brittniphillips's review against another edition
1.0
This book has very little to do with Marilyn. The author is the 3rd Asst Director of a film Marilyn is featured in and he has very little interaction with her. His "week" with her is more like a day and one random evening which he described in exact detail in about 100 pages. There is no excitement to this 'week' he talks about. It kind of just happened. The other 206 pages are a day by day telling of what goes on in a movie production in the 50s. All is taken from the author's personal diary from when he worked on the film.
Great if you want to know how a film in the 50s is made. Horrible if you are looking for a Marilyn Monroe story.
Great if you want to know how a film in the 50s is made. Horrible if you are looking for a Marilyn Monroe story.
mrsthrift's review against another edition
2.0
This book was broken into three parts - a 'remembered' version of Colin's seven days spent in Marilyn's company, a letter to a friend about the week (basically a shortened version of the preceding section), and the longer, less interesting actual journal of Colin's time working on the movie set of The Prince and the Showgirl, which includes a blatant omission of the seven days spent as Marilyn's companion and a lot of movie set shenanigans, like dating a young girl who works in Wardrobe and dealing with all the drama of egos and film stars.
I thought this book was "just ok" and most of it was actually pretty boring, but it does get an extra star for the completely random, completely unexpected scene where Colin nonchalantly gets a blow job from a gay coworker. I, for one, am shocked that didn't make it into the Michelle Williams movie.
I thought this book was "just ok" and most of it was actually pretty boring, but it does get an extra star for the completely random, completely unexpected scene where Colin nonchalantly gets a blow job from a gay coworker. I, for one, am shocked that didn't make it into the Michelle Williams movie.
emilyhames's review against another edition
3.0
This is split into two different books, the first being the real life diaries of the author Colin Clark as he worked on a film with Marilyn Monroe. The other is more of a story based on real life events where Colin spent a weekend with Marilyn. I really enjoyed the first volume, the diaries gave insight into the films production and the work Colin did onset. But the second volume, which was originally published much later than the first, felt like another man exploiting Marilyn. Despite my mixed reviews I enjoyed being transported to another time, and was interested to learn the author is the son of the famous art historian, Kenneth Clark, whose books I frequented during my university study.
torridgambit's review against another edition
4.0
a lot of times the book was very slow but i absolutely adored the access to such a humanized Marilyn Monroe. i learned a lot from this perspective
thehodgenator's review against another edition
2.0
I would give this 2.5
I am a huge fan of Monroe's, and I collect books written about her. Enter 'My Week with Marilyn,' a book I really had high hopes for.
First, this is a memoir - a memoir means only elements of it have to be fact. With that said, I have to say that I was not wowed by the writing, the pacing, nor the events in the novel.
I read it because I am a Monroe fan, but overall I felt very underwhelmed by it. I mostly wanted to read it because I was curious to see how he was going to characterize her marriage with Arthur Miller; I teach 'The Crucible' and enjoy making the pop culture connection between his writing and his marriage to Monroe. There was no unique insight. As a matter of fact, the characterization of their relationship was pretty textbook.
I am a huge fan of Monroe's, and I collect books written about her. Enter 'My Week with Marilyn,' a book I really had high hopes for.
First, this is a memoir - a memoir means only elements of it have to be fact. With that said, I have to say that I was not wowed by the writing, the pacing, nor the events in the novel.
I read it because I am a Monroe fan, but overall I felt very underwhelmed by it. I mostly wanted to read it because I was curious to see how he was going to characterize her marriage with Arthur Miller; I teach 'The Crucible' and enjoy making the pop culture connection between his writing and his marriage to Monroe. There was no unique insight. As a matter of fact, the characterization of their relationship was pretty textbook.
bepisaun's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic and mostly unknown story of how Marilyn Monroe was on what she deemed one of her 'more serious pursuits into acting.' Taken from the eyes of a 3rd Ast. Director who became close to Monroe, it's filled with eye opening scenes and personal one on ones with the most famous woman in the world.
elaine_angello's review against another edition
2.0
It was ok, didn't love it, got bored with the diaries.