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raegancihammers 's review for:
Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe
by Anthony Summers
This is the first Marilyn Monroe biography that I have read, and must admit my knowledge of her life and career was cursory before picking it up. A lot of ink has been spilled over her life and even more over her death, and while I'm sure there are inaccuracies and omissions in Anthony Summers' "Goddess" ...was a fantastic read. Summers traces her life from birth til death, but not in a simple, linear fashion. He acknowledges (if not embraces) the complex mythology that has built up around Marilyn Monroe. He uses Marilyn's own words about her life (which changed frequently over time) as well as those of the friends, relatives, and colleagues who knew he best . Ultimately, the picture he paints is a sad one. The story of a little girl who never quite grew up; the brilliant actress with crushing stage fright; and the sex goddess who really just wanted to be loved. I was amazed at how much she was at the crux of mid-century life and fame and that she knew...absolutely everyone. Most haunting, certainly, were the last days of her life...her decent into drugs and alcohol and loneliness. All in all, a compelling read and a well-rounded portrait.