Scan barcode
susan_loves_stories's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up because I am a big fan of Anderson Cooper, but he reveals little of himself in this memoir he wrote jointly with his mother. It reads more like an in-depth interview of his mom. Perhaps unfairly, my main impression of Gloria Vanderbilt before I read this book was that back in the 80s, she designed jeans I couldn’t afford. Vanderbilt’s perspective looking back over her 90+ years of life was illuminating more for its candor and earned wisdom than for what she actually did. An interesting read about an indomitable, sometimes unlikable, woman.
lauren_epub's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.25
I would watch the serialized TV drama of Gloria Vanderbilt's life!!!! The DRAMA!!! The CELEBRITY!! The family TRAUMA!!!!
Wowie wow, what a fascinating portrait of deeply flawed people. Gloria Vanderbilt is an amazing narrator, and Anderson Cooper sounds like he works in TV news. Listening to this is like watching the only survivors of a house fire pick through the wreckage together. It loses steam a bit towards the end but if you have a fractured family system you might find this an engaging listen.
(Or you will want to avoid it and pretend nothing like this has ever happened to you or anyone you know! In which case I advise therapy)
Wowie wow, what a fascinating portrait of deeply flawed people. Gloria Vanderbilt is an amazing narrator, and Anderson Cooper sounds like he works in TV news. Listening to this is like watching the only survivors of a house fire pick through the wreckage together. It loses steam a bit towards the end but if you have a fractured family system you might find this an engaging listen.
(Or you will want to avoid it and pretend nothing like this has ever happened to you or anyone you know! In which case I advise therapy)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism
jstaton's review against another edition
I enjoyed it - got really caught up in the Vanderbilt family but also enjoyed the openness between Mother and Son.
luluread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
ebc726's review against another edition
4.0
I went into this expecting to hear some stories about Gloria growing up with the Vanderbilt name, but I was totally unprepared for how fierce, strong, and inspiring she was. A total icon.