Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie, known as Big Edie and Little Edie, were the aunt and cousin of former U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. They led an unconventional existence in Grey Gardens, a mansion in East Hampton. Their home was surrounded by overgrown gardens, and filled with fleas, cats, raccoons, and old cans and rubbish. In 1976, the release of a documentary film also called 'Grey Gardens' highlighted their unique lives among the East Hampton elite, and introduced the Beales to their cult fan following. In 1975, Lois Wright, a fellow artist and dear friend of the Beales, was invited to live with them in Grey Gardens. Wright kept a journal of her thirteen months with the Beales, and using those logs, has developed this book. 'My Life at Grey Gardens' offers the reader an intimate look at the daily lives of the Beales, and chronicles the events from Lois's arrival at the house through the passing of Big Edith Bouvier Beale in 1977.
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91 of 96 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great time capsule,
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This review is from: My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond (Paperback)
I just finished this book last night. It was a page turner! Some nights I read it till the morning light. It is a DIARY, and tells of a very crucial time period in the Beale's lives--the time immedaitely after the filming of Grey Gardens, until the passing of Mrs. Beale. You'll discover that Brooks was quite a drinker, that Lois (the diary keeper in this case) was equally (if not moreso) unorthodox than the Beales, and that Little Edie had quite a jealous streak, and that the elder Beale had an extraordinary knack for ruling absolutely everything without ever leaving her bed! There are a few jaw-droppers in this book also, but I won't spoil that here! Strangely, there is no mention of Jerry (The Marble Fawn)what-so-ever in this book.
It would have been great with a photo section and if we could have had a little more insight into Little Edie's life alone in Grey Gardens in 1977 and 78. There is a book coming out at a later date, that will have all of this and much more called 'Staunch Character', but 'My Life at Grey Gardens' is a must for your collection. I thoroughly enjoyed it. No doubt you read Shannon Deason's review of this book and his view of the Beales. I would comment on him, but Amazon has very strict rules regarding foul language.
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bouviers Booby Hatch,
By Ann Sherry (Michigan) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond (Paperback)
Jackie O's aunt and cousin lived in a Munster-type mansion in East Hampton. Edith Bouvier Beale (or 'Big Edie') was the sister of Black Jack Bouvier. Edie had a daughter, 'Little Edie', and both lived in harmony and dis-harmony in the ramshackle old house. Author Lois Wright, artist of questionable talent and palm reader, lived with the ladies for 13 months. The book is based on Wright's journal, which she kept during the 1970's. Big Edie, who was bedridden upstairs, had cats and the cats had fleas. Wright described the agony of the fleas, as well as raccoons climbing out of the ceiling (which Little Edie fed daily) and rats that jumped on the author and Little Edie on occasion. Wright wore boots and a hat 24/7 to ward off most of the critters. Newspapers were placed on beds, on floors, even in the Edies bathtub for the cats. Nevertheless, they were allowed to "go" where they pleased. If a cat or kitten died, Big Edie kept it on her bed for a couple of days, covered with a Kleenex. Contrary to past publicity, Jackie O and Ari stepped in and helped her relatives - Ari sending gifts, Jackie paying bills. The eccentricities of the three ladies are well worth reading about in this mesmerizing page-turner (Wright seemed a bit 'off' herself.) Just to let you be aware that there are DVDs available about Grey Gardens, starring the Beales, that are excellent. It brings Ms. Wright's pages to life, which completes their picture.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Page Turner,
By Lee (By the Sea) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond (Paperback)
My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond was a real page turner. If you are at all a fan of Big Edie and Little Edie you will find this book very interesting. Lois Wright gives an honest description of the Beales and Grey Gardens, and of her own feelings through the 13 months and beyond.
Ms. Wright provides insight into additional people in the Beales lives including Big Edie's sons and niece Jacqueline Onassis. Ms. Wright shares with the reader the struggles the Beales endured in order to stay at Grey Gardens and the sad death of Big Edie.
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