Customer Reviews

Intimate Lies

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

 

 

I love it when nonfiction keeps me up late at night, turning pages. "Intimate Lies" may well be the definitive source on the last years of Fitzgerald's life, during which he tried (and failed) to be a Hollywood screenwriter. Westbrook's evenhanded, well-researched treatment of the romance between Fitzgerald and columnist Sheilah Graham (Westbrook's mother)is a snapshot of Hollywood just before World War II, a mixture of glamor, socialism and absurd censorship.

I didn't really expect to like this book. I have always enjoyed F. Scott Fitzgerald's works and that was what drew me to this book. I had heard about Sheilah Graham and i think i had read somewhere of there relationship. Bored one day with my usual 'type' of books i picked this one up amd began to read. What struck me immendiatly was the honesty, brutal at times being displayed by the Miss Graham's own son Robert Westbrook. His writing is presise and detailed recreating the golden age of Hollywood. He presents Fitzgerald honestly showing other aspects of the doomed author. His mother is shown as a master of the 'makeover' recreating herself from a very humble beginning. Take a chance with this book i think you'll be pleasently surprised..

Well maybe Sheilah Graham was a classic "codependant" but I would have done the same, F. Scott Fitzgerald shines in this story. Flaws and all. Well told tale and the writing improves with the story.

This is a classic, American literary love story and it is true. They truly loved one another and I am so glad they did.

Great Book

I have read many books on F. Scott Fitzgerald so had hoped this one would be better than it was. I got through the first few chapters and put it down. The viewpoint is not respectful of the subject or the reader. The author has exploited his mother's relationship with Scott. It doesn't set well with me at all and is not written to my tastes. Nuf said on this one except don't buy.