Love, Lucy [Paperback]

Lucille Ball (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

The one and only New York Times bestselling autobiography by Lucille Ball...

"Filled with light and laughter." (New York Times Book Review)

"Lucy fans will find this book fascinating." (Detroit News)

"A winner." (New York Newsday)

"Intensely moving."(San Francisco Chronicle)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Although Lucille Ball died in 1989, this autobiography written prior to 1964 has only recently been discovered among her papers. She describes a childhood deeply affected by her father's death and her mother's withdrawal from her life. Raised by her grandparents, Ball craved attention and developed a tempestuous, vivacious, fiery, and yet insecure personality that would later lead her to comic stardom. It took years of working from the bottom of show business before she became a television hit, with the help of her husband, co-star, and business partner, former Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz. Ball abandoned the book for fear of hurting Arnaz, although she gives him credit for the tremendous success she enjoyed with "I Love Lucy." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

... a warm, conversational memoir, full of light and laughter. -- The New York Times Book Review, Marilyn Stasio --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425177319
• ISBN-13: 978-0425177310
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Entertainers
  • #2 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Ball, Lucille
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > Women

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and well written! I will always Love Lucy!, March 19, 2002

By 

Ronald Kevin Sowell (Plano, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love, Lucy (Paperback)

I have been a major Lucille Ball fan for many, many years now. I read this book through with great interest. This is Lucy's story as she recorded it many years ago. It details her childhood, and desires for becoming a star. It talks about most, if not every movie and television show that she did. There are some great stories about William Frawley and Vivian Vance, from I Love Lucy.

It goes through her meeting Desi Arnaz, and their entire relationship. She covered the good as well as the bad. Of course, there are stories about their children as well.

One of the most interesting facts that I noted when reading the book, was the fact that the names of Friends or important people from her past, were used as names of friends in I Love Lucy, the Lucy Desi Comedy Hour and I believe even some in The Lucy Show. One example is Lillian Appleby who was a former teacher, and another is Marion Strong, who was a good friend.

As I read this book, I could hear Lucy's voice coming through the pages. If you are a true Lucy fan, you should read this book!

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucy lives forever!, January 11, 2000

By 

"mdj610" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love, Lucy (Paperback)

I loved this book! Ever since I saw my first episode of I Love Lucy, I've been fascinated with Lucille Ball. I just had to know more about her. I found "Love, Lucy" in a store one day and I begged my mom to buy it for me. Well, she did, and I loved every minute of reading it. It's like she's talking one-on-one with you in a way. In "Love, Lucy", Lucy talks about her marriages, her children, her family, and her work. Although alot of details are left out (mainly because she didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings), the descriptions of the events in her life are amazing. My mother couldn't pry me away from reading this book with a crowbar, and she still can't whenever I re-read it. I was also overcome with emotion at some points in reading this wonderful memoir. The way she talked about her love for Desi Arnaz was so touching. I've never heard anything like it before. I started to sob a little when Lucy described the day she filed for divorce from Desi, and I'm not a big crier. It was so sad that everything happened the way it did, and that they couldn't work things out. I'm glad that she found happiness in her second marriage, though. I was also stunned when I learned that Lucy had hidden this for over thirty years until her children found it in with some old files about four years ago. Imagine writing something like this that you know everyone in the world is dying to read and then putting it away! Well, in a way I respect Lucy's decision, because I wouldn't want to hurt the feelings of any loved ones that were still alive that I had talked about. And sometime soon I am going to get a copy of "A Book", by Desi Arnaz, because after all there are two sides to every story. Before I go, I want to thank Lucy's children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., for letting their mother's millions of fans take a peek inside of her private world. The book could have been easily just tucked back into the files and forgotten about. Taking it out and publishing it was great idea, and I know that no matter what, I'll always love Lucy.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, the comic genius in her OWN words, April 25, 2000

By 

Chandani - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love, Lucy (Paperback)

and not in the twisted, fabricated words of someone else. This is the ONLY autobiography Lucille Ball ever wrote, so it is a real treasure.From the minute you open the book till the time you close it, you hear Lucy's voice guiding you through her life. When you start to read it, after a few moments, your voice just sort of drowns out and Lucy's voice takes over. Relive with her her happiness and heartache, her loves and hates, her triumphs and failures. I actually felt her love for her kids and Desi. It just came shining through. The hardest part of reading this book is putting it down after you're done and realizing that that the voice you just heard is truly silent forever. But you can hear that wonderful voice anytime you please simply by just opening this heartfelt, extremely moving and touching look at Lucy's life as she saw it. She doesn't give very many details, simply for fear of hurting certain people who were still alive and whom she still cared for, but she gives enough to paint you a really good picture. I can see why Lucy would've wanted to abandon this great book, because she didn't want to hurt anyone, but I'm so glad it was finally found. Even though Lucy's body isn't here any more, you can see her in her prime whenever you feel like a laugh just by turning on the TV, and reading her own words and feelings in this book. Finally, here is a book about her without all the lies and gossip. This is the total truth, but she was never cruel or mean. She was tactful in her choice of words. This book is a must read, if not must have, for any Lucy fan.