Ava Gardner
by Lee Server
I loved this book, and I don’t even like Ava Gardner. If that isn’t a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is!
My brother puts a lot of thought into his gifts, so when he gave me an Ava Gardner biography for Christmas, I was a little surprised. I don’t really like her movies, and I’ve never raved about her talent or beauty. I did enjoy Showboat, however, and thought Ava gave a powerful performance. That’s pretty much the only movie I liked her in. So why would I want to read a 560-paged biography on an actress I don’t like?
I devoured this book. I absolutely loved it. This is the story of a young woman who falls under the influence of a charming, more experienced actor, and learns to devour Hollywood herself. Even if you’ve never seen a silver screen classic, you could absolutely enjoy this book. Mostly this reads like a novel; it’s hard to believe one woman’s life was so eventful. If you like sensational stories with a strong female lead who enjoys many, many lovers during and after her heyday, you’ll like this book regardless of what you think of Ava’s acting. And if you’re one of her fans unsure of which book to pick, pick this one. Recently, an “autobiography” was released, but from what I’ve read, it’s merely the result of a friend who duped poor Ava into getting drunk with him and tape recording her ravings. Trust me, this book is better.
Lee Server is an incredible biographer. The amount of research put into this book in extremely admirable, and it if weren’t for his thorough yet accessible writing style, this book wouldn’t be a favorite of mine. Every time a new character is introduced, Server provides an incredibly detailed background on him or her. He never assumes the reader knows who the supporting characters are, even when it’s someone as famous as Frank Sinatra. I learned more about Sinatra in this book than I did from reading a biography on him alone. Readers are treated to intimate, undiscovered details about everyone in the book, not just the leading lady.
If you don’t know anything about Ava Gardner, I won’t spoil anything for you. I will say this: She was once an innocent young girl, enamored and frightened of Hollywood, and certain that she would never find her place among the stars. One man saw potential in her, a man whose real-life personality completely betrayed his onscreen “aw shucks” persona: Mickey Rooney. Mickey showed her the ropes, and her life and personality was forever changed. For the better? Find out by reading her story: the rise and fall of a star, backstage tidbits from her movies, marriages and countless affairs (actually, I counted 33, but those were only the men with names), and unforgettable information about Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra, George C. Scott, Grace Kelly, Robert Mitchum, and many, many more.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's reviews of Ava Gardner's films here!
My brother puts a lot of thought into his gifts, so when he gave me an Ava Gardner biography for Christmas, I was a little surprised. I don’t really like her movies, and I’ve never raved about her talent or beauty. I did enjoy Showboat, however, and thought Ava gave a powerful performance. That’s pretty much the only movie I liked her in. So why would I want to read a 560-paged biography on an actress I don’t like?
I devoured this book. I absolutely loved it. This is the story of a young woman who falls under the influence of a charming, more experienced actor, and learns to devour Hollywood herself. Even if you’ve never seen a silver screen classic, you could absolutely enjoy this book. Mostly this reads like a novel; it’s hard to believe one woman’s life was so eventful. If you like sensational stories with a strong female lead who enjoys many, many lovers during and after her heyday, you’ll like this book regardless of what you think of Ava’s acting. And if you’re one of her fans unsure of which book to pick, pick this one. Recently, an “autobiography” was released, but from what I’ve read, it’s merely the result of a friend who duped poor Ava into getting drunk with him and tape recording her ravings. Trust me, this book is better.
Lee Server is an incredible biographer. The amount of research put into this book in extremely admirable, and it if weren’t for his thorough yet accessible writing style, this book wouldn’t be a favorite of mine. Every time a new character is introduced, Server provides an incredibly detailed background on him or her. He never assumes the reader knows who the supporting characters are, even when it’s someone as famous as Frank Sinatra. I learned more about Sinatra in this book than I did from reading a biography on him alone. Readers are treated to intimate, undiscovered details about everyone in the book, not just the leading lady.
If you don’t know anything about Ava Gardner, I won’t spoil anything for you. I will say this: She was once an innocent young girl, enamored and frightened of Hollywood, and certain that she would never find her place among the stars. One man saw potential in her, a man whose real-life personality completely betrayed his onscreen “aw shucks” persona: Mickey Rooney. Mickey showed her the ropes, and her life and personality was forever changed. For the better? Find out by reading her story: the rise and fall of a star, backstage tidbits from her movies, marriages and countless affairs (actually, I counted 33, but those were only the men with names), and unforgettable information about Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra, George C. Scott, Grace Kelly, Robert Mitchum, and many, many more.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's reviews of Ava Gardner's films here!