7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
You'll Learn a Lot about Judy's Last Days, November 22, 2001
This review is from: Heartbreaker: Two Months With Judy Garland (Hardcover)
You will discover much about the latter-day Judy Garland
from John Meyer's book, actually a diary, about the legendary
performer. The only false note is the frequent sexual aspect
of it. It is improbable that the sexually ambiguous Meyer, (...),"screwed" the star. Everything else seems vivid and true and puts you there with Meyer and
Garland, as a "fly on the wall." It is a well-written diary
that will surely offend the diva-worshippers who wouldn't want
to know about Judy's appalling habits, i.e. kleptomania, selfishness, gulping pills and booze, and "two-hour make-up jobs." On the plus side, it offers us a close-up glimpse at a very, very sharp-witted and funny woman. Looking back at this
brief "affair" of the late-60s, you get a pang of sadness that
the ambitious Meyer never made it as songwriter. If you've
heard his songs, "I'd Like to Hate Myself in the Morning," or
"After the Holidays," you will understand why. His music
is middling to awful, and his only claim to fame will be his
Judy book, one of many, many, many written by husbands,
friends, associates, professional writers and fans. This one
is excellent in that you'll find out things you didn't know,
as opposed to rehashing the usual well-documented trivia.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FAN MEETS -BEDS-and (ALMOST) WEDS a STAR, March 31, 2002
This review is from: Heartbreaker: Two Months With Judy Garland (Hardcover)
I have read every book written about the amazing Judy Garland. I happen to love this book. (For Garland fans who idolize Judy and feel she could do no wrong, this is not the book for you.) This book is the story of a 30-something struggling songwriter, living with his parents who makes a living playing show tunes in local New York piano bar. He also composes music, writes lyrics and has a pet project, a script for his play called "The Draft Dodger." New York is filled with thousands of hopefuls just like him. What makes his story extraordinary is how he graduated from stuggling hopeful to (minor)celebrity in less than two months simply because of a chance meeting with Judy Garland. In the fall of 1968, Judy Garland was at her lowest point: she had no money, she was heavily in debt to the IRS for back taxes, she couldn't get a booking because her music arrangments were being held until she paid money she owed, her dependence on prescription drugs was worsening, her former husbands, lovers, and even her children had abandoned her because of her erratic behavior created by the drugs, and her health was declining. One of the fans/hangers-on who surrounded Judy during this period was going to plan a new show with new songs so Judy could work again, and decided John Meyer might have some suitable material. On the night he met Judy, Meyer was so enthralled with her that they snuck out of the fan's home (while the fan was in the shower) had dinner together and spent the night together at Meyer's parents home. ... This is a fascinating story, written in a diary style format, which indeed gives the impression of reading someone's private diary. I have spoken with Garland fans who knew Judy, Meyer and Deans during this period of time and was told that Meyer's story is quite accurate. Most telling through all of this is that Judy, although at her lowest point, was telling funny stories, laughing and enjoying herself despite such adverse conditions. This is a book you won't easily forget! As a footnote, Meyer later dated singer Margaret Whiting (who knew Judy) and she made positive comments regarding their relationship.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fireworks as Worlds Collide, February 17, 1999
This review is from: Heartbreaker: Two Months With Judy Garland (Hardcover)
When a legend in her decline hitches up with a cocktail pianist with ambitions to be a songwriter there are sure to be fireworks. John Meyer met Judy Garland one night and they became lovers. She sings his song ("I'd Like to Hate Myself in the Morning") and he moves her into his parents' apartment. This is a cautionary tale of "Hollywood home invasion" that is a bittersweet companion peice to "Me and Jezabel" (Bette Davis) and "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool" (Gloria Grahame) which cast superstars as domestic pests. Sadly the last chapters descend into bathos and self pity when the songwriter comes down with the flu and the legend moves on to her next husband. Not for those Garland fans who won't hear a word against their idol.
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