Ginger: My Story [Paperback]

Ginger Rogers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1992

Fred's better half chronicles her life, describing her childhood career in vaudeville, her break into films and stardom, her five marriages, her relationship with Astaire, her faith, and her work with Fonda, Monroe, Selznick, and others. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Winning a dance contest in Texas launched the 14-year-old Virginia Katherine McMath on her acting career and eventful personal life, episodes, emotions and dialogue from which she recreates here in exhaustive detail. Now 79, this devout Christian Scientist recalls her early vaudeville days in a determinedly upbeat tone, as well as her stage and film hits, including the 10 musicals-- Top Hat , Swing Time , etc.--in which she and Fred Astaire co-starred. Also discussed is Rogers's Oscar-winning Kitty Foyle and acclaimed roles in Hello Dolly and Mame . The author brightens an uninspired narrative style with backstage and Hollywood anecdotes and names, and tells of her five husbands--and of her romances with the likes of Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Howard Hughes. She also encountered political figures--from U.S. presidents to the shah of Iran and Juan Peron. Recommended for fans who cherish every scrap of trivia about their idol. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Rogers is a consummate storyteller in addition to being an entertainment legend. In this autobiography, she chronicles her rise to stardom and describes her various dramatic and musical film roles. She also reviews her five marriages and various romances, while charmingly setting the record straight on her partnership with Fred Astaire. Although candid in her revelations, she respects the people and events that touched her--there is no tabloid gossip here. The positive influence of her mother, Lela, and open testimony to a deep religious faith figure strongly in her life's story, which is rich in detail and humor. Rogers shines through as a vivacious, talented, and self-confident individual with an earthy response to her amazing career. This delightful chronicle of 50 years in entertainment is refined, well-written fun. Recommended for circulating libraries. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/91.
- Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, N.J.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harpercollins (Mm) (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061091146
• ISBN-13: 978-0061091148
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,583,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ginger's memoir is truly a delight!, January 23, 2002

By 

C. Jarvis "crisso" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

According to one writer and critic 'Ginger my story' was greeted with 'critical yawns' upon it's publication in 1991. Personally I couldn't disagree more. Reading this book was a truly heartwarming experience from beggining to end. Ginger writes candidly about her upbringing, her early experiences on the vaudeville circuit, her hollywood film career (including the pitfalls of being a woman in Hollywood) and the sad story of her five marriages which all ended in divorce. Ginger tells delightful anecdotes about her encounters with other famous folk - George Gershwin, FDR, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Noel Coward, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra etc. It is wonderful to know how devoted she was to her mother Lela (to whom the book is dedicated) and the chapter where she describes how she coped with Lela's death is truly poignant. The most interesting parts for me was where she describes how christian science had helped her through life and how she had had used it to help others (she cured her third husband of warts and her fourth husband of boils!). I did feel quite sad though reading this knowing that Ginger was no longer with us (it's a shame she couldn't have used christian science to save herself from diabetes;she died from the disease in April 1995) for I would surely have written to her congratulating her for having written such a wonderful memoir.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books I've Ever Read, June 9, 2003

A Kid's Review

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

I am a great fan of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. When I learned that she had written an autobiography, I wanted to read it right away. This book was so good and informative, that I read all 450 pages within a few days. In her book, she talks about her childhood, her devotion to her mother, Lela, her stage career, her romances, and her movie career. I reccomend this book to any Ginger Rogers or Astaire and Rogers fan.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic view of a fantasy world, March 1, 2000

By A Customer

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

Pleasantly surprised to read Ginger Rogers autobiography about the golden age of Hollywood. She writes about her troubles with the hollywood biggies ( director Mark Sandrich...) and the price she paid for having not conformed to the hollywood social scene of drinking, philandering and ego stroking. Loved to read about her early broadway career and her romantic tangles ranging from Jack Culpepper to Cary Grant. There are times when she is not specific about certain events ( her later marriages) but does not make any apologies. Obviously this talented lady was a force to be dealth with seriously, or she would not have survived the harsh realities of show business. Much has been written about her mother Lela, and not in very sympathetic tones, but none of that in this autobiography- love, support and tenacity are what got these women through- a very entertaining book.