I’m fairly new to requesting, reading and reviewing books
from NetGalley that I almost missed this one! I didn’t realize until last week
that I’m only allotted less than 2 months to read these books that the
publishers so graciously trust me with before they go “Poof” from my Nook.
It’s a good thing that it’s a fairly short book and I was
able to read it in its entirety today.
Gloria Steinem has compiled a compelling overview of the
life of Marilyn Monroe (and Norma Jeane) that is part biography, part
psychological profile, part picture book, part history, part feminist study, part
speculation – all wrapped around very natural pictures of Marilyn Monroe, not
long before her death in August 1962.
It cleverly seesaws back and forth between Norma Jeane and
her ascent to become, and be, Marilyn Monroe. Filled with quotes from Marilyn
herself, along with historical facts, hearsay, and other nuggets depicted in
other publications – we are able to see her sparkling star power – an effervescence
that from all accounts shines through.
She was a gentle
spirit, craving love and stability – a little girl lost who unfortunately didn’t
find her way in time. She constantly craved a solid, steady mother-figure in
the women she surrounded herself with and a father-figure in the men who she
met, loved, and married. But the isolation, loneliness, and neediness of this child-woman
caught up with her and she was taken away too soon.
It’s uncanny to me reading this, the little tidbits Marilyn
Monroe/Norma Jeane and I have in common.- We both have a physical body developed too fast.
- I share her eagerness to read, learn and grow.
- One of her heroes was Abraham Lincoln. She wrote an essay and I wrote a book report – both in Junior High.
“With enough self-knowledge to recognize her own behavior, but not enough self-confidence
to change it,” Ms. Steinem writes before quoting Marilyn herself (pg. 110).
WOW! I can relate to that!
Steinem writes pieces about Norma Jeane, about Marilyn and
then as many of the information throughout the book suggests – as both halves
of the same person intermingled and one fighting the other that always seems to
be fighting to be kept at bay.
Her insecurities are always there – I can tell from what I
do know and what I’ve read in this book that she was in a constant struggle to
keep the demons of her past out of her head, her need and constant craving to
be loved and wanted, her thirst for knowledge and not to be seen as she was in
many of her movies as the sexpot, dumb blonde.
Just when I was wondering what would have happened, had she
lived longer and not died in such a theatrical way with all the mystery,
conspiracy theories and speculation surrounding her untimely demise, I go a few
pages further and that’s what the last chapter is about (although it was
originally published in the late-80s when she’d be in her 60s).
Would she have made it as an aging actress at a time when
aging actresses weren’t revered and their talents weren’t acknowledged as they
are more today?
Would she have been able to make it in more serious roles,
or as a character actress?
Would she still be a legend or would Marilyn Monroe just
fade into the darkness and been a has-been?
We’ll never know. So, we’re left with the films and pictures
of this pretty brunette, who became a platinum blonde icon with her sexy walk
and husky voice – forever implanted in our minds.
I’ve only seen, “The Seven Year Itch” and “Some Like It Hot”
– I will be expanding on that list and I look forward to reading more on
Marilyn/Norma Jeane. Thanks for the glimpse Ms. Steinem!
By Gloria Steinem
Photographs by George Barris
Photographs by George Barris
Open Road Integrated Media
Published March 2013
Original Publication 1988
Published March 2013
Original Publication 1988
Disclaimer:
This book was provided to reviewer from the publisher, Open Road Integrated Media through NetGalley for the sole purpose of reading and review.
