Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted

by Faye D. Resnick, Mike Walker (Collaborator)

Fearing for her life, Faye D. Resnick, as confidante of O.J. whenever he and his ex-wife fought - went into hiding to write Nicole's story. Her phones were tapped, private journals and photographs were stolen from her home, veiled threats were made by "private investigators" - and O.J.'s defense team, desperate to find another suspect, spread slanderous "theories" that purportedly tied Faye to the murders.
Now the truth about Nicole is revealed by the only person - except O.J. himself - who knew the real How O.J. raged out of control just two days before he bought the now-infamous "stiletto knife" - and told Faye over and "I'm going to kill her... I'm going to kill her if I find her with another man!" That same day, Nicole told Faye, "O.J. loves me so much he's going to kill me... and get away with it." Six days before the murders, a furious O.J. panicked Nicole by threatening to inform the IRS about a tax problem that could force her and their two children out of the home they loved. Five days before her death, a frightened Nicole told Faye that O.J. had stolen the spare set of keys to her condo. How Nicole committed the one sexual "taboo" O.J. had forbidden.
It's more than sensational! It's the touching, intimate portrait of a devoted wife and mother, molded from age 17 by a charismatic American hero who always showed the world the happy, smiling face he drew on his so-called suicide note... but beat her savagely behind closed doors.
New unrevealed secrets... How O.J. left her beaten and near-naked in a Las Vegas hotel corridor... O.J.'s boast of his "sexual revenge" against the man he raged against in the headline-making "911 tape"... How Nicole's "frog phobia" doomed the reconciliation when O.J. became "Frog Man"... The bizarre story of the thumb ring found next to Nicole's body - identical to the one worn by Faye, and...
It's the heartbreak of a woman who tried desperately to return what she thought was her husband's total love - and her final realization that it wasn't love, but a hellish obsession!
Details of the final 35-minute phone call Nicole had with Faye during the final moments of her life.
It's an unexpected love story about two women who formed a bond so strong even death can't break it - and how they teamed up in a futile, last-ditch effort to save the life of Nicole Brown Simpson.
It's an angry cry for help... help for women trapped in the brutal prison of abuse from men who claim to love them. Nicole Brown Simpson was known as a "strong woman" by her friends and family - but Faye D. Resnick, who was an abused child, has learned one powerful lesson from writing this Strength should never be equated with keeping silent about abuse. Sadly, it's a lesson Nicole never learned. That's why she'd want you to read her story...

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Biography, Crime, Biography Memoir, Memoir, Audiobook

244 pages, Hardcover

First published January 12, 1994

About the author

Faye Resnick is a designer in Hollywood; she also has commercial design projects such as the Ceasars Palace Salon in Las Vegas, due to open in December of 2007.

Resnick was a witness in the civil suit of Fred Goldman versus O. J. Simpson. Resnick claimed that Simpson had stalked his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson in the months preceding the murders of Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. She observed O.J. Simpson as a "violent, controlling, obsessed character whose happy public face could transform itself into a terrifying, sweat-drenched mask of naked hate."

Resnick authored Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted, based on the life of the woman she called her "best friend". In her book she detailed a lesbian encounter with Nicole Brown which caused much controversy in the public and legal community.

She has been less than forthcoming about her own personal life. It is believed that she was actually born in Alameda, California as Faye Denise Hutcheson. However, the Smartfellowspress website states that "Nothing she says about her mother, her father or her step father and little of what she says about her e-husbands [sic] can be independently confirmed."

Reviews

[Fiona Helmsley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I missed the OJ Simpson trial and all it's associated drama by about twenty years. I was eighteen at the time of the murders but far too distracted to pay it any attention. I was homeless and there was no television set behind the Stop and Shop supermarket where I laid my head to rest. I do recall talking on a payphone with my friend Amber as she watched the Bronco chase enfold on her end. As she gave me a bit- by- bit running commentary of what she was seeing, my mind was elsewhere, probably figuring out what I was going to shoplift for dinner and hoping I wouldn't get caught this time. It wasn't that I wasn't slick. I had black leopard spots dyed into the little hair I had and was watched as soon as I entered a store.

Anyway, Resnick's book.

I have read many celebrity memoirs and just as many true- crime and celebrity hangers-on tomes, but this one really takes the cake with the facade of its intent and in its marked opportunism masked as some kind of morality play.

Resnick purports to be on a mission. Her mission is two-fold. She wants to correct the media's portrayal of her dear, departed friend and she wants to help other victims of domestic abuse.

While Resnick does spend considerable time on the brume of abuse and terror Nicole lived under as the wife of OJ Simpson, she spends just as much time sharing with us her insider's knowledge of the minutia of Nicole's sex life. She does this under the guise of her first mission, correcting the media's portrayal of her friend. In this way, the definition of what constituted sex to Nicole becomes very important, and Resnick goes on to differentiate between which relationships of Nicole's were just "play" (Nicole's word, Resnick's tells us, for any non-penetrative sexual act) and which relationships qualified as actual intercourse in glorious detail. How Resnick is able to recall with such accuracy her friend's sex (or "play") life one is left to wonder. She claims to have kept a diary (of her friend's sex life?) but that it was stolen after the murders. She frames this sexual straw- splitting and the gratututious revelations it allows for as protection of her friend's dignity. ("See, she wasn't really a slut! Most of her relationships were just b.j's!")

The book's trashiness is made all the more pronounced by Resnick's frequent declarations of unyielding love for her subject, a love so strong and so numinous that of course it would have to be explored sexually, with Nicole, it is implied, wearing the man-pants in the tryst, because, as Resnick reconstructs for us in all its lighted- candle hot- tubbed glory, Nicole wore a man's tie the night they both gave into a mutual physical attraction so strong it could only be interpreted as more evidence of their soul bond.

I'm a tabloid baby. I'm all for salacious, juicy details in print- but not when the person who's life these details have been purportedly pruned from has been brutally murdered, and not when the nut graf of the story is one of two BFF's -one live, one dead - and the live one is betraying the confidences of the dead one to such a degree that if there is an afterlife, Faith deserves to get her ass kicked there by Nicole. I'm sorry; it's too gross, even for me. I could deal with learning Nicole considered her vagina conditioned to the length of a black man's penis under different circumstances, maybe from her divorce paperwork from OJ, but not now that the person who supposedly did the conditioning left her head hanging on her neck by only sinew.

What I found the most interesting about the book was the Kardashian angle. Kourtney, Kim and Khloe all grew up in this environment- all the participants in the OJ saga where their parents close friends. Bruce Jenner, their step father, was best friends with OJ, and Kris, their mother, very close with both Nicole and Faith. I think growing up in that environment explains a lot about the Kardashian women now. All they've ever known is selling your life out, your friend's lives' out, fame as the number one reason for living, that when in doubt, sex, above all else, sells. Not that I think they should have, but I doubt Kim's family could have cared much at all about her leaked sex tape. Something like that would have been considered par for the fame course. Their mother was one of Nicole Brown Simpson's closest friends and their father, Robert, returned to law after years of working in the recording industry just so he could help in the defense of their mother's close friend's murderer. What a world to grow up in. I'd love to know what it was like, but I imagine those girls may not know a world free of spin. If I'm right, it may not be their faults if they don't know how to tell the truth.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ghosts of OJ seem to be every where right now. American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson is an interesting and somewhat campy retelling of the story. On Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Faye Resnick is confronted by Kathyrn Edwards for things she wrote in her book about Nicole Brown Simpson. Of course the women meet for the first time on camera. A former cast member, Camille Grammer, once referred to her as "the morally corrupt Faye Resnick." She is very much disliked for appearing to capitalize on her best friend's murder. As I'm already watching this play out on reality tv, I decided to read (actually listen to) Faye's book, "Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted." Now I understand why she is so despised.

1. She dedicates the book to Nicole. This book is supposed to speak for Nicole, yet it is all about Faye.
2. Faye claims she and Nicole were BFFs. I doubt her worst enemy could have cast the deceased in a trashier light.
3. There are situations, if true, Faye should have buried with Nicole. She seems to throw in very titillating details not to preserve the memory of Nicole's, but to sell books.
4. She tells us she knows what was happening to Nicole and then later says that she had no idea. It is clear that Nicole was in danger, yet no one did anything. During the one situation Faye claims to be present for, she fled with her fiancé rather than protect he friend.
5. She name drops and tells tales. I have doubts on what is and isn't true. If everything is true, all of them were morally corrupt.

I'm disgusted with the whole sordid tale. I need another shower after writing this review.

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

Faye Resnick must be the friend in the saying "with friends like this, who needs enemies"...

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title of this book is very misleading. This is NOT the private diary of anyone. This book is Faye Resnick's pathetic attempt to make money off of her dead friend. I use the word "friend" loosely, as a real friend would not divulge this type of personal information. I highly doubt that most of what Resnick claims happened is even true.

Resnick does not have anything worthwhile to share about the life of Nicole Brown Simpson. She uses this book to name drop, as well as brag about her own vacations. At times she just rambles on and on about trips she has taken and the famous people she hung out with at clubs.

This book paints Nicole Brown Simpson in a very unflattering light and does not give the reader any true insight on Nicole's life. Resnick ought to be ashamed of herself. Not only for writing a terrible book (complete with typos), but for being a complete sell out. Resnick is desperate for fame and uses a dead woman's name to further her own agenda.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok, this one was SOOOO bad i just loved it. nicole's friend is #1) an ex-cocaine addict, so whatever she says should be taken with a grain of salt #2) is a fabulous hysteric, leaving out mysterious details to sketchy interpersonal situations #3) exemplifies the snooty, rich, white, brentwood cokeslut to a T. it was funny listening to her "memoires." a couple of examples that stick out to me are: how it just was oh-so-horrific to hear that her best friend was murdered the day that she was getting out of rehab, and the exquisite 5 minute detail she gave for an "egyptian" style bedroom that her lover designed for her house--where she and "nick" bumped pussies like the lezbos they always dreamed of being. bwahaha. what a riot. i highly recommend this book to people who are in their car and want a good laugh at sheer stupidity.

[Maggie Gul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man. I have seriously drank the "OJ koolaid." In the past week, I have now read 3 OJ books about the night Nicole was murdered.
This particular book was probably one of the most controversial books that I have read. Faye appoints herself as a vehicle to spread the word/legend of Nicole Brown. She does a mostly good job though some of the sexual things may have been better left out, just out of respect. I share a lot with my best friends and might be a bit embarrassed if they all were written in a tell all book by my best friend. So, thus the 3 stars. I think the memory pf Nicole could have been preserved without going into her sexual dalliances. Think of the children Faye!

[Stacey Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Faye Resnick's book so you don't have to. I've included the juicier stuff (consider this a warning) she talked about as well as traits of OJ she mentioned. But a lot of this book is about Faye Resnick and how she is the shit. I feel for the person who had to pick up all the names she dropped.

- OJ told police the reason why Nicole was murdered was bc she borrowed money from Columbian drugs dealers to buy a Starbucks.
- Nicole loved white-washed pine
- OJ repeatedly showed up on dates Nicole would go on with other men and make a scene. He said it was bc he "loved her too much." That doesn't sound like a murderer at all.
- Faye was friends with Kris Jenner before she met Nicole.
- OJ is basically the husband from "Sleeping with the Enemy."
- Nicole and OJ had sex an average of 5 times a day.
- OJ raged out a lot because of all the cocaine.
- OJ hated being black.
- OJ and Marcus Allen were in constant competition to see how quickly they could nail the same woman. Charming.
- Nicole was one of these women and she was with Marcus Allen after she divorced OJ.
- OJ molded Nicole sexually and she was never the same since (i.e. He's got a big dick).
- Marcus Allens dick was the size of a chunk of driftwood.
- OJ was manipulative of every one in his inner circle. If you didn't agree with him, you were out.
- Cuba Gooding Jr's portrayal of OJ as a whiny man child who can't believe when things don't go his way is accurate.
- OJ was "one of the fasted cocksmen in town."
- When Nicole was pregnant, OJ would criticize her for being fat and would use that as an excuse to sleep with other women.
- Nicole was terrified of frogs.
- OJ only beat Nicole when she confronted him about his affairs with other women. Some beatings ended with her being locked in the closet.
- Nicole made more than 30 911 calls because of OJ.
- OJ tracked Nicole's periods and when she was having them he wouldn't listen to her or let her make decisions bc of her period hysteria.
- Nicole told many people many times that OJ would kill her one day.
- after their divorce and then a failed reconciliation in April of 1994, OJ told Nicole if she was seen with another man before August of that year, he would kill her. She died in June.
- in the months leading up to her death, OJ was caught hiding in her bushes and following her when she left the house.
- OJ was going to turn Nicole in for tax fraud weeks before she was killed. Unless she got back together with him. He's a reasonable man.
- a detailed schedule of everything Nicole did in her final days was found in Paula Barbieri's car.

[Chandler Kuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faye Resnick is not a great author by any means and this is pure name-dropping trash, but it is glorious trash! Her portrayal of Nicole as a human being with flaws contradicted her own families side of the story and their portrayal of Nicole as innocent and angelic, but this maybe-true tell all makes Nicole Brown Simpson human and more tragic, in that you can see yourself as Nicole, not as some Virgin Mary slayed by the big black ogre O.J. as her family would of had it at the time, also points out how close her own family was to O.J. and how they sort of ignored her cry's for help. Faye is now an interior decorator who designed for such classy people as Paris Hilton, and can currently be seen occasionally on O.J. and Nicole's goddaughter's reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. She also always starts some drama when she makes an appearance on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Read this if you are interested in another view of the O.J. Saga.

[KC Chapa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I was a little biased going into this book. I read Marcia's book first and she said that her belief was that Faye's book had the ring of truth. If I hadn't read that comment from Marcia, I likely never would have read this book and just dismissed it as one of Nicole's "friends" who was just writing a trashy book to exploit her dead pal. However, I too, thought the book was likely very much the truth. Do I think that the conversations and statements that are in quotes are actually quotes and perfectly recalled from her memory? No. But I do think she likely remembers the gist of the conversations. Yes, I like the trash bits--of course. But I really enjoyed getting to read more about Nicole--she was either completely lost in the trial or, when she was spoken about, she was painted as an angel. Great read.

[Eve Dangerfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, no wonder everyone freaked out about this. It's hectic in 2023. I can't even imagine how it played in 1994.

[Lackof_shelf_control · Rating 3 out of 5]

📢 Calling all true crime fans 📢 Alright, this is a WELL known and covered case, so I wouldn’t say you are going to learn much new per se, but it’s more of an emotional overlay of Nicole’s life. This is from her best friend’s perspective and therefore some of the tales are more private and unknown, but also makes you wonder how much is factual or elaborated on. As a whole, I do think Faye loved her deeply and was very close with Nicole, but I do take these anecdotes with a grain of salt- especially the moments of hindsight. It also is very cringe at times. The verbiage around sex and intimacy is so old school, but fits for the time. I very much enjoyed the photos in the middle. Very eerie to see all these shots from vacations where Oj looks like a normal loving husband. The book made me cry in the end because even though we know the ending there is nothing more heartbreaking than a life unjustly taken and one that was so full of life at that!!! Lastly, she rounds the book out with crisis numbers and comments on getting out of abusive relationships, which I think was a well thought out way to end the book. “ Nicole didn’t get out. You can.”

[Lisa K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok WHERE DO I EVEN START WITH THIS?!? The most famous part was, of course, the “Brentwood hello” but that was only the beginning!!! There are multiple chapters explaining that “doing someone” means “having sex” and then “do” is in parentheses the rest of the book!
The co-author was the editor of the national enquirer and there was an entire chapter about how the 1989 enquirer cover story on Nicole & OJ was so accurate it MUST have come from someone in the inner circle...
ALSO a chapter about how lesbian sex just happens sometimes even if neither party is a lesbian...
I can’t believe I haven’t read this before now!!!!

[Kerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good choice if you have limited reading choices --want to read and this is the only book left in the region. I am giving it one star for it's poor quality and the extra star is for it's peculiar iconic quality. I did read it and I iked it -- what does that say about me?

[Meghan Becker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't believe I gave in to my curiosity and read this pile of garbage. Though at times she spoke highly of her "best friend" Nicole Brown, she also spilled all of her dirty laundry. Maybe my Midwest is showing, and this is all very normal in California.

[Angela DeSilva · Rating 4 out of 5]

OJ Simpson
is a murderer

[Susan Liston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a large collection of OJ books, but realized the other day at the library that I had never read Faye Resnick's follow up book, Shattered. So I'll dual review them. It's easy to dismiss this as exploitation, I thought as much at the time. Everyone in it came off as some version of vain, shallow, just-plain-dumb, promiscuous, social climbing trash. But I do think there is a core of sincerity here, certainly Faye spends a great deal of the next book talking about how much scorn she received after this book was published, and justifying telling the stories she told (I'm sure she was coaxed for "dirt" by the publisher) She also believed without hesitation from the start that OJ was guilty, and she did have a front row seat for his relationship with Nicole. In "Shattered" she very simply debunks of lot of the defense's version of events, some points I would have liked to have seen made many more times. (Another big mistake the prosecution made was determining by their own standards who was "good enough" to testify. They should have put on everyone, warts and all.) And for gosh sake, so many people have no idea that there was a reason that Nicole was so angry at OJ at the that dance recital, which was the trigger for the whole thing, and that was that he was trying to get her in hot water with the IRS, which meant she quickly had to pull up stakes and move, in spite of the kids being uprooted as well.
So yeah, this is trashy for sure, but a valid contribution to the OJ "canon", if we can call it that.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found a copy of this book when it fell from a bookshelf and hit me on the head. I think I read this about 20 years ago, but I didn't remember much of it. It occurred to me that there were references to the Kardashian family in this memoir, which by the way is not Nicole Brown Simpson's diary, nor Faye Resnick's diary, or a diary at all. And it is certainly not private. The entire book falls into the category of TMI, a revealing of confidences that serve no good purpose for the tragically slain Nicole.
Too much detailed information on Nicole's sex life after her split with O.J. Simpson. Too much description of her preferences in sexual partners. Too much protesting of how much Resnick loved the subject of the book, while divulging secrets about Nicole's private life. I am sure O.J. was seriously provoked to anger over most of the information shared here by the author, who was in rehab when her best friend was murdered.
Rambling and not well written. Two stars is generous. There are a few interesting photos of the Jenners and Kardashians hanging with the Simpsons, circa 1994 or thereabouts.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The biggest problem with this book is that it does not seem to be centered around Nicole but rather is all about the narcissistic author Faye Resnick. It's interesting to learn more about Nicole and OJ Simpson however it was very difficult for me to put faith in the author's words. Faye admittedly is high on cocaine during a lot of conversations recounted in the book so how can I believe she is recollecting history correctly? It is interesting to think about how this book was received and became a bestseller when it was released during the OJ Simpson trial. I did find it enjoyable to see how Faye wrote about the Kardashians, Jenners and even Donald Trump during the early 1990s. Nobody then would've believed what they would become today!

[C Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically as "friend" she really ratted out some pretty personal details about Nicole's sex life. As much as Nicole Brown Simpson whined and complained that OJ was always cheating on her, from her friend's storying telling, Nicole did just as much "playing" as he did.

I was only in 7th or 8th grade when she was murdered and even at such a young age, you know if you aren't guilty of something then why run?

The abuse that was mentioned all throughout the book just affirmed all Nicole endured and could not get out of the cycle of her husband's abusive ways. I suppose only God will know the truth, but I still think he's guilty!

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 4 stars because I was so enthralled in the story and couldn't put it down, but it really wasn't a well written book. She obviously wrote it for selfish reasons, not to dispel any myths like she claims. Oh wait, there was one: that Ron Goldman and Nicole were friends not lovers.

Some of the stories she related were TMI. Why would she tell these things knowing that Nicole's kids might read it. Some "friend."

But yeah, I was sucked in, I admit it. Just being honest.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best line, "I asked the pharmacist for a glass of water and took my Valium right there." I don't think that's a thing. Really interesting read, really bad writing. I also didn't know stalking a person by faxing them nonstop was a thing. I've wanted to read this book since I was 14 when the murders happened. Obviously O.J. is guilty, there's a lot of insight into his life and the Kardashians during the early 90s.

[Farrah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably 2.5 stars. In everything I've read so far this is the only one focused on Nicole personally and her personality, life and feelings about OJ. So for that reason I think it's worthwhile and interesting. That said, Faye resnick is so self absorbed, shallow, overwrought and clearly feels guilty that she didn't do more to help Nicole - lots of excuses in here. Overall it felt trashy and like she was selling out by publishing this right after Nicole's death.

[Alexa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanna believe Faye really wrote this from the heart, but it was still a book written in such poor taste. She swears it's about Nicole, but the details she chose to share were not only uncomfortably personal, but painfully irrelevant. Ugh, I just feel even worse for Nicole that this book is one angle that she'll be remembered by. It really is such a shame.

[Glennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perspective from another direction... More questions as to how in the world did he get away with this in criminal court? But..those of us who followed the case know why...

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trashy read written by a morally corrupt author.

[Carie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soo many typos and editing errors within this book that it is staggering.

[Ben Dams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A "revealing" and easy read. Seemed hastily written, as if it was rushed to press to become part of the OJ trial circus.

[LmHargreaves]

Faye Resnick was NOT a friend of Nicole's or she would not have written this "expose" of a book.

[jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a train wreck.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

her heart is in the right place.

faye clearly loved nicole and she does not defend oj. she could only do so much. nearly the whole time, she didn’t see the complete picture of abuse in the relationship because nicole was good at hiding it. and if she had known, telling someone to leave an abusive relationship sometimes has no effect at all. nicole thought she wanted to be with oj, and faye telling her to leave him wouldn’t have changed that - especially when she had other friends and even her own family pressuring her into staying with him. even if faye could have had influenced her, it was still 100% oj’s fault for doing what he did and it’s sick to blame someone else.

near the end, faye’s anecdotes about being mad at nicole for seeing other men make sense to me. she was afraid for nicole’s life, and she thought these actions could be a trigger for oj to act violently. of course you would be asking your friend why they’re doing these things that could cause their abusive ex to go off. that is a reasonable reaction when you’re scared - she was not blaming nicole for causing oj’s actions. she just wanted to avoid anything that could possibly influence him to act out. she even stated that she thinks no matter what, oj probably would have ending up killing her.

faye’s words towards abused women at the close of the book struck me as a little naive. I think sometimes, it is safer for a woman to stay in a house with her abuser for a time than to flee. there are more and less opportune moments to get out of situations. but maybe I’m over-analyzing her words. her message is true: you deserve better. you never deserve cruelty. I wasn’t alive in 1994 so I don’t know what the social climate was then, but my sense is that the world’s opinions have shifted a lot for the better. I am more inclined towards leniency for faye, when clearly her intentions are pure.

it was a quick read. overall, there was a good message and this book was a little insight into nicole’s life. her life as it perhaps actually was - she was a good mother and friend, she liked to dance and have fun, and sometimes, as faye noted, it was impossible to know what was going on in her head. and she noted particularly that she was beautiful and everyone wanted her - if anyone wrote a book about me that was what I’d want to hear. really though, the book struck me as honest, and I liked that it wasn’t focused on salacious rumors or the grisly details of the murder and trial. it was just real.