dispositionpictures's review against another edition
4.0
“With my eyes shut, I could see a new life”. I have always been fascinated with Marilyn Monroe and her glamourous life. However, this novel brought so much more information on the timeless starlette. Reading this Verse Novel made me feel as if I was reading an intimate diary from Marilyn herself. Who knew a novel about lifetime struggles could be so heartwrenching and beautiful. There is more than meets the eye when it comes to Monroe, and this book delivers all you need to know.
ericadeb's review against another edition
2.0
This book is like a timeline in verse. It’s interesting, but fiction passing as nonfiction and eventually just feels like it’s droning on and one. It’s a pass.
missprint_'s review against another edition
2.0
Everyone knows about Marilyn Monroe's difficult life and tragic end.
Few people know the traumatic start of her life watching her mother struggle with schizophrenia, moving through foster care, and even teen marriage.
While evidence of her transition from brunette pin-up model to blonde bombshell is immediately obvious, the road that got her there has never been explored from her own perspective. Until now in Beauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe (2020) by Carole Boston Weatherford.
Weatherford's latest verse novel explores the turbulent and often sad life of Marilyn Monroe from her start as Norma Jeane Baker to her death at 36 from an overdose. After a prologue the day of her infamous "Happy Birthday" performance for President John F. Kennedy, the poems move roughly chronologically from Monroe's early years to her death.
Because it is a verse novel and not a true biography, Beauty Mark is frustratingly lacking in concrete facts. Important figures in Monroe's life like her first acting coach, Natasha Lytess, are often referenced only to be dropped without explaining their role later in Monroe's life.
Similarly, while touching upon key points in Monroe's filmography the choices Weatherford makes in what (and whom) to mention feels largely arbitrary. River of No Return is discussed but co-star Robert Mitchum is never mentioned nor is the complex plot which includes an assault attempt--something, presumably, that would have been of note to Monroe given her own history of sexual abuse. (Lytess also created complications on set but her presence is never mentioned.)
Some Like It Hot is discussed at length with a full plot summary and, again, no mention of co-stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Nor is this a choice to center Monroe in her own story as other actors (male and female) are mentioned throughout.
A life, even one as tragically short as Monroe's, covers a lot of ground. Unfortunately in Beauty Mark the authorial choices for what to cover at length (the nude calendar photo scandal in 1952) and what to gloss over (the reasons behind Monroe's constant move from one foster home to the next as a child) are never made clear either in the text or in supporting back matter.
Beauty Mark is an interesting if ultimately uneven verse novel that gives Monroe her voice and works to move her from sex object back to genuine and complex person. Recommended as an introduction but not for anyone hoping to find a true biography or in-depth life story.
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration.*
Few people know the traumatic start of her life watching her mother struggle with schizophrenia, moving through foster care, and even teen marriage.
While evidence of her transition from brunette pin-up model to blonde bombshell is immediately obvious, the road that got her there has never been explored from her own perspective. Until now in Beauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe (2020) by Carole Boston Weatherford.
Weatherford's latest verse novel explores the turbulent and often sad life of Marilyn Monroe from her start as Norma Jeane Baker to her death at 36 from an overdose. After a prologue the day of her infamous "Happy Birthday" performance for President John F. Kennedy, the poems move roughly chronologically from Monroe's early years to her death.
Because it is a verse novel and not a true biography, Beauty Mark is frustratingly lacking in concrete facts. Important figures in Monroe's life like her first acting coach, Natasha Lytess, are often referenced only to be dropped without explaining their role later in Monroe's life.
Similarly, while touching upon key points in Monroe's filmography the choices Weatherford makes in what (and whom) to mention feels largely arbitrary. River of No Return is discussed but co-star Robert Mitchum is never mentioned nor is the complex plot which includes an assault attempt--something, presumably, that would have been of note to Monroe given her own history of sexual abuse. (Lytess also created complications on set but her presence is never mentioned.)
Some Like It Hot is discussed at length with a full plot summary and, again, no mention of co-stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Nor is this a choice to center Monroe in her own story as other actors (male and female) are mentioned throughout.
A life, even one as tragically short as Monroe's, covers a lot of ground. Unfortunately in Beauty Mark the authorial choices for what to cover at length (the nude calendar photo scandal in 1952) and what to gloss over (the reasons behind Monroe's constant move from one foster home to the next as a child) are never made clear either in the text or in supporting back matter.
Beauty Mark is an interesting if ultimately uneven verse novel that gives Monroe her voice and works to move her from sex object back to genuine and complex person. Recommended as an introduction but not for anyone hoping to find a true biography or in-depth life story.
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration.*
nematome's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
booknerdkc's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
hannahreadslotsofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting read that gives insight into the life of Marilyn Monroe. The book is written in verse so it is very quick to read. I think it hits the highlights of her career and personal life, but I think I would have liked more details and explanations on different situations.
etoile75's review against another edition
4.0
In my early teens, I was fascinated by Marilyn Monroe. I watched her movies, listened to her songs, bought books, and collected postcards. My favourite photographs of her were always those where she was less Marilyn Monroe and more Norma Jean; when she was younger, when she was in New York studying at the Actors Studio. The more natural, yet very obviously more vulnerable Marilyn, not hiding behind her Hollywood persona. This is the Marilyn you will find amongst the pages of this book. Her voice is pitch perfect, her story heart-wrenching, her pain vivid, pulsating through the text. Free verse allows readers to get so much closer to the narrator’s feelings. Everything feels more raw, less guarded.
A beautiful, harrowing piece of writing which made me fall in love with MM again (be prepared, as you are reading that you will want to google photos and video clips to document your reading).
A beautiful, harrowing piece of writing which made me fall in love with MM again (be prepared, as you are reading that you will want to google photos and video clips to document your reading).
shannanhicks's review against another edition
I've never really thought much about Marilyn Monroe past her movie star image. This well-researched and lyrically written book in verse gave an insight to a woman who is a beauty standard in the world. But she was so much more. Ms. Weatherford has done a fantastic job with this novel in verse. I have only ever read her picture books, but the audience for this book is definitely YA or above. What an intimate portrait of a woman who was an icon. But more importantly, as we see in the book, she was also a very layered person.
lost_writer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5