erinkayata's review
4.0
As a huge fan of Funny Girl, this book caught my eye. It only further increased my admiration for Streisand and her work. The biography reads like a story, flowing, intimate, and detailed. Mann certainly did his research, leaving me quite impressed. He also does an excellent job connecting Streisand's timeline to world history, referencing events like JFK's assassination and the Beatle's coming to America to set the scene and time period of the book. It's interesting to see how Streisand got to the top. Her ambition is admirable and relatable. I also now see a lot of her ways in today's celebrities; her use of her "kooky" personality to gain the publics attention is something that stars such as Lady GaGa have imitated. As a journalist with an interest in PR, I also found myself particularly intrigued by the snippets Mann offers from old newspapers and the tactics of Barbra's team to help her gain publicity. While it can be difficult to keep track of all the characters, ups, and downs at times, this book is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Barbra or the rise of a celebrity.
in2reading's review
3.0
Engrossing read about a pivotal period in Barbara Streisand's life that took her from a struggling acting student to the top selling female recording artist and star of Funny Girl in just four years.
perednia's review
3.0
Before Madonna, before Lady Gaga, before Nicki Minaj or any other performer of the past 50 years, there was Barbra. Hello Gorgeous is a well-structured look at how a quirky teenager who desperately wanted to become an actress became one, but not before becoming the toast of Broadway and a woman who didn't even realize the power of her gift -- that voice. That glorious voice.
William J. Mann, whose previous books include biographies of Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn and John Schlesinger, as well as novels, has put together bits and pieces of not only the legend, but also stories from people who knew her when. The result is a coherent and cohesive narrative of how Streisand became an overnight sensation after only four years.
Mann recounts Streisand's early acting classes and compares the myth to what he can document. He takes the same approach through her tutelage under her first boyfriend, actor Barry Dennen, who encouraged her to sing and who introduced her to music she later incorporated in early nightclub appearances. Two other friends helped Streisand with her distinctive makeup and fashion sense to cultivate the thriftshop look that became an early trademark.
Throughout, there is a consistent sense that Streisand wanted to be the best and do her best, although doing the same performance night after night after night soon grew tiresome in her first Broadway show, I Can Get It For You Wholesale. Streisand made a splash in that show and captured the heart of leading man Elliot Gould in her small role. Mann recounts the lack of warmth and support from her mother without making her a monster.
Between the show and her nightclub appearances, comparisons soon began between her and Fanny Brice. The convoluted path that led to her getting the role of a lifetime in Funny Girl is described chronologically and thoroughly. Even knowing the outcome and the bare bones of the myth, Mann's account makes for compelling reading.
Mann is careful about noting his sources, but part of his writing style does grate. When he refers to how Streisand or others must be feeling or how if something didn't happen on one night it happened on a night like this, the reader can be forgiven for pausing to question, well, how does he know? Because so much of this comprehensive look at Streisand's path to stardom is documented here with credit to primary sources, these narrative tics take away from the scholarship that was plainly involved.
Even so, Hello Gorgeous is an engaging look at a star and the era when she first blossomed.
William J. Mann, whose previous books include biographies of Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn and John Schlesinger, as well as novels, has put together bits and pieces of not only the legend, but also stories from people who knew her when. The result is a coherent and cohesive narrative of how Streisand became an overnight sensation after only four years.
Mann recounts Streisand's early acting classes and compares the myth to what he can document. He takes the same approach through her tutelage under her first boyfriend, actor Barry Dennen, who encouraged her to sing and who introduced her to music she later incorporated in early nightclub appearances. Two other friends helped Streisand with her distinctive makeup and fashion sense to cultivate the thriftshop look that became an early trademark.
Throughout, there is a consistent sense that Streisand wanted to be the best and do her best, although doing the same performance night after night after night soon grew tiresome in her first Broadway show, I Can Get It For You Wholesale. Streisand made a splash in that show and captured the heart of leading man Elliot Gould in her small role. Mann recounts the lack of warmth and support from her mother without making her a monster.
Between the show and her nightclub appearances, comparisons soon began between her and Fanny Brice. The convoluted path that led to her getting the role of a lifetime in Funny Girl is described chronologically and thoroughly. Even knowing the outcome and the bare bones of the myth, Mann's account makes for compelling reading.
Mann is careful about noting his sources, but part of his writing style does grate. When he refers to how Streisand or others must be feeling or how if something didn't happen on one night it happened on a night like this, the reader can be forgiven for pausing to question, well, how does he know? Because so much of this comprehensive look at Streisand's path to stardom is documented here with credit to primary sources, these narrative tics take away from the scholarship that was plainly involved.
Even so, Hello Gorgeous is an engaging look at a star and the era when she first blossomed.
acraig5075's review
4.0
Biography spanning the years 1960 to 1964 which were pivotal and career-defining ones for Streisand.
I felt Mann tried too hard at making it read like a story with descriptions that the author could not possibly have known. For example what colour the sky was that day, how she was feeling, what he was thinking, how he woke her with a kiss on the cheek, etc. Sparse insertions of historic events to set the scene did however work well, e.g. Marilyn Monroe's suicide, the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK's assassination, etc.
In a world where the term diva is used so often and undeservedly so, Streisand is a true diva. She's done it all: singing, acting, theatre, TV, film, entertaining, winning awards in all categories.
I felt Mann tried too hard at making it read like a story with descriptions that the author could not possibly have known. For example what colour the sky was that day, how she was feeling, what he was thinking, how he woke her with a kiss on the cheek, etc. Sparse insertions of historic events to set the scene did however work well, e.g. Marilyn Monroe's suicide, the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK's assassination, etc.
In a world where the term diva is used so often and undeservedly so, Streisand is a true diva. She's done it all: singing, acting, theatre, TV, film, entertaining, winning awards in all categories.
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