kimbui's review
challenging
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
The time swapping really made it hard for me to follow but interesting nonetheless
fluffy8u's review
4.0
Pretty good. I would definitely suggest it to Gypsy and/or June Hovic fans. To those who are only somewhat familiar with Gypsy's tale, it can be pretty confusing. The authoress dashes between three stories: Louise, June, and Rose's (their crazy mother) vaudeville experiences, the Minsky brothers setting up the grandest burlesque stages (where Gypsy starts to make it big), and 40 year old Gypsy who is writing her memoir (which is more fiction than truth). Had Karen Abbott stuck with switching between the first two stories only, and had Rose stopped changing her daughters' names, it would have been a lot less confusing. Still, worth the read. Completely.
robinpiereads's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this.
However, I am more interested in actual biographies. This book is overly speculative and goes too far into what characters *may* have been thinking or feeling. Without all the nonsense, this book would be about 50 pages shorter and probably a lot better.
However, I am more interested in actual biographies. This book is overly speculative and goes too far into what characters *may* have been thinking or feeling. Without all the nonsense, this book would be about 50 pages shorter and probably a lot better.
annarborelle's review
3.0
Really interesting, but would have benefited from a more linear storytelling perspective. Really hard to keep track of WHO the people in the story were, and WHEN things were happening because of all of the jumping back and forth.
northship's review
2.0
first of all i’m still not sure why this had to have two subtitles (i hate when pop history has cutesy subtitles… a personal pet peeve). i did want to like this book more than i did; i read sin in the second city a few years back and enjoyed it. i appreciate abbott’s almost novelistic writing style about historical matters and the obviously thorough research she does.
in this case, though, it was the structure of the book that left me cold. i still don’t understand why she chose to split the book into non-linear sections but it was so frustrating to me, especially considering the narrative style she employs. i was constantly getting jarred back and forth from different sections of hovick’s life, and it wasn’t even effective as a thematic structure. it annoyed me to the point that i found it difficult to actually focus on what she was trying to say.
the book also could have cut a lot about the minskys (i honestly didn’t care about their entire life history) and it wouldn’t have suffered for it, either.
in this case, though, it was the structure of the book that left me cold. i still don’t understand why she chose to split the book into non-linear sections but it was so frustrating to me, especially considering the narrative style she employs. i was constantly getting jarred back and forth from different sections of hovick’s life, and it wasn’t even effective as a thematic structure. it annoyed me to the point that i found it difficult to actually focus on what she was trying to say.
the book also could have cut a lot about the minskys (i honestly didn’t care about their entire life history) and it wouldn’t have suffered for it, either.
annaelisereads's review
4.0
To my surprise, Gypsy Rose Lee from the musical, Gypsy, was actually a real person! I am ashamed to call myself a history major. If you're interested in a history of NYC's seedier side, musicals, burlesque, vaudeville, and one of the most beautiful women in the world - Gypsy Rose Lee - this book is for you. Karen Abbot hops between her childhood as Louise with her sister Baby June, her burlesque career as Gypsy Rose Lee, and the history of New York burlesque. A fascinating life with larger questions that resonate with all of us about identity, love, and family.
kerryanndunn's review
2.0
I loved the subject of this book and the writing was decent. I HATED the structure of the book. HATED IT. By 3/4 of the way through I was so frustrated with the structure I almost gave up. The two timelines gimmick didn't work. It was awkward and confusing and annoying. I learned a lot about Gypsy Rose Lee and the stories about her were entertaining. I just would have enjoyed it more if it were told linearly. In her acknowledgements Ms. Abbott thanks Laura Jacobs for sharing her research for a Vanity Fair article she wrote about Gypsy Rose Lee in 2002. I read that article and now wish I had simply read it instead of bothering with this book. Here's a link to the article. Save yourself the trouble.
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2003/03/inspiration-story-gypsy-musical
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2003/03/inspiration-story-gypsy-musical
charlotte_owl's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. While, as some people commented, it didn't go in chronological order like a normal biography would, I still liked it. The book focuses on three different main perspectives. Gypsy before she becomes famous, Gypsy after her popularity has waned a bit, and the history of burlesque in general. These three threads eventually intertwine. I thought separating the story into three threads was actually a bit clever. By switching from when Gypsy was a child, to after her popularity has waned, you find yourself on the seat of your chair, wondering how Gypsy managed to get so popular to begin with. Or, at least, that was my reaction.
In the end, this is the story of a girl who desperately wanted to be famous, and how she managed to do that, despite the odds against her. She lost a bit of herself along the way, and in the end you have to wonder, who is Gypsy Rose Lee? She herself did not know.
In the end, this is the story of a girl who desperately wanted to be famous, and how she managed to do that, despite the odds against her. She lost a bit of herself along the way, and in the end you have to wonder, who is Gypsy Rose Lee? She herself did not know.
barbie16's review
1.0
Gypsy Rose Lee sounds like a fasinating person but man this biography was not well done at all. First off the timeline WTF! First it's the 1940s and Gypsy is at the top of her game, then it's right after WWI and we get the history of burlesque, then it's the 1920s and Gypsy is Louise and her and June are running the circut of vaudville with their crazy mother Rose. Too many timelines, too confusing. PLUS the book was poorly edited - in some cases same exact sentences were repeated more than once! I don't doubt this author tried to do her homework on this illusive person but in the end it's just one big mess. There's got to be a better bio on Gypsy than this!! Don't waste your time on this.