PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.
1. What are you currently reading? Marilyn Monroe: The Biography by Donald Spoto. This is a reread for me. I was inspired to dig it out when I got an email from The Hollywood Roosevelt, which is the TCM Film Festival's mothership. This grand old hotel is celebrating Marilyn Monroe on the occasion of her 100th birthday month. Then I saw a photo of Lisa K., a Los Angeles-based TCM fan who paid her respects by visiting Marilyn's old dressing room on the former Fox lot. So I thought it was time for me to take a moment and reflect on Marilyn.
Her story has always touched me on a number of levels. I first discovered Marilyn when I was in high school. My feminism was awakening at just this time and I saw her as a cautionary tale. She did everything the patriarchy asked of her and it literally broke her. Then I set out to see as many of her movies as I could so I could assess her as an artist, not just a celebrity. Now I'm wondering what it is about her that makes her endure.
I first read this particular biography of Marilyn more than a decade ago and recall that Spoto treated his subject with respect. So far, I see I wasn't wrong.
2. What did you recently finish reading? Off the Menu by Stacy Ballis. This book was great on atmosphere. It feels very Chicago. But as a romance it was a yawn. It was slow, it had too many supporting characters and not enough action. Also, two of the main characters were shitty pet parents. I can't go into my gripes in detail without giving away too much of the plot, but I just didn't like two corners of the love triangle. The third? Him I found fascinating, even though I suspect I wasn't supposed to. He had some dimension and his character had an arc.
Am I sorry I picked this book up? Maybe. Ballis has a good reputation for chick-lit, and maybe this was just one of her weaker efforts. Someday I may give her another shot.
3. What will you read next? I don't know.
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