Customer Reviews

The Marilyn Diaries

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This boy has real talent. "The Marilyn Diaries," is more than just a harrowing journey into the mind of Marilyn Monroe. Even if you have no interest in Monroe, the novel has a lot to say about loneliness, fear of aging, broken dreams, burning ambition and so much more. Anyone with an ounce of sensitivity, anyone who knows the pain of a broken heart, anyone who has experienced insecurity can't help but be touched by these pages. The painful wounds in this novel will correspond with every vulnerability you secretly hide within your own heart. I thought it was a masterful work.

A previous reviewer mentioned that she couldn't understand why Joyce Carol Oates book (with a similar theme)"Blonde" has gotten so much publicity, while Charles Casillo's "The Marilyn Diaries" has not gotten much media attention. I really think that a lot of the public feels that a recognizable name means quality;like they need to be told that something is good before they invest their time in it. That is a shame because "Blonde" is a much, much inferior work, and when Charles Casillo becomes more well known I feel confident that people will be jumping on his bandwagon. Take my word for it, read "The Marilyn Diaries," it will awaken emotions in you rarely brought out from reading a work of fiction

I recently read the Marilyn Diaries by Charles Casillo and I must say that I was completely swept away. It was impossible to believe that these were not actually Marilyn's word. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a work of fiction. Reading it I felt like I stumbled upon Marilyn's actual diary and I felt "naughty" reading it. Yet you can't put it down. Mr. Casillo obviously has a great love and passion for Miss Monroe, and he has obviously spent a tremendous amount of time researching her life. Reading this book you will actually feel like you are there. You won't be able to put it down. I LOVED IT!

This is truely a magnificant work. Charles Casillo has managed to capture every fiber of Marilyn Monroe's being. This is a book that is a must for every Marilyn fan. The Marilyn Diaries is a fictional work depicting the missing diary Monroe kept throughout the last years of her life. It is truely remarkable how Charles Casillo has captured what might have been her every thought and feeling. I had to put the book down at times to catch my breath. The Marilyn Diaries personifies Marilyn Monroe. She is seen too much as just a character, and not someone who actually was a living, breathing being. Mr. Casillo has certainly written the finest work of fiction ever about Marilyn Monroe. You can not put this book down once you start reading it!

Why the book "Blonde" by Joyce Carol Oates has gotten more publicity than "The Marilyn Diaries," is beyond me. I was enthralled by this portrait of Marilyn Monroe; I dismissed "Blonde" for the garbage that it is after about 100 pages into it - what the hell is Oates talking about? Meanwhile, I devoured "The Marilyn Diaries." It's not that Casillo's portrayal has less sex or vulgarity (I assume that any "Hollywood star's life would have a fair share of that) - it's that her humanity, vulnerability and intelligence always come through as well. In this book Marilyn comes across as an extremely complicated individual with good points and bad points - but while reading her thoughts, as interpreted by the author, you start to feel why she was such a compelling figure. Casillo didn't feel the need to heap unnecessary abuse and degradation on Monroe in order to make her interesting - instead he created fascinating feelings for her: about love, sex, acting, loneliness and life in general. I guess it takes a very good writer to create a fascinating character. For my money Casillo's got it. Oates doesn't.

Well, he is pretty amazing. Without a doubt a gifted writer. In spots Charles Casillo's "The Marilyn Diaries" is some of the best contemporary fiction I've read in a long time. But I'm still undecided about all these writers using real life people as character's in fiction. On the negative side, it's really not fair to take someone who actually lived and put them in imaginary situations. What if someone who knows nothing about Marilyn picks up a book like this and thinks it's all true? On the positive side you can tell the author really loves Marilyn and he treats her with respect, although by no means does she come across as a saint. In the course of the book her emotions go from optimistic to anguish. At times she is naive at other times she is cunning. She is triumphant and tragic. Confident and fearful. Ultimately the character is as enigmatic as Marilyn Monroe must have been (and yes, there are certain things I feel he should have left out). Yet, after awhile you have to keep reminding yourself, "it's not really her diary - it's all made up" Casillo is really an artist. But if he was just writing about some fictional actress instead of using the name "Marilyn Monroe" it would have been just as fascinating.

Wow! I have just finished "The Marilyn Diaries" by Charles Casillo, and it was BRILLIANT. He has cleverly woven events of her life into a readable diary, and injected her thoughts and feelings on everything from men, to her childhood, the Kennedys, and her career. Every area is covered, no stone seems left unturned. Other fictional works on her have not been as insightful and truthful in representing Marilyn's personality. What really impressed me is the way it careens towards the climax, like a car swerving on a wet road, an accident waiting to happen. I won't ruin the ending, but it is extremely well written and constructed, and seems entirely plausible. You may have a differing opinion on how she died, as I do, but Charles paints a theory with such clarity of emotion and circumstance that it haunts you. This book represents a Marilyn who will shock you with her humanity. There are degrading and lewd sections, coarse language, and plenty of sex, but throughout it all, she never appears cheap. Instead we love her all the more because we know the WHY behind it all. And isn't that what we're all looking for? The why of Marilyn Monroe. Not the who, not the what, not the where, not the when, but the why. Why did she say that? Why did she do that? Why did she die? This book will certainly leave you with less questions at the end, and a greater understanding of one of the strongest and most fragile women who ever lived.

A few weeks ago, I encountered a book, albeit a novel, that has had a profound effect on me. The book is THE MARILYN DIARIES by Charles Casillo.Although I knew from the beginning that it was a novel, I found myself experiencing feelings of guilty pleasure while reading it.Charles has captured the essence of Marilyn Monroe so well, that at times, I felt as though I was actually reading HER diary. He has given a human side to this woman that we have made into a cultural icon. He has depicted Marilyn with the strengths, the frailities, the fears, and the humor that I would like to imagine that she possessed.Additionally, he has brought a dimension to her sexuality that no other author has attempted before.Mr. Casillo has brought Marilyn to life for me and I am grateful for that.

Like other huge MM fans, I had my doubts about this book, but of course had to read it. It was extremely well researched, well written and hard to put down. That said, being one who subscribes to the theory that Marilyn was murdered, the ending (spoiler ahead!) left much to be desired. The diary entries were poignant, revealing and cleverly tied in many, many little things I knew about Marilyn. But, the ending was a real disappointment to me, as it gave no real reason why Ms. Monroe, who had just renegotiated a deal with Fox to finish Something's Got to Give, was planning (according to Joe DiMaggio, who should be an unimpeachable source) to remarry Joe on August 8, and was clearly delighted with the progress on her first true home, would suddenly say Oh, well, and overdose on pills. I'm giving it 4 stars because so much was good--the ending ranked about 2 stars with me. Still, definitely worth reading.

I have now finished reading "The Marilyn Diaries" and I have to say that I thought that it was wonderful. It was truly a joy from start to finish, it made me laugh, it was thought provoking and when I got to the end I was in tears. I don't think that anyone who loves Marilyn could fail to be touched by Charles Casillo's obvious affection and understanding of her which comes across in his writing. Some parts of the book I will never forget, so poignant, Marilyn imagines that Tony Curtis will spread lies about her after she is gone and that people will even stoop so low as to sell photographs of her body in death. One paragraph that I keep remembering is when Marilyn falls asleep with Maf under her arm, and how Maf loves her so utterly. All the way through the book it was as if Marilyn was talking to me, allowing me in to her life. I know that we will never know how it definitely may have been, but I believe that this must be pretty close. Thank you Charles Casillo for a book which I would be proud to pass on to people, such as friends who know nothing about Marilyn and say read this, it will show you a beautiful, intelligent, talented, unselfish woman who has the same worries as you or me, but still she was so special, far too special to ever, ever be forgotten.

I am a big Marilyn fan, but so many books have been written about her that I was a bit skeptical when I picked up this book by Charles Casillo...well I was literally riveted to this brilliantly and poigiantly executed "Diary" of Marilyn Monroe...I couldn't stop reading until the last page and even then I wanted more...these words could have been her very own...and it is so well researched and done that you feel like she is speaking directly to you.

I have to say of all the myriad of Marilyn books I have purchased this is one that I will no doubt read again and again...I LOVED THIS BOOK!