Joan Crawford A Talent for Living

by Jennifer Bitman

The Hollywood spotlight shines on this intimate biography of screen legend Joan Crawford. From the forgotten child to the Jazz Age flapper to the winner of Best Actress for her role in Mildred Pierce, Joan Crawford’s life continues to capture the attention of generations of classic movie fans and a wave of millennials who have crowned her the queen of old Hollywood. But if you think you’ve read everything about The Legend, think again.

Abandoning a traditional approach, Joan Crawford A Talent for Living is a creative non-fiction biography. The unique narrative presents a story rich with imagery and vivid characterizations. The expressive text blends well-researched scholarship with raw vulnerability, resulting in a connection between the book’s reader and subject which must be read to be believed.

Genres: Biography

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2018

About the author

Jennifer Bitman is a Joan Crawford historian. Drawing on over a decade of research, Joan Crawford A Talent for Living is her first book. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology as well as two Masters degrees in the fields of Christian studies and psychology.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

For someone so intriguing this was vanilla

I wouldn't recommend it if I'm honest. I've seen films and documentaries about Joan Crawford that had much more detail.
The book felt like a prolonged Wikipedia entry and considering it was a biography missed details like her children's names.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad I came across this book. It’s a creative non-fiction narrative of the life of Hollywood legend Joan Crawford. I really like the storytelling approach, as it reads like a novel and is quite expressive. You feel like you’re a fly on the wall. With so much having been written about Ms. Crawford through the decades, I find this book refreshing and evocative.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad

She had a good life professionally, but her private life was more sad. Longing for love and acceptance her whole life, she was not able to stay married or to have children. There's not a lot of drama in the book, like you would expect. Just a mediocre story of a sad woman.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Tribute

The book was a lovely tribute to an amazing actress. I enjoyed this book very much. This book was written with a great deal of respect and love.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique and engaging approach to the story of the legendary Joan Crawford, the book reads more like a novel than a biography. In many ways, it is a love letter to Crawford’s legend and legacy!