Customer Reviews

An Affair to Remember: My Life With Cary Grant

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I give this book 5 stars because there are not too many books that keep me awake at night. Usually even a good book puts me to sleep sooner or later. Not this one.

Maureen Donaldson had a four year relationship with legendary Hollywood actor Cary Grant from 1973-1977 after he had retired from film making. Her descriptions of meeting and first getting to know Grant made me feel like I was almost experiencing it with her. I could definitely identify with her feelings of awe and being overwhelmed that Cary Grant was interested in her. I would have felt the same way. As she got to know him and spend more time with him, she saw that he was only human (aren't we all). In fact, he was very human, with many of the same fears, insecurities and childhood hurts that so many of us have to deal with ourselves.

I agree with other reviewers who feel this book is not a trash Cary Grant book. I don't think that was her intention. I don't think less of Grant now than before I read the book. From everything I have read about Grant in this book and elsewhere, it seems he had a very rock-solid core to him. He comes across as a very loyal friend, surprisingly generous at times (when the mood struck him), tender-hearted and kind.

Maureen tells in her book how Grant read a daily devotional each day of the year out of a Christian booklet he had a subscription to. After they broke up Maureen said she continued the practice of reading those daily selections herself.

She took Grant to an Alice Cooper concert (with Grant in disguise). He hated it, but the fact that she talked him into going proves to me that he really cared about her. A man his age going to an Alice Cooper concert? That is love.

I do wonder why she wrote this book. I guess I should not try to speculate. According to Maureen, Grant tried to get her to marry him and even enlisted Jennifer Jones and her last husband to offer their home as a wedding site.

Even after reading the whole book I still can't help but think Maureen was nuts not to marry him.

I've just finished reading this and i'm a little shellshocked. Not because I feel Grant has been villified but perhaps merely because it shows such a debonair and enigmatic idol of mine as a true fallible human being.

Like the other reviewer commented, I too thought it seemed to be written with a fair amount of objectivity. It did not come across to me as a bitter and delibrate attempt to trash or undermine Grant. It does come across, however, as a bit of a tacky and harrowing romance novel, even the presentation of the book conveys such an image.

I think if you're a Cary Grant fan that wants to find out a little more about Archie Leach and is willing to accept the fact that their view of Cary may be tarnished in the process; then go ahead and read this, it is an interesting and (from what I can tell) balanced read.

Let's all hope he was happy in the end.

I felt like I knew Cary Grant much better after reading this book. It seems to have been written with some objectivity. The book makes you feel as though you are right in the middle of their relationship. I really enjoyed reading about the details of the most dashing man of the classic movie era. There will never be another Cary Grant, unfortunately.

Like an above reveiwer siad: I felt like I knew Mr. Grant after reading this. Ms. Donaldson has written a superb book revealing the real Cary Grant. We, the readers, see Mr. Grant for the real person he is. A gentleman, an overprotective loving father, an insecure, private man. and she writes of her relationship with Cary. Their many many good times together. The insecurities of Cary's that drove her nuts and finally ended their relationship, and her relationship with Cary's daughter Jennifer. Her and Jennifer became close friends. I felt like I knew Cary Grant inside and out after reading this. I recommend this book to all fellow Cary Grant fans!!!

I really enjoyed reading this book. Cary Grant might be very complex and
difficult person to live with.Yet he is gentle and kind.That is enough.I
simply feel sorry that Maureen Donaldson didn't marry him.She Couldn't
realize how much she was loved!She will also regret not marrying him for the
rest of her life!! (Sorry for my bad English)

I went sailing and snorkeled in Key West, and onboard I met Maureen. Not knowing who she was or about the book she kindly offered me sun screen, as I was having a reaction to the sun. She was very nice. I got the book when I got back to MN., and enjoyed it very much. I liked her sharing a part of her life and Cary Grant's life. It made me appreciate Grant more.
I have suggested this book to others, and still do. Pat Skewes, Marshall, MN

When Maureen Donaldson was in in her late 20s and Cary Grant was approaching 70, they embarked on a relationship that would transform her life. It's hard to tell if their four-year love affair changed him at all, but I hope he looked back with some perspective and humour.

Age clearly made a difference in how these two viewed the world and each other. Maureen, while a successful interviewer (and, at Cary's suggestion, photographer), was still immature and it shows in how she handles her various problems with Mr. Grant. He, on the other hand, is chauvinistic and terribly untrusting; he records private conversations and has her followed when they aren't traveling together, and he assumes that every time she smiles at another person, she's planning an assignation.

The reason for which she finally leaves him is incredibly inane, especially since he'd given her so many truly good reasons to leave in those four years. Based on the behavior she describes here, I don't know that I would have lasted four months. He was gorgeous, he was often kind and loving, but he was sometimes unbearable, and no amount of charm can outweigh the childish tantrums that his lifelong issues with women and trust brought on.

Some have had problems with Ms. Donaldson's writing this book at all, but I find it to be a necessary one. We all know that Cary Grant was a gifted actor, and that he was handsome and dashing. Instead of yet another hagiography, what we receive here is a look at what life is like when you're sharing space with a legend, and how it is rarely what you see in the movies.

This book was not in the condition I had hoped for when I ordered it. Pages were quite yellow & old looking. I have older books in better condition. Also, there looked to be a drop of blood at the top of the outside pages. YUK! In the trash it went. A total waste of money.

The book provides no valuable insight into what made this star who he was. Just gossip and withhout merit.

Can't review this book since I was sent the wrong one..didn't bother to take the time or make the expense to send it back. Very disappointing to spend money on something I didn't want.If I didn't have the money, you can be sure no book would have been sent at all, but taking my money fro the wrong thing seems to be easy. Won't be ordering books again from this website.