Product Description
A look at the death of Marilyn Monroe explores her affairs with the two Kennedy brothers and uses newly discovered studio documents to argue that what was ruled as suicide was more likely murder. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Wonderful & Entertaining book on the Goddess
I havent read this one in a couple years but it still stands out as one of the best written about Marilyn. It gives great detail into the last year or two of her life. This is not a slow-paced or boring read, its very engrossing & will keep you flipping the pages! Recommended to any Marilyn fan & its one of the favs in my MM library.

Read it if you can find it
I bought this book at a used book store and loved it.Now, of course since most of us weren't there we can never really know what happened to Marilyn for sure now can we.After reading this book I was satisfied in knowing that it was at least 100% believable, unlike some of the other Marilyn books that end up being 400+ pages of seemingly random gossip from friends of friends of Marilyn strung together to make a half-baked story.This is a great book and worth at least one read through.

Was itSUICIDE or NOT???
There are many Marilyn books out there, but this one really makes you wonder if it was or was not suicide.Some things that this book speaks about I had NO IDEA and had never read or heard about before.

I found some parts to be very repetitious when referring to her drug use, but the book will really get your mind going about "what really happen"!!!

The Inside Look Into The Last Months Of A Legendary Icon.
This book details the account of the final months of the legendary screen actress Marilyn Monroe. The Inside Power Struggles between her and 20th century fox studios. The studio that originally launched Marilyn into superstardom and enormous fame was now trying to ruin her career. Something's Got To Give was the film which caused so much tension between Monroe and the studio. She didn't even want to make the film, but Fox studios forced her to. This book also chronicles her diffuculties on the set with director George Cukor and other crew members as well.
Her Professionalism on the set despite all the headaches and unprofessional behavior by the studio. The controversy between Cleopatra and Something's Got To Give. Why Elizabeth Taylor was exonerated and Marilyn Monroe was shunned. Marilyn's 36th birthday celebration on the set, and why the crew members wouldn't let her have a party until she put in "a full day's work." Her devastating ordeal with "Tippy", and finally her public humiliation after being fired from the movie. Why The suicude theory is hard to believe because of all the evidence at her death scene. I even saw a picture of Marilyn after she died, and she looked terrible. She looked nothing like she had when she was alive. Her hair was all scraggly and she looked like she'd been beaten up. I have a very hard time believing that Monroe committed suicide, because she was planning on going back to work on Something's Got To Give at the time of her death. The Kennedy brothers were a big part of Marilyn's life. They eventually ended up tossing her aside like a used kleenex. Joe Dimaggio was the only person who seemed to have respect for Marilyn and her memory. He never desecrated her life or treated her like dirt as so many others had. Marilyn was truly one of a kind, and there has never been anyone like her before or since.

Fact or Fiction?
Man, i just love those murder theory books...one more outlandish than the next...and they are everywhere!!This Book is at it's best when it's talking about "something's got to give".The rest is based on some serious hear-say, dubious "mystery" sources and claims of second hand witnesses. The likes of Robert Slatzer and Jeanne Carmen pop up a lot in this....doesn't exactly inpire trust in the truth. This Book is sort of like reading "the national enquierer". It's entertaining, sure...but how much is inflated? ... Read more

Product Description
This volume represents more than twenty-five years of writing about female icons and biography. Rollyson provides the bits and pieces that resulted not only in his biography of Marilyn Monroe but also in much of the work he has subsequently done on Lillian Hellman, Martha Gellhorn, Rebecca West, Susan Sontag, and on the nature of biography itself.

Customer Reviews (1)

Outtakes
I've included two chapters that were cut from the Sontag biography my wife and I wrote and a long essay on the difficulties of researching Sontag's life.Other pieces such as "Marilyn Monroe and the Idea of Biography" and "Writing about Women" give an overview of how I have constructed my biographies, of the nature of icons, and why icons tell us so much about ourselves and biography. ... Read more

Product Description
Over a ten-year period from the early 1950's until shortly before Marilyn Monroe's death - the years in which she went from virtual anonymity to super-stardom - photographer Eve Arnold had six photo sessions with her. And here she has chosen the photographs that best express Marilyn. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on the testimony of four psychics who claim to have made contact with Marilyn Monroe, this account of the final days of the pop icon reveals the roles of the Kennedys, the Mafia, and the FBI. Reprint. NYT. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Interesting Analysis of Monroe's Death
I passed this book on to a friend who was midly curious about ghost contact,the Ouija Board, etc. I was hoping this book would supply her with an insight as to the possibility of spirit contact. My friend said the book was easy to read and gave a sincere approach to the controversy
surrounding the death of Marilyn Monroe.

Very interesting and revealing spiritual book
This book is for those who are interested in finding out more about the truth behind MM's death. It is truly amazing and facinating, I read it in one sitting and can only say that it is a must read. The spirit world as described by the spirits that are contacted reminds me of how it is described in the tibetian book of the dead. if you have any interest in the paranormal this is also a very good book for you. The death of this fragile and beautiful soul is truly tragic and sad, I hope she finds peace.

Interesting look into Marilyn's last hours
This book was a great read and really makes me believe Marilyn Monroe was murdered. The book takes you into Marilyn's home to experience the last hours of her life. Through the help of psychics you learn how Marilyn was murdered in a great cover up. This great cover up involves president JFK, attorney general RFK, FBI and Chicago mafia Boss Giancana. It was really sad to read how Marilyn was killed. I don't think Marilyn knew she was in over her head angering some very powerful men. I believe this shows in this book. Marilyn was a woman in love with a President who just used her for a fling. When Marilyn became too attached to JFK and threatened to tell all she was murdered. The way Marilyn was murdered in this book is very believable. There would be no easy way to trace the murder evidence. I would like to see Marilyn's body exhumed so that detectives can extract the murder evidence from Marilyn's hair. We now have the technology to find how Marilyn died and the only way to find out is to study Marilyn's hair. Marilyn didn't commit suicide she was murdered, which truly shows in this great book. Anyone who has read Marilyn's book "Her Life In Her Own Words" knows Marilyn wanted to live. Marilyn talked about wanting children and looking forward to her life. Why would Marilyn kill herself? I want to see Marilyn's name cleared so she can finally rest in peace. Hopefully someone will start a new investigation into who killed Marilyn Monroe.
Overall the Murder of Marilyn book is a great book and a must read for Marilyn Monroe fans.

Amazing!
The honesty and sincerity with which this book was written is truly captivating.What I find most interesting are the facts that have come out about Marilyn's demise that these authors found out on their own years earlier.

I have heard these authors had a second book near publication but it got withheld because they were too close to revealing the truth about other questionable deaths.

THE MURDER OF MARILYN MONROE
This is one book that really surpasses all when the reader finishes it. It is written through the eyes of four psychics who were "allegedly" transported back in time to August 4th and 5th 1962, the scene of the Monroe murder. The book's Forward and Preface gives the reader an informative overview in the world
of the psychics. It delves into the world of the "occult" and explains the differences between those who practice the so-called "black arts" "channeling with the "demons" (devil),
as opposed to using the practice of "channeling" friendlier "spirits. The controversial use of the "ouja"
board and meditation through "seances" are used by the
authors in this book to summon the "spirit" of a woman
who lived much earlier than "Miss Monroe" in California
who inturn was in contact with her spirit as well as
Mr. Peter Lawfords' spirit. The reader will also come
in contact through the "psychics" Monroe's former vocal instructor while she was still a struggling starlet;
"Fred Karger". They ("psychics"), also come in contact
with Monroe's mother Grace, and the spirits of JFK and RFK. Again, this book is extremely different in its content
(subject matter) than any other book that I have read
on Monroe and should be viewed in an "objective" fashion.
I myself, while reading this book was surprised,
intrigued and saddened at the reinactment of the
Monroe murder as it was told by the "spirit" of
Marilyn Monroe. What I found most interesting was that
the psychics were instructed by the "spirit" and
supernatural visions to draw the would be ("suspects")
assasins and later show them to Marilyn Monroe's spirit
for her to identify and verify that they were the ones
who killed her. As I mentioned earlier, this is a very
unique book that anyone who reads this must have an
objective viewpoint on what the subject matter is;
that is the use of "channeling" spirits and the use of the "Ouja" board.
...
I don't know how many of these scenarios through the
eyes of these psychics were true, but, the reader will
make his/her conclusions as to its'credibility.
Interestingly, Monroe's spirit was satisfied as to how the "psychics" conducted its'investigative findings and
urged them to do what ever possible to "re-open" the
MM Murder Case. Monroe's spirit was extremely troubled
because people the world over believed she died of a "drug" overdose and not by a premeditated murder scheme contrived
by powerful people she was in contact with. In closing,
whether you will believe this book to contain the slightest amount of credibility is up to the reader. For those conspiratorialists of wrong doings such as crimes and
murders of famous celebrities may find this book
entertaining as well as thought provoking.
I for one thought so! ... Read more

Product Description
They lived in the headlines and on the edge.He was the most famous and probably the finest ballplayer of his generation.She was America's blonde.They were intense, impassioned lovers and long after that, gentle and loving friends.All that didn't work between Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe was their marriage.

Here Roger Kahn describes the love, the joy, the heartbreak that was Joe and Marilyn, one of the great poignant romances.Drawing on more than five years of research, Kahn gives us a DiMaggio who was almost as godlike as his legend on the diamond, but vulnerable and human off the field.With her knockabout childhood and her stormy starlet years, he presents a Marilyn of whom someone said: "She doesn't need a husband, she needs a salvation." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

THE BRONX BOMBER AND THE BOMBSHELL
ROGER KAHN DOES A VERY GOOD JOB WRITING THIS VERY INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING STORY. HE DOVOTES THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOOK ABOUT JOE, A SMALLER SEGMENT ABOUT MARILYN AND FINALLY A VERY SMALL BUT INTERSTING SEGMENT ON THEIR LIFE TOGETHER. SINCE THE MARRIAGE ONLY LASTED 9 MONTHS NOT MUCH COULD BE WRITTEN. THE READER GETS A VERY GOOD LOOK AT WHAT BOTH OF THEM WERE LIKE PERSONALLY. SHE CAME FROM A FAMILY OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND WAS VERY VULNERABLE AND INSECURE AND SEEKED THE LIME LIGHT. JOE CAME FROM A LARGE FAMILY AND WAS VERY QUIET, DISTANT AND COLD. HE PREFERRED HIS PRIVACY. SO RIGHT OFF THE BAT THEY WERE A HUGE MIS-MATCH. KAHN GIVES ALOT OF FACTS AND INFO ABOUT BOTH OF THEIR CAREERS AND DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH BASEBALL STATS AND MOVIE TRIVIA. KAHN ALSO DISCUSSES THE QUESTION OF FOUL PLAY IN HER DEATH. ALL IN ALL I THINK THIS IS A NICE READ FOR ALL FANS WHO LIKE BASEBALL AND HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP. WELL WORTH READING.

A STORY OF ENDURING LOYALTY AND LOVE


Just when we think there couldn't possibly be one word left to be written, said or whispered about the tragic life of Marilyn Monroe something else comes along.Roger Kahn (The Boys Of Summer)has chosen to focus on the sometimes passionate, sometimes stormy, ultimately caring relationshipbetween Joe DiMaggio and Monroe.Oftencalled "the dean of sportswriters," Kahn has an encyclopedic knowledge of sports figures andoffers insights into DiMaggio's personality not previously explored.

Of course, one can never know what is truly in another's thoughts or heart yetKahn has done a yeoman's job of relating Joe and Marilyn's story from their first meeting when she finds Joe attractive, really quite shy as she saw herself to be,through their courtship to theirmarriage and its dissolution a scant nine months later.Ultimately, there is DiMaggio's dawning realization that Marilyn cannot be saved and then the heartbreak of her too-early death.All that was left for him was to plan her funeral.

Topnotch voice performer Dick Hill brings respect and meaning to this story which has so often been sensationalized in the press.With an easy listening voice, nuance, andintonationshe capturesthe couples and joys and sorrows.Many will remember the popularHill from his previous audio book recordings. He has received three Audie Awards and been named a Golden Voice and a Voice of the Century by AudioFile magazine.

This is, in large part,a touching, sad story but also one of enduring loyalty and love.

- Gail Cooke

One Of The Best Books Written By Kahn
This is perhaps the most underrated book written by Roger Kahn.

From the opening pages where a Hollywood hack "mourns" the death of Marilyn Monroe, Kahn takes the reader on a touching journey of the life & times of Joe DiMaggio and Monroe.

As much a history of the pop culture as it is a biography, Kahn touches all the bases on how both were drawn to each other's fragility, but their love was virtually doomed from the start.

There are so many books that explore the couple for entertainment value only, as if Joe & Marilyn were living their lives in a drama on the large screen. Kahn addresses them as human beings who were not like the public personas created for consumption by fans or curious observers.

It is truly a memory of love, but also a tragic tale on how those with apparantly so much ultimately are so alone at the end of the day.



... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Worst Book Ever Written on Marilyn
This very dated feminist criticism against Marilyn Monroe and her films is totally inappropiate for the Pyramid illustated movies series.Mellen's text boils over with hostility toward Marilyn, ridiculing virtually all of her film performances and only praising brief moments in a film. Even the book's dedication contains a slam against Marilyn. Iwonder what Ms. Mellen thought when the queen bee of feminists, Gloria Steinem, came out with a VERY sympathetic book to Marilyn a decade later. If you are a Marilyn completist, you might want this book but make it one of your LAST purchases.

Feminist viewpoint
This book provides a feminist viewpoint to Marilyn's films and life. When the book was written in the 1970s, the author provided a fresh insight into Marilyn. Now it might be considered "old hat" since so many authors now take the same viewpoint. Remember, Marilyn was not especially admired by women when she died. This book is written by a woman who is sympathetic to Marilyn's life and desire to improve herself. This book is valuable to those who are Marilyn collectors. Otherwise, pass on this one. ... Read more

Product Description
From the late 1940s to the early '60s, Marilyn Monroe appeared in barely thirty movies, beginning with bit parts and moving on into supporting roles for such films as "The Asphalt Jungle", "All About Eve", and "Clash by Night". She soon shot to international fame and gained prominent roles in a number of classics like "The Seven Year Itch", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", and "Some Like It Hot". By the time of her early death in 1962, she had already become established as one of the great icons of the silver screen. Even early in her career, Monroe had been a source of inspiration for playwrights, filmmakers, and others looking to cash in on her tremendous impact. In "The Immortal Marilyn: The Depiction of an Icon", authors John DeVito and Frank Tropea chronicle the many representations of Marilyn Monroe in the performing arts, from the 1950s to the present day. In a decade-by-decade review, the authors examine how Marilyn is portrayed in four distinct modes: as herself, as a Roman a Clef character, as a referent, and as a documentary subject.By looking closely at these individual works, the authors reveal the ways in which her persona, her history, and - most of all - her image have been appropriated for both fact and fiction. From an episode of "I Love Lucy" to Arthur Miller's play "The Fall", from adaptations of works by Norman Mailer and Joyce Carol Oates to an ever-growing list of documentaries, Marilyn has been the subject of countless depictions on stage, screen, radio and television. Monroe is adored, imitated, and idolised, and the enormous amount of material written about her - either directly or indirectly - proves that she will continue to be a source of interest and speculation. The first real analysis of all the many complex meanings that Marilyn Monroe has come to assume, this book attempts to encapsulate and understand the enormous influence the actress had on the public and the wide range of creative talents who found her such an intriguing subject. This book includes a filmography of Monroe's work as well as a chronological iconography that list the many depictions of her in film, television, radio, and stage.As both a reference source and cultural study, "The Immortal Marilyn" is a unique look at one of the most alluring and enduring figures of the twentieth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is scholarly, college-level material
Marilyn Monroe appeared in barely thirty movies but quickly became a silver screen star: so many books have been written about her life and times it would seem overkill to have yet another - but what makes THE IMMORTAL MARILYN: THE DEPICTION OF AN ICON unique is a focus on her various representations in the performing arts from the 1950s to modern times. Four different modes are identified: each is explored in a series of individual works which reflect her persona, history and image and consider how that image has been supported through fact and fiction. Don't expect your usual light treatment for general-interest audiences: this is scholarly, college-level material perfect for college-level drama and acting collections, especially those with history holdings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

She was murdered by the government.Fact.
God this book makes you paranoid.

It gives a well presented argument of...

1/ Who killed her 2/ How they did it 3/ Why they did it

I for one believed it and I'm a born cynic.

Reasonably well written aswell. ... Read more

Product Description
Though her life was short, Marilyn Monroe’s legacy lives on. Millions of items chronicle the amazing life and career of America’s best-known blonde. Now, Marilyn enthusiasts can learn what is highly collectible, and also what those items may be worth.

This comprehensive price and identification guide to Marilyn Monroe memorabilia offers up-to-date prices on everything linked to her, including books, figurines, calendars, photographs, and more! Values are given for more than 3,500 items in very good to near-mint condition.

Presenting more than 500 stunning photographs of collectible items, this valuable resource provides interesting historical tidbits about Marilyn, and offers a practical approach to starting or managing a collection. Collectors and anyone with an interest in the blonde bombshell will appreciate this look at the star’s amazing life and tragic death.

• Pricing for and identification of more than 3,500 items• Bonus information on buying on the Internet; fan clubs and collector resources; insuring and protecting your collectibles; and trading with others• Author Clark Kidder is an expert on Marilyn Monroe collectibles and a collector himself ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Must Have For The MM Collector, Fan or Movie Buff!
This book is the ultimate must have for any Marilyn fan, collector or movie buff. Clark Kidder has done an amazing job gathering together new & old, rare & popular and foreign & American Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. The book is full of luscious photos. Many of the photos are in color. Each item is detailed and is given an approximate value. The book includes values on: magazines, books, dolls, plates, posters, statues and countless other items. The book is well made with thick paper and easy to read text. If you shop on Ebay or antique shows or just want to know the value of your Marilyn collectibles you will need this book.

M. Memorabilia: Putting a Price on the Priceless Performer.
Beautifully illustrated and indexed a true "must have" for all Marilyn Monroe "afficionadoes" and serious collectors as well.
I truly enjoyed perusing through this book and appreciated how Mr. Kidder gave a thorough "overview" of Miss Monroe's career, "photo modeling" thru her "starlet" years thru her very brief "super stardom".The author also presents a biographical overview of the Stars'life.All in all, really loved this book.Of notable mention,Mr. Kidder's first book, (Marilyn Monroe Collectibles: A Comprehensive Guide to the Memorabilia of an American Legend), co-authored by George Zeno, was their first as well as successful effort on this subject.

A Marilyn collectors dream come true!
This book is a must have if you are a Marilyn collector or even just a fan. Not only are there thousands of listings but, there are thousands of pictures too! This book is the perfect tool to start you on your way to collecting Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. There are tips given by the author such as using the internet to find items, how to spot an original & much, much more!
You will refer to it again and again. I highly recommend this book. It's a purchase you'll be glad you made!

AWESOME!
Awesome guide! The best as finally been put out for a reference price guide on the best ever movie star MARILYN MONROE! Even she would be amazed I bet! Terrific job! Thanks for all the hard effort in making it! All worth it!

A Beautiful Book Marilyn Fans Will Treasure !
This brand new, year 2002 224 page, softbound book is sure to delight any Marilyn Monroe fan.There are more than 3,500 items shown, and plenty of useful information on collector clubs, buying on the Internet, and insuring your items.You'll find a wealth of informative text included, along with a complete index to make item location easy.Over 500 large full color photos are shown.Fan clubs and collector sources are listed.It is the most up-to-date, comprehensive price and I.D. guide available. Every type of Marilyn collectible is shown in this book.Add it to your library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Monroe's FBI Files
What an interesting read! Don't let the 'FBI files' part of the title intimidate you. While it includes all FBI documents relating to Monroe (original memo on one page & a typed translation on the opposite page), it has much, much more! A bit of biography, lots of pictures--this book is not to be missed. Items of particular interest are documents regarding a man whose name is still censored out to this day, the man is reportedly JFK. The book also includes reports of her alleged communism and trips to Mexico in her last months, investigation into her death (they called it a purposeful suicide) and even a memo regarding the Norman Mailer biography of MM published in 1973 (they weren't too happy that RFK and JFK were accused in the book). There is plenty of information not really known to the public, however be advised it can be a bit slow in some parts. Names and places are still censored by the FBI but any MM fan could easily piece in names and locations by the content and dates. I don't know why this book isn't as popular as other MM books, it's just as good and it has to make you wonder--Why was our government spending all those time and resources on Marilyn? ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a visual and conceptual consideration of the phenomenon of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe in our time.One could think of this as a retrospective on the lives of these artists with extensive commentary plus color & black & white photographs from an array of sources. Some of the plates are copies of paintings done by various artists. ... Read more

Product Description

Marilyn Monroe Returns reveals provocative new evidence that the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe is a top-of-the-charts Canadian singer named Sherrie Lea Laird, a woman who shares undeniably remarkable similarities with the legendary icon. Stunning photos throughout the book powerfully demonstrate the many characteristics these two ladies share.

In her own words, Sherrie Lea reflects on a lifetime of being Marilyn: her childhood as Norma Jean, her rise to superstardom, as well as her many loves. And, most dramatically, Sherrie Lea answers a question that has plagued Marilyn's fans for more than forty years: Was Marilyn's death truly a suicide?

"When I was eleven or twelve, I was sitting on my aunt's knee and we were talking about the beauty mark just above my lip. I asked what it was. It looked stupid to me. She began singing, 'A kiss on the hand can be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend.' The lyrics just echoed in my head, as if coming down a long corridor of sound form the past. I asked, 'What's that?' She said it was a song from an old movie, sung by someone famous: Marilyn Monroe. My aunt only said that she was a singer, but I had this coy, sly feeling and said to myself, 'Why do I feel like she's talking about me?'"--from the book

Customer Reviews (16)

Adrian and Marilyn
I liked the book, but not a lot. The writer is a psychiatrist of foreign extraction.
He probably had editorial help, but needed more.
The case for Sherrie Lea Laird being the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe seems solid to me from several view points including astrological[...], but much of the book was supposed to be Sherrie Lea getting over being Marilyn. A big contradiction, it seemed.
Dr. Finkelstein was/is quite attached to his patient and got tangled up being a friend, fan, father figure, therapist, healer, and researcher.
It would be interesting to find out 5-10-15 years down the line what Sherrie Lea thinks of her experience with Dr. F.
Fnkelstein also seemed to be in a hurry to get a book out, rather than taking the time to do an effective study or truly engaging story.
Keeping trying, Adrian.

Look! Some other sap trying to make money off Marilyn's name.
Whoever gave this book 5 stars is insane! How could you applaud someone for objectifying a human in this way? Especially if you're a Marilyn fan. I'm so very dissapointed that 45 years after her death idiots are still trying to cash in on her name. She was a person, not a product!

However, if you are reading this soley for the purpose of getting some information on reincarnation then more power to you. I just wish it could have been approched in a much less offensive manner.

Boring and a bit creepy
I have read many books on reincarnation. In fact, I find reincarnation a valid theory and am always eager to read new books on this fascinating subject. I am also interested in Hollywood. So this seemed like the perfect synergy. However, it's a major disappointment. Much of the book consists of transcripts of hypnotic regression sessions and emails. Many of these go over the same information and are tedious, boring, and even embarrassing. My take on Sherrie is that she is at worst someone who is desperate to further her entertainment career. She comes across as needy, a bit shallow, and saddled with a histrionic personality disorder. The biggest problem I have, however, is with Dr. Finkelstein. He seems much more calculating, controlling, and perhaps involved in an inappropriate relationship with his patient. Numerous times he writes about how attractive and sexual he finds Sherrie. In addition, he includes many transcripts and emails with Sherrie telling him how wonderful he is. Furthermore, the doctor tells her he was a healer for her in a previous life. He's also amazingly unscientific when he tries to prove his points. For example, he attempts to regress Sherrie's daughter to prove that she's the reincarnation of Marilyn's mother Gladys. The regression doesn't work, and the doctor actually states "This was a form of proof in itself that she was really Marilyn Monroe's tormented mother in her last life." WHAT?! Seriously, does that make any sense? I could go on and on, but the gist is that the book offers an intriguing concept but is deeply flawed. The only good that will come from it is that more people will be exposed to reincarnation and want to learn more about it. God forbid, however, this be anyone's first book on reincarnation.

A great book that I read
My name is Stephanie. I like the book I read about Marilyn Monroe in another ladies body very much. I loved to look at the pictures. My dad and I both talked about it alot. I know that me and my family have been togehter forever and ever. I think Sherry is very pretty and is nice to try to help the world
by telling us about her life.I see kids in school sometimes that I think i was with in another school before.One day I'm going to visit the doctor and he can tell me more about my life before this one. Thank you

Makes eerie, logical sense
This story is really "out there" enough to ring true. I think they got themselves caught up in too much worry about "the naysayers," other than that the story was well-told.
Dr. Adrian gives a good background of his work and experience. As a result us folks who are not "hip" to the whole reincarnation scene learn a surprising amount of new information from his in-your-face attitude of writing style.
I think it's great that Marilyn came back to clarify the end of her life - in my opinion (SPOILER HERE) the Kennedy's DID indirectly kill this woman by screwing with her head. It's sad her and Joe DiMaggio never got their second chance, but honestly - she was too buzzed to do much at all during the end of her days. I believe the Kennedy's knew this and used her, lied to her, and just went happily on their way.
I never even considered that the Mob was involved - please. What's funny is that an exorbant amount of people will believe something as far-fetched as M.M. being murdered by a bunch of crazy Italians, but dismiss the possibility of reincarnation!
I bought this book for my library just because I got the "sense" that this information was of a benefit for me to have and I'm glad I did. It will be interesting to see what others think after they read it. Hopefully, people will post their comments here.
BOOK's BEST POINT:
Even her own trademark company continues to make a couple million every year off of Marilyn.
Me, I see that as people making money off of such a tortured soul - it just doesn't sit well.
Guess Elton John had it right from the get-go:
Norma-Jean truly was a candle in the wind. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

a worthless book
I agree with the other reviewers, the author hates Marilyn Monroe.Really a lousy book with not one thing in it I didnt already know and maybe one photo Id never seen.I think he has let his own personal quirks and attitudes about women get in the way of a fair evaluation. I dont think he can handle a strong successful woman. I wonder how much of his characterization came from Miller and whether Miller ended up feeling the same way about her after the divorce. I suspect so.Ive read everything about Marilyn Monroe and by and by Ive come to the conclusion Arthur Miller was no prize.He was humorless, not all that talented,a lousy provider when Married to Monroe, and basically a pompous no it all. This book did allude to the fact that Miller had very few friends thru out life, pretty easy to see why.Above all, he appears to have been a lousy father, his youngest child who he had in 1965 was autistic, and was basically hidden away the poor kids whole life. This is the ultimate irony as I suspect one of the prime reasons Marilyn married Miller in the first place was to provide a strong stable family and father to her children. Doubly ironic, Joe Dimaggio was an even worse father if thats even possible. Poor Marilyn.

Mixed Feelings
The book does have factual errors here and there. Meyers refers (p. 8) to Nathanael West's novel Miss Lonelyhearts, which is set in New York, as a satire of Hollywood when he seems to mean West's The Day of the Locust. He says (p. 193) that James Cagney's grapefruit-in-the-girlfriend's-face scene comes from White Heat when it is really from Public Enemy. Some dates are off (Billy Wilder's film The Lost Weekend came out in 1945, not 1948). I have only read one other book about Marilyn (Donald Spoto's biography), and while she does not come off very favorably in Jeffrey Meyers's book, I would certainly say that Miller doesn't either. Meyers may deserve more credit for a balanced picture. The bull's-eye comment that seems to me to encapsulate so much of the book's picture of Miller is the savage quote (p. 287) by Noel Coward after seeing Miller's play about Marilyn, After the Fall. Coward says that Miller seems whiny and "without a grain of humor." Arthur Miller comes off as self-absorbed, pompous, completely lacking in self-awareness (how could he be surprised that people would regard After the Fall as being about Marilyn?), and as Coward says, humorless. Marilyn's faults can usually be attributed (as Meyers carefully explains) to her brutally hard childhood and youth, but what excuses are there for Miller being such a mess of ego? Both husband and wife are shown with all their warts. There are two books exploring famous marriages out right now--one on Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (called Furious Love) and this one. None of these four individuals comes off well. (Donald Spoto makes, I thought, a fairly convincing case in his biography on Marilyn that her death was accidental, involving two doctors over-prescribing too many drugs and not keeping tabs on all that she was taking; I was surprised that Meyers did not explore that possibility--of the fatal enema, as Spoto relates it--more. It seems to fit the facts.)

A book that can be judged by its cover
From all the many wonderful photos of Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe together, the art director (and the author, I presume) selected one for the dust jacket that shows Miller at his best and Monroe at her worst.And that's the basic theme of the book.

Miller is praised throughout for his artisticcontributions to the theater while Monroe, with few exceptions, is denigrated as a pathetic, no-talent slut.Most of the memorable characters that Monroe created on screen (Cherie in "Bus Stop," The Girl in "The Seven Year Itch," Lorelei Lee in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," etc.) are dismissed as basically identical and worthless, yet Miller's tin ear for dialogue ("Attention must be paid!") is never commented upon.

The author haslittle appreciation for Monroe's talent; he wants us to believe that she looked and performed dreadfully in her unfinished movie "Something's Got to Give" when the minutes of film that have been released show just the opposite: she appears more beautiful than ever and demonstrates a delicious, sophisticated wit.

Over the years the lives of Miller and Monroe have been pored over and dissected by dozens of writers, and this book offers little that's new about the famous couple.Unless you want to read page upon page of tedious, analytical detail about Miller's scripts, save your money and watch "Some Like it Hot."

very poorly researched and subjective book
As someone who has read countless biographies of Marilyn Monroe, I will tell you that this is one of the most worthless.I can't really comment on the sections about Arthur Miller, on whom I am not at all an expert, except to say that they are very favorable to Mr. Miller.As far as the sections on Monroe, they are not only utterly dismissive of her as a person and a talent, they are also, quite simply, riddled with factual errors.Some of the factual errors are basically irrelevant to a biography of Monroe (such as when the author refers to Rudolph Steiner--who was an Austrian mystic--as a Hungarian philosopher) while some are directly damaging and misleading.The mis-statements and falsehoods are rampant, but even more insulting and annoying are the author's characterizations of Monroe as being without intelligence, charm, or acting talent.In fact, it is a wonder someone so unimpressed by Monroe chose to write about her.The author's only motive appears to be to slander Monroe, spread misapprehensions, lies, and mistakes, and glorify Miller as well as exonerate him for his role in Monroe's misery and demise.

Don't read this book unless you want to be misinformed and influenced by one sloppy researcher's subjective and uncomplimentary views on Marilyn Monroe.As far as I can tell, he hasn't perceived a single redeeming feature about this remarkable woman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not all true, but still...
I read this book many years ago. In fact, it was the first book on Marilyn Monroe, that I ever read. I've given it 5 stars because at the time of my reading it, I enjoyed it very much. Like other reviewers, I loved the photos and the general layout of the book, but I wouldn't say this is a reliable biography of Marilyn. In fact, much of the information in this book has been proven over the years to be nonfactual, or unsubstantiated, and of course controversial. Nevertheless, it's entertaining if you treat it as a fictional novel (based on fact) rather than a true full account. Even though it was entertaining and the photos are breathtaking, I can't recommend this book to the reader who is interested in a factual narrative of her life. If you're still keen, then get it for the photography and take the rest of it with a grain of salt - unless of course if you're able to swallow the conspiracy theories that Marilyn's death involved the FBI and CIA or believe that sleazy Slatzer guy was once her lover.

THE MISFIT
I have been re-reading Norman Mailer's Marilyn- his take on the life of the legendary screen star Marilyn Monroe at a time when I have just viewed the American Masters documentary on the musical career of the singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell. And although there is no obvious connection between the lives or the talents of the two women there is a tale of two generations hidden here. Marilyn represented for my parent's generation, the generation that survived theGreat Depression and fought World War II, the epitome of blond glamour, sex and talent. To my more `sedate' generation long straight-haired blond Joni represented the introspective, searching quiet beauty that we sought to represent our longings for understanding of a seemingly baffling world that we had not made. As the this book and the Mitchell documentary points out however they `represented' our fantasies they also shared a common vulnerability attempting to be independent women in worlds dominated by men. Such is the life of the great creative talents.

Mailer traces Monroe rise from poverty, the struggle to find herself, through to the rocky and some times sleazy road to stardom. As always with Mailer one gets his take on what the symbol of Marilyn meant to my parents' generation, and, let us face it, especially men. His portrayal does not evoke his preferred hipster, beat personality but its counterpoint in the 1950's the heyday of Marilyn's fame. Mailer also goes through Marilyn various affairs with men particularly the doomed marriage to the playwright Arthur Miller. Finally he gives some very interesting details on the behind the scenes drama in the creation of many of her well-known films. Marilyn, while she was alive, never drew my eye for the reasons that Joni Mitchell did. But much later, having seen the classic The Misfits in a film revival theater, I will say just one thing about her looks and performance in that film. Wow. The marriage to Miller may have not worked out but she did right by him and herself with that performance. Yes, indeed.

This is the BEST biography ever written about our Marilyn...
I read this book in high school, and Mailer nails it!I've always wanted to read it again and now I'll get my chance thanks to Amazon.

I was enraptured with Marilyn after reading this book 20 years ago.

Cult Celebrity Status In Death, Barbituate Junkie In Life!!!
In this book the author describes the tumultuous career and life of Marylin Monroe. One gets the impression from reading this book that there are only 3 roles for actresses in Hollywood namely "Babe", "District Attorney" and "Driving Miss Daisy". Sadly Ms. Monroe did not get past the 'Babe" stage of her acting career. This book is just one of many biographies on this actress who has had more books written about her than any other deceased celebrity. One gets the feeling from reading this book that if Ms. Monoroe would have lived until her sixties then she would have just been another "has been actress" largely forgotten by the Movie Going Public and would have gotten 5 lines in her Obituary on page 10 of any newspaper like her contemporary actress Gene Tierney did. I give this book 5 stars forthe valiant attempt by the author in his efforts to illustrate the complexities of this sad,lonely lost soul.

Excellent!
I loved this book.Norman Mailer wrote this book like poetry.I could not put it down.

I am so glad you found it for me even though it was out of print.I would have hated to miss reading this book.

Also, thebook was used but was in perfect condition.Thanks foreverything.

Everyone who loves Marilyn Monroe should read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
IMAGINE IF MARILYN MONROE had survived that fateful day inAugust 1962. Would she have turned her life around, stopped drinking andkicked the pills? As a woman revered for her embodiment of "woman-ness,"Marilyn’s perspective on contemporary women’s health issues would fascinatereaders of multiple generations. In a new release from Arnica Publishing,Dr. Diane Vines approaches the topic of women’s health based on thisvery concept.

What Would Marilyn Say? Supporting Women to Health and Happiness isa first-person narrative with a "virtual" Marilyn as an observer in a groupof women returning to college. Their weekly gatherings are filled withtopical conversation about life, health and happiness. They discuss issuesranging from menstruation to menopause, and depression to dieting, andMarilyn comments to the reader about the group discussion. A "virtualprofessor" provides up-to-date, factual health information as an aside to theconversation, dispelling popular medical misconceptions. What WouldMarilyn Say? is a unique and compelling approach to addressing women’shealth issues, kept interesting by enlightenment from a candle that wasextinguished long ago.

Arnica Publishing, a Portland, Oregon based company, will soon releasea companion book, What Would Mickey Say? Coaching Men to Health andHappiness (Mickey Mantle) by Michael Samuelson, chairman of theNational Center for Health Promotion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not Really Marilyn
Don't waste your time & money if you're looking for something cute & vintage.It is neither.It is a women's health book with Marilyn on the cover & some anecdotes (some more factual than others) about her life.It's not really interesting reading unless you're 40+ and incredibly interested in women's health.Although, I will say that the information in here tends to be mostly unbiased regarding any sensitive issue. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Compelling read
I got so caught up in this book that I forgot it was a story.It was touching and funny and sad, you could feel the pain and angst of both women and the joy and titallation they had from writing to each other.The story had facts dotted throughout and that was a fascinating part of the story.This is an interesting and insightful read of two women loving the same man.

An Absolutely Ridiculous Page-Turner...2 1/2 Stars...
I'd never heard of this book till a friend recommend it to me...I don't think I'll be listening to anymore of her recommendations in the future. It's an interesting concept, yet I had doubts about this book before I even started it. I just couldn't get over the fact that these two would never in a million years have been friends. Now, I'm not a huge Marilyn or Jackie buff, and I only know the basics of their personal lives, but I DO know that Jackie couldn't stand Marilyn.

That aside though, as I got further into the book, I'll admit, I was interested. I kept reading because I had to know what was going to happen next, even though at the same time I was shaking my head in utter disbelief of their correspondence. I just cannot fathom Jacqueline Kennedy pushing her husband into affairs (as early as their honeymoon) just to one-up her mother, to show her she can deal with infidelity better. Nor can I fathom Marilyn Monroe writing a detailed description of how much she enjoys giving the President of the United States head...a letter she gives to his wife, the First Lady. Unbelievable.

Overall, do I recommend this book? No. If you have NOTHING else handy on you to read, then sure, go for it. But don't go out of your way to read this. I understand it's fiction, but there are just some stories that are too ridiculous to be taken seriously...even as fiction.

Couldn't set it down until I'd read every last page
I started this book as a "quickie," expecting not much more than glorified chick lit, but was I ever mistaken.Wendy Leigh has taken the lives of two extraordinary women, created the conceit of a correspondence between them, and used voluminous non-fiction resources to create one of my new favorite reads.Reading these "letters" made me want to seek out further biographies (I've read several biographies of Miss Monroe, but not many of Jacqueline Kennedy - I think I'll be finding Sarah Bradford's post-haste), and the way Wendy Leigh put the whole thing together, with Marilyn's friend having the letters and finding a publisher, and the publisher setting them out - masterful.Only one section didn't ring true (and was a bit overlong), but that's a tiny criticism.I started the book in the morning, and found myself setting aside all tasks because I didn't want to set it down until I found out what would happen next.

A Provocative Epistolary Novel Taking Readers Inside the Hearts and Mind's of Two of History's Most Famous Women
I stumbled across Wendy Leigh's The Secret Letters of Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy at a flea market, and I'm so glad I did. While some reviewers feel she does a disservice to both women by fictionalizing their story, I found this epistolary novel both refreshing and informative, and it made me want to read more, especially about Jackie.

The setup is that Marilyn and Jackie become pen pals, and pour their hearts out to each other. The details they reveal, about family, love, pride, ambition, men, and sex are ones that each, in the book's world, anyway, wouldn't share with others under most circumstances.

Marilyn's vulnerability crossed with Jackie's at times steeliness is an interesting contrast, though it seems that Leigh's central premise is that the two women are much more similar than they are different. Not just in their taste in men, but in their sense that they are set apart from the rest of society, on their own. Perhaps most telling is when Marilyn says that if she could come back as anyone in the world, she'd wish to be Caroline Kennedy. There aren't too many direct references to her intimate time with JFK, save for at the end in a slightly over-the-top detailed account of giving him blowjobs, but one can clearly sense her longing for a father figure.

Sourced with footnotes that flesh out stories told in the letters, this is an excellent novel filled with history but, most of all, emotion. There are aspects to their lives that any woman can relate to, despite their mega-fame. When Marilyn finally confesses to Jackie that she has been secretly having an affair with her husband, the precarious relationship threatens to tumble. Interwoven throughout these letters is Jack Kennedy, and while perhaps the toughest hurdle to overcome reading this is that the two could become true friends and confidantes despite that adulterous elephant in the room, they seem to understand each other regarding both his appeal, his need for comfort from women, and what he lacks.

Marilyn's frantic, sometimes drug-addled letters, show her declining state of mind, and Jackie, while mostly keeping an even keel, occasionally shows her own vulnerability, sometimes only in glimpses from the also-fictional diary Leigh weaves throughout the story. Sure, we know how the book's going to end (and the other endings that take place beyond Marilyn's death), but the competition and trust between the two women gives plenty of food for thought. Leigh, through the conceit of the letters, is able to suggest all sorts of twisted ideas - that Jackie gave Marilyn the idea to sing to JFK seductively on his birthday, knowing this would alienate him.

This book made me want to know more about each woman, and to appreciate the qualities each possessed, how each went about making something of herself. Leigh deals sensitively and compassionately with some potentially explosive topics - the suggestion that Marilyn spent a week as a call girl. Whether she did or not, Leigh does not condemn her for it, and you'd be hard pressed to read Marilyn's words and condemn her either. Reading between the lines here, in the footnotes and what was not included in the letters, is almost as much fun as reading the letters themselves. Kudos to Leigh for giving her own twist to history, while not going all the way out into thin air. After reading this book, I plan to investigate more into the lives of each woman; Leigh's triumph is in bringing them to life in a way that perhaps even the most nuanced biographer cannot, simply by the nature of the genre.

Ludicrous but Entertaining!
I have never felt compelled to write a review for Amazon, but after reading this book, I felt I had to. I am by no means a Marilyn or Jackie fanatic, but I have read a few non-fiction books on them both. From the little knowledge I have on their personalities, I find it ridiculous that either of them would react or respond in the way portrayed by Ms. Leigh.

I realize that this is historical fiction, however, if you do decide to buy this book, remember that it is much more fiction than history. I find it amusing that the author tends to throw in historical events like Einstein passing, or the 50's quiz show scandal to somehow make the book seem authentic.

Also, from what little I know about Jackie, she was certainly aware of Jack's affair with Marilyn almost from the beginning. Jackie hated Marilyn and found her an annoyance. I hardly think she would have been so cordial to her husband's mistress.

However, as ludicrous as this book is, I have to admit it is a page turner and very entertaining. If you need an easy, somewhat dumbed down book to escape from reality for a while - this is the book for you! ... Read more

Product Description
December 1953 ReprintIt's the one that started it all: the December 1953 issue of Playboy featuring Marilyn Monroe as the Centerfold. All of the original copies from that first production run have long since ended up in the hands of Playboy fans, subscribers and collectors, but now you can own the next best thing: an exact reproduction of that landmark publication and coveted piece of pop culture history. These reprinted issues present all of the original articles, advertisements and photographs precisely as they appeared back in '53, so that generations of new readers may enjoy them all over again. Only 20,000 single copies of this reproduction were made available to the public, so don't delay-order yours today! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The One who Started it All!
It has been nearly impossible to find an original in great condition so this reprint is the next best thing for any Marilyn Monroe collector. I concider this the Holy grail as far as Marilyn Memrobila is concerned. Its printed just as the orginal was back in '53 except for 2 give aways. The first being that it has 3 staples instead of 2 as the orginal did and on the upper righ corner instead of a black square theres a black rectangle, however its a true jem for any Marilyn Monroe lover as i am.
You won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Product Description
12 x 16 poster style wall calendar.

Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 August 5, 1962), born Norma Jeane Mortenson, but baptized Norma Jeane Baker, was an American actress, singer, and model. After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early roles were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950) were well received. Monroe was praised for her comedic ability in such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like It Hot and The Seven Year Itch,

The typecasting of Monroe's dumb blonde persona limited her career prospects, so she broadened her range. She studied at the Actors Studio and formed Marilyn Monroe Productions. Her dramatic performance in Bus Stop (from the William Inge play) was hailed by critics, and she won a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Some Like it Hot.

The final years of Monroe's life were marked by illness, personal problems, and a reputation for being unreliable and difficult to work with. The circumstances of her death, from an overdose of barbiturates, have been the subject of conjecture. Though officially classified as a probable suicide, the possibility of an accidental overdose, as well as the possibility of homicide, have not been ruled out. In 1999, Monroe was ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

norma jean will never be forgotten
i love this!this is a beautiful book filled with hundreds of photos of marilyn.
there is a caption for each photo and then marilyn explaining (in her own words) something pertaining to the incident/occasion represented in the photo.
this is a feast for the eyes and the senses.we are really getting to SEE and read
her thoughts.great for fans-enjoy! ... Read more