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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
I read this because Karina Longworth, the host of You Must Remember This podcast, recommended it. No regrets. This was a fascinating and deep portrait of a recognized, classic Hollywood star that I honestly didn't know very much about. The biography is well-researched, includes a lot of interviews with famous and non-famous people who encountered Ava Gardner over the years. It also didn't shy away from being honest about her flaws and her triumphs, giving kudos to overlooked aspects of her character and career. Very worth the read.
Catching up…
This was donated to my Little Free Library Shed several weeks ago. I was looking forward to re-visiting it so that I could provide a review for Goodreads.
I am a great fan of film noir. And she definitely was one of the actresses I use to love watching whenever the old movies would come on when we use to have cable television.
I thought I liked it when I first read this book as part of my celebrity biography reading stage period of my life years ago.
Recently the New York Times posted an article featuring the most notable books from the year 2000-2023. And, this book was listed for the year 2006. So, I can only presume that this book must have made an impression on their writers, too.
But notable doesn’t necessarily mean great, does it? Just worthy of notice.
As I began to re-visit this book, I noticed that the author’s research felt a bit chaotic. It appeared more focused on her life in tabloids. Whatever was printed in the newspapers, or magazines seemed to be how this author chose to tell his story of Ava Gardner.
And of course, whatever could be said about her had a lot to do with what we could all see on screen or in writing – her voluptuous beauty, the men, the marriages, the movies. How the newspapers and magazines chose to interpret her. From film set to film set. Or from marriage to marriage.
And then there was her drinking. Her unreliability because of it. From famous to infamous to notorious. In this book, 500 pages later we see her at the end of life at 67.
But those of us who admired her acting, or her stage presence, where we really wanted to be was with her as we saw her on the cover page of this book. To be honest, that is how we really wanted to remember her. Gorgeous. Stunning. Immensely talented.
Was the read worth it – especially a second time?
If you love Ava Gardner, maybe. Or, just go watch one of her old movies, and live in the nostalgia of her. It might be a better, happier experience.
This was donated to my Little Free Library Shed several weeks ago. I was looking forward to re-visiting it so that I could provide a review for Goodreads.
I am a great fan of film noir. And she definitely was one of the actresses I use to love watching whenever the old movies would come on when we use to have cable television.
I thought I liked it when I first read this book as part of my celebrity biography reading stage period of my life years ago.
Recently the New York Times posted an article featuring the most notable books from the year 2000-2023. And, this book was listed for the year 2006. So, I can only presume that this book must have made an impression on their writers, too.
But notable doesn’t necessarily mean great, does it? Just worthy of notice.
As I began to re-visit this book, I noticed that the author’s research felt a bit chaotic. It appeared more focused on her life in tabloids. Whatever was printed in the newspapers, or magazines seemed to be how this author chose to tell his story of Ava Gardner.
And of course, whatever could be said about her had a lot to do with what we could all see on screen or in writing – her voluptuous beauty, the men, the marriages, the movies. How the newspapers and magazines chose to interpret her. From film set to film set. Or from marriage to marriage.
And then there was her drinking. Her unreliability because of it. From famous to infamous to notorious. In this book, 500 pages later we see her at the end of life at 67.
But those of us who admired her acting, or her stage presence, where we really wanted to be was with her as we saw her on the cover page of this book. To be honest, that is how we really wanted to remember her. Gorgeous. Stunning. Immensely talented.
Was the read worth it – especially a second time?
If you love Ava Gardner, maybe. Or, just go watch one of her old movies, and live in the nostalgia of her. It might be a better, happier experience.
Wonderful biography of a very exciting woman! I closed the book feeling sad for her, wishing she could have found love she seemed to always search for. Would have been one hell of a friend! :)
Well researched. Interesting insight into the legendary woman’s life.
The life of a woman who doesn't give a damn. If you love old Hollywood you will drool over this womans' tenacity and joie de vivre.
I'd better clarify: The writing deserves a high rating, but if you're going to read this book, I'd really recommend a physical copy rather than the Kindle version, which is what I opted for.
I'm not familiar with publishers' methods of transferring printed text to digital text but have noticed most kindle books I've read are completely riddled with typos and grammatical errors that aren't always in the printed book versions. What's up with that?
I'm not familiar with publishers' methods of transferring printed text to digital text but have noticed most kindle books I've read are completely riddled with typos and grammatical errors that aren't always in the printed book versions. What's up with that?
informative
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I think biographies are a bit tricky to review because it's only partly about how they're written, and largely about the subject which the author can't (or shouldn't) change.
I have to admit I knew the name Ava Gardner before i picked up this book but that was about it. She really had a fascinating life and Lee Server does a brilliant job of telling it in an engaging and empathetic way.
I feel like maybe there are some embellishments in the way that motives and feelings are assumed in some parts, but there has clearly also been a great effort made to seek information from all possible sources.
There are many colourful and amusing quotes and anecdotes but it's also very moving; despite our notable differences I feel a certain kinship and empathy with Ava after reading this, and even welled up at the last paragraph (I DON'T as a rule cry at books!).
Interested me more in Artie Shaws's music than in going back to any of Ava Gardner's films, but worth it for her off-screen story, and tales of the film world. On The Killers: "Siodmak always knew what he wanted and worked very quickly. There was no rehearsal before the actual shooting began. Siodmak's interest was in staging and camera placement. He did not discuss motivation with the actors or give line readings." On The Naked Maja: "Filming was in the Italian style, without direct sound recording (dialogue to be postsynchronized). Many of the other actors she performed with either spoke no English or had accents too thick to be understood. Sometimes the other actors did not speak their lines on camera but simply mouthed gibberish or counted numbers; you didn't so much interact with the other players as watch and wait for their lips to stop moving.