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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Gerald Clarke's biography of Judy Garland is incredibly thorough and detailed, and after reading it I feel like I've gotten off of a long, incredibly emotional roller coaster. What a talent, and what a heartbreaking life.
Although the actual story and history of Judy Garland was fascinating and attention-grabbing, I gave this book three stars because of the writing. The author would skip over things in Judy's life and then chapters later bring them up as afterthoughts. Instead of getting into the details of her life, several times he said he would "let one story stand for many." All in all though, it's worth the read if you're interested in Judy Garland's history or just in the history of movies in the 1940s and 1950s.
From her parents, to Vaudeville, the MGM era to The Palace and then onto the chaotic up and downs of the remainder of her life, the book the mostly difficult to put down and when you did, you couldn't wait to pick it back up. With a large chunk of notes/references at the back of the book, I often found myself quickly flipping to find the source of the information which was so interesting to learn.
If you read this, and are a fan of Judy, you must also read Sid Luft's memoir "Judy and I" which I believe fills a lot of little gaps from 1950 through to mid the 1960s. [b:Judy and I: My Life with Judy Garland|29501254|Judy and I My Life with Judy Garland|Sid Luft|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487308706l/29501254._SX50_.jpg|49788458]
As good as this was, there were a few points I wish were different. One thing that this book doesn't do but Sid Luft's does is really "big up" her triumphs. Maybe it's because Sid was in love with Judy and that really translates into the writing, but I wanted to cheer more when reading this. It's very quick to blame a bad Judy moment on a "bad Judy day" and sometimes I wish there were more insight. For example: a performance in 1957 in Vegas on New Years Eve that states she "quits Vegas show in a huff" but what it didn't mention is that the audience was drunk and getting up on stage with her and causing disruption.
trigger warning
Whats more, is the amount of times "half hearted/yet another suicide attempt" is mentioned, when in reality, she was a self-harmer - not wanting to die but just to feel pain or to punish herself. More detailed and arguably more accurate accounts of this in Sid's memoir also.
All in all, aside from the small minor dislikes, the book was packed with so much detail and information. If you loved Judy to begin with, you'll love and admire her even more after this, part bluebird, part Phoenix and all phenomenon. If you're reading simply to learn more about Judes, buckle up buttercups, you're in for quite the wild ride!
If you read this, and are a fan of Judy, you must also read Sid Luft's memoir "Judy and I" which I believe fills a lot of little gaps from 1950 through to mid the 1960s. [b:Judy and I: My Life with Judy Garland|29501254|Judy and I My Life with Judy Garland|Sid Luft|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487308706l/29501254._SX50_.jpg|49788458]
As good as this was, there were a few points I wish were different. One thing that this book doesn't do but Sid Luft's does is really "big up" her triumphs. Maybe it's because Sid was in love with Judy and that really translates into the writing, but I wanted to cheer more when reading this. It's very quick to blame a bad Judy moment on a "bad Judy day" and sometimes I wish there were more insight. For example: a performance in 1957 in Vegas on New Years Eve that states she "quits Vegas show in a huff" but what it didn't mention is that the audience was drunk and getting up on stage with her and causing disruption.
trigger warning
Whats more, is the amount of times "half hearted/yet another suicide attempt" is mentioned, when in reality, she was a self-harmer - not wanting to die but just to feel pain or to punish herself. More detailed and arguably more accurate accounts of this in Sid's memoir also.
All in all, aside from the small minor dislikes, the book was packed with so much detail and information. If you loved Judy to begin with, you'll love and admire her even more after this, part bluebird, part Phoenix and all phenomenon. If you're reading simply to learn more about Judes, buckle up buttercups, you're in for quite the wild ride!
Such a beautiful, sad and poignant life. Judy was incredibly talented with a wicked sense of humor. Definitely a must read.
I finished the book this morning--it ends abruptly, with Judy's death. There should be one more chapter that describes her afterlife as an immortal legend.
I really love Judy Garland, so maybe I knew too much going in (really all I'd seen before this was the tv movie Me and My Shadows, which is better than you would think, for a tv movie), but there was a lot in this book that wasn't new information. Combined with too much hyperbole (I'm sorry, but Garland is not the only singer to have a signature song) and not a whole lot of insight to her psyche, I was disappointed.