- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury US; 1 edition (April 27 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1608192083
- ISBN-13: 978-1608192083
- Product Dimensions: 18 x 14 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 181 g
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#756,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #12 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( G ) > Garland, Judy
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Product Details |
Product Description
Product Description
Susie Boyt examines hero-worship?along with consolation, love, grief, and fame?through the prism of her own beloved Judy Garland. Her journey takes in a duetting breakfast with Mickey Rooney, a munchkin luncheon, and a breathless, semisacred encounter with Liza Minnelli. Layering key episodes from Garland's life with defining moments from her own, Boyt explores with insight and humor what it means to adore someone you don't know.
About the Author
Susie Boyt was born in London and educated at Oxford University. She is the author of four novels including The Last Hope of Girls, which was short-listed for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, and Only Human which was short-listed for the Mind Award. She writes a weekly column about fashion for the Financial Times. She also works part time as a bereavement counselor.
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Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
For True Blue Judy Fans Only..., Jun 21 2009
By Brittany Rose - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: My Judy Garland Life (Hardcover)
I'm not entirely sure how I came to read this book, but I've always loved the Wizard of Oz and was curious to learn more about Judy Garland's life. This book is not exactly the book to do that, as Boyt is preaching (presumably) to the converted Judy fans of the world about the never-ending wonderfulness of Judy Garland in every aspect of her career, and her personal life.I suppose in terms of a memoir, it's about Boyt's undying belief in Judy as a savior of some kind within her own life - mishmashing details of her life with Judy's in a odd mix of nostalgia, admiration, and obsession. Quite frankly, the most interesting parts of the book are the ones that reveal unique insight into the Judy Garland story - whether odd bits of trivia or snippets from the interviews Boyt undertakes with various characters in Judy's life. Reading about Boyt's non-Judy life is somewhat lackluster; it starts out to draw some interesting parallels to Judy, but becomes more sporadic in its insertion in later chapters. Overall, the book lacks a clear focus / order / cohesion that can make it a bit tiresome to read.
That being said...if you are an educated Judy fan already, you'll love this book. As someone not fully versed in Judy Garland (other than seeing a biography or two of hers on TV, endless rewatches of the Wizard of Oz, and knowing snippets of her personal life) I finished this book fully wanting to believe in the fervor Boyt holds for Judy. I've watched a half-dozen of her YouTube clips already and plan to track down some of her other movies I haven't seen, and I am quick to believe in the magical qualities of Judy as a performer based on Boyt's quite lovingly crafted passages that makes this book a delight to read (at times).
My bottom line though? This book really made me want to read a proper biography of Judy Garland. If you've got a passing interest in Judy - do the same (or at least read her Wikipedia biography and watch a few movies / performances before the book). If you're a devout Judy fan, read this memoir - it'll move you and warm you.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolute Brilliance!!!, April 28 2009
By A New York Reader "pokesya" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: My Judy Garland Life (Hardcover)
Susie Boyt's memoir My Judy Garland Life is stunning. It is a proud and naked exclamation by the author for her unapologetic love and devotion for her (and thousands of others) idol Judy Garland.This book is a journey into the world of Susie- a little girl that grows into an amazing woman, mother and wife, novelist, columnist for the financial times and now story teller with a tale "for any one that's ever held a candle to a star" (Ms. Boyt's words). The story is dear and powerful. I believe a film would be fantastic!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Surprise I wasn't Prepared For..., Jun 17 2009
By Pauline R. Edington "(Polly)" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: My Judy Garland Life (Hardcover)
I love biographies and autobiographies, but truthfully, when I heard there was another Judy Garland book coming out, I was skeptical that anything new could be said...was I wrong! The insight she portrays of Judy's life and the analogy of her own life makes me feel like the parts of my life that go from the sublime to the ridiculous can be didactic and delightful as well!
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