Scan barcode
littlelady_28's review
4.0
As someone who's familiar with the Chanel brand, but knew very little about the woman behind the name, I found this book quite fascinating. Garelick provides a detailed account of Chanel's life, from her childhood through her entire life and career. There was a heavy focus on her love life, but Garelick made a good case about how each of the men that Chanel dated had a significant influence on her beliefs and/or style. I also appreciated that she gave detailed backgrounds for each of the men, which provided a little more context than I was expecting for each of their relationships with her.
Chanel's influence on the world and the people in it was extensive. She completely revolutionized the fashion industry when she came on the scene, and managed to do it again when she was in her 70's with her fashion comeback. She was even involved with work for the Nazis, but wasn't above selling them out when she realized they weren't going to win the war.
Garelick doesn't gloss over the fact that Chanel could be (and usually was) a difficult woman, especially in her later life. Yet I have to admire a woman who started from nothing, yet managed to gain so much power, wealth and fame. But as the book came to a close, all I felt was pity for a woman who was so lonely and unhappy despite all of that. It just goes to show money can't buy happiness. I give this a B-.
Chanel's influence on the world and the people in it was extensive. She completely revolutionized the fashion industry when she came on the scene, and managed to do it again when she was in her 70's with her fashion comeback. She was even involved with work for the Nazis, but wasn't above selling them out when she realized they weren't going to win the war.
Garelick doesn't gloss over the fact that Chanel could be (and usually was) a difficult woman, especially in her later life. Yet I have to admire a woman who started from nothing, yet managed to gain so much power, wealth and fame. But as the book came to a close, all I felt was pity for a woman who was so lonely and unhappy despite all of that. It just goes to show money can't buy happiness. I give this a B-.
zlibrarian's review
4.0
I am a reference librarian in an academic library, and after reading the galley for this engrossing, well researched biography I purchased it for our library. Fascinating use of primary sources. The author shows how Chanel's carefully constructed public persona differs and is linked with changing social and political realities. I will recommend it to faculty.
henrismum's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Non-fiction
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
Why I added this book to my TBR pile: Years ago, I added a book about Coco Chanel to my TBR list on Goodreads, but when it came time to put in the cycle, I realized it was historic fiction, not a biography. I found this one instead. I'm not into fashion, but I love to read about people's experiences.
Will I read more by this author / about this subject? Probably Not Maybe Definitely
Coco Chanel was not a nice person. She sympathized and assisted the Nazi's in WWII. She hated fat people and wanted to control those around her. A sad life in total, with some love.
The author made some faux pas in her writing like saying, She did enjoy the show. vs. She enjoyed the show. Also: She, herself did it. vs. She did it. I am far from perfect in my writing, but why didn't an editor get rid of the errors?
The narrator was Tavia Gilbert. No complaints.
Source: LA Library
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
Why I added this book to my TBR pile: Years ago, I added a book about Coco Chanel to my TBR list on Goodreads, but when it came time to put in the cycle, I realized it was historic fiction, not a biography. I found this one instead. I'm not into fashion, but I love to read about people's experiences.
Will I read more by this author / about this subject? Probably Not Maybe Definitely
Coco Chanel was not a nice person. She sympathized and assisted the Nazi's in WWII. She hated fat people and wanted to control those around her. A sad life in total, with some love.
The author made some faux pas in her writing like saying, She did enjoy the show. vs. She enjoyed the show. Also: She, herself did it. vs. She did it. I am far from perfect in my writing, but why didn't an editor get rid of the errors?
The narrator was Tavia Gilbert. No complaints.
Source: LA Library
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Sexism, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug abuse, Suicide, and Abortion
hayhay321's review
3.0
This was an extremely interesting, if overly dense book. The amount of information Garelick compiled is just staggering, which makes it difficult at times to keep details straight. I did think the author took some liberties and made some sweeping assumptions based on a very small pile of evidence regarding some areas of Coco's life. But she did provide sufficient corroborating details in many of her stories, and I think it makes sense, after having gone to such great lengths in her research, to try and find connections in order to make sense of Chanel's motivations. By the end, the overall sense I got of Chanel's life is that it was really, quite sad. She was constantly let down by the men in her life, and she never truly developed any friendship with women that weren't at least in large part motivated by a sense of rivalry and competition. For someone who had so much, and gave so much to the world that still endures today, she never seemed, at least in this telling of her life, to find true happiness or satisfaction. I was blown away by the number of items that are considered staples in today's fashion world that were introduced by Chanel, and how unconventional they were at the time. I was also shocked by story after story about her personal life, from the cavalier way she twisted the truth about her past, to her involvement with the Nazis, to finding out that she first sought fame on the stage before finding her calling in the fashion industry. If you want to get to know the woman behind the name, this is an intriguing and comprehensive look at her life from start to end.
brandy_wine's review
4.0
This is a very long read.
It was very interesting though. I have always liked Chanel but learning how she became was, well, wow.
I love that there are photos in the book as well to go along with it.
I love the rags to riches story. There was a lot that she went through as well as did that not many would agree with but interesting just the same.
I would love to watch a biography on her as well, I will have to look for some.
I also loved knowing that although there were some facts that they had there were some things that were not certain because she was a very quiet person with some aspects of her life.
I did enjoy this read.
It was very interesting though. I have always liked Chanel but learning how she became was, well, wow.
I love that there are photos in the book as well to go along with it.
I love the rags to riches story. There was a lot that she went through as well as did that not many would agree with but interesting just the same.
I would love to watch a biography on her as well, I will have to look for some.
I also loved knowing that although there were some facts that they had there were some things that were not certain because she was a very quiet person with some aspects of her life.
I did enjoy this read.
sohnesorge's review
5.0
Garelick's biography of Chanel is well-researched and well-written. She occasionally throws out a tidbit based more on speculation than fact, but you can forgive Garelick because of the chutzpah with which she does it; the amount of interesting new information she's uncovered; and the stunning (but entirely plausible) interpretations of Chanel's behaviour distilled from new eyewitness accounts, newly released top secret government files, and Garelick's own vast knowledge of her topic. Coco would have been proud. And very, very angry.
ssejig's review
3.0
An interesting look at the life of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. It started off pretty rough. The author states that she's not going to sentimentalize Chanel or "fall under her spell"... and then she does. But luckily, once we get into a time where more about the life of Chanel is documented, it gets better. A good book.