stars. Closer to 2,5.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read a lot about Marilyn prior to this book. Found the facts interesting and her life fascinating on many different levels however, this book was very long and tended to skip around quite a bit. The author had a lot to say yet this book didn't flow the way it should.

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oddly written in an academic way.

[Monica (crazy_4_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Excellent biography about Marilyn. The only one I read, so I cannot compare with other writers. It's very intriguing material. Recommended