Marilyn Monroe: The Biography (2001) - Plot & Excerpts
This is a pretty difficult book to review which is why I've put it off so long. I've read enough biographies to know I have to be careful which one I pick up and to make sure it's properly researched and respected. I read way too many wildly speculative biographies of James Dean before I came upon Donald Spoto's Rebel and finally could sigh some relief that here was one that properly acknowledged the lacunae and didn't just make shit up to fill in the gaps.So I came to this, fully secure that Spoto would tell me the truth about Norma Jeane and Marilyn and tell me what he couldn't find out. It's true, this is a fairly dry book. It's nowhere as easy to read as John Coldstream's authorised biography of Dirk Bogarde or the marvellous effortlessness of Patricia Bosworth's biography of Montgomery Clift. It's true, Spoto does repeat himself a bit within a few pages and he does go into potted synopses of each major player in Marilyn's life. The latter bit I didn't mind so much, it was good enough to know the info was there if I wanted to go back and check.What really took me aback, as I updated, was the sexual willingness of Norma Jeane. Spoto explains it in terms of a woman fully comfortable with her sex appeal and her body, explains how she was raised by a woman who knew just how to work that aspect, explains how Marilyn Monroe was so very much a product of a childhood lived on the fringe of Hollywood, ever aspiring to the silver screen, ever modelling herself on those images. A combination of nature and nurture, definitely. He rationalises it well. And I suppose it's my own sense of morality and ethics that recoils from that sort of availability. The fact that she made love to the camera of her own preternatural affinity and then as an extension of that, made love to the photographer. That's how Spoto explains it. The fact that she had a long affair with her agent even though there was apparently very little love on her part. The fact that she slept with at least one producer. I rationalise it to myself as well, perhaps those were the days, maybe that was the difference since the 30s when Kate Hepburn was trying to make it big. As far as I know, Hepburn never slept with anyone to further her career and I will probably do blue murder to anyone who suggests it.It's something that deeply appalls me, the idea of relying on something other than your craft to make it big. And maybe I shouldn't believe Spoto when he says with cited interviews and such that she did? I'm not certain now.What astounded me and more in terms of the Marilyn fans I know online is the calm assertion that she did occasionally solicit on the boulevard in those very early days in Hollywood. The staunch MM fandom online, of which I will count myself, will have you believe Marilyn never hooked. Spoto perhaps makes a bit of apology for that, and later backs himself up by telling us how Marilyn spun the possible scandal to her benefit like she did with explaining the nude pictures away as poverty. Me, I was covering my eyes, imagining the furious reaction from fans online who haven't yet read this biography.But there's a great deal of love and compassion in this book, a great deal of care taken to portray Marilyn in all her flaws and virtues, explain the psychological motivation behind both. What I really loved was the analysis of her image and her symbolism in that era of Fifties morality and in context of the Kinsey study being published. I was quite fascinated too by how intuitively clever she was about working the press to her advantage and yet keeping her charitable works away from the public eye.Spoto's unequivocal about who he believes was responsible for her death. In fact, that last bit makes for utterly gripping reading and it was only later I realised it was all theory. Quite plausible theory, yes, and compellingly put. But still theory.What chilled me to the core was seeing the terrible dependency on medication unfurl. How it's been repeated so many times through Hollywood history and still never loses its horror. To know it's still happening and we're still losing talents to it.I read this book, believing completely in its truth, trusting Spoto to the nth detail. And then weirdly enough, the week after I finished it, I came down the stairs in my apartment building and found somebody had left a biography of Laurence Olivier in the foyer. And it was by Spoto. Naturally I grabbed it up with much excitement and hurtled to the bus stop off to work. By the time I got to the office, I had discovered that apparently Spoto had totally made up stuff in that biography and that even Joan Plowright had denounced him not so directly.So now I'm doubting his Marilyn biography. Damn it.
Donald Spoto has successfully told the unforgettable stories of Marilyn Monroe. This novel has told of her adventures, her childhood, as well as a detailed explanation of the rising of her fame. Marilyn Monroe was a Hollywood icon, which Donald Spoto was able to illustrate using primary sources such as her Diaries, letters as well as other personal writings. From this novel, one understands Monroe had a pretty rough start. Marilyn was sequenced to foster homes, in which she was almost smothered to death at age two, and almost rapped at age 6. Next, when she was sixteen Marilyn married her foster father, who went to the military, while she was starting to integrate the modeling business. As a result of each one’s new and busy occupations the two divorce in 1946. After several years of listening and learning new music, Marilyn was also launched to becoming a new singing star. Later on, she married and divorced Joe DiMaggio. Later on Marilyn fell to alcohol, drugs, as well as a miscarriage and surgery. Donald was able to give a very detailed and helpful timeline of Monroe’s disturbing childhood, and her rising fame. Donald was able to tell and reveal secrets, such as the reason she gets married to powerful people repeatedly, (searching for more fame). Donald has helped one understand and see Marilyn at a different perspective.This novel has reveale itself to be a nonfiction novel,due to the fact that the author is telling Marilyn’s story using primary sources. Spoto is only using the real information that we have been given about Marilyn Monroe’s life in order to write this very well informing biography. The most interesting part in this novel would be about her Childhood. Spoto revealed the details of Marilyn’s disturbing childhood, and how she was able to surpass all of the fears and hatred left from it. Marilyn had a very harmfull and damaging childhood, which most people didn’t know about. This novel could be described as a helful, interesting, revealing, as well as life changing novel since it helps one enhance inspiration from a very important Hollywood icon. The author’ real intention in writing this novel was actually to change Marilyn’s image. Marilhyn Monroe is known to have a somewhat unclean or disturbing image, however Spoto knowing more than others do, decides to help the world see Marilyn the way he does, present arguments, show proof. Thus, this biography is a very interesting and life-changing novel.Marilyn Monroe, written by Donald Spoto, has had indescribable success. This novel is a well-recommended novel for anyone who wants to learn more of the mysterious and interesting icon. This novel reveals the secrets, the ways, as well as the sacrifices made in order for Marilyn to reach fame. This novel is mostly recommended for girls, due to the fact that girls might understand what is being stated more because of the logic we share. Girls might also understand or relate better. This novel is especially for young girls, who are looking for inspiration or loosing hope. This novel should be attributed to girls from ages 14 and above, because of the high vocabulary as well as difficult aspects of life. This novel has very deep understanding as well as concepts that might not have been explored by home. Thus, this novel is mostly recommended for young girls, from ages 14 and above, who are interested in Marilyn Monroe, or looking for an inspirational story.
What do You think about Marilyn Monroe: The Biography (2001)?
I liked Marilyn Monroe before i read this book, now I love her and and hate her. I respect her but I dont. She was ambitious and insecure, truthfully blunt yet dishonest. Unlike most people these days that go around quoting Monroe without even knowing anything about her...i've actually seen a few of her films, Some Like It Hot, and Gentleman Prefer Blondes. i never did watch The Misfits, hearing that it wasnt very good. Now because of this book, i want to see how diasterous it really was. The book is full of details...to the extent of boring details. But Its supposedly the most accurate account of Monroes life. I actually cried when i got to the part about how she died, and what really happened. And Joe DeMaggio, staying with her even while she was gone, Her make-up artist doing her face One Last Time...beautiful.
—~¿?carly¿?~
i'm giving this an amazing five stars because i learned so much from it. i didn't know much about MM before reading it and much of what i thought i knew was false - she wasn't shallow or histrionic and it's doubtful she intended to take her life. this seems to be an incredibly thorough account; i can see why some might think the book overlong, but i found it fascinating - the history of hollywood, the entertainment and mental health industries and their treatment and exploitation of women. this is an incredibly sad story. from the time of the documentation of the end of her marriage to dimaggio, i found couldn't read it without feeling sick to my stomach.
—Michelle
I've always had some respect for Spoto as a biographer of the film community but this is very ponderously written. He is quite good on MM having no sense of herself because she was always playing MM and was surrounded by those who discouraged her from developing her own self, but that is little excuse for the subject being so absent from her own biography.If his thesis that Robert Slatzer and Jeanne Carmen did not actually know MM, let alone were her friends - that is good research. Spoto is obviously trying to separate MM from the Kennedys - and he may be right, but I would have thought that the allegation that Dr Greenson killed MM with a nembutal enema administered by housekeeper Mrs Murray must be actionable. And the claim of a re-marriage to Joe D planned for the Wednesday after her death is surely shaky.Spoto did make me think about the respective influences of Natasha Lytess and Paula Strasberg and he is right that her style was much more naturalistic under Strasberg.
—Jacqui
