Ava: My Story [Hardcover]

Ava Gardner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1990

The late actress and sex symbol discusses her early days in Hollywood; her marriages to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra; her memorable roles; her friendships and affairs; and more Reprint. NYT.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this chatty autobiography, Gardner, who died last January at age 67, tells of her upbringing in a poor but proud Southern family, her sudden success in early-'40s Hollywood--mainly because of her beauty--and rails against MGM, which played up her cheesecake potential. She neatly sums up the problems in each of her three short marriages: Mickey Rooney was a blatant womanizer; Artie Shaw was cool and overbearing; Frank Sinatra (the two were the loves of each other's lives) was as jealous as she, leading to drunken marathon fights. Gardner also sketches a creepy portrait of Howard Hughes, who for years stopped at no machination in an unsuccessful attempt to bed and marry her. A shy woman who used drink to feel comfortable socially, Gardner seems very likable, down-home, spontaneous and sadly derogatory toward her intelligence, acting abilities--and even her beauty. Of the seven included "eulogies" from friends and colleagues, Stephen Birmingham's best captures the joy and tragedy of Gardner's life. Photos not seen by PW .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 315 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (October 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553071343
• ISBN-13: 978-0553071344
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cant help lovin..., December 1, 2002

By 

E. Glynn "impertinent" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ava: My Story (Hardcover)

In addition to demonstrating a self-deprecating wit and a candor that is often surprising, even in an autobiography, in this memoir Ava Gardner conveys a warmth and genuineness that makes her (in my opinion) an instantly likable narrator. Then, the fact that the events of her life would have given enough material to make a great story even if she herself wasn't such an engaging storyteller.
This book is tempered with irony. Ava's reflections on some of her greatest times are presented through a veil of bittersweet nostalgia. That her life was a sad one is evident; she details three failed marriages to some of the era's more notable celebrities/womanizers and her constant sense that her career path was accidental, and her eventual phase as recluse and expatriate. These events told from the perspective of an aging woman - one who seems to have been truly convinced that her fading (?) beauty is her only marketable asset create an exquisitely tragic heroine. Consistently smart and irreverent, Ava balances this obvious sadness and feeling of being misplaced with a stoic insistence that she's had "a hell of a good time." In all, her willingness to poke fun at herself and her open examinions of her personal weaknesses provide a refreshing counterpoint to the usual self-aggrandizement of the Hollywood auto-biography. I strongly recommend the book, if not for pure entertainment, for a compelling portrait devoid of literary pretensions.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good story, May 18, 2005

By 

Stargazer (Pensacola, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ava: My Story (Hardcover)

I also was initially distracted by the country girl narrative ("and honey, let me tell you...") but settled into it. It's a good story and to me writing style is secondary when reading an autobiography.

I have always had the impression that Ava was a man-eating femme fatale but this book cast her in a much more human and humble light. I did get the impression that she softened some stories or left some out entirely. I was touched by what she did reveal - her humble beginnings, painful shyness, lack of self esteem, and her deep love for Frank Sinatra. All in all, this story contained all the elations and tragedies you'd find in anyone's lifetime.

It's a great read and I'd recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about this beautiful star.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ava: My Story, February 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ava : My Story (Paperback)

Worth reading for her version of a life full of events that many others have previously chronicled. Written it seems to set the record straight, one is still left wondering when comparing her version to others whether she remembers it a little differently from the way it happened. One notable variation lies in the Howard Hughes connection. She stedfastly refuses to admit that there was any sexual relationship at all where her biographers previously have assumed that there was. In putting together other impressions about Mr. Hughes and in evaluationg her book, I would personally believe her. I believe that she finished all she had planned to say before she died, but I'm not sure of that, if seems that she never saw the final printing of the book. I would also wonder if the book was almost completely composed by others instead of her having any direct role in it because, at times it seems that there is too much of an effort made by the narrative to "sound like she would sound" but, of course, she gave it her complete blessing and it belongs to her estate, so I am not sure that it makes a material difference, but one would hope that the book is her own words as captured on tape. Especially if you like old Hollywood an or if you are curious about what the wealth and fame syndrome seems to entail and or if you just are fascinated by her entire generation a la Tom Brokaw, you'll find it quite worthwhile.