baileewalsh's review against another edition
5.0
The only thing I don't like about this book is the ethics of publishing these documents. Oh the irony how there is literally a letter she wrote where she mentions reading the letters of Sigmund Freud and commenting on how she's not sure one's love-letters should be published. Though there are not any LOVE letters specifically in this book, I think the overall idea of one's personal documents could be applied. And it's mostly that we don't really have people's permission once they've died. It's all done through estates and those who inherit one's belongings and such. As someone who is interested in people and specific histories, I'm all for things being published and given to libraries, museums, associations, etc.- especially if a person permits it or desires it. But when the person has their own doubts about such matters, I don't know. I don't like it. It makes me feel icky, basically. We as the public don't have the right to others' personal and private lives, whether they are dead or alive.
eli53s's review against another edition
5.0
Managed to squeeze just one more into 2016! This is an incredible insight into the woman Marilyn Monroe really was. Someone who was witty, kind, meticulous and intelligent - despite what Hollywood portrayed her as being. Ultimately it was this inaccurate depiction that led to her tragic demise, all she ever wanted was to be accepted, loved and to excel at her craft.
doppelganger's review against another edition
4.0
<<...y entre t y tu belleza pose por el poder hallaron sitio toda la estupidez crueldad del presente. llevabas siempre como una sonrisa las l imp pasividad indecente obediencia. sobreviviente mundo antiguo requerida futuro presente se trueca as en un mal mortal.>>
Pier Paolo Pasolini, La rabbia (poemario al que pertenece este poema consagrado a M.M.)
Pier Paolo Pasolini, La rabbia (poemario al que pertenece este poema consagrado a M.M.)
chrysoula_amv's review
will continue reading at another time it is a coffee table book and super tiring to read on the phone
nerdybirdy101's review
4.0
I read this in audiobook format. I thought that this was an interesting read and it was so interesting to hear Marilyn’s viewpoint. I thought it was a wonderful insight into her experiences and mind. I think it is something people interested in Marilyn’s life should read.
prettyoddpages's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
westonheartswords's review
4.0
I was absolutely astounded by this collection of Marilyn Monroe's poetry and personal correspondence. Not only does it offer a great deal of insight into a woman whose intellect. creativity, and power was masked by a constructed industry image, but on a more basic, immediate level, reading Monroe's poetry and prose is just literarily exciting in and of itself. Even though her poetry is (rightly, I'd say) described as rough, raw, unrefined, it really has quite a lot of thoughtfulness and beauty. The inclusion of strikethroughs and the original images of documents themselves lets us as readers into Monroe's thought process as she wrote, and I appreciate that greatly.
All I can say that is potentially negative is twofold: one, I wish this book was not physically designed the way it was, almost like a coffee-table book, cumbersome to hold; and two, although (I believe) this book collects all possible fragments of hers, I just sort of wish there was more! I suppose that is more praise dressed up as criticism, but it is really sad to read through the book, only to find that you just want to read more of hers.
But, this book is really quite lovely, and I recommend it highly!
All I can say that is potentially negative is twofold: one, I wish this book was not physically designed the way it was, almost like a coffee-table book, cumbersome to hold; and two, although (I believe) this book collects all possible fragments of hers, I just sort of wish there was more! I suppose that is more praise dressed up as criticism, but it is really sad to read through the book, only to find that you just want to read more of hers.
But, this book is really quite lovely, and I recommend it highly!
abookishaffair's review
3.0
Usually when one thinks of Marilyn Monroe, they think of a gorgeous, blonde sex symbol. This book displays another side to her that few have heard of. Monroe was an avid reader and sometimes writer with an interest in psychoanalysis.
I'm a huge Marilyn Monroe fan so I was interested to read this book to get a different view of her. It's a really interesting look at a person that is still so well known and beloved by so many. Some of the psychoanalysis is not the most exciting but I enjoyed reading some of Monroe's poetry.
Here's one that I particularly enjoyed:
Only parts of us will ever
touch parts of others-
one's own truth is just
that really- one's own truth
We can only share the
part that is within another's knowing acceptance
so one
is for the most part alone.
As it is meant to be in
evidently in nature- at best perhaps it could make
our understanding seek
another's loneliness out
I'm a huge Marilyn Monroe fan so I was interested to read this book to get a different view of her. It's a really interesting look at a person that is still so well known and beloved by so many. Some of the psychoanalysis is not the most exciting but I enjoyed reading some of Monroe's poetry.
Here's one that I particularly enjoyed:
Only parts of us will ever
touch parts of others-
one's own truth is just
that really- one's own truth
We can only share the
part that is within another's knowing acceptance
so one
is for the most part alone.
As it is meant to be in
evidently in nature- at best perhaps it could make
our understanding seek
another's loneliness out
midnightbookgirl's review
3.0
It's a bit like reading someone's diary, but it's and interesting look into the personal life of a woman who's public persona was so different from who she really was. It's tragic to read how hard she struggled to have confidence in herself, to find and keep love and to battle the depression that took hold of her. I've never read any Monroe biographies before, so the one thing that would have made this book better for me is more information. The back of the book does give some kind of time line of her life but I didn't find it until after I'd finished the book. All in all, you don't have to be a fan of Monroe's to enjoy this book. A word of caution though, this book may make you embark on a journey to find out more about the real Norma Jean.