Customer Reviews

Roman Candle: The Life of Bobby Darin

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David Evanier's biography of Bobby Darin has many interesting sequences, telling of the singer/actor's struggle from the sidewalks of the Bronx to the big time in Hollywood. The heart condition that threatened to take his life before he reached thirty, propelled him to set out and achieve as much as he could in the limited time he had on earth, as well as the tortured, volatile relationship with his family, which is enough to move one to tears. Glowing reminices from friends elevates this biography. Despite his success, he never felt it was enough - he was constantly searching for other outlets through music, acting and politics.

But there are some negative aspects - namely, the writer's
description of Sandra Dee. He seems to paint her in a less that flattering light as a mentally disturbed, alcoholic starlet without any redeeming virtues or talent. As she was sexually abused as a child and prevented from having a normal childhood thanks to her controlling stage mother, she could hardly be expected to live a carefree, ideal life, much less while married to Darin. Evanier also downplays the intense love they shared, and doesn't seem to make any connection of the disentagration of the marriage to Darin's infedelities, grueling schedules that took him away from home from long periods of time, and Bobby's own demons, causing him to be restless and sometimes cruel. The blame falls on Dee, since she was suffering from alcoholism, anorexia, as well as a series of miscarriages, and as she was in very poor health in her last years, it seemed to have made her an ideal scapegoat. Very few people speak favorably about her, with the exception of the one person whom some would have thought would have slammed her - Bobby's close friend Steve Blauner. Although an arguement between Steve and Sandra is described, he rarely puts her down and shows some compassionate understanding. Dee sadly died not long after the book was published (she and son Dodd Darin did not particpate in it), and Blauner again spoke of her in very glowing terms. Also, the book erronously states her second film, "The Restless Years" as her debut, and of course, there is the annoying mistake of the reference to Bridget, rather than "Gidget" (attention, editing!). And there is a debate over Sandra's actual birthdate - was she 16 or 18 when she married Bobby?

Andrea Yeager, who would become Darin's second wife for a few brief months in 1973, is made out to be some kind of a flawless saint, when in fact, as soon as they got married, their relationship, which had been almost ideal, began to deteriorate. It also omits the fact that Bobby was in fact, unfaithful to her as well, getting Sandra pregnant again (resulting in her final miscarriage).

Bobby Darin wasn't perfect. Because of his medical condition, the painful revelation that the woman that he thought was his sister was actually his mother, and his own ruthless ambition, he could seem to be cold and cruel to those close to him - his family was often at the receiving end of that. But his touching love for his son Dodd, his passionate support of the Civil Rights movement, his devotion to his friends and the women that he loved and lost, not just his wives but also Connie Francis, and his unstoppable drive and talent endears him to our hearts. His indelible spirit and contributions to the world of music and film will never die, and will endure forever.

I cannot imagine what it must be like to learn when you are very young that you are not expected to live beyond the age of 30. This was the reality of Bobby Darin's life. And it was this knowledge that drove him all of his adult life. Bobby Darin wanted it all. And for a time, one way or another, whatever Bobby wanted, Bobby got. "Roman Candle: The Life of Bobby Darin" is the biography of a talented performer and a tortured soul. He was a man full of contradictions. Aside from his grave medical problems, which he kept largely to himself, Bobby Darin was also constantly at odds with his family. I think it would be fair to say that for most of his adult life Bobby's private life was a mess.

But happily, author David Evanier spends equal amounts of time focusing on Bobby Darin--legendary performer. Darin really was the last of a breed of all around entertainers. He was an accomplished musician and songwriter, a highly regarded actor and of course, a legendary singer and nightclub performer. But it seems it simply was not in his nature to stop and smell the roses. He was ever restless and always looking to explore new horizons. As a result, many of his fans and friends in show business would turn away from him. It was really quite sad. There was so much that I did not know about Bobby Darin. "Roman Candle: The Life of Bobby Darin" certainly helped to fill that void in a very entertaining way. I would recommend it.

David Evanier's new biography of Bobby Darin tells the sensational story of Darin's meteoric rise to stardom and the price he paid foir it. Unlike most celebrity biographies, however, this is not hagiography: Evanier tells the Darin story sympathetically but objectively; he doesn't fall for Bobby's line. He has interviewed everybody and done all the primary source research; he knows the facts and he tells them straight. The death sentence that made Bobby live so fast; the family secret that destroyed him; the rich talent; the burning intensity; the cruelty; it's all there, the whole fascinating spectrum, captured with musical appreciation, and without human judgment..

David Evanier has written a taut, exciting biography of the late pop-star Bobby Darin. Appropriately called "Roman Candle", it often reads like a novel, but it's all true. Darin came from dirt poor circumstances with a messy family situation in the Bronx, N.Y. Since he was intelligent, talented and ambitious, he sought and achieved success in show business. Bedeviled by serious illness throughout his brief life (he died at the young age of 37), this only added to the intensity of Darin's drive.
Evanier's quick-paced writing matches the pace of Darin's own career and life. Obviously well-researched, this book gives us all the details, without becoming academically dull. We learn about Darin's music, his own composition and early rock hit "Splish Splash", his transition into an interpreter of traditional standards and his surprising move to folk stylist, and, coincidentally, civil rights activist.
We also learn about Darin's loves, his family relations, his connections to show business greats such as George Burns, Jimmy Durante, Frank Sinatra.
For anyone interested in the story of pop-culture and the American road to success, Evanier's book is a must.

I decided to read "Roman Candle" because I've loved David Evanier's other books, not because I was interested in Bobby Darin. In fact, I couldn't have cared less about Darin - until I began to read the book. I was hooked on the first page and just couldn't put it down. The book is about more than one individual singer, it's about an era, family, racism, music, the way a person can be both noble and cheesy, the blessing and the curse of greatness, making every moment count, and so much more. Evanier's voice is heard at times, commenting almost plaintively on the failings of his subject, but never judging. I loved looking into Darin's world and meeting the assortment of fascinating (and sometimes sinister) characters connected to Darin and the entertainment industry during this period. This is a terrific book that made me want to go out and buy CD's of Darin's music and definitely see the Kevin Spacey movie.

This is the one book that shows all sides and angles of the person Bobby Darin: The frightened child who knew he would die soon, the shame-ridden child from the slums, the obsessed, the wild forging ego, the lover, the beloved, the altruist, the sexy, the cruel, the rejecting, the ever-changing, suffering, triumphant, and above all the consummate singer and entertainer. Through the eyes of dozens who knew him best, this superb writer carves out his multidimensional portrait of Bobby, who threw 100 lives into 37 years, and his music, its roots, and its meaning for us.

Notwithstanding all the criticisms ... if what you want is a closer look at what created the life we call Bobby Darin, this book certainly gives you more than others. Learning about Sandy's abusive step-father, for example, surely gives us a better idea about how Bobby & Sandy's relationship fell apart. What made Bobby so great - he wore out everything he did - is also, to a good degree, what helped take him so early. This was a Type-A personality with a deadline; he did everything as if it were his last day. This gives us the insight into some of Bobby's choices, decisions, and the people around him so we get the full view of what impacted his life.

I am the author of ROMAN CANDLE: THE LIFE OF BOBBY DARIN. Bobby was in the great tradition of Italian-American singers. Bobby Darin was bigger than life. From dire poverty and desperate illness, he rose virtually overnight to become one of the greatest entertainers in the history of American show business. By the age of 24, he was part of show business royalty. Durante, George Burns, Jack Benny, Judy Garland all loved him. He was a total original. He could swing and summon up a passion equal to Sinatra's. He could move with magical agility and he had impeccable timing and stage presence. He could do great impressions, he could rock, he was a swift and brilliant comedian, he could play seven instruments, he could write fine songs. I interviewed most of those who were closest to Bobby, including his publicist, Hesh Wasser, his manager, Steve Blauner, his brother Gary Walden, his second wife Andrea Darin, his musical conductor Bobby Rozario, and his discoverers, Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records. No one can forget him. They feel, like Ron Cannatella, singer and disc jockey in New Orleans, that "Bobby was the past, the present, and the future, every variety performer and song and dance man. Roll them up and you get Bobby."

Not your standard biography. A seamless piece of writing with its own momentum and excitement. I literally could not put this book down! Great stuff!

Aside from being a wonderful story about a fascinating character (Bobby Darin), the writing itself is head and shoulders above standard bio writing.
Evanier starts out with a running jump and just keeps going--involving you in the fast-paced life of Darin.
I've read a lot of bios but this is one of the best I've read.
In fact, you don't even have to be a fan of Darin's or the music biz, or even know much about him to begin with.
When you pick up this book and start reading it is very hard to put it down.

Mike Feder/Sirius Satellite Radio