Sensationally Disappointing
I had read this book when it originally came out. At that time I found it to be second party information, embellished accounts, and the biggest sensation about it was the autopsy photo.
Sadly, inamuch time has passed, re-reading it has made these points only more valid.
It still reads as luridly as it did originally. And rings just as hollow.
One wonders how the late Ms. Monroe could have functioned in the real world on any level after reading this book. The almost continual emphasis on her bloodied clothes due to her periods, her alleged involvement with 2 politicians who were in the spotlight as constantly as breathing , her medication issues which if true would have prevented her from ever making a movie let alone function in the real world grew tiresome. Far more interesting would have been to put a fine point on why Arthur Miller really married her - to keep himself from being losing his citizenship during the McCarthy era. His "present" to her in the form of a personal diatribe disguised as a play would have driven anyone to anger. Having to act in a movie while being potographed by his next wife who he was having an affair with (Inge Morath) must have taken much to deal with.
Ms. Monroe must be given credit for creating herself however it was accomplished if you are to believe all the sniping and "true stories". Her true downfall was relying on a psychiatrist who violated all patient/client ethics. In addition to being fired from her movie by Fox, which was a sham concocted to cover the amount of money and time Elizabeth Taylor was draining from "Cleopatra" due to to her affair w/Richard Burton.
If Marilyn could have remarried DiMaggio on August 8,as has been made known since this book was published, she probably would have survivied. She died on the 5th anniversary of the loss of her child with Miller.
You see, to have that much drive and abillity, you never destroy your creation.
Her body of work still stands today.
This book is "airplane reading". One of the better books is by Fred Laurence Guiles.
