The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation

by Melissa Rivers

Joan Rivers was known all over the world—from the Palace Theater to Buckingham Palace, from the bright lights of Las Vegas to the footlights of Broadway, from the days of talkies to hosting talk shows. But there was only one person who knew Joan intimately, one person who the authorities would call when she got a little out of hand. Her daughter and best friend, Melissa.

Joan and Melissa Rivers had one of the most celebrated mother-daughter relationships of all time. If you think Joan said some outrageous things to her audiences as a comedian, you won’t believe what she said and did in private. Her love for her daughter knew no bounds—or boundaries, apparently. ("Melissa, I acknowledge that you have boundaries. I just choose to not respect them.") In The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief and Manipulation, Melissa shares stories (like when she was nine months old and her parents delivered her to Johnny Carson as a birthday gift), bon mots (“Missy, is there anything better than seeing a really good looking couple pushing a baby that looks like a Sasquatch who got caught in a house fire?”), and life lessons from growing up in the Rosenberg-Rivers household (“I can do tips and discounts and figure out the number of gay men in an audience to make it a good show. That’s all the math you’ll ever need.”). These were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to life in the family that Melissa describes as more Addams than Cleaver. And at the center of it all was a tiny blond force of nature.

In The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief and Manipulation, Melissa Rivers relates funny, poignant and irreverent observations, thoughts, and tales about the woman who raised her and is the reason she considers valium one of the four basic food groups.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Humor, Biography, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Comedy

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2015

About the author

Melissa Joan Rivers is an American television co-host and the daughter of Joan Rivers.

Reviews

[Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST FOR (the countlesss) FANS!

I was completely taken by surprise by just how well this memoir is put together--also, by how much I truly miss Joan. It is endearing PLUS not too unlike the comedy of her sainted mother, there are chuckles that decorate this apt memorial. Melissa Rivers is one apple that did not roll too far from the tree (or from that tree's gnarly/majestic roots). SHE! HOLDS! HER! OWN!

A PLEA to Melissa: Pretty please give us a "Book of Joan Volume II"! We simply WON'T be satisfied until you do!!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm a fan of Joan Rivers and enjoyed her comedy routines, early 90's daytime talk show, and Fashion Police program. I've also seen the documentary "A Piece of Work" and read Joan's book "I Hate Everyone....Starting With Me."


Joan Rivers had a daytime talk show in the early 1990s


Joan Rivers hosted 'The Fashion Police' for many years

In this memoir Joan's daughter, Melissa Rivers, relates amusing stories about her mother.


Melissa Rivers

Unlike Joan, Melissa is not a natural comic and some of her quips feel forced...or as if they were cribbed from her mom's joke collection. Nevertheless I enjoyed many stories in the book, which made me smile (or occasionally laugh out loud).

Some amusing yarns revolve around Melissa herself. For instance, as a youngster Melissa was part of a 'kids club' in Las Vegas, composed of children of celebrities who were performing in the casinos.


Joan Rivers with young Melissa

At one point Melissa's friends helped her pull out a loose tooth so the 'tooth fairy' would provide enough cash for the 'kid's club' to enjoy a whole night of arcade games and snacks. Apparently Joan was a VERY generous tooth fairy!

Then one time, during a road trip with her mother and father (Edgar Rosenberg), Melissa got hungry. Edgar drove to the drive-thru of a hamburger joint...which was OUT OF HAMBURGERS. This was a good opportunity for Joan to squash over Edgar to get to the car window and deliver a series of snippy, sarcastic remarks. Then the family went to Waffle House.


Joan Rivers with her husband Edgar Rosenberg and their daughter Melissa

Melissa relates how her parents - who had similar values and ambitions - married five days after they met and seemed to be happy. But Edgar (apparently suffering from depression) committed suicide when Melissa was a teen. Joan, who was never politically correct and considered absolutely everything fodder for a joke, soon worked the event into her comedy routine. Joan did the same thing shortly after 9/11...giving people permission to laugh after tragedy.


Joan Rivers was one of the first comics to return to stand-up comedy after 9/11

Joan also loved to shop at airports, especially in duty-free shops and on international duty-free flights. Melissa (kiddingly I hope) says her mom once spent thousands of dollars on a trip just to get a 6-dollar-break on Toblerone chocolate.


Joan and Melissa Rivers at the airport, where Joan loved to shop

Melissa also joshes about her mom's numerous plastic surgeries; love of clothes, jewelry, accessories, and tchotchkes; line of clothing and jewelry for QVC; and insistence that people use proper grammar. Joan once quipped that a certain studio receptionist spoke worse English than her Latino gardener who'd arrived in the U.S. last Tuesday.


Joan Rivers had closets full of clothes


Joan Rivers loved jewelry


Joan Rivers sold clothing and jewelry on QVC; this is one of her pins

Melissa recalls the innovative (at the time) "Red Carpet Show" she hosted with her mother, where they interviewed celebrities arriving at award shows like the Emmys and the Oscars.





The Joan and Melissa program introduced the expression 'Who are you wearing?' and spawned a million copycat red carpet shows. Melissa amusingly talks about actors/actresses who were hard to talk to because they were either self-conscious, snooty, or resentful of being B-list celebs. Apparently the most reluctant red carpet walker was Tommy Lee Jones, who gave interviewers PTSD....ha ha ha.


Tommy Lee Jones was reluctant to walk the red carpet

Joan was a wonderful loving mother to Melissa and a devoted grandmother to Melissa's son Cooper.


Joan and Melissa Rivers with Melissa's son Cooper

When Joan worked in/visited California she generally stayed at Melissa's Beverly Hills home - once hitchhiking there when she misplaced her driver. In any case, Joan took advantage of the opportunity to hang out with Cooper, keep him up too late, and ply him with candy, toys, and cash....bribes to keep his mouth shut about this and that :)


Joan tended to spoil her grandson Cooper

In the book Melissa has some harsh words for people she feels mistreated her mother. Jay Leno, for instance, wouldn't allow Joan to be on "The Tonight Show," saying he was honoring the wishes of the previous host Johnny Carson (with whom Joan had a falling out). Then, after Joan's death, Jay avoided Melissa when they were at the same awards event...not saying hello or expressing condolences. Melissa also mentions Katie Couric, who - during an interview - harped on Joan's 'insult comedy' instead of promoting Joan and Melissa's Red Carpet Show like she was supposed to. These sections bring down the tone of the book...which is supposed to be funny.


Jay Leno


Katie Couric

The book isn't screamingly hilarious but it's entertaining and moving...and Melissa's deep love and regard for her mother come through loud and clear. I'd recommend the book to fans of Joan Rivers and readers who enjoy celebrity memoirs.


Joan and Melissa Rivers had a close bond

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Kelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't continue listening to this. I don't care for the narration, the pacing, or author's frequent attempts to be witty. Joan Rivers was a fascinating woman, who really put it all out there. I'm certain that her daughter's life is deeply affected by her mother's absence but I'm just not enjoying the content or delivery of this material.

[Licha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Melisa recounts stories of her mother and growing up with her. What I could have done without was Melissa trying hard to be funny like mom. No one can imitate Joan. Melissa is just not funny, but I certainly did not expect her to be. I just wanted to read about her mom and what it was like growing up with her, what kind of woman was she, what kind of grandmother was she. I don’t know that we get a satisfying picture of who Joan was but for me I was happy to get what I got, although I could have kept reading many more stories about her. My dad was a very quiet man. Majority of the stories I know about him are from my mother. So when I hear a story about him that I’ve never heard before from someone else other than my mother, I hungrily take any information in from wherever I can get it. This book was somewhat like that. I know there’s many more good stories yet to tell.

I feel like I like Joan even more than before. She was a great mom to Melissa, and even greater grandmother to Cooper, and a very hardworking and successful woman. She had a great work ethic, believed her daughter should have a great education, believed in old school etiquette (which I think is becoming a lost art), and always put her best foot forward, looking fabulous no matter what.

The last chapter of the book made me cry as I could only imagine how painful it was to let go for Melissa and Cooper.

[Lois R. Gross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps my expectations were too high. I had hoped that this would be an actual tribute to Ms. Rivers by the woman who knew her best, her daughter. Instead, this is a warmed over collection of River's jokes or jokes by Melissa Rivers in a pseudo-Joan delivery. There are few insights into the real woman, the one that appeared in the documentary, "A Piece of Work." Frankly, if you are looking for the real Joan, watch the movie and skip this book.

What her daughter does remind us is that Rivers changed her persona from the self-deprecating Jewish girl who was actually a pioneer woman in comedy, to a sharp-edged, often politically incorrect comic who joked about celebrity weight, size, sexual preference, and made big bucks off her victims. As a person, Joan is depicted as a loving mother and grandmother, but one who had to be watched carefully by her daughter to make sure she didn't overspend, drive down the middle of the road, or get kicked out of foreign countries for her insufferable rudeness. It may be true, or it may be Melissa playing for laughs, but it is not a pretty picture.

The book is full of homophobic jokes and other offensiveness. Perhaps the "joke" that I found most offensive was a story about Melissa telling her mother that she was pregnant and considering pulling a high chair up to the dinner table, "even though Peter Dinklage (a talented actor, and a Little Person) was not having dinner with us." Really? That was necessary?

I came looking for a book that would tell me about the real Joan Rivers and I got her daughter doing a very bad imitation of her mother. Disappointing, at best.

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The comedy world lost a real treasure when Joan Rivers died last fall. One of the hardest working women in show business, Rivers was unapologetically her own person, telling it like it is, but rarely with malicious intentions. She often said what everyone was thinking but would never say, and there were many instances where she was the only one who could get away with saying certain things about certain people.

I had been a fan of Rivers' since the 1970s, when I used to watch her on The Tonight Show , and I listened to her comedy albums, watched her television specials (my cousin appeared in one) and her talk show, and even loved catching her on QVC hawking her products. And of course, nothing beat watching her and Melissa on the red carpet at awards shows.

Through all of her appearances and all of her insults, one thing about Rivers was ultimately clear: she loved her daughter Melissa more than anything, and their relationship was something she truly treasured. And the feeling was definitely mutual, as Melissa makes clear in her book, The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation . This is a collection of essays that look at Joan's childhood, what motivated her to succeed, her habits, foibles, fears, and pet peeves, and especially her interactions with Melissa and her grandson, Cooper.

This is a sweet, funny book that provides some interesting insight into Rivers' persona outside the spotlight, and it chronicles a mother-daughter bond that was truly special. I laughed from time to time (and tried not to do it out loud on the plane) and unsurprisingly, I even got choked up a little bit. It's a tremendously engaging book, but I wish that Melissa didn't try to be as funny as her mother throughout the book, as sometimes her jokes undercut the stories she was trying to tell. (She even provided her own rimshots occasionally.)

If you were a fan of Joan Rivers, or of the pairing of Joan and Melissa, or you just enjoy reading stories about mothers and daughters, you may very well enjoy The Book of Joan . It made me miss Joan all over again, and I'm grateful to Melissa for sharing her mother with us for so long.

See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Joan Rivers. Sometimes she made me cringe with the stuff that she said, but most of the time she was pretty funny. I really enjoyed listening to this book by her daughter Melissa. It was neat to get a glimpse of Joan's private life and her relationship with Melissa and her grandson. There were a few times I laughed out loud, which I'm sure my intern behind me at work wondered what was so funny. If you liked Joan even a little bit, pick up this audiobook and have a good laugh. At least it will put a smile on your face.

[Nicole Sweeney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea what self-loathing impulse compelled me to finish this book but I regret every choice I ever made that brought me to being this person today.

[britt_brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Actually she didn’t have as much work done as people think she had. One a scale from one to Michael Jackson, she was a six.”

A more accurate title would be: “The Book of Melissa ... Oh, and Her Mother.” I love Joan Rivers, but I’ve always found Melissa a bit annoying, so expectations were low. Though her audio narration was decent, she tried too hard to be funny too often, and it didn’t always work. Rating 3 stars because the love for her mom really emanated.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this wonderfully delightful book Melissa Rivers, a great storyteller, and comedian in her own right, easily picks up where her mother left off with: "The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation".

In 1965 when Joan appeared on the Tonite Show with Johnny Carson, he told her on the air: "You're going to be a star!". Film producer Edgar Alfred Rosenberg, hearing about Joan, went to see her show in the Village at the Bitter End: he not only hired her, they married five days later! Melissa explained there were no fireworks like the famous couple Tracy and Hepburn, they had the same values and sense of humor, and if she ever did anything like that they would kill her!

Growing up with a famous celebrity mom was fun as it was busy, they were very close. Joan was in show business for fifty years, spending at least thirty years traveling (first class), she loved flight attendants, 24 hour room service, and insisted Melissa have impeccable manners, traditional social graces, and wear good shoes. Joan always worked hard to stay on top of her game, and rarely slowed down.
Education was the key to a better life, and copies of Joan's report cards dating from 1939-1941 are included. Although her mother disliked sports, nor was she athletically inclined, she supported Melissa's school sports involvement, (and later her grandson's Cooper's on Lacrosse). Joan napped behind oversized sunglasses, sitting up (supported by her husband), who was listening to financial news on his Walkman. Later she was known to cheer for the wrong team.

Joan loved Mel Brooks and George Carlin, and like them would push the envelope. The age of political correctness was killing comedy, people were too easily offended. Joan rarely told jokes about politics, though the topic of her husbands death was included in her show, as were 9/11 themes. Fans praised her for helping them laugh and smile again! Joan loved fat jokes, (Elizabeth Taylor) and Kardashian jokes telling millions of them, she loved Kris Jenner, Melissa feels Joan would have advised her not to leave Bruce as he is transitioning.. she could double her wardrobe! (The Jenner's separated in 2013).

When Crown Books contacted Melissa about writing this book, she knew Joan would have approved, and writing has helped her deal with her grief and loss. Great photos are included. Melissa Rivers is the executive producer for the "E", the Fashion Police series, co-creator of the Red Carpet franchise, and her leading young man is her 14 year old son Cooper.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook read by the author, Melissa Rivers.

A quick audiobook that was very likable. Melissa Rivers wrote this book after the sudden and expected death of her mother, the legendary comedian Joan Rivers. Melissa shares many anecdotal stories about her mother throughout her childhood and adult life. She also shares her final moments with her mom in the hospital and how she was holding her mom in her arms when she passed away. Definitely recommend for Joan Rivers fans. 3.5 stars.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because she died, let's face it. I did not know much about Joan before I started reading other than that she had a filthy mouth, loved to crack a joke, had a ridiculous amount of plastic surgery and was the voice of Dot Matrix on Spaceballs.
The mother daughter relationship between Melissa and Joan was obviously ridiculously close and considering the life they led together I am not surprised. Easy to read it is full of naughty fun and touching moments.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book in that it revealed the deep relationship between Joan Rivers and her daughter, Melissa. Joan was a very loving - yet crazzzzzy - mother, and there never seemed to be a dull moment in the Rosenberg home. With Joan, it seems that what you see is what you get. She kept it real; there was nothing shared about her personal life that seemed out of character with her public life. My only hang up with the book was that Melissa, at times, seemed to try too hard to be funny and irreverent, and it did not come off as natural.

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt, Laugh Out Loud Funny & Charming! A Beautiful Read! Loved It!

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is silly and simple. It also will appeal to those who liked Joan River's stand up style because it has that exact same onus and pace. Melissa, much like her Mother, has no strict boundaries toward being either straight laced or politically correct. She seems more practical than her Mother, but quite similar in worldview values and occupational preferences to what centers most of her hours' activities. I enjoyed about 75% of the book, to be honest. Really, I am just not a huge fan of the comic put down, foul language or insult humor, as in a Don Rickles or Lenny Bruce style, for instance. I saw George Carlin and Joan Rivers in Vegas during their earlier years, so I can attest how foul it could get. Very! They were both much funnier in the first half of their stage lives, IMHO. Ironically, I think I saw Joan as a second act. LOL! She always worked multiple jobs. That's about the only thing we had in common, but I could laugh at her marriage jokes. Sincerely laugh.

The book did give an intense view into Joan's priorities and pure personality of power throughout her life. And it did not hide the dislikes to certain (few in number)celebrities that Joan despised for decades. Mostly for good reasons too.

The book itself had a few great photos but also held pages of Joan's first to fourth grade report cards which were VERY difficult for me to read. Remember those stencils for mimeographs some of you? They reflected how she was from the get-go.

Although I was not a Joan Rivers fan and have always rather disliked crude, insult, or self-denigration humor- I have seen the vast change in tastes and to the tolerance for wide comedy style. So this book was rather refreshing, yet sometimes silly and repetitive, for its candor and honest approach to facts and Joan's reality. Melissa is a tough cookie too. Some of her experiences in Vegas when a child sound absolutely daunting. And she, just like her Mother, never ever complains about the fame. Cherishes it.

Their entire value system and sense of correctness is nearly the opposite of the current one. Especially to manners, looks, gender roles etc. Joan was a pistol and frankly, it is no surprise that she died from a surgery, IMHO. That she had the stamina to continue doing so much work until past 80 is what made me read this book. That is awesome.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan Rivers has always been hilarious to me, despite how inappropriate or blunt it may be. I am not that familiar with her daughter Melissa, but I was intrigued to see her perspective of her mother's life. I have to admit, I thought that Melissa attempt to be funny failed on so many levels. If her intention was to make me laugh with her jokes then she failed. Mainly cause I felt that she was trying too hard, but her mother was a natural at making people laugh. There were many scenes in this book that I laughed out loud,especially when she described how her mother did not know how to drive. Also the part when she said that her mother never followed the rules, but expected others too, the irony of that is amazing.

The pictures that accompanied the book was very warming, Joan was beautiful as a young woman. I am going to miss how much she made me laugh with her humor. Honestly I think she did not mean any harm with her jokes, she was just not afraid to tell what is on her mind. It is rare for comedians to be as brutal as she was, but she was such a lively woman. I can't recount all the scenes that made me laugh, but there were many scenes. As far as Melissa, her jokes came across as corny but Joan's was very funny.

Glad that I enjoyed this book, it made me laugh more than one; a rare instance with comedy books.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a series of essays about Joan and Melissa. Overall, they are funny and poignant. But oh my lord. Melissa Rivers is not funny. Her supposedly funny metaphors and similes fall flat - flat as a pancake. (See what I did there?) The other thing that made me uncomfortable was Melissa telling us which celebrities Joan personally didn't like. It doesn't seem classy and I don't think Joan would have done that if she were alive. I mean sure she skewered people as part of her act but she never just came out and said, "I don't like Ben Stiller because he doesn't have good manners."

Although I inwardly groaned at Melissa's attempts at humor, I did enjoy learning what Joan Rivers was like a person, mother and grandma. I think Joan Rivers fans would enjoy this book.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Joan Rivers and this was a fitting tribute to her comic genius. Her daughter is similarly humorous but obviously not as funny as Joan. She strikes an amazing balance of being funny yet unstinting in her praise of her mother. It was really refreshing to read a daughter's biography of a mother in which there is no undercurrent of resentment or attempt to garner sympathy for complaints of parenting flaws. Melissa is wholeheartedly her mom's biggest fan and all her stories show Joan in the best light, which is as it should be. At the same time she makes fun of her mother in a playful way, lending levity to any barbs.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My usual format doesn't really work for this book. So let me just say that I think Melissa gave her mother a tribute that I think Joan would love. The last few chapters actually had me in tears. Losing a mother is so tough. I hope when the time comes I can have half of the poise and strength that Melissa has shown.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super hilarious and I couldn't put it down. Started reading it today in Walmart of all places and had to buy it to finish it. Melissa is just as funny as Joan was. No recessive gene there! Thanks to Melissa for sharing a bit of Joan with us. We miss her!

[Mike Snedegar · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Joan Rivers you will love these behind the scenes stories.

[Terry Leduc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa Rivers was an impressive narrator. It was easy to imagine everything she described coming out of Joan’s mouth. Fun and informative read.

[Leanne McNamee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember Joan Rivers in her different ages and stages throughout my life. I was glad to pick up this tribute to her written by her daughter fairly soon after her death. I can’t say I actually know the real Joan Rivers much after reading it. But the quick tales and funny remembrances make it a nice tribute to her mom. I can certainly say I admire Joan’s discipline, sass and strength!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing with famous people reading to me in my car, in this case maybe semi-famous. I remember watching Joan Rivers fill in for Johnny Carson and thinking how cool it was to see a woman behind the desk. I also remember watching "Rabbit Test" on HBO multiple times as a kid. Sure that movie sucked, but I was so excited to have HBO, I watched everything on there. So Joan Rivers was in my orbit from a very early age, and she off and on continued to be. I watched Joan in later years on the red carpet, and the Fashion Police, and occasionally hawk her crap on QVC. I watched her documentary after her passing, and now her daughter 's book. Yes, she could be obnoxious as much as she was funny, but as mentioned by Melissa, she often did have the guts to say aloud what people were thinking. She did work hard her entire life. She appeared to appreciate her life of privilege and her fans. Melissa and her mother shared a bond that was very apparent through their many shared, joint experiences. This not a great work of literature, and the author is not as quick-witted as her mother was, but Melissa did write a nice tribute to her mother. I would venture mama Joan would be pleased.

[V2adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad that I have read this book. This is the type of book that I can read over and over again! Melissa Rivers tells about her life while she was growing up with the famous patents that she had. She is a very comical writer and makes you laugh out loud while you are reading. Instead of chapters, she calls them "essays" that she writes about the different things that happened. Each "essay" has a life of it's own. Some of them will leave you wondering, "How in the world could Joan say something like that?". In one part, Melissa says that she could just hear her mother now telling Kris Jenner now that she shouldn't be leaving Bruce now just as he's transitioning. If she had stayed with him then she would have doubled her wardrobe! This is just an example of the things in the book. I would advise that only adults read this book as it does have some language in it that and subjects that children should not be reading. I enjoyed it and would read it again easily.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this a 3.5. This book is written by Melissa Rivers, Joan River's daughter. Most people probably know that Joan Rivers died while going for a procedure that went wrong. She stopped breathing and her daughter Melissa had to make the decision to stop life support. This book is kind of a homage to her mother. Melissa writes about what it is like growing up with a famous person. Her mother was know for being an outspoken comedian. Some people over the years took offense to some of her humor and Melissa was quick to say her mother was not one to be sorry for her her humor.
I could see her mother though out this book. I did not watch their show Fashion police { not interested in fashion} but was aware of how close they were. they worked together for years. it was nice to have Melissa share with the readers of having joan Rivers for her mom. I think her mother would approve.

[The Book Jar Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read more of our reviews at: www.thebookjarblog.wordpress.com

Joan Rivers was an icon, a hilarious hard-working force of a woman. Like all the others who so dearly admired Joan, I took her death rather hard because she was unstoppable and such a strong soul. This book was the perfect real for all those who consider themselves a fan of the legend.

Melissa's memoir about her relationship with her mother is heart warming, movingly sad and of course hysterical in a way that would make her mother very proud. The book provides insight into a world that Joan rarely shared with the public, her private life - from her childhood to her family life.

I cannot imagine how difficult it was for Melissa to write this, but as a fan of her I am forever grateful that she gave us this last gift. Thank you Melissa! 5 out of 5 stars.

[W. Whalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew about Joan Rivers but never like the insight which I gained from hearing this audio book from cover to cover. At times it is profane and funny but mixed with raw honesty from the perspective of her only daughter, Melissa.

One detail which stuck with me is how the editor for this book started the publication process during Joan Rivers funeral sticking her business card in Melissa's hand and gesturing for her to call. It was a bold move which worked.

I learned a great deal listening to this audio book and liked it.

[JoAnne Pulcino · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE BOOK OF JOAN: TALES OF MIRTH, MISCHIEF, AND MANIPULATION

Melissa Rivers

A touching and lovely tribute to a mother who was unique, magical, strong and even irreverent. Knowing Joan and being her daughter had to be one of the greatest gifts Melissa could ever receive. Her honesty and ability to see her mother as the fantastic person she was is very endearing.

An enjoyable read and akin to a visit with an old friend if you are of a certain age.

Delightful!

[❆ Crystal ❆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for audiobook. 4 stars story ♫ 5 stars narration. I really enjoyed this story. I'm so happy that Melissa wrote this book about her mom. It was just great and I really enjoyed it. Very enlightening and empowering. I found a lot of wonderful gems in this book. It was great and I recommend it.
The narration was just perfect. 5 stars. She did a spectacular job and made the book very enjoyable. Loved it!