Customer Reviews

Lucy in the Afternoon: An Intimate Memoir of Lucille Ball

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The first time I wrote a review for this book, I gave it 5 stars.However, this book is the least accurate of all the Lucy book I have read, and I have read a lot. While I was reading it, I noticed that some of the things Mr. Brochu said about Lucy directly contradicted with her autobiography. I didn't think much of it at the time, but then I went to Luie Arnaz's website. She distinctly said that this book was not accurate at all and to skip it.Then everything started to fall into place. This is as much of a cartoon of Lucy's life as anything. Yes, it's touching, but what good is touching if it's not true? Everytime I think about the fact that Mr. Brochu so plainly lied, it infuriates me to tears. If you want to know the REAL Lucy, skip this book. Go staright to her own touching, candid memoirs, "Love, Lucy."

I bought this in hardcover when it first came out in 1990. Having pulled it off the bookshelf, I reread it again recently and had forgotten that there are indeed many, many, inacuraccies in this book. The author, who claims to be the most avid Lucy fan ever made one big mistake in this book. In referring twice to the "William Holden..L.A. at Last" episode on "I Love Lucy" he says she dumped a platter of spaghetti on him. Any TRUE Lucy aficionado who has seen this episode hundreds of times would know that Lucy did NOT dump a plate of spaghetti on Holden. She bumped into a waiter who was carrying a tray of "creme deserts" and it was her bumping into the waiter that caused the waiter to dump the desert tray on him. You'd think the author would know this as any "true" Lucy devotee does.

Another thing, he comes across crass and vulgar and makes it sound as though he was the ONLY friend Lucy had during the last few months of his life. It seems odd that she would allow him to spend every afternoon with her......just very weird stuff. The guy himself looks like a creepy boogeyman.

Lucie Arnaz does NOT endorse this book on her website. She advises to skip it. As there is nothing new here to add to the Lucy legend, my advice is to follow Lucie's advice.

Jim Brochu makes you feel that you're actually sitting with him every afternoon playing backgammon and sipping Lucy's Lemonade listening to every tidbit of Lucy's life. A *MUST READ* book for _\ANY/_ Lucille Ball fan!

You will laugh out loud at the real-life antics of Lucille Ball which are described in this wonderfully detailed book. If you already know Lucille Ball's history and want little known triva facts and want to know more about "I Love Lucy", then this IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw this book as I was checking out of the library. It is a quick read, only taking a couple of hours.

As others have stated, this is loaded with inaccuracies and you don't have to have known Lucy to know this. The part about when she needed an aortic graft and they found one quickly to transplant, those are generally Dacron grafts that any hospital that does vascular surgery would have in stock.

I thought the book was sickening.

I read this biography before I read through most of these reviews, so I won't say anything about Lucie Arnaz and her warning.

However, I will say it had some interesting information in it, even though I don't know if it's true.

The author claims Lucy hated Judy Garland's singing voice, commanding the author to stop an MGM musical compilation when she heard Garland. Lucy also claimed that Liza Minnelli lived with her and her family for a year since Judy was an unfit mother. I never heard that before, and I doubt that Liza ever lived with Lucy. True, Judy may not have always been the quintessential mother, but during Liza's childhood and early teenage years, I think Judy was in relative good shape with husband Sid Luft's help.

The author also states that Lucy was offered another chance at a Broadway show after "Wildcat!" as Dolly Levi in "Hello, Dolly!" and she turned it down since she would only do it if she were guaranteed the film version too. I never heard this, but it might be possible.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading the book, and I will wonder how much of what I read is pure fiction.

Go ahead and read it if you like. It's an easy read, and who knows you might enjoy it regardless.

I have read every book that has been written about Lucille Ball and this is by far the least accurate, odd, book that has been written about the legend. Timed for release, immediately after her death, "Lucy in the Afternoon" chronicles one boys obsession with the entertainer that he, later in life, confuses with a soul-mate type frendship. Very odd reading. Stories are quite obviously fabricated and I find it highly unlikely that Lucy went into great depth with this man about her life. Covering everything from her broadway days to her ex-husband to her movie and televison career. These are highly personal topics to be discussed with what was a stranger. An aspiring writer. This book should deffinetly be skipped by avid Lucy readers and just readers in general. There are far better books about Ball out there.

I would suggest the most recent release "Ball of Fire" or the excellent "Desilu, the story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz". T

This book is written in a way that makes you feel as if you are actually spending an afternoon with Lucy. this book is a must read for any Lucy fan

A most beautiful book! This extremely well written book is required reading for all Lucille Ball fans. This is the first book in years that I could not put down. Brochu is a fan and has done his utmost to see that you are right there with him during the interviews. It was as if I were talking to Lucy.

Lucy was the most talented comedianne in history. Yet with all of the stardom, fame, and wealth, she was a loyal and down to earth individual. She showed no Hollywood arrogance which seems to be fashionable today. Other stories about her being tyrannical and difficult to work with are true only if you do not believe she was respectful of her profession. She was a consumate artist, a true believer in her craft, and would spend long, arduous hours perfecting a line, scene, or gag. This is why her comedy is transcendental - it touches everybody without being lude or vulgar - it was and is perfected. Brochu is a very lucky man to have been able to spend the last few weeks of Lucy's life with her. The book is lovingly written. You hear and feel Lucy's presence. And finally, you will learn Lucy's secret recipe for making the worst lemonade in human history. When I read how she fixed it, my cheeks instantly went into a pucker spasm.....................

why should anyone else??? Her own daughter says it is filled with inacurracies and indeed, the author makes it a point in every page to make himself the ONLY friend Lucy ever had. As Lucie Arnaz herself said, "skip this one".