The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe [Kindle Edition]

J. Randy Taraborrelli (Author)

Book Description

From New York Times bestselling author J. Randy Taraborrelli comes the definitive biography of the most enduring icon in popular American culture.

When Marilyn Monroe became famous in the 1950s, the world was told that her mother was either dead or simply not a part of her life. However, that was not true. In fact, her mentally ill mother was very much present in Marilyn's world and the complex family dynamic that unfolded behind the scenes is a story that has never before been told...until now. In this groundbreaking book, Taraborrelli draws complex and sympathetic portraits of the women so influential in the actress' life, including her mother, her foster mother, and her legal guardian. He also reveals, for the first time, the shocking scope of Marilyn's own mental illness, the identity of Marilyn's father and the half-brother she never knew, and new information about her relationship with the Kennedy's-Bobby, Jack, and Pat Kennedy Lawford. Explosive, revelatory, and surprisingly moving, this is the final word on the life of one of the most fascinating and elusive icons of the 20^th Century.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. After half a century of Marilyn Monroe books, beginning with Maurice Zolotow's interviews of her for his 1960 biography, it's hard to imagine any revelations about the actress, but Taraborrelli—who's written bios of Grace Kelly, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra—tackles that problem with what he refers to as fresh research. For instance, thanks to files released in 2006 under the Freedom of Information Act, Taraborrelli details the truly extraordinary three-page document in which an unnamed FBI agent described the romance and sex affair between Monroe and RFK. Rather than the usual bibliographic listings, Taraborrelli cites only a few key books. Instead, he itemizes 30 pages of interviews explaining how he contacted sources close to the subject (e.g., approaching Dean Martin in a restaurant; talking with the historians he calls the true experts). In addition to interviews with everyone from Janet Leigh to Secret Service agents, Taraborrelli read the unpublished notes and interviews of reporters from the 1950s. As Taraborrelli brushes away cobwebs of myth and rumor, his remarkable research and fluid writing captures Marilyn's élan, sensitivity, desperation and despair with a haunting intimacy. (Aug. 25)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Readable and mesmerizing...This will probably stand as the definitive Monroe biography..."
(Library Journal (starred review) )

"As Taraborrelli brushes away cobwebs of myth and rumor, his remarkable research and fluid writing captures Marilyn's elan, sensitivity, desperation and despair with a haunting intimacy." (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 2030 KB
• Print Length: 577 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0446198188
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (August 25, 2009)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002KFJBP8
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,581 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #14 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Monroe, Marilyn

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Think you know everything about Marilyn..... August 29, 2009

By Bill Pullman

Format:Hardcover

As a huge fan of MM I thought I knew just about all there was to know about this fascinating lady, but Taraborrelli proved me wrong. Using fresh research, including some files recently released by the government, the author adds more color to the affair between Marilyn and President Kennedy, info supplied by an FBI agent who was documenting the affair at the time it occurred! He also interviewed many of the main players from Marilyn's world (many no longer with us) and he was able to review unpublished notes of reporters who covered Marilyn when she was alive. Taraborrelli `s extensive research pays off with one of the most insightful books on Marilyn ever produced. The reader learns of the role Marilyn's mother actually played in her life; I won't give anything away but it is much more extensive than the public ever knew. I was also shocked to learn of the depth of Marilyn's mental problems, I mean any one familiar with her life story knows she had issues, but I never suspected how sick she truly was. This is not just a rehash of old material and I highly recommend it to all interested in this icon's story. For more fascinating Marilyn Monroe reading, do check out "Misfits Country" Marilyn brought to life during the filming of her final movie.

39 of 45 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars If this is revelatory, I'm Donald Duck. January 13, 2011

By Meredith L. Grau

Format:Hardcover

I have recently found myself reawakened by the mystique of Marilyn Monroe, perhaps because of the recent "Vanity Fair" article about her and the release of "Fragments." As such, I have entered into a research frenzy, gobbling up as much information about her as possible, reading new books, reviewing old biographies, etc. I read Taraborrelli's bio on Elizabeth Taylor years ago and enjoyed it, so I believed that his study of Marilyn would be equally intriguing, especially since the "kudos" and "bravos" on the back cover talked about how ingenius and ground-breaking his research was. Um... not really.

Not only have I read many other bios that have more fully investigated and humanized the tragic and iconic figure that MM has become, but basically everything he offers up has been communicated before. The only new information I was surprised by was his revelations about Marilyn's own symptoms of BPS (borderline paranoid schizophrenia) and her relationships with her mother, Gladys, and half sister, Berniece. Other than that, the book is only exceptional in its total lack of information. In his appendices, Taraborrelli even states that he didn't include a record of his source materials simply because he thought it tedious and "no one really checks that anyway." Again, really? Nearly every piece of new "evidence" that he introduces, which is consequently refuted in nearly every other preceding Marily bio, isn't backed up by any proof. He simply says, "this is the real truth, and the other claims were false." Well, why? If you're right, prove it to me.

He also fails to approach the damning evidence that authors such as Donald H. Wolfe, for example, bring against the Kennedys and their association with MM. He refutes years of speculation and testimony that Marilyn was engaged in a torrid affair with the president (and maybe even his brother) by saying, "No, it wasn't true." And their participation in her death? "No, that's not true either." Well, why then?! Shoddy. Shoddy, at best. Not to mention that he contradicts himself every other page, saying that JFK slept with Marilyn once and then wanted nothing to do with her but then insisted that she appear at his birthday party at Madison Square Garden. INSISTED. And Bobby too. Yeah, really sounds like he wanted that whack-job out of his life.

And "whack-job" is just how Taraborrelli presents Marilyn. Oh, he has sympathy for her by God, but he portrays her as a drug-addled lunatic. This is exactly the stigma that has been slanderously attached to her even prior to her death and that so many researches have been diligently trying to cut through. It's almost like Taraborrelli is trying to enforce the incorrect image of Marilyn and protect those who so apparently contributed to her death, such as the Kennedy brothers, her shrink Dr. Greenson, and her other assorted "friends." I don't believe that Marilyn was a completely innocent figure, no one is, but she had a little help finding her way to self-destruction. If Taraborrelli had backed his claims up with solid evidence, I could accept it, but since all he does is say, "This is what happened, trust me," I'm sorry, but no. Come on.

Stay as far away from this book as possible, unless you like witnessing someone spit on an sad woman's grave.

44 of 52 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost a 5-Star Bio of Marilyn September 5, 2009

By Valerie J. Wood VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a detailed, fairly complex biography of Marilyn Monroe. I may not necessarily agree 100% with the conclusions that author reached, particularly towards the end of Marilyn's life, but there is a lot of interesting, intriguing information in this new biography. As an avid, avid fan of Miss Monroe, I have read just about every biography there is (that I know of!--I have over 75 books about MM as of my last count), as well as of other significant players in her life. So the idea of a new, comprehensive biography is something that I always look forward to.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe is extremely well written and researched, and gives the reader a new appreciation of Marilyn--particularly as relates to her early life and the events that helped shape her personality. The analysis of Marilyn's early life as Norma Jean Baker is perhaps the best overall assessment I have read yet. The author has taken time to put into perspective her early relationships with her foster families and relatives involved in her upbringing. The sad story of Norma Jean's mother, Gladys, is related in poignant detail throughout the book. The overall premise that Norma Jean/Marilyn was descending into the same schizo-paranoid type personality towards the end of her short life is the basis for many of the author's conclusions about MM. After reading about Marilyn's early life (Norma Jean) up to the point where she divorced Jim Dougherty, you truly get a sense of the uncertainty and insecurity of a girl who was shuffled from home to home and who was searching for family caring and love. Stories related in other biographies, particularly of childhood molestation, are pretty well put to rest according to author Taraborelli. Norma Jean's transition into Marilyn Monroe is plausible and well-covered, including a sympathetic look at MM's relationship with agent Johnny Hyde.

Where I run into a sense of frustration with this book is at the point in Marilyn's life where she begins to date Joe DiMaggio. Indeed, the major events of their lives together, and subsequently her relationship with Arthur Miller, are chronicled, but at this point there seemed to be a bit of a loss of direction regarding the relationships of Marilyn and her second and third husbands. The chemistry between MM and Joltin' Joe is well defined; their later relationship especially after he rescued her from Payne Whitney, less so. The early romance with Arthur Miller is well-done; the disconnect between him and Marilyn after she found his journal notes is poignant. Less informative is information regarding the end of their marriage and divorce.

Marilyn is described in the early 1960's as either quite charming and lucid, or totally drugged and 'out of it.' The same witty, attractive and clever woman who could charm JFK or his brother Robert seems to bounce back and forth almost daily as being between being lovely and clear -- or deranged and delusional, depending on the drugs she is deemed to be taking. This poses a problem in this reader's mind, as it seems a bit unlikely that both personas could be present depending on the circumstances. It also is interesting to note that, in her mid 30's, Marilyn was more beautiful and sexy than ever, and the many thousands of photos from various photographers, such as Bert Stern, or outtakes from Something's Got to Give, show this. After all, the camera doesn't lie--even for Marilyn Monroe. Sure, she had approval of her photos and it's certainly true that not every shot was spectacular, but in a series of photos shot at the same time there are always great shots and so-so/bad ones. Her look, during this time, was trimmer and even lovelier than she was 10 years before.

The Cal-Neva lodge incident is detailed far more clearly and cleanly than in any other bio of MM that comes to mind. Indeed, the relationship of friendship between MM and Pat and Peter Lawford makes sense, at last. The apparent great friendship between MM and Pat Lawford is given great credence here.

Perhaps there is no way to have a 'definitive last word' about the events in MM's life. This book unequivocally states that Marilyn met John F. Kennedy in 1962. Other books, also seemingly well researched, put their relationship as beginning much earlier. Another current book, In the President's Secret Service, clearly states that MM and JFK had an ongoing affair and met many times in many places in New York City.

The eternal question about Marilyn's death (suicide or murder) is not clearly resolved, although the author indicates that he believes it was by a likely unintentional overdose of drugs. That said, the timelines which have been offered over the bios of the last 25 years do not really mesh with this conclusion, especially regarding the time of death and the chaos at MM's house in the hours after her death was known.

Little things, like whether Eunice Murray actually lived with MM (in this book it is stated she did--in some other well-researched books it is indicated that the only night she EVER spent at MM's Brentwood home was on August 4, 1962), lack of mention of some major players in Marilyn's life (Arthur Jacobs comes to mind) and a brusque sentence in which all the angst of Marilyn's firing by Fox over Something's Got to Give is resolved in a statement to the effect that suddenly MM had a brand new $1 million contract with Fox and the movie was going to be finished after all--with absolutely no detail as to how this came about -- left me feeling a bit uncertain and wondering about the information available on issues like these.

Overall, this is by far one of the better biographies of Marilyn Monroe to come out in awhile. Definitely worth a read for the MM fan, and for the movie fan who wants to try and understand a bit more about the mystique of the one and only Miss Marilyn Monroe.

More About the Author

J. RANDY TARABORRELLI is the author of 16 biographies, many of them New York Times' best sellers, including "Call Her Miss Ross," "Sinatra - Behind the Legend," "Madonna - An Intimate Biography," "Jackie, Ethel, Joan - Women of Camelot" and "Elizabeth." His most recent New York Times' best sellers include "Michael Jackson - The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story." (2009) and "The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe" (also 2009). He is presently at work on his 17th book.

Taraborrelli is known as the foremost authority on Michael Jackson. He interviewed him and his family members countless times and has written more than one hundred articles about him. When Michael Jackson turned eighteen, Taraborrelli was there to report the story with an exclusive interview. As he did when Michael turned 21. And then 30. When Michael recorded "Thriller," Taraborrelli was in the studio. The author also reported on his first marriage to Lisa Marie Presley and his second to Debbie Rowe, the mother of two of his children. Taraborrelli landed the first interview when Jackson settled molestation charges against him in 1993 and was in the courtroom every day when Michael Jackson was on trial for child molestation ten years later. He anchored Michael Jackson's memorial service with Katie Courice in 2009.

J. Randy Taraborrelli is also a CBS News analyst.

The author lives in Encino, California.