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The Constricting Corset
A fictionalized depiction of the life of Judy Garland.
There are two things most people know about Judy Garland. 1. That I was Dorothy Gale, and 2. That I was a drug addict. Did you ever stop to think that there might be more to me than those two measly facts? Do you realize what I overcame to be the success I was? How useful my insight was in music and lyrics? How I could see a dance move once and perform it?
I was ever the professional even when I was falling apart inside. When they kept pushing pills. When they made us work long hours with no rest. When my father died.
Dive into my world and see the background of your favorite movies and who I was behind the corset.
There are two things most people know about Judy Garland. 1. That I was Dorothy Gale, and 2. That I was a drug addict. Did you ever stop to think that there might be more to me than those two measly facts? Do you realize what I overcame to be the success I was? How useful my insight was in music and lyrics? How I could see a dance move once and perform it?
I was ever the professional even when I was falling apart inside. When they kept pushing pills. When they made us work long hours with no rest. When my father died.
Dive into my world and see the background of your favorite movies and who I was behind the corset.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2024
78 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 6, 2024
An entertaining and eye-opening look at Judy Garland's life from before she was a star to the waning of her career. As someone who has done only a small amount of research in Judy's life, I learned a lot from this book! And every time I wanted to learn more about something mentioned, it was great to find that every last thing I looked up was factual. I came to trust the author because of that.
I appreciated the focus on Judy's pill addiction in particular. Seeing her relapses, why they happened, and what issues triggered them was very powerful. Judy's insecurities are relatable to everyone, and it always amazes me that people at the top of their game, people who technically have everything others want, can be in such dark places mentally while outwardly being enviable. The major issue with her first husband was written exactly as I'd already read through research, and it was heartbreaking to read about her going through that.
Delicate areas of Judy's life were handled with care, and if you can't handle themes like suicide, don't worry because the author didn't make a meal of it. The subject was handled respectfully in my opinion.
Some readers are not a fan of the lack of detail in some areas of the book. While I can understand what they're saying, I also think the author's intention was not to go in depth on *every* aspect of Judy's life. Sometimes I wished there was more depth regarding situations or issues, but I also realize that if the author were to include as much depth as I would have liked on everything, this would be 3 books, not 1. So that's something to consider.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and felt it taught me a lot about Judy. Even things I already knew drew me in to reading them in a fictionalized way. It also made me want to watch specific movies of hers so I can see her creative work during different periods of turmoil in her life; it's an incredibly difficult thing to always go on with the show, and I marvel anew, after this read, at her courage during her pain.
I appreciated the focus on Judy's pill addiction in particular. Seeing her relapses, why they happened, and what issues triggered them was very powerful. Judy's insecurities are relatable to everyone, and it always amazes me that people at the top of their game, people who technically have everything others want, can be in such dark places mentally while outwardly being enviable. The major issue with her first husband was written exactly as I'd already read through research, and it was heartbreaking to read about her going through that.
Delicate areas of Judy's life were handled with care, and if you can't handle themes like suicide, don't worry because the author didn't make a meal of it. The subject was handled respectfully in my opinion.
Some readers are not a fan of the lack of detail in some areas of the book. While I can understand what they're saying, I also think the author's intention was not to go in depth on *every* aspect of Judy's life. Sometimes I wished there was more depth regarding situations or issues, but I also realize that if the author were to include as much depth as I would have liked on everything, this would be 3 books, not 1. So that's something to consider.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and felt it taught me a lot about Judy. Even things I already knew drew me in to reading them in a fictionalized way. It also made me want to watch specific movies of hers so I can see her creative work during different periods of turmoil in her life; it's an incredibly difficult thing to always go on with the show, and I marvel anew, after this read, at her courage during her pain.
July 19, 2024
Just Remember.
As you are reading this novel just remember the first 60% of the book deals with Judy Garland from about 8-10 years old to 19 years old. It is important to remember this because this is a child making some very bad decisions. As soon as she loses her virginity she becomes it seems a nymph caring not who she sleeps with however remember this is a child who has been given adult dosage of pills for some time that could have over emphasized her sex drive. It appears one of Judy's greatest downfalls were her self esteem and her desire to blame everybody for her choices at adulthood. She reminded me so much of Andrea in the movie The Devil Wears Prada were her favorite words were "I had no choice." At first you will despise her mother but by the end when the truth comes out about her mothers love less marriage and Judy wanting to be a star even more so than her mother wanting her to be one you will see Judy's mother in a different light. The last 40% of the book speeds up quite a bit dealing with Garland from 19 to possibly mid 30s. The book ends while she is still married to her 4th husband. As I was reading this book I was going for a hard 3 star rating but by the end it was definitely a solid 5 star because it made me think and question. And is that not what a good book does? I do recommend this book especially to those who are into old Hollywood and MGM in its heyday.
As you are reading this novel just remember the first 60% of the book deals with Judy Garland from about 8-10 years old to 19 years old. It is important to remember this because this is a child making some very bad decisions. As soon as she loses her virginity she becomes it seems a nymph caring not who she sleeps with however remember this is a child who has been given adult dosage of pills for some time that could have over emphasized her sex drive. It appears one of Judy's greatest downfalls were her self esteem and her desire to blame everybody for her choices at adulthood. She reminded me so much of Andrea in the movie The Devil Wears Prada were her favorite words were "I had no choice." At first you will despise her mother but by the end when the truth comes out about her mothers love less marriage and Judy wanting to be a star even more so than her mother wanting her to be one you will see Judy's mother in a different light. The last 40% of the book speeds up quite a bit dealing with Garland from 19 to possibly mid 30s. The book ends while she is still married to her 4th husband. As I was reading this book I was going for a hard 3 star rating but by the end it was definitely a solid 5 star because it made me think and question. And is that not what a good book does? I do recommend this book especially to those who are into old Hollywood and MGM in its heyday.
October 2, 2024
This book was very interesting and I want to thank Kirsten for the ARC.
I have always been a fan of Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time favorite movies of all time, so this read about the behind the scenes fictionalized version of Judy's life was a major look behind the curtain.
Judy had a very tumultuous life. It really gave me strong sympathy for her. Her mother, her husbands, the other men in her life like Louis B Mayer and Mickey Rooney all basically bullied her in some way shape or form.
Personally I am not a fan of Mickey Rooney so his presence to me was a bit of a bore. I knew he had to be there, as he was a major personal and professional figure in her life, but it was a good writing choice, I just personally don't like him.
Some of it was very sad and sorrowful. You had to stop reading it and pick it back up again. Judy's addictions were just sad because you knew it was real. Her abortion and her failed marriages, the abuse she suffered from a long list of men, made it all so emotional because it really happened.
To keep going to finish the book was important though.
I took away the internal beauty Judy really was and her determined spirit. Though it all she survived, she has a legacy to show for it.
Sadly, like Judy herself this book was cut a little short, but maybe that's not a terrible thing as it spares you what came next.
Overall it was a long read but a good read!
I have always been a fan of Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time favorite movies of all time, so this read about the behind the scenes fictionalized version of Judy's life was a major look behind the curtain.
Judy had a very tumultuous life. It really gave me strong sympathy for her. Her mother, her husbands, the other men in her life like Louis B Mayer and Mickey Rooney all basically bullied her in some way shape or form.
Personally I am not a fan of Mickey Rooney so his presence to me was a bit of a bore. I knew he had to be there, as he was a major personal and professional figure in her life, but it was a good writing choice, I just personally don't like him.
Some of it was very sad and sorrowful. You had to stop reading it and pick it back up again. Judy's addictions were just sad because you knew it was real. Her abortion and her failed marriages, the abuse she suffered from a long list of men, made it all so emotional because it really happened.
To keep going to finish the book was important though.
I took away the internal beauty Judy really was and her determined spirit. Though it all she survived, she has a legacy to show for it.
Sadly, like Judy herself this book was cut a little short, but maybe that's not a terrible thing as it spares you what came next.
Overall it was a long read but a good read!
July 26, 2024
The Constricting Corset is a marvelously well-researched novel portraying Judy Garland's fast paced life and career; the fictionalization seemed very true to historical biography. The characters' voices come to life off the page and in my imagination I could watch and hear them as if on screen. While the conclusion felt unexpectedly abrupt, I appreciated the uplifting tone and the author's choice to end her story on that note.
Reader Note: Another Goodreads catalog entry can be found for this title (authored by Kristen Fray), which was serialized on Kindle Vella. Although certainly a version of this title, I'm not certain if it is the complete or identical version as the Starlet Stories edition.
Reader Note: Another Goodreads catalog entry can be found for this title (authored by Kristen Fray), which was serialized on Kindle Vella. Although certainly a version of this title, I'm not certain if it is the complete or identical version as the Starlet Stories edition.
July 29, 2024
Why didn’t the author finish the book? Having known something about this particular actress, all of us who do know of her, knows how her story ends. So to end the book with a line that states that she was free of the constricting corset ( metaphorically), is not true. The story should’ve concluded with her ending. We’re only talking a few more years. That’s why it’s three stars. I felt like the author had to go get dinner ready or something. I really liked the book up until the disappointing and incomplete end of her story.
October 27, 2024
what a sad story
I cannot believe what Judy Garland went through. I remember seeing her in so many movies. Meet me in St. Louis, was my favorite movie. She was so injured and hurt, by so many people, who supposedly loved her. May she rest in peace.
I cannot believe what Judy Garland went through. I remember seeing her in so many movies. Meet me in St. Louis, was my favorite movie. She was so injured and hurt, by so many people, who supposedly loved her. May she rest in peace.
June 22, 2024
The book was entertaining enough, but by no means was an in-depth study of Judy Garland. It took her from 1 romance to another at warp speed. Still, it was a good read
July 3, 2024
Abrupt ending ruined it!
July 13, 2024
So good but cut off too early
I would still recommend reading this, but it felt like the end was not so far away that I wanted the book to finish her story.
I would still recommend reading this, but it felt like the end was not so far away that I wanted the book to finish her story.
December 15, 2024
Judy and her rainbow
This book was well written. From Judy's beginning in vaudeville to her television show, her life was presented with lots of sorrow and some joys.
This book was well written. From Judy's beginning in vaudeville to her television show, her life was presented with lots of sorrow and some joys.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews