| | |  | Gardening & Horticulture | Home » » » » My Story | | | | | | | Description: | | Written at the height of her fame but not published until over a decade after her death, this autobiography of actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) poignantly recounts her childhood as an unwanted orphan, her early adolescence, her rise in the film industry from bit player to celebrity, and her marriage to Joe DiMaggio. In this intimate account of a very public life, she tells of her first (non-consensual) sexual experience, her romance with the Yankee Clipper, and her prescient vision of herself as "the kind of girl they found dead in the hall bedroom with an empty bottle of sleeping pills in her hand." The Marilyn in these pages is a revelation: a gifted, intelligent, vulnerable woman who was far more complex than the unwitting sex siren she portrayed on screen. Lavishly illustrated with photos of Marilyn, this special book celebrates the life and career of an American icon---from the unique perspective of the icon herself. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Marilyn Monroe | | Hardcover:
| 208 pages | | Publisher:
| Taylor Trade Publishing | | Publication Date:
| September 29, 2006 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 1589793161 | | Product Length:
| 10.32 inches | | Product Width:
| 7.38 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.79 inches | | Product Weight:
| 1.64 pounds | | Package Length:
| 10.1 inches | | Package Width:
| 7.2 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.9 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.6 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 31 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 31 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 43 found the following review helpful:
 Some Like It Hot, but this was ....AlrightAug 14, 2007
By Marisol Audette
"Marilyn Fanatic"
The book was all about Marilyn , her life, loves and all verbatim. I know and understand more about her childhood and personal life through this book. I loved reading it and seeing all the photographs it included. I must say that the ending was so abrupt;In a way it shows how fast and unbelievably sudden Marilyn left us. The funny, witty, and even smart comments she wrote was clear to everyone she was an intelligent lady that will be remembered forever.
30 of 31 found the following review helpful:
Surprising insights from a "blonde bombshell" movie iconApr 05, 2007
By A reader
Reading this book one realizes that in real life Marilyn Monroe was very observant and insightful, the antithesis of the bubble-headed role she projected both on screen and in public. In simple, almost childishly naive conversational tones, she describes her childhood as an orphan, sexually abused by an older man and married (to another man) by her late teens. She recounts the struggle as a young actress - the seemingly endless round of casting calls and dashed hopes until she begins to get noticed by the powers that be.
Her persona may be that of someone lacking street smarts, but she is also perceptive. Her observations of the usual cast of characters at Hollywood - the movers, shakers, stars and wannabes of all stripes - is surprisingly deep. She describes the myriad women whose movie roles for ten years has been limited to walk-on extras, as walking "ten feet towards nothing" after each fleeting appearance.
Her tone is wisful and longing but she never devolves into self-pity. Her famed vulnerability and her adult/child appeal comes through as very real personality traits, not as an on screen creation. She sees herself as just another pretty girl, and cannot comprehend the magic spell she cast on Hollywood and her fans. It comes as a surprise to read her revelation about sex being no big source of pleasure for her.
I would have loved to see at least a chapter's worth of commentary on her writings. Other than for the obvious luminaries who greatly impacted her life, many people she mentioned would be unfamiliar names to readers of this book. A little background on their influences on her life would have been a welcome addition to the book.
27 of 29 found the following review helpful:
 My Story: Illustrated EditionFeb 08, 2008
By K. Toseland
"Zippy"
I was so impressed with this book I brought a copy for my friend, this book is really easy reading (great for bedtime) and quite an insight to Marilyn Monroe's own personal biography, the pictures are fantastic and this is a must for any Marilyn Monroe fan an absolute must for any fan's collection. Most enjoyable, if I hadn't broughtit already I'd buy it again.
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Her StoryApr 10, 2007
By Lisa M
It was very interesting to read this book, since it came from Marilyn's own words. You read so many books written about her, but with MY STORY, I felt like I was having an intimate chat with a close girlfriend. I only wish there was more. I finished it in a few hours and found myself wanting to learn more about her years after her divorce from DiMaggio.
12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Will the real Marilyn Monroe please stand upNov 23, 2008
By YA Librarian
"YA Librarian"
This is the story of Marilyn Monroe, told in her own words, which is raw, refreshing and sad. Apparently, this is the only book written by the famous star. I never knew she had written a book until I stumbled across it on Amazon. Like most, I had preconceived notions about Marilyn. I fell for the Hollywood image of her, but now I realize there was so much more to this amazing woman.
Marilyn gives the reader an insight into her childhood, and how her young life was extremely hard. I never knew she was an orphan, or that she was shuffled around to numerous families. I now can understand how it was hard for her to love or trust anyone. She explains to the reader how life as a teenager was and how difficult it was at times. Women hated her, men loved her, and she was struggling to find herself amongst it all.
Marilyn also talks about trying to become an actress and the colorful cast of characters she meets along the way. I found her insight into the world around her very interesting. She really wasn't the dumb blonde everyone thought she was. And when she found that she was lacking in something she decided to improve herself. Marilyn did this by taking acting/singing lessons and reading books that would cultivate her mind.
Littered throughout the book is Marilyn's wit and sense of humor, and her ability to see the world for what it really was.
Those who are unfamiliar with Marilyn Monroe's story might find this book a little difficult at times. I will confess I did not know all the players in her life. I had to do my own research and find out who she was writing about. But for those who know Marilyn's history this shouldn't be a problem.
The pictures are great. There are color and black and white photos throughout the whole book, which I think adds a nice touch. It is a short biography that does end abruptly(Marilyn's last entry was her performance in Korea.). It left me wondering why it ended the way it did. I wish I could have read more, but I was thankful for the chance to read Marilyn's thoughts. She really was an amazing woman.
For those who have a passing interest in the movie star I strongly encourage them to read this book. It was an amazing journey into the mind of one of America's most tragic stars.
See all 31 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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