Marilyn monroe the biography by donald spoto ebook

How dare you get a cold! I mean, the executives can get colds and stay home forever and phone it in, but how dare you, the actor, get a cold or a virus. You know, no one feels worse than the one who's sick.

I sometimes wish, gee, I wish they had to act a comedy with a temperature and a virus infection. I am not an actress who appears at a studio just for the purpose of discipline. This doesn't have anything at all to do with art. I myself would like to become more disciplined within my work. But I'm there to give a performance and not to be disciplined by a studio! After all, I'm not in a military school. This is supposed to be an art form, not just a manufacturing establishment.

The sensitivity that helps me to act, you see, also makes me react. An actor is supposed to be a sensitive instrument. Isaac Stern takes good care of his violin. What if everybody jumped on his violin? You know a lot of people have, oh gee, real quirky problems that they wouldn't dare have anyone know. But one of my problems happens to show: I'm late. I guess people think that why I'm late is some kind of arrogance and I think it is the opposite of arrogance.

I also feel that I'm not in this big American rush, you know, you got to go and you got to go fast but for no good reason. The main thing is, I want to be prepared when I get there to give a good performance or whatever to the best of my ability. A lot of people can be there on time and do nothing, which I have seen them do, and you know, all sit around sort of chit chatting and talking trivia about their social life.

Gable said about me, "When she's there, she's there. All of her is there! She's there to work. A solid biography of a complicated person. Spoto does an admirable job at dispelling many of the myths associated with Marilyn some of which, to be fair, were created by the subject herself. While ultimately you're taking Spoto's word over others, his research appears to be thorough, so when he says there's absolutely no way Marilyn ever had an affair with Bobby Kennedy, I tend to believe him.

As for his reconstruction of the events surrounding Marilyn's death, again, I think his research is s A solid biography of a complicated person. As for his reconstruction of the events surrounding Marilyn's death, again, I think his research is sound, but we'll never know for sure. He also includes an afterword where he goes and systematically disproves all the other theories that are out there.

Seems to check out for me. In any event, Marilyn Monroe was a complex person. She led a strange and sad life. Which makes for a pretty entertaining read.

If you're going to read a biography of Marilyn Monroe, it should probably be this one. Jul 30, Skye rated it really liked it. Can't believe I went through this thick book so quickly. It was amazing to read about the legendary Marilyn Monroe- other than being known for the famous white dress windy day shots, I didn't know much about her! It's such a tragedy though, that she died this way. More thoughts later. Jun 16, Inessa rated it liked it.

An in depth biography of an intriguing woman, enjoyable to read. Jul 31, Nisha-Anne rated it really liked it Shelves: nonfiction. This is a pretty difficult book to review which is why I've put it off so long. I've read enough biographies to know I have to be careful which one I pick up and to make sure it's properly researched and respected. I read way too many wildly speculative biographies of James Dean before I came upon Donald Spoto's Rebel and finally could sigh some relief that here was one that properly acknowledged the lacunae and didn't just make shit up to fill in the gaps.

So I came to this, fully secure that Sp This is a pretty difficult book to review which is why I've put it off so long. So I came to this, fully secure that Spoto would tell me the truth about Norma Jeane and Marilyn and tell me what he couldn't find out. It's true, this is a fairly dry book. It's nowhere as easy to read as John Coldstream's authorised biography of Dirk Bogarde or the marvellous effortlessness of Patricia Bosworth's biography of Montgomery Clift.

It's true, Spoto does repeat himself a bit within a few pages and he does go into potted synopses of each major player in Marilyn's life. The latter bit I didn't mind so much, it was good enough to know the info was there if I wanted to go back and check.

What really took me aback, as I updated, was the sexual willingness of Norma Jeane. Spoto explains it in terms of a woman fully comfortable with her sex appeal and her body, explains how she was raised by a woman who knew just how to work that aspect, explains how Marilyn Monroe was so very much a product of a childhood lived on the fringe of Hollywood, ever aspiring to the silver screen, ever modelling herself on those images.

A combination of nature and nurture, definitely. He rationalises it well. And I suppose it's my own sense of morality and ethics that recoils from that sort of availability. The fact that she made love to the camera of her own preternatural affinity and then as an extension of that, made love to the photographer. That's how Spoto explains it. The fact that she had a long affair with her agent even though there was apparently very little love on her part. The fact that she slept with at least one producer.

I rationalise it to myself as well, perhaps those were the days, maybe that was the difference since the 30s when Kate Hepburn was trying to make it big. As far as I know, Hepburn never slept with anyone to further her career and I will probably do blue murder to anyone who suggests it. It's something that deeply appalls me, the idea of relying on something other than your craft to make it big.

And maybe I shouldn't believe Spoto when he says with cited interviews and such that she did? I'm not certain now. What astounded me and more in terms of the Marilyn fans I know online is the calm assertion that she did occasionally solicit on the boulevard in those very early days in Hollywood. The staunch MM fandom online, of which I will count myself, will have you believe Marilyn never hooked.

Spoto perhaps makes a bit of apology for that, and later backs himself up by telling us how Marilyn spun the possible scandal to her benefit like she did with explaining the nude pictures away as poverty. Me, I was covering my eyes, imagining the furious reaction from fans online who haven't yet read this biography.

But there's a great deal of love and compassion in this book, a great deal of care taken to portray Marilyn in all her flaws and virtues, explain the psychological motivation behind both. What I really loved was the analysis of her image and her symbolism in that era of Fifties morality and in context of the Kinsey study being published. I was quite fascinated too by how intuitively clever she was about working the press to her advantage and yet keeping her charitable works away from the public eye.

Spoto's unequivocal about who he believes was responsible for her death. In fact, that last bit makes for utterly gripping reading and it was only later I realised it was all theory. Quite plausible theory, yes, and compellingly put. But still theory. What chilled me to the core was seeing the terrible dependency on medication unfurl.

How it's been repeated so many times through Hollywood history and still never loses its horror. To know it's still happening and we're still losing talents to it. I read this book, believing completely in its truth, trusting Spoto to the nth detail.

And then weirdly enough, the week after I finished it, I came down the stairs in my apartment building and found somebody had left a biography of Laurence Olivier in the foyer. And it was by Spoto. Naturally I grabbed it up with much excitement and hurtled to the bus stop off to work. By the time I got to the office, I had discovered that apparently Spoto had totally made up stuff in that biography and that even Joan Plowright had denounced him not so directly.

So now I'm doubting his Marilyn biography. Damn it. Jun 29, Melody Lee rated it really liked it. Marilyn Monroe: The Biography was the next natural step, sin "If you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best.

Marilyn Monroe: The Biography was the next natural step, since Spoto basically seems to have set out to debunk every myth about Marilyn Monroe he could uncover. He starts with the rumors of mental illness that may or may not have contributed to her drug addiction and death; he digs into her backstory for the truth behind her foster homes; and he devotes an entire section to announcing his disdain for any possible Kennedy connections. It's a little dry but brisk, and there's a real sense of indignation for how Monroe was continuously prevented from moving forward both professionally and personally.

Spoto doesn't bother to theorize about why she was routinely denied the recognition she deserved, which is shocking because he theorizes about practically everything else. I have no idea what his background in psychology is, but parts of the biography were written from his armchair, which detracts from the overall well-researched and analytical presentation of Monroe's life. The woman had a real gift for surrounding herself with assholes who get obsessed with her and try to control her, and it probably stems from issues surrounding her unknown father and her inconstant mother.

Now repeat that 20 times and you have Spoto's psychoanalysis. The answer appears to be that no one, not even Marilyn Monroe herself, ever got a chance to find out. Jan 25, Kaylie Caswell rated it it was amazing. Beginning with Norma Jean Baker's grandparents and traveling down the family line in an ongoing story of failed marriages and child abandonment, Spoto's biography not only tells the story of Marilyn Monroe's life but also the lives of those around her, including relatives, close friends, all three of the late movie star's husbands, and the neglectful doctors who contributed to her later health issues and possible even death with their bad advice.

The book uses historical data, interviews with th Beginning with Norma Jean Baker's grandparents and traveling down the family line in an ongoing story of failed marriages and child abandonment, Spoto's biography not only tells the story of Marilyn Monroe's life but also the lives of those around her, including relatives, close friends, all three of the late movie star's husbands, and the neglectful doctors who contributed to her later health issues and possible even death with their bad advice.

The book uses historical data, interviews with those who know Marilyn during her life, letters from the star herself and even a few snippets of her poetry to tell the sometimes glamorous and often tragic story of Marilyn Monroe's life.

I always appreciate a biographer who is able to look beyond his or her impressions of a subject in order to tell the full story of another human's life, and I feel Spoto did an excellent job of this in his biography of Marilyn Monroe. Drawing from her early life, which was spent largely in foster homes and an orphan home, Spoto paints the image of a deeply insecure woman, and often a naive one at that, yet a woman who was also charitable, a kind friend, and someone who never quit striving to improve at her craft.

I appreciated that there was little speculation about Marilyn's death as there can often be surrounding the mysterious deaths of celebrities. Instead, Spoto used an accumulation of facts and interviews from a variety of sources to piece together what is known definitively about her death and what is myth. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed the end section of the book, where Spoto included stories taken from several different memoirs, movies, and stories surrounding Marilyn Monroe's death and debunked the myth, separating it from what can be taken as truth.

Jan 03, Jacqui rated it liked it. I've always had some respect for Spoto as a biographer of the film community but this is very ponderously written.

He is quite good on MM having no sense of herself because she was always playing MM and was surrounded by those who discouraged her from developing her own self, but that is little excuse for the subject being so absent from her own biography.

If his thesis that Robert Slatzer and Jeanne Carmen did not actually know MM, let alone were her friends - that is good research. Spoto is obv I've always had some respect for Spoto as a biographer of the film community but this is very ponderously written.

Spoto is obviously trying to separate MM from the Kennedys - and he may be right, but I would have thought that the allegation that Dr Greenson killed MM with a nembutal enema administered by housekeeper Mrs Murray must be actionable.

And the claim of a re-marriage to Joe D planned for the Wednesday after her death is surely shaky. Spoto did make me think about the respective influences of Natasha Lytess and Paula Strasberg and he is right that her style was much more naturalistic under Strasberg. I liked Marilyn Monroe before i read this book, now I love her and and hate her.

I respect her but I dont. She was ambitious and insecure, truthfully blunt yet dishonest. Unlike most people these days that go around quoting Monroe without even knowing anything about her Now because of this book, i want to see how diasterous it really was. The bo I liked Marilyn Monroe before i read this book, now I love her and and hate her.

The book is full of details But Its supposedly the most accurate account of Monroes life. I actually cried when i got to the part about how she died, and what really happened. Mar 16, Heidi Garrett rated it really liked it Shelves: biography. The Spoto biography seemed solid. There are so may biographies about Marilyn to choose from, but there seems to be a consensus that the one by Spoto is one of the more reliable ones.

Some of the read was a bit of a trudge, but Marilyn was definitely an interesting personality, and when you think that she died at 36, she accomplished an amazing amount in her short time on the planet. Her story has left me with much to think about, as in many ways it is a story about being a woman, and how women define themselves and create their lives. Believe me when I say that I have read LOTS of books on Marilyn Monroe and so it is with this knowledge that I say, if one is going to read a book about MM this one tends to stick to documented facts, interviews with MM's closest friends and co workers, receipts and recorded dates and does not rely on crazy conspiracy theories.

However, those do get a mention but only in the Afterword and are mentioned so the reader knows HOW these conspiracy theories came to life. Overall, great book. Great fact Believe me when I say that I have read LOTS of books on Marilyn Monroe and so it is with this knowledge that I say, if one is going to read a book about MM this one tends to stick to documented facts, interviews with MM's closest friends and co workers, receipts and recorded dates and does not rely on crazy conspiracy theories.

Great facts. Great read. Not the best book on Marilyn! Sad to think we will never know what really happened to Marilyn Monroe that fateful evening. Each author has their own scenario. I think the Kennedy's were more involved than this author admits to. Whatever the truth is and knowing we will probably never know the whole truth Marilyn's tale remains a sad and sorrowful one.

Jun 16, Summer rated it it was amazing Shelves: biography , nonfiction. One of my favorite Marilyn Monroe biographies. Very detailed with stories that were unknown to me before. I always enjoy rereading this book. Jul 15, Deniece McQuillan rated it it was amazing Shelves: reading-challenge.

I usually don't take this long to read a book, but the information Spoto uncovered was so detailed, I wanted to make sure the completely absorb it. I have so much more respect for Ms. Monroe and the trials and tribulations she had to endure to achieve her success. I completely understood her anxieties and fears. I wish she could have had more female support. She was so smart but so insecure. I learned many things about Ms. Monroe that I did not know and this book dispelled so many myths and theor I usually don't take this long to read a book, but the information Spoto uncovered was so detailed, I wanted to make sure the completely absorb it.

Monroe that I did not know and this book dispelled so many myths and theories about her childhood and her death. I have always admired Ms. Monroe and now I respect her so much more for a woman who bucked the system and wouldn't let the studios rule her. The first biography I've read on Marilyn Monroe so I don't have anything to measure it against.

But many believe it to be the best and most accurate and that feels true. It's thorough and exhaustive, almost to the point of repetition, but I appreciated Spoto's attention to the minutia of her life and the dispelling of all the egregious myths surrounding her legend. This didn't read like a tabloid journalist piece of which there are many about Marilyn and so I'd recommend it to anyone intereste The first biography I've read on Marilyn Monroe so I don't have anything to measure it against.

This didn't read like a tabloid journalist piece of which there are many about Marilyn and so I'd recommend it to anyone interested in her life. I'm glad I read it.

I'm glad I got a glimpse at the woman Marilyn was. Mar 28, Nicole rated it liked it. Biographies ate very detailed! But I felt the sadness at the end, when Marilyn's life ended- too early early, unexpectedly, and unnecessarily. It's amazing to see how many people still don't know the truth about this great actress, and how she really died.

Jan 23, Crystal rated it really liked it Shelves: 4-stars , old-hollywood , non-fiction. Good bio. Very detailed. Learned some new things about Monroe. Aug 29, Danny rated it really liked it Shelves: 1-listened. So much I didn't know about her! May 26, Meryem Raitab rated it it was amazing. Donald Spoto has successfully told the unforgettable stories of Marilyn Monroe. This novel has told of her adventures, her childhood, as well as a detailed explanation of the rising of her fame. Marilyn Monroe was a Hollywood icon, which Donald Spoto was able to illustrate using primary sources such as her Diaries, letters as well as other personal writings.

From this novel, one understands Monroe had a pretty rough start. Marilyn was sequenced to foster homes, in which she was almost smothered Donald Spoto has successfully told the unforgettable stories of Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn was sequenced to foster homes, in which she was almost smothered to death at age two, and almost rapped at age 6. Next, when she was sixteen Marilyn married her foster father, who went to the military, while she was starting to integrate the modeling business.

After several years of listening and learning new music, Marilyn was also launched to becoming a new singing star. Later on, she married and divorced Joe DiMaggio. Later on Marilyn fell to alcohol, drugs, as well as a miscarriage and surgery. Donald was able to tell and reveal secrets, such as the reason she gets married to powerful people repeatedly, searching for more fame.

Donald has helped one understand and see Marilyn at a different perspective. The most interesting part in this novel would be about her Childhood. This novel could be described as a helful, interesting, revealing, as well as life changing novel since it helps one enhance inspiration from a very important Hollywood icon.

Marilhyn Monroe is known to have a somewhat unclean or disturbing image, however Spoto knowing more than others do, decides to help the world see Marilyn the way he does, present arguments, show proof.

Thus, this biography is a very interesting and life-changing novel. Marilyn Monroe, written by Donald Spoto, has had indescribable success. This novel is a well-recommended novel for anyone who wants to learn more of the mysterious and interesting icon.

This novel reveals the secrets, the ways, as well as the sacrifices made in order for Marilyn to reach fame. This novel is mostly recommended for girls, due to the fact that girls might understand what is being stated more because of the logic we share.

Girls might also understand or relate better. This novel is especially for young girls, who are looking for inspiration or loosing hope.

This novel should be attributed to girls from ages 14 and above, because of the high vocabulary as well as difficult aspects of life. This novel has very deep understanding as well as concepts that might not have been explored by home. Thus, this novel is mostly recommended for young girls, from ages 14 and above, who are interested in Marilyn Monroe, or looking for an inspirational story. May 08, Jamie rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: anyone interested in the biographical aspects of Marilyn Monroe.

Shelves: life-writing-biographies. An incredibly informed, exhaustive, and compassionate biography of one of the most fascinating icons of all time. I've always been a bit of Marilyn-sympathizer, but this biography, I think, really reminded me what it is about not only her films but her life and the myths that surround it that has always captured my interest.

And because of all the historical context Spoto locates her life within--most notably, the analysis of the so-termed "Golden Age" of Hollywood not so golden, really --I b An incredibly informed, exhaustive, and compassionate biography of one of the most fascinating icons of all time.

And because of all the historical context Spoto locates her life within--most notably, the analysis of the so-termed "Golden Age" of Hollywood not so golden, really --I became even more intrigued by the culture and period in which Marilyn rose to fame I think Spoto is admirably objective in his style, though of course biographies are never really "unbiased. He certainly does have a lot of sympathy for Monroe, but I don't think that in any way "taints" his presentation in the biography.

And I imagine it's difficult to remain entirely heartless in discussing a figure so revered and reviled, so culturally present, and so vigorously imagined--besides all that, her story whatever you think of her is truly tragic. I was perhaps most surprised in Spoto's discussion of the events leading up to, during, and immediately following her death. He's not sensationalist in the least, and I had always believed the myth that her life was spiraling out of control at the time she died.

In fact, as Spoto points out, she was making big changes and finally attempting to claim some sort of independence--she was getting rid of her overbearing therapist Ralph Greenson and had already fired the prying housemaid Eunice Murray--incidentally, the night Marilyn died was to be Murray's last day of work for her! She had future plans for reconciliation with Joe Dimaggio, was working out plans for finishing the now eternally unfinished film Something's Got to Give, in addition to planning a few new projects, including a possible biopic of her idol, Jean Harlow.

Though of course I suppose we'll never know, Spoto seems to really dispel the theory that Marilyn Monroe intentionally committed suicide that fateful night. Indeed, his theory on her death an accidental overdose due to an enema administered by Murray, under orders of Greenson is perhaps the most plausible one yet put forth about what happened that night. He also goes out of his way to illuminate MM's relationships with both Kennedy brothers in an intelligent manner.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I got a little emotional as I came to the end--I think I kept expecting the outcome to be different. But of course it wasn't. A true and interesting life of Marilyn and her childhood. We go all the way back to when Marilyn as just a little girl.

I hope you injoy this life story. Read Book Download. Published in January 1st the book become immediate popular and critical acclaim in biography, non fiction books.

The book has been awarded with Booker Prize, Edgar Awards and many others. One of the Best Works of Donald Spoto. Please note that the characters, names or techniques listed in Marilyn Monroe: The Biography is a work of fiction and is meant for entertainment purposes only, except for biography and other cases. DMCA and Copyright : Dear all, most of the website is community built, users are uploading hundred of books everyday, which makes really hard for us to identify copyrighted material, please contact us if you want any material removed.

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