jennarahrle's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
could have been written much better and more linearly. If you didn’t know a bit about her story already, it would be very hard to follow. Otherwise a great story told in lamens. But also, just watch the show.
vick11's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't love it as much as Sin in the Second City, but I did find it interesting. I think because it was less about a topic with multiple forces that impacted things to just the girls so it was a bit more factual than riveting. I also kept getting the characters confused in the first half because they kept changing their names, but to similar names as the others. Definitely no fault if the author's, this is a nonfiction and how it happened, but confusing none the less.
kimbui's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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.