Customer Reviews

The Secret Letters: of Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy: A Novel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bought the book in New York before flying back to England this weekend, and read it non-stop during the flight. The moment I finished it, I started it all over again. Because, although it is an extremely easy read, the book - which tells the story of Marilyn's love affair with Jack Kennedy through her letters to Jackie Kennedy - works on so many different levels. Apart from the fact that you really feel that you are reading a true correspondence, this book gives more insight into Marilyn and Jackie than any biography of either of them I've ever read. The letters change from being letters between strangers, to letters between friends, and then, rivals. When I finished the book, I felt as if I had been in another world, another time, and had in the hearts and minds of both Marilyn and Jackie. Before I read the book, as someone who admires Jackie, I was afraid it might be disrespectful of her. But that is not the case. The letters reflect everything I've read about her in biographies - and much more. And made me care about her more than ever. The ending of the book made me cry - it seemed so real, so true, so very sad - and went to the heart of Marilyn and Jackie. As I said before, I am reading it again and can't recommend it enough. Reading The Secret Letters is as addictive as eating Godiva chocolate. Enjoy.

Having been a huge MM fan for most of my life, I have to say I've read just about every book out there on her life and career. When I came across this title a few months ago, I debated whether it was going to be worth buying a copy. After all, this could be either fabulous or downright awful, depending on how the book was written. Well, I had trouble putting this book down! It is excellent, imaginative and well-written. Both of the 'leading ladies' in the book, Marilyn and Jackie, are treated as two very human, lovely, fragile women who begin an unexpected correspondence and friendship. The premise is believable and once I got into the book, the 'willful suspension of disbelief' was easy as a reader. I found myself wishing that these two intriguing, amazing women had truly had such a correspondence. If you are a fan of either, or both, I don't believe you will be disappointed in this book. Ms. Leigh made these two elegant and attractive ladies 'human' and believable. This book was truly a pleasure to read and I am glad to add it to my MM collection.

Wendy Leigh has accomplished a truly amazing feat with her most recent book! As a biographer, what better subjects could she find? And, how better could she have revealed the secret nature of two of the most mysterious women in American popular culture?

What could have been a strange fantasy became a living experience for me as I read the letters between Marilyn and Jackie. I kept reminding myself that these letters - though historically and accurately encapsulated in time - were in fact, a work of fiction.

The relationship between Jackie and Marilyn that develops in the course of the book via the age-old epistolary genre is highly plausible - if alarming to consider - and there is no doubt that the evolution of such a relationship could truly have occurred.

Both women come across as needing something from the other that no-one else could provide, and though we know from history that both women were polarities in background, appearance and status, their meeting place was in the relationship bound up with John Kennedy.

This book is a page-turner, it is impossible to put it down because the authenticity of the writing, and the dramatis personae are so realistic, that I "forgot" that this was a work of fiction.

However, by the end of the book, fiction becomes so enmeshed with facts that one is completely bound up in the last few pages, and left thinking - as usual - "what really did happen"?

The emotional denoument is critical to the book - it simply must be read in sequence. Chilling, sad and possibly too too true. . .one is simply compelled to read on. And, "hurrah" to Ms. Leigh for her bravery and creativity to have brought such challenging subjects together in this well researched and brilliantly written book.

I have never felt compelled to write a review for Amazon, but after reading this book, I felt I had to. I am by no means a Marilyn or Jackie fanatic, but I have read a few non-fiction books on them both. From the little knowledge I have on their personalities, I find it ridiculous that either of them would react or respond in the way portrayed by Ms. Leigh.

I realize that this is historical fiction, however, if you do decide to buy this book, remember that it is much more fiction than history. I find it amusing that the author tends to throw in historical events like Einstein passing, or the 50's quiz show scandal to somehow make the book seem authentic.

Also, from what little I know about Jackie, she was certainly aware of Jack's affair with Marilyn almost from the beginning. Jackie hated Marilyn and found her an annoyance. I hardly think she would have been so cordial to her husband's mistress.

However, as ludicrous as this book is, I have to admit it is a page turner and very entertaining. If you need an easy, somewhat dumbed down book to escape from reality for a while - this is the book for you!

I just got done reading this book for the 2nd time and I felt compelled to write a review. This is an excellent book. It lays out the premise of Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy (no Onassis yet) being secret pen pals through the 1950's and part of the 1960's. It is a delicious and inviting read. Each letter draws you further into the story. All the letters are well researched and written in a style that fits each lady's personality. This is a great example of what historical fiction should be!!

I bought this book based upon the other good reviews I read, although I was a bit skeptical of how realistic it would seem. It was utterly fascinating. The author did some very good research, and both of the main characters sound as one would imagine had there been an actual relationship.

Bought the book in New York before flying back to England this weekend, and read it non-stop during the flight. The moment I finished it, I started it all over again. Because, although it is an extremely easy read, the book - which tells the story of Marilyn's love affair with Jack Kennedy through her letters to Jackie Kennedy - works on so many different levels. Apart from the fact that you really feel that you are reading a true correspondence, this book gives more insight into Marilyn and Jackie than any biography of either of them I've ever read. The letters change from being letters between strangers, to letters between friends, and then, rivals. When I finished the book, I felt as if I had been in another world, another time, and had been in the hearts and minds of both Marilyn and Jackie. Before I read the book, as someone who admires Jackie, I was afraid it might be disrespectful of her. But that is not the case. The letters reflect everything I've read about her in biographies - and much more. And made me care about her more than ever. The ending of the book made me cry - it seemed so real, so true, so very sad - and went to the heart of Marilyn and Jackie. As I said before, I am reading it again and can't recommend it enough. Reading The Secret Letters is as addictive as eating Godiva chocolate. Enjoy.

I'd never heard of this book till a friend recommend it to me...I don't think I'll be listening to anymore of her recommendations in the future. It's an interesting concept, yet I had doubts about this book before I even started it. I just couldn't get over the fact that these two would never in a million years have been friends. Now, I'm not a huge Marilyn or Jackie buff, and I only know the basics of their personal lives, but I DO know that Jackie couldn't stand Marilyn.

That aside though, as I got further into the book, I'll admit, I was interested. I kept reading because I had to know what was going to happen next, even though at the same time I was shaking my head in utter disbelief of their correspondence. I just cannot fathom Jacqueline Kennedy pushing her husband into affairs (as early as their honeymoon) just to one-up her mother, to show her she can deal with infidelity better. Nor can I fathom Marilyn Monroe writing a detailed description of how much she enjoys giving the President of the United States head...a letter she gives to his wife, the First Lady. Unbelievable.

Overall, do I recommend this book? No. If you have NOTHING else handy on you to read, then sure, go for it. But don't go out of your way to read this. I understand it's fiction, but there are just some stories that are too ridiculous to be taken seriously...even as fiction.

I started this book as a "quickie," expecting not much more than glorified chick lit, but was I ever mistaken. Wendy Leigh has taken the lives of two extraordinary women, created the conceit of a correspondence between them, and used voluminous non-fiction resources to create one of my new favorite reads. Reading these "letters" made me want to seek out further biographies (I've read several biographies of Miss Monroe, but not many of Jacqueline Kennedy - I think I'll be finding Sarah Bradford's post-haste), and the way Wendy Leigh put the whole thing together, with Marilyn's friend having the letters and finding a publisher, and the publisher setting them out - masterful. Only one section didn't ring true (and was a bit overlong), but that's a tiny criticism. I started the book in the morning, and found myself setting aside all tasks because I didn't want to set it down until I found out what would happen next.

From the first to the last site of this notable book the pressure and allure held me caught. Through the whole book I was torn between the real information and details which are noted from their two really different lifes and the fact that this novel and the story is just fictitious. Everything seems to fit so perfectly that the reader has the impression that these letters have been written and sent by Jackie and Marilyn. Many little details from biographies and people who have known Marilyn or Jackie for years make the whole story authentic.
Through the years, marriages & divorces, pregnancies and acquaintances these letters arrange a grasp for their actions and for the eventful time these great divas lived in. A feeling for this era, the fears both of them had, their hopes and wishes are easy to understand when they talk frankly to each other. I also liked how visionary Wendy Leigh gave both of them an own style of writing, Jackie's mostly spiritual style of writing, the lyric way she could talk about her desires and wishes, but also the knowledge how to avoid unmeant questions and how to barricade behind a wall of aristocracy and formal flowery phrases. Marylin's style of writing was more kiddy, I think, she had lots of spelling mistakes and an easier way of writing, outspoken, what I guess was a known chapter of her character.
I have read a couple of books about Jackie before I found this book and I was always fascinated by the sweet charm she performed and with whom she banished a lot of people, mostly man were fallen for her cute way of communicating. That's a well expressed part in the book, too, I give Wendy Leigh credit for and for so many researched habits which made the two characters lively and loving.
Marilyn's amours and Jackie's depressions are accompanied by the phantom lover and Marilyn's One Love Mr.G which causes much action in the book . Though Marilyn and Jackie just met a few times her contact by letter lasted for years, intimate and outspoken they talked about their private life and past, the newest gossip and their desires.
I can truely advise this particular book for every Jackie and Marilyn fan and lovers of exciting and fetching stories. This book can give you a completly new insight and an animate picture of these wonderful, strong characters who inspired so many people untill now.