My Story [Hardcover]

Marilyn Monroe (Author), Ben Hecht (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 2006

Written at the height of her fame but not published until over a decade after her death, this autobiography of actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) poignantly recounts her childhood as an unwanted orphan, her early adolescence, her rise in the film industry from bit player to celebrity, and her marriage to Joe DiMaggio. In this intimate account of a very public life, she tells of her first (non-consensual) sexual experience, her romance with the Yankee Clipper, and her prescient vision of herself as "the kind of girl they found dead in the hall bedroom with an empty bottle of sleeping pills in her hand."
The Marilyn in these pages is a revelation: a gifted, intelligent, vulnerable woman who was far more complex than the unwitting sex siren she portrayed on screen. Lavishly illustrated with photos of Marilyn, this special book celebrates the life and career of an American icon—-from the unique perspective of the icon herself.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marilyn Monroe was a film actress whose seductive screen presence shot her to stardom as a sex symbol. After she was mysteriously found dead of a drug overdose at the age of 36, the movie star became a beloved pop icon.
Journalist, novelist, and Oscar-winning screenwriter of Underworld, Ben Hecht (1893-1964) assisted Marilyn in the creation of My Story.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (September 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589793161
• ISBN-13: 978-1589793163
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.7 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > By Region > Pacific Northwest
  • #1 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Monroe, Marilyn
  • #66 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Rich & Famous

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprising insights from a "blonde bombshell" movie icon April 5, 2007

By A reader VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Reading this book one realizes that in real life Marilyn Monroe was very observant and insightful, the antithesis of the bubble-headed role she projected both on screen and in public. In simple, almost childishly naive conversational tones, she describes her childhood as an orphan, sexually abused by an older man and married (to another man) by her late teens. She recounts the struggle as a young actress - the seemingly endless round of casting calls and dashed hopes until she begins to get noticed by the powers that be.

Her persona may be that of someone lacking street smarts, but she is also perceptive. Her observations of the usual cast of characters at Hollywood - the movers, shakers, stars and wannabes of all stripes - is surprisingly deep. She describes the myriad women whose movie roles for ten years has been limited to walk-on extras, as walking "ten feet towards nothing" after each fleeting appearance.

Her tone is wisful and longing but she never devolves into self-pity. Her famed vulnerability and her adult/child appeal comes through as very real personality traits, not as an on screen creation. She sees herself as just another pretty girl, and cannot comprehend the magic spell she cast on Hollywood and her fans. It comes as a surprise to read her revelation about sex being no big source of pleasure for her.

I would have loved to see at least a chapter's worth of commentary on her writings. Other than for the obvious luminaries who greatly impacted her life, many people she mentioned would be unfamiliar names to readers of this book. A little background on their influences on her life would have been a welcome addition to the book.

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Like It Hot, but this was ....Alright August 14, 2007

By Marisol Audette

Format:Hardcover

The book was all about Marilyn , her life, loves and all verbatim. I know and understand more about her childhood and personal life through this book. I loved reading it and seeing all the photographs it included. I must say that the ending was so abrupt;In a way it shows how fast and unbelievably sudden Marilyn left us. The funny, witty, and even smart comments she wrote was clear to everyone she was an intelligent lady that will be remembered forever.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My Story: Illustrated Edition February 8, 2008

By K. Toseland

Format:Hardcover

I was so impressed with this book I brought a copy for my friend, this book is really easy reading (great for bedtime) and quite an insight to Marilyn Monroe's own personal biography, the pictures are fantastic and this is a must for any Marilyn Monroe fan an absolute must for any fan's collection. Most enjoyable, if I hadn't broughtit already I'd buy it again.