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Post by charliesgirl7681 on Jun 10, 2010 20:44:04 GMT -5
I'm finishing up Ginger Rogers autobio and plan on starting one of Lauren Bacall's books. Which one is better? Anyone have a preference? Is there only the two?
Thanks!
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Post by Judy on Jun 10, 2010 21:40:55 GMT -5
I'm finishing up Ginger Rogers bio and plan on starting one of Lauren Bacall's books. Which one is better? Anyone have a preference? Is there only the two? Thanks! I'd recommend you read By Myself. That's her original autobiography and takes her through most of her life. The followup - Now - takes up where By Myself leaves off. It's also good, but in my view is not up to the quality of By Myself. Then there is By Myself and Then Some, which was published a few years ago. It's basically a reprint of By Myself with about 75 pages added on at the end in which she discusses her friendships and some of the close friends she's lost - like Kate. That excerpt posted was from this section of the book. So I'd say to start with By Myself and then move on to the others if you like.
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Post by charliesgirl7681 on Jun 10, 2010 21:54:14 GMT -5
yay! Thanks Judy
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Post by carol on Jun 11, 2010 4:44:34 GMT -5
Yeah thanks Judy, I've always wanted to read her books but didn't know which one to pick.
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Post by Judy on Jun 12, 2010 10:02:14 GMT -5
Glad to be able to help. I think you'll like By Myself.
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Post by gottamatch on Jun 13, 2010 8:27:04 GMT -5
I've never read 'Now', but "By Myself and Then Some" I read and I HATE reading. I am not a reader and I could not put this down. You will LOVE it. I re read certain sections of the book. There is alot of detailed specifics about her and Bogie if you're interested in that. Those were my favourite parts. She's really a great writer, you can tell she has written it and not some secretary. It sounds like Lauren Bacall is telling you the story. I've never really got that from an autobiography before. The only other books I've read in full are Lucille Ball's autobio - but I think it's because it wasn't so huge, African Queen by Hepburn and An Intimate Portrait (that's Kanin's, right? Well, that one). So it's a very few books I've actually read in full in my time and Lauren's By Myself was one of them. No, I have not completed 'Me'. I really couldn't get into it, I found her style of writing difficult to read and take in, but I did listen to Kate read most of it for me I've got to start Ginger Rogers' next. What's that one like? Jess
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Post by HollywoodHepcat on Jun 13, 2010 12:56:59 GMT -5
I've got to start Ginger Rogers' next. What's that one like? Jess .....Not that great, I guess. Ginger was rather a snot-faced brat---holier-than-thou, if you will. She takes great care to clear her name in clashes that the public mightn't have been privy to in the first place, but is vague when it comes to the points that matter. I don't know... she was a mannered Republican lady, so you may draw your own conclusions. But I haven't read it; this is Katie speaking. She looouuuurves Ginger like nobody's business, so I would still give her book a try! Especially since you enjoy her movies! (I don't discourage anyone from reading.) ♥ "ME" OR GO FOR BROKE. ♥
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Post by charliesgirl7681 on Jun 13, 2010 20:27:44 GMT -5
I like Ginger's book because I REALLY like her and her life was really intressting! But the writing structure isn't great. It sounds like she just wrote stuff down and didn't go back and reread it. It is very goodytwoshoes, "I did this, I did that. Now you don't know this because everyone tells it this way BUT I really did this!" type of thing. She tells a story about Kate that made me say "that bitch" about Hepburn . Rogers says Hepburn dumped a glass full of water on her new mink coat when Rogers was talking to G. Stevens. She made it sound like it was a random thing for K.H. to do but who knows. Another must read is the story of "Mary Queen of Scotland" screen test lol If you like Ginger or the 30's - 40's Hollywood at all read her book. If you can get past the 'look at me' thing going on and her obsession with her mother its a good read. She knew everyone it seems (and dated everyone) very fun read but don't take it too seriously.
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Post by gottamatch on Jun 13, 2010 20:28:21 GMT -5
Haha yeah, I think Ginger's one will be interesting. Bit of rose coloured glasses I'm thinking. God love the girl. It will be interesting to hear about Lena (that's the mother, right. Especially since Lucille goes on about her for so long in her book.
Another big star who never had any children.
Jess
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Post by charliesgirl7681 on Jun 13, 2010 20:36:09 GMT -5
I don't think her mother allowed her to have children lol. LeLee/Lela is her mother. I know she coached Ball. Hummm did Ball seem to like her?
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Post by Alicia on Jun 14, 2010 1:39:49 GMT -5
I read Ginger's book way back when I was obsessed with Fred and their musicals. I'm not really sure why exactly I read it (probably because I had just read Fred's book). I enjoyed it but it certainly wasn't the best autobio I've read. However, at the time I didn't have much prior knowledge of old Hollywood, so I learned a great deal in that respect. Lots of interesting anecdotes. The whole religion/christian science thing really started to get on my nerves after a while though. I happened to think that the Kate water incident was hilarious (the whole time I was thinking "man, Kate is awesome for that," without actually knowing much about her at the time). Somehow I doubt its a completely true story, but it was entertaining and I sort of felt like Ginger had it coming...
Also, I adored Bacall's books. Another great insight on classic 40s and 50s hollywood. Probably the best actor autobio I've read to date.
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Post by gottamatch on Jun 14, 2010 5:46:05 GMT -5
Lela that's it.. haha what did I say, Lena LOL yeah Lucille did seem to be very fond of Lela and very upset when she had to leave her training school of sorts, or whatever it was..
Jess
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Post by Richard on Jun 14, 2010 14:36:30 GMT -5
I like Ginger's book because I REALLY like her and her life was really intressting! But the writing structure isn't great. It sounds like she just wrote stuff down and didn't go back and reread it. It is very goodytwoshoes, "I did this, I did that. Now you don't know this because everyone tells it this way BUT I really did this!" type of thing. She tells a story about Kate that made me say "that bitch" about Hepburn . Rogers says Hepburn dumped a glass full of water on her new mink coat when Rogers was talking to G. Stevens. She made it sound like it was a random thing for K.H. to do but who knows. Another must read is the story of "Mary Queen of Scotland" screen test lol If you like Ginger or the 30's - 40's Hollywood at all read her book. If you can get past the 'look at me' thing going on and her obsession with her mother its a good read. She knew everyone it seems (and dated everyone) very fun read but don't take it too seriously. It's funny hearing all this talk about Ginger's book because I just finished reading it again not too long ago. Bottom line, I didn't enjoy it as much. But I do agree about Rogers' writing, which left more of an impression on me this time around. The conversations in her book that she had with other people seemed scripted, almost as if she remembered the gist of the conversation but made up most of it as if it were a scene from one of her movies. It was too word perfect. That was just one of the things that bothered me. I guess you'd have to read it to understand what I'm talking about. As for the mink coat incident... Well... I just don't understand it. What I mean to say is, Why the HELL would Katharine do that!? Not only didn't I think it was funny, it was downright rude. It's a horrible thing to do to a person. Part of me would like to believe Ginger had done something to upset her, anything to provoke her, that she neglected to tell us about. But what? It couldn't have been that whole 'Mary of Scotland' thing, could it? I know our girl is random, but come on... ...then again, if she could spit at Joe Mankiewicz...
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Post by HollywoodHepcat on Jun 14, 2010 15:17:55 GMT -5
As for the mink coat incident... Well... I just don't understand it. What I mean to say is, Why the HELL would Katharine do that!? Not only didn't I think it was funny, it was downright rude. It's a horrible thing to do to a person. Part of me would like to believe Ginger had done something to upset her, anything to provoke her, that she neglected to tell us about. But what? It couldn't have been that whole 'Mary of Scotland' thing, could it? I know our girl is random, but come on... ...then again, if she could spit at Joe Mankiewicz... It's Kate[/b]. What is context? What is reason? What is not being an asshat? These questions shouldn't come within a 40-mile radius of anyone rehashing Stupid Stuff Kate Once Said Or Did. My opinion? Humor is subjective, so to argue about whether it was funny or not is a moot point. I know of someone who decided they HATED Kate simply on the basis of this anecdote (as told by Ginger). That's just irrational. I happen to think Ginger couldn't take a joke, but I also happen to think that Kate had her less-than-flattering moments. I mean, I get her. She had a bizarro-world sense o' humor, and at times appeared to be the only one in on the joke. (Remind you of someone?) In this instance, I don't think Kate dumped that glass of water on Ginger's mink coat to be funny, per se---she flat-out didn't like GR, so when the opportunity arose itself, "Oh hey, I'm a glass of liquid. You know what would be high larious? Well, there's that dame you can't stand 4 floors underneath us..." So, you see. She opted to take the asshole route, that's all. I forget, was George Stevens laughing hysterically, too? He might have been a co-conspirator. Hate to break it to you, chilluns, but Kate was a bona fide jerk sometimes. Are we really just discovering this now? And Joe said he had that comin' and he didn't have any sore feelings about it, so...
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Post by Richard on Jun 14, 2010 16:15:36 GMT -5
[/b]. What is context? What is reason? What is not being an asshat? These questions shouldn't come within a 40-mile radius of anyone rehashing Stupid Stuff Kate Once Said Or Did. My opinion? Humor is subjective, so to argue about whether it was funny or not is a moot point. I know of someone who decided they HATED Kate simply on the basis of this anecdote (as told by Ginger). That's just irrational. I happen to think Ginger couldn't take a joke, but I also happen to think that Kate had her less-than-flattering moments. I mean, I get her. She had a bizarro-world sense o' humor, and at times appeared to be the only one in on the joke. (Remind you of someone?) In this instance, I don't think Kate dumped that glass of water on Ginger's mink coat to be funny, per se---she flat-out didn't like GR, so when the opportunity arose itself, "Oh hey, I'm a glass of liquid. You know what would be high larious? Well, there's that dame you can't stand 4 floors underneath us..." So, you see. She opted to take the asshole route, that's all. I forget, was George Stevens laughing hysterically, too? He might have been a co-conspirator. Hate to break it to you, chilluns, but Kate was a bona fide jerk sometimes. Are we really just discovering this now? And Joe said he had that comin' and he didn't have any sore feelings about it, so...[/quote] OMG, I hope you don't think I was being too serious! That actually makes sense. I forgot who we were talking about here. You know I still love Kate and nothing is ever going to change that, right? Forgive me, Amber. I've been gone for too long that I've forgotten why we love this woman. I'm going through a process of rediscovery, so it's going to take awhile.
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