What are you reading?

[dreamer]

You are awesome - please stop.

We can all only be as the echo we receive

[isis]

My life, Ingrid Bergman, Alan Burgess .....exciting !!!! such life !!!

[Richard]

There just isn't enough books on Carole Lombard. The one biography I would really like to get my hands on is the one by Larry Swindell, Screwball: The Life of Carole Lombard. It has been out-of-print for ages, and the price goes anywhere from $40 plus dollars to over $100. Judging from the reviews of those who have read it it seems to be the one that is most reliable. There is, however, another book on Lombard in circulation, and it's called Carole Lombard, the Hoosier Tornado, which is part of the Indiana Biography Series. But the reviews are terrible and I don't want to waste my time. So then I discovered something else, a book called Gable and Lombard by Warren G. Harris.

This book is about the torrid love affair between Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, which, although they met formerly in the 1932 film NO MAN OF HER OWN, they did not become a couple until early 1936 when they met at a formal gathering called The White Mayfair Ball. They fell in love then and there, going on more dates and gradually becoming more smitten with each other, and eventually became one of the most popular Hollywood couples. Like most biographers, Harris takes the time and gives us some background info about these two legends. Beginning with Lombard's birth in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1908, with her family's migration to Los Angeles, where she was spotted by a Hollywood director playing baseball in the street that ultimately led to her first film role at the age of 12. The author also delves into her early years as a contract player under Mack Sennett, as well as some comedy shorts she made at Pathé Pictures, all under the name Carol Lombard, without the "e", which she didn't officially adopt until 1932. Gable on the otherhand is shown as having a rugged childhood. Beginning with his birth in Cadiz, Ohio in 1901, Gable bucked the eduction system at a young age choosing instead to work. I recall reading that Gable at times resented his father and chose to set out on his own. Eventually he caught the acting bug and decided that that was what he wanted to do. He married his acting coach (a woman 14 years his senior) before arriving in Hollywood.

For the most part the book is well-written. The author seems to have divided his information on each person equally that gives the whole book enough balance making it a pleasent read. Still, I can't help but doubt some of his writing. While there are some mentioned in this book which I'm sure is very accurate, for instance the encounter between Gable and Lombard at the Mayfair; their subsequent meetings thereafter and endless practical jokes; their hunting and fishing excursions; their public appearances at dinner outings, sporting events and movie premieres, and Lombard's will to change her lifestyle for the man she loved. But as soon as these two people were behind locked doors, then it becomes a little exaggerated. Lombard swore, no doubt about that. At times her humor can be raunchy, but it is also easy for the author to make these things up. Sure, it is impossible for nearly all of us who never knew her to say otherwise, but with some of the author's writing I can't help but feel suspicious about. The author even goes as far, although briefly, as to retelling what Lombard was doing on the plane the night it crashed. How he can know this is beyond me seeing as all those onboard perished.

But you want to know the one thing that had to cap it all off? The author ends the book with the death and funeral of Clark Gable, with such notables as Spencer Tracy and David O. Selznick in attendance. The author's last sentence reads that Clark Gable, "The King of Hollywood", was "lowered six feet into the ground next to Carole Lombard". Harris was right about Gable being next to Lombard, but he wasn't "lowered six feet into the ground", he wasn't even buried. Gable was interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale, next to who many people regard as the love of his life. There is no excuse for the author to get this wrong.

3/5 stars.

As long as I'm talking about her, does anyone else like Carole Lombard? If so, share your thoughts.

[Shaun]

Loved her in MY MAN GODFREY. She was one of the greatest comedic actress of her time, no doubt. With Deborah Kerr's death I've sworn to see more of her work. I'm adding Carole Lombard to the list.

[merimc]

I wanted to buy a Carole Lombard Biography too... Your right it is really expensive. I just bought her Glamor Collection though!

[Richard]

That glamour collection is fantastic. I always wonder if I'm ever biased when it comes to critiquing her movies though. She was afterall a natural beauty, with a great figure, and her iconoclastic personality is enough to turn the head of any man. I've seen a couple of her not-so-good films, but I never seem to catch myself complaining about her or any of her performances. Kinda like Kate and Garbo.

Shaun, I recommend you start with that set. All except one of the movies included are good. Meanwhile I've added THE KING AND I to my Netflix account.

[merimc]

I've just discovered Garbo... I am reading "Walking with Garbo" now.... Her and Kate are the two most interesting human beings to ever set foot on this planet.

[star]

Can we talk about non Hollywood books?

I've just finished We,children of Bahnhof Zoo by Christiane F. I read it years ago but the teacher suggested it to us because we'll make a debate about drugs and "lost child",so I re-read it.It's a great book because it's such an important thing and no one wanted to talk about it.It's shocking but this is reality.I think everyone should read it.