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Lucy & Desi: The Legendary Love Story of Television's Most Famous Couple
Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins
After eight years on the air, Desi Arnaz did not love Lucy any more. On screen, they were dynamite—a comedy pairing more successful than any Hollywood had ever produced. But when the cameras stopped rolling, they fought, screamed and threatened each other more each season. Finally, an argument in Desi’s production office turned violent. Lucy hurled a cocktail glass past his head, and Desi demanded a divorce. He moved out that night. After nearly twenty years, America’s favorite couple was finished.
After eight years on the air, Desi Arnaz did not love Lucy any more. On screen, they were dynamite—a comedy pairing more successful than any Hollywood had ever produced. But when the cameras stopped rolling, they fought, screamed and threatened each other more each season. Finally, an argument in Desi’s production office turned violent. Lucy hurled a cocktail glass past his head, and Desi demanded a divorce. He moved out that night. After nearly twenty years, America’s favorite couple was finished.
When they first got married, no one in Hollywood thought it would last six months. Lucille Ball’s acting career was on the skids, and Arnaz was just another Cuban bandleader. But together, their irresistible chemistry produced one of the greatest television empires of all time, and a love story as passionate as it was explosive.
14 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
October 13, 2025
This is my third book about Lucille Ball. I think I have probably heard almost everything worth telling about her (and Desi). This was an audio book once again. There was a lot more "name dropping" in this book but the connections made sense. This book spoke more about their 2 children, Lucie and Desi as well. It was wonderful to hear all the zany (and not so zany) happenings in their lives. This book was well written, very informative, and made me feel very nostalgic. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. A 4 star rating.
November 25, 2017
The author makes a statement to the effect that ‘I Love Lucy’ worked so well because Lucy had the ability to give the impression of the order of sanity in the beginning of the show and by the end of the show the disorder leading to apparent insanity was accepted because the beginning of the episodes established order had been laid down which gave a ground to the chaos that ensued (Lucy stomping grapes, working in chocolate factory, or freezing in a freezer, e.g.. The writers knew what the end point was going to be and provided the plausibility in order to make the implausible all the more funny!).
Each of our lives have an inauthenticity brought on by the paradoxes of our existence which makes our stay on this planet all the more pleasurable if we too see our predicament as if we were watching a rerun of ‘I Love Lucy’ and are best served by accepting the insanity of our situation because there is some sanity that grounds it, even though we don’t always know that we know what it might be, but we are best served if we act as if we knew.
This book was Hollywood name dropping at its best. I loved the connections that were brought out in the story of Lucy and Desi. One of the few things I’m an expert on is old movies. I know all the players from the old movies, but often I am not aware of the off screen connections. This book connected a lot of stars and directors and the time period together for me (I’d be really hard pressed to come up with a list of star names that weren’t mentioned in this book. Let me see, I think the book didn’t mention Lew Ayers, but it did prominently mention Ginger Rogers his wife multiple times through the story). I didn’t realize that Lucy’s (and some of Desi’s) connections ran so deep within the Hollywood community.
One doesn’t even need to be a fan of Lucy and Desi to enjoy this book (I am of course), because there was a story about trying to make it in Hollywood in the 30s and then ultimately developing a media powerhouse and then the ultimate fading into the background that can appeal to all readers. Also, the marriage itself: what a complex relationship and fascinating in itself even if you had never heard of the players you would find that part of the story worth reading for itself.
The reader gets a love story, a history of Hollywood, the creation of an entertainment business, a story of the most influential of the early TV shows, and a whole lot of Hollywood stars from the 30s and 40s popping in and out of the story. Not a bad listen overall and I bet you didn’t know vibrations in Lucy’s fillings led to the discovery of a Japanese spy in California during the war or that Lionel Barrymore fell asleep in a cottage of Lucy and Desi with a cigarette in his mouth and burned down the cottage while only being narrowly evacuated from the fire just in the neck of time?
Each of our lives have an inauthenticity brought on by the paradoxes of our existence which makes our stay on this planet all the more pleasurable if we too see our predicament as if we were watching a rerun of ‘I Love Lucy’ and are best served by accepting the insanity of our situation because there is some sanity that grounds it, even though we don’t always know that we know what it might be, but we are best served if we act as if we knew.
This book was Hollywood name dropping at its best. I loved the connections that were brought out in the story of Lucy and Desi. One of the few things I’m an expert on is old movies. I know all the players from the old movies, but often I am not aware of the off screen connections. This book connected a lot of stars and directors and the time period together for me (I’d be really hard pressed to come up with a list of star names that weren’t mentioned in this book. Let me see, I think the book didn’t mention Lew Ayers, but it did prominently mention Ginger Rogers his wife multiple times through the story). I didn’t realize that Lucy’s (and some of Desi’s) connections ran so deep within the Hollywood community.
One doesn’t even need to be a fan of Lucy and Desi to enjoy this book (I am of course), because there was a story about trying to make it in Hollywood in the 30s and then ultimately developing a media powerhouse and then the ultimate fading into the background that can appeal to all readers. Also, the marriage itself: what a complex relationship and fascinating in itself even if you had never heard of the players you would find that part of the story worth reading for itself.
The reader gets a love story, a history of Hollywood, the creation of an entertainment business, a story of the most influential of the early TV shows, and a whole lot of Hollywood stars from the 30s and 40s popping in and out of the story. Not a bad listen overall and I bet you didn’t know vibrations in Lucy’s fillings led to the discovery of a Japanese spy in California during the war or that Lionel Barrymore fell asleep in a cottage of Lucy and Desi with a cigarette in his mouth and burned down the cottage while only being narrowly evacuated from the fire just in the neck of time?
August 26, 2020
Oh my, I am in tears. What a wonderfully nostalgic look back at Hollywood history and the truth about the behind-the-scene lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz ... I had no idea!
February 8, 2023
The title is pretty self explanatory - this is the story of Lucy and Desi Arnaz, the power couple of their decade. Were they loved and adored by their fans? Heck yeah. It can be argued they are STILL adored, nearly 40 years after both their deaths. Did they love each other? Deeply. Were they good together? Yikes. No. Just...no. One was controlling and quick to anger while the other one was prone to drinking and womanizing (constantly). If you're looking for a good book on this couple? I believe this is a good place to start. Written 32 years ago (and reminding me that I'm not young), it's still quite a comprehensive biography. It was well written and well researched. Both the good and bad sides of them were balanced within these pages. If you're looking for Lucy and Desi's own [be it sugarcoated] thoughts, they both released memoirs - Love, Lucy by Lucy (duh) and the brilliantly titled memoir A Book by Desi.
May 14, 2012
I rarely give a 5 star "amazing" rating to a book but this one deserved it. This was a delicious read and a true delight to revel in. I was so sad when it ended. Who doesn't love Lucy? The writer did a great job laying out their lives and drawing you into them. This WAS their life and knowing it wasn't what was portrayed on televison made for wicked and delightful reading. I couldn't wait for the next chapter at the same time I was counting the pages hoping it never ended. It's rare I find a book that makes me feel the way this one did so I have no problem with the high ranking I am giving this one. If you Love Lucy, if you are a fan of the show, IF you really want to know the true story of their lives...read this book. It puts it all out there and I ask nothing more than that of a book. Highly recommend!
June 27, 2016
Lots of great stories, but needs editing for typo errors
This book contains many amazing facts and stories about both Lucy and Desi, from birth to death!
Covering Desi's privileged upbringing in Cuba to the political turmoil which brought his now-destitute family to the United States, his is a fascinating tale.
Equally fascinating is Lucy's life, her many attempts at fame from Broadway to Hollywood, and support of her family.
Receiving significant treatment as well are the stories of their tumultuous relationship, the Desilu studio, and their desire for children which almost never came true.
The main issue is a need for editing. Extraneous hyphens, gross misspellings, and formatting errors made for great distraction during reading. Otherwise, a wonderful book.
This book contains many amazing facts and stories about both Lucy and Desi, from birth to death!
Covering Desi's privileged upbringing in Cuba to the political turmoil which brought his now-destitute family to the United States, his is a fascinating tale.
Equally fascinating is Lucy's life, her many attempts at fame from Broadway to Hollywood, and support of her family.
Receiving significant treatment as well are the stories of their tumultuous relationship, the Desilu studio, and their desire for children which almost never came true.
The main issue is a need for editing. Extraneous hyphens, gross misspellings, and formatting errors made for great distraction during reading. Otherwise, a wonderful book.
August 22, 2016
This is a long, long book. If you are a fan of Lucy, you will probably enjoy it - but it does prattle on about every bit of minutia in the industry. It also leaves out details of the few juicy bits it teases you with. A really big annoyance are the typos - there were at least a half dozen occurrences of "7 Love Lucy" for example. Pretty basic proof-reading if you ask me. Good enough for vacation reading but not recommended.
November 18, 2016
Great bio of two legends who, more than anyone else, ushered in the television age (as well as women in comedy and minorities in Hollywood production). Lucy may be far more iconic but Desi was just as influential behind the scenes. His company, Desilu, was the biggest TV production company in the 1950's and ultimately became Paramount TV, so the next time you watch Star Trek, thank Desi.
August 22, 2017
I grew up watching Lucy & Desi (or was it Lucy & Ricky?) so reading this book was a no-brainer. It contained a lot of interesting info that I never knew before. And it seemed a little long but perhaps I've just been busy lately. I'm just sorry that they both suffered with so much unhappiness. More proof that success and wealth are not everything.
December 2, 2016
Solid biography. I loved reading it on my Kindle so I could pop to youtube when a particular scene from I Love Lucy was mentioned so I could refresh my memory on that particular episode. Great read for nostalgia fans.
September 26, 2021
Aside from a few details about Desi’s early years and anything about their kids; it really wasn’t anything I didn’t already know.
I’ve said before that I’d rather avoid biographies from people who weren’t there and this reminded me why, I don’t think he even really cared about them they were just another subject to write a book about. There’s no bibliography and claims that everything is from interviews with friends and family which I’m having trouble accepting because there are some things a friend wouldn’t really know or reveal.
I’ve said before that I’d rather avoid biographies from people who weren’t there and this reminded me why, I don’t think he even really cared about them they were just another subject to write a book about. There’s no bibliography and claims that everything is from interviews with friends and family which I’m having trouble accepting because there are some things a friend wouldn’t really know or reveal.
December 9, 2025
Reads like a sensationalized tabloid article and took me 7 months to finish because I kept putting it down.
I saw good reviews and as a certified I Love Lucy girlie I wanted to give this a chance. Lucy and Desi clearly lived fascinating and troubling lives, but this writing style had such a flippant sexist overtone that stripped even an ounce of empathy away from these real and complex humans. Written by a man? I’m shocked.
I saw good reviews and as a certified I Love Lucy girlie I wanted to give this a chance. Lucy and Desi clearly lived fascinating and troubling lives, but this writing style had such a flippant sexist overtone that stripped even an ounce of empathy away from these real and complex humans. Written by a man? I’m shocked.
October 19, 2021
Rating - 3.75
April 15, 2022
If you have ever been a fan of Lucille Ball and/or Desi Arnaz, you will appreciate this book. It is both informative and poignant. Well-researched and utterly absorbing. A great read.
February 7, 2017
Warren G. Harris gives a detailed look into the professional and personal lives of legendary television icons Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Beginning from their childhood and transitioning into the story of their lives working in show business, falling in love, getting a divorce, and lives after their marriage and sitcom, "I Love Lucy," had ended. It is told through a third party narrative as Harris gathered information from co-workers, friends, family, and television archives that can give as true an interpretation as can be. It is a heart-breaking story about Lucy and Desi's struggles in show business and marriage that takes a look into America's favorite couple and how they revolutionized the TV industry.
January 6, 2020
Never Ending Book
Started out okay, but after reading about a third of the book I started feeling like I was reading an encyclopedia. Just written down facts about what movie star was in what movie, but nothing very interesting. There was nothing there that made me want to finish the book. I’m certain there was more of the same, but it just seemed to go on forever. When I was younger, I would plug along until the very end (thinking it would get better). It never did, then I would be mad because I wasted all that time on a crappy book. I am bailing on this one because there are a lot of wonderful and interesting nonfiction books out there just waiting to be read. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of them.
Started out okay, but after reading about a third of the book I started feeling like I was reading an encyclopedia. Just written down facts about what movie star was in what movie, but nothing very interesting. There was nothing there that made me want to finish the book. I’m certain there was more of the same, but it just seemed to go on forever. When I was younger, I would plug along until the very end (thinking it would get better). It never did, then I would be mad because I wasted all that time on a crappy book. I am bailing on this one because there are a lot of wonderful and interesting nonfiction books out there just waiting to be read. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of them.
January 4, 2021
I'm not really a Lucy/Lucille Ball fan, since slapstick is not really my thing. But I fondly remember watching "I Love Lucy" episodes as a young child. I've always heard Desi was a very good business man. I also know Desilu (their production company) was one of the first to not re-use film, which is why we are still able to see reruns of their shows nearly 80 years later. (In the early days of television, most companies thought once a show had been seen, no one would want to see them again. Plus, film was very expensive. So most studios recorded over film, never imagining that years/decades later, people would want to see the shows again and newer generations would enjoy seeing them for the first time.) So this book (free with Kindle Unlimited) was intriguing to me. The book does agree with things I'd heard (Desi very good businessman, Lucy became "difficult" to work with after the divorce when she bought Desi out of Desilu, Vivian Vance & William Frawley despised each other, Lucy insisted Vivian Vance put on some pounds to look frumpy so as to not upstage her, etc) and there were many other things I found fascinating. Here are just a few.
In the 1930's, when Buster Keaton had some downtime while under contract with MGM, in the backlot, he'd build machines similar to those drawn by Rube Goldberg. They were so brilliant that engineers came to study them and magazines like "Scientific American" and "Popular Mechanics" ran articles about them.
While filming the infamous scene with Lucy & Ethel working in the candy factory, they hired a real candy dipper from See's Chocolates to be another worker in the show.
Desi had a photographic memory and after reading the script once or twice, knew not only his lines letter perfect, but the lines of everyone else.
Before fleeing communist Cuba, Desi's family was very well off & considered high society. He was supposed to attend the University of Notre Dame to prepare for a career in law & politics.
Desi was responsible for bringing several tv shows including the hit series "The Untouchables" & "Mission Impossible".
When Lucy & Desi married, Milton Berle sent them a case of toilet paper. While reading this in 2020, it seemed he was clearly, a man ahead of his time. 😉
Conclusion: I found this book to be enjoyable and objective and takes you clear up to Lucy's death. Highly recommend it, if you enjoy this type of book.
In the 1930's, when Buster Keaton had some downtime while under contract with MGM, in the backlot, he'd build machines similar to those drawn by Rube Goldberg. They were so brilliant that engineers came to study them and magazines like "Scientific American" and "Popular Mechanics" ran articles about them.
While filming the infamous scene with Lucy & Ethel working in the candy factory, they hired a real candy dipper from See's Chocolates to be another worker in the show.
Desi had a photographic memory and after reading the script once or twice, knew not only his lines letter perfect, but the lines of everyone else.
Before fleeing communist Cuba, Desi's family was very well off & considered high society. He was supposed to attend the University of Notre Dame to prepare for a career in law & politics.
Desi was responsible for bringing several tv shows including the hit series "The Untouchables" & "Mission Impossible".
When Lucy & Desi married, Milton Berle sent them a case of toilet paper. While reading this in 2020, it seemed he was clearly, a man ahead of his time. 😉
Conclusion: I found this book to be enjoyable and objective and takes you clear up to Lucy's death. Highly recommend it, if you enjoy this type of book.
December 25, 2020
I love the story of Lucy and Desi. Individually, they were fascinating people. Lucille Ball was tougher and more personally adventurous than people assume. A flamboyant teen in Jamestown, NY, she went to New York with dreams of stage success. When that didn't work out as planned, it was off to Hollywood. From movie gangster George Raft to producer Pandro S. Berman, she had many affairs along the way. And then she met HIM.
Desi Arnaz was the son of privilege in Cuba. Wealthy and politically connected. Then his family suddenly and violently lost everything and, instead of college, 16-year-old Desi was cleaning bird cages and sleeping in a warehouse in Florida. His good looks and musical talent were his tickets out of poverty. He became a bandleader, then an unlikely Broadway star, and then off to Hollywood.
Their marriage was tempestuous from the start. They wanted it all: movie stardom, children, and a placid home life on their ranch in Chatsworth. They eventually did achieve it all, but never at the same time. They loved one another to distraction, but they were mismatched. Desi was imaginative and creative ... and an alcoholic. Lucille was a disciplined, driven perfectionist. The tragedy of their story is that they created Ricky and Lucy Riccardo, who ended up living happily ever after, while they were eventually unable to live together at all.
Their story is compelling and it's well told, so why only 3 stars? The author makes assertions that either aren't true or impossible to verify. For example, Lucie Arnaz herself has debunked the rumor that she and her brother ever appeared in I Love Lucy, yet Harris has them in a specific episode. He also maintains that Lucie and her husband, Laurence Luckinbill, have a difficult marriage marked by his drinking. The couple just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, and I can't find any other evidence that he has a problem with drink.
I wish Mr. Harris was as good a researcher as he is a writer.
Desi Arnaz was the son of privilege in Cuba. Wealthy and politically connected. Then his family suddenly and violently lost everything and, instead of college, 16-year-old Desi was cleaning bird cages and sleeping in a warehouse in Florida. His good looks and musical talent were his tickets out of poverty. He became a bandleader, then an unlikely Broadway star, and then off to Hollywood.
Their marriage was tempestuous from the start. They wanted it all: movie stardom, children, and a placid home life on their ranch in Chatsworth. They eventually did achieve it all, but never at the same time. They loved one another to distraction, but they were mismatched. Desi was imaginative and creative ... and an alcoholic. Lucille was a disciplined, driven perfectionist. The tragedy of their story is that they created Ricky and Lucy Riccardo, who ended up living happily ever after, while they were eventually unable to live together at all.
Their story is compelling and it's well told, so why only 3 stars? The author makes assertions that either aren't true or impossible to verify. For example, Lucie Arnaz herself has debunked the rumor that she and her brother ever appeared in I Love Lucy, yet Harris has them in a specific episode. He also maintains that Lucie and her husband, Laurence Luckinbill, have a difficult marriage marked by his drinking. The couple just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, and I can't find any other evidence that he has a problem with drink.
I wish Mr. Harris was as good a researcher as he is a writer.
May 11, 2024
When my husband and I decided to go on a “date night” we thought it would be fun to go to a movie. While perusing the list of movies, we selected Being the Ricardos. The movie tells the story of Lucille Ball and her husband, Desi Arnaz as they deal with the fall out of Walter Winchell’s comment “What top redheaded television comedienne has been confronted with her membership in the Communist party?”
Years ago, I had read Lucille Ball’s autobiography Love Lucy. After watching the movie, I decided I wanted to learn more about Lucy and Desi the couple. Warren G. Harris’s biography Lucy & Desi: The Legendary Love Story of Television's Most Famous Couple fit the bill.
Lucy & Desi: The Legendary Love Story of Television's Most Famous Couple chronicles the couple’s lives starting with Lucy growing up in Jamestown, while Desi was living a life of privilege in Cuba. As Lucy moves to New York to pursue a career in acting, Desi and his father flee Cuba after a coup de ta. Eventually, Lucy and Desi are cast in the Hollywood film of the Broadway musical Too Many Girls which leads to romance and eventually marriage. The couple form a partnership which would lead to the formation of the legendary Hollywood production studio, Desilu. The couple welcomes two children, creates an Emmy winning television show, and endures the red scare of the 1950’s. It appears Lucy and Desi have everything, but the illusion crumbles as their marriage falls apart. Even though they divorce and remarry, Lucy and Desi remained close friends. As Desi Arnaz once said, “I love Lucy was never just a title.”
Years ago, I had read Lucille Ball’s autobiography Love Lucy. After watching the movie, I decided I wanted to learn more about Lucy and Desi the couple. Warren G. Harris’s biography Lucy & Desi: The Legendary Love Story of Television's Most Famous Couple fit the bill.
Lucy & Desi: The Legendary Love Story of Television's Most Famous Couple chronicles the couple’s lives starting with Lucy growing up in Jamestown, while Desi was living a life of privilege in Cuba. As Lucy moves to New York to pursue a career in acting, Desi and his father flee Cuba after a coup de ta. Eventually, Lucy and Desi are cast in the Hollywood film of the Broadway musical Too Many Girls which leads to romance and eventually marriage. The couple form a partnership which would lead to the formation of the legendary Hollywood production studio, Desilu. The couple welcomes two children, creates an Emmy winning television show, and endures the red scare of the 1950’s. It appears Lucy and Desi have everything, but the illusion crumbles as their marriage falls apart. Even though they divorce and remarry, Lucy and Desi remained close friends. As Desi Arnaz once said, “I love Lucy was never just a title.”
November 5, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It very interesting to learn more about their collective pasts and then together. The only real downfall I felt, was that none of the movies or TV shows mentioned were ever italicized, underlined, bolded, quoted or anything. It made the whole continuity of the book suffer. Also as a reader who didn't watch "I Love Lucy" live, some events, persons, etc., were mentioned with no other background information as the reader was already supposed to know them. I constantly felt the need to google or imdb certain actors, movies, TV shows, so I could actually completely understand the context. Overall though, would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to know the history of the show its famous couple.
July 28, 2021
Much of this book reads like one Wikipedia article after another. There's more than 600 pages here, but not much about who Lucy and Desi were as people. If you're interested in the various business dealings of Desilu over the years, how much money exchanged hands for this and for that, and who starred in this old flop you've never heard of, then this is the book for you. While I acknowledge that some of the information in this book is outdated because it was published 30 years ago, the author's voice and choice of wording and moral judgements make it sound as though it was written back in the 50s when Lucy was still the Queen of Television.
Ugh... I dunno. It's okay, I guess. Not great.
Ugh... I dunno. It's okay, I guess. Not great.
January 30, 2024
This is a mixed review for me. I love the story, facts, tidbits. Partly, I loved it because I am such a fan of Lucy.
However, I found it to be a difficult read. It is full of dates, names and stories-many of which I knew; so, I found it a little hard to plow though.
That being said, when I got to the end...I honestly wanted to cry. It seems that Lucy and Desi always loved each other--they just weren't good for each other.
That is the worst kind of love story.
For actors there are lessons upon lessons about how difficult show business can be and yet, how successful it can be as well.
If you love Lucy--you'll probably love this book.
However, I found it to be a difficult read. It is full of dates, names and stories-many of which I knew; so, I found it a little hard to plow though.
That being said, when I got to the end...I honestly wanted to cry. It seems that Lucy and Desi always loved each other--they just weren't good for each other.
That is the worst kind of love story.
For actors there are lessons upon lessons about how difficult show business can be and yet, how successful it can be as well.
If you love Lucy--you'll probably love this book.
February 4, 2017
Some interesting discussion about the rise of Desilu and a good timeline of the key events in Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's life, but not too many insights about what drove these unique characters to excel in show business.
Author Warren G. Harris also skims over some details. For example, several times toward the end of the book, he refers to Lucy's cousin Cleo as a "near sister," yet he never ties her into Lucy's life, apart from mentioning her living with their grandparents as a child.
Although this is an interesting and easy-to-read book, a little more depth would have been welcome.
Author Warren G. Harris also skims over some details. For example, several times toward the end of the book, he refers to Lucy's cousin Cleo as a "near sister," yet he never ties her into Lucy's life, apart from mentioning her living with their grandparents as a child.
Although this is an interesting and easy-to-read book, a little more depth would have been welcome.
November 11, 2021
I listened to this unabridged book. It sounded and read like a documentary taking the young lifes of both Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz thru their movies, shows, productions, et el until their deaths. If you’re an AMC follower, knowing key actors from the 1930’s thru the 1960’s, then this book might especially appeal to you. If you don’t follow actors during this period, this book might have more details than you like. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the acrimonious relationship, but deep found love between Lucy and Desi.
October 30, 2016
Already a fan of Lucy
I have been such a fan of Lucille Ball for many years but never realized the struggle she endured to achieve what she did. I liked the way this book followed both Lucy and Desi through their early lives and to their deaths. It followed their coming together and growing their dynasty and also their ultimate separation and later years. It was very objectively written without much opinion and strong factual support.
I have been such a fan of Lucille Ball for many years but never realized the struggle she endured to achieve what she did. I liked the way this book followed both Lucy and Desi through their early lives and to their deaths. It followed their coming together and growing their dynasty and also their ultimate separation and later years. It was very objectively written without much opinion and strong factual support.
February 16, 2018
This reminded me of my youth watching television.
It is now 2018 and I'm 69 years old. I remember watching Lucy and Desi on TV with my parents.
In the pages of this book I relived Lucille's antics on TV. And remembered much of her life that played on the edge of my growing up. I enjoyed learning the rest of the story. Thank you Mr. Harris for putting her life on paper for us all to read.
It is now 2018 and I'm 69 years old. I remember watching Lucy and Desi on TV with my parents.
In the pages of this book I relived Lucille's antics on TV. And remembered much of her life that played on the edge of my growing up. I enjoyed learning the rest of the story. Thank you Mr. Harris for putting her life on paper for us all to read.
March 24, 2023
I love Lucy! The first quarter of this book is so full of every tiny detail of Lucy & Desi lives, I almost gave up on it. Happy that I stayed with it because the rest of it was fabulous.
3 stars and then 4 stars. I might even suggest you just skip the beginning of the book. Lucy was such a hard-working woman, so impressive in all she did. Desi was such a womanizer that it made me sick. I don’t think he could handle Lucy being more of a success then he was. Interesting read.
3 stars and then 4 stars. I might even suggest you just skip the beginning of the book. Lucy was such a hard-working woman, so impressive in all she did. Desi was such a womanizer that it made me sick. I don’t think he could handle Lucy being more of a success then he was. Interesting read.
October 23, 2023
Although info has emerged since Lucy's death (e.g. the father of Patty Duke's son has been established), this is still a terrific biography. It feels more like a biography of Lucy with lots of info about Desi but that in some ways matches how the public perceived them. Very readable and does a great job of providing both large-picture insights and day-to-day details. Easily among my top picks for Lucy fans
July 26, 2025
A not-bad bio of Lucy & Desi that could have used a little more polish. But hey, it was free from Amazon and that's the main reason I read it. Written in 1990, so arguably somewhat outdated in terms of the fates of the Arnaz children and later cultural legacy of their parents. By the end of the book, I was left rather depressed by Lucy & Desi's many life problems, health problems, addiction problems and love problems - in spite (because?) of their success.
January 20, 2017
Interesting read
I remember seeing reruns of "I Love Lucy" on TV all the time growing up. I didn't like the later Lucille Ball shows much, but the ones with Lucy and Desi are still a hoot. It was interesting to read about their real life romance and individual personalities. For all their problems, they come across as caring, decent people.
I remember seeing reruns of "I Love Lucy" on TV all the time growing up. I didn't like the later Lucille Ball shows much, but the ones with Lucy and Desi are still a hoot. It was interesting to read about their real life romance and individual personalities. For all their problems, they come across as caring, decent people.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews