My Face for the World to See: The Diaries of Candy Darling [Hardcover]

Candy Darling (Author), Francesca Passalacqua (Editor), Jeremiah Newton (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Self-invention, or rather, reinvention is at the heart of much gay culture. Being told that you should not be who you are encourages you to become someone else. But few gay men have self-invented with the panache and grandiloquence of James Lawrence Slatterly, who metamorphosed into the fabulous Andy Warhol superstar Candy Darling. Taking his/her cues from Lana Turner, Kim Novak, and Gloria Graham, Candy Darling became a walking testament to Hollywood womanhood. Although she appeared in several Warhol films before her early death in 1974, Candy Darling didn't need theatrical vehicles: she lived her life as a star. My Face for the World to See is a collection of her diaries, drawings, and thoughts. While there is nothing profound, the book is a moving record of a life and imagination that illuminated the cultural landscape and burned brightly and too short.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Hardy Marks Publications; First Edition edition (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094536721X
• ISBN-13: 978-0945367215
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,125,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Somebody I always wanted to know more about.., April 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Face for the World to See: The Diaries of Candy Darling (Hardcover)

I've been interested in Candy ever since I saw her in "I Shot Andy Warhol" (played by Steven Dorff) I decided to buy this book because I have an interest in all things related to Andy, the Factory, and the entourage. It's very interesting- the entries are Candy's own handwriting, some of them go back to when she was in middle school. There are even pictures she drew herself. There are some nice photos too- even one in the front of her and Andy. Candy's writing is also very heartfelt- you can tell she desperately wanted to be something she wasn't. My favorite passage in the whole book is "You must be true to yourself no matter what the cost, it is the highest form of morality." My only complaint is that it should have gotten under the surface and told more about her life. But overall, I think Mr. Newton did a wonderful job. You feel like you get to know Candy throught this book, it even looks like it could have been her diary- it has a lock and key and everything. It's a good book for those who are interested in Candy, or things that went on in the Factory.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kiss them for me...I may be Delayed, September 8, 2000

By 

Christopher - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Face for the World to See: The Diaries of Candy Darling (Hardcover)

" It Glittered and it gleamed, for the arriving beauty queen" The words once sang by Siouxsie Sioux, describes the spiritual search for the ghost of Jane Mansfield. I guess the words itself in the title could have been uttered by Candy as she applied her favourite colour of lipstick by Revlon...Fire and Ice. While not an autobiography by any means, these are her words plain and simple. Little Jimmy from Long Island, grew up to be one of the Warhol "Girlettes" as she tried to emulate her favourite star, Lana Turner. The book is filled with basic odds and ends from little journals and scrap pieces of paper thrown together to cash in on the success of " I Shot Andy Warhol ". She considered herself a great actress and wanted forever to get the flaw between her legs taken off, but instead from illegal hormones died of cancer. Sadly, this is basically the only book out there that is a companion piece to " A Low Life in High Heels " By Holly Woodlawn, he fellow transgendered actor friend, rival, and sometimes, an enemy. Don't look for any special secrets (other than what it is a woman should where when going out, and a horrid recipe for a salad, <she was never known as a great chef>) about her life or anything, but random bitchy words and poems from someone who is lost to us forever except for two films and a photos taken by some of the best fashion photographers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars B for effort, October 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (New Yawk, New Yawk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Face for the World to See: The Diaries of Candy Darling (Hardcover)

this book isn't the ONLY one available on her, and having not read the other one (it looks like a barbie sized book) i have no right to compare, but i do agree that Ms. Darling deserves a well-written, informative boigraphy. Her diaries here was a nice attempt to show us the different sides of her dimensions, but the content chosen gave us no room to gain perspective into her character, just fed us what it wanted to. There should have been a better editing job done on a diary. Anne Frank's was basically complete, why not do that with Candy's book? And why edit out names, etc? The packaging and her scribbles shouldn't be the reason to buy this book. She deserved more than that. Contrary to the belief of this other individual who wrote comments, Candy seemed all too bright. Articulate, observant, and a true lady. Unlike her "drag" peers, she was very much into expressing a more subtle natured, and glam persona, not grotesque and punk rock. Candy, i did not know her personally, may have a few friends who did, but all i can say that pertains to this book is that it did not fulfill its end of the bargain, not to her and the readers anyway. The packaging was a nice touch, but you know, since there was a beating heart underneath the Max Factor, you should've concentrated on it more than the colour of the book cover.