Ball Of Fire, written by Stefan Kanfer is a biography of Lucille Ball. She was best known as the female, comedian /lead actress of the famous, I Love Lucy, television show. Many know of her skills for comedy. Some know of her movie actress career before her entrance into millions of american homes through television. Few know of her successful, modeling career that came even before her film career.
As a star in television, she had an intense effect on the American families. She was accused of being communist and almost ended her career in Hollywood because of the accusations. She and Desi Arnaz were not a conventional married couple during the 1940′s. He was from Cuba and she was definately not from Cuba. She had a career when most women did not. They didn’t have children for many years. Their backgrounds were completely at odds; and, so it seemed were their versions of what a marriage should be.
Still, the combination of their skills,talents, and desires were to mix in such a successful way that their need to be together in life and in business could not be denied. Lucy trail-blaized the way for future, female comics. She was a wonder of entertainment with her innate sense of timing setting up gags in such a way to make the audience return week after week. She was able to use her mind, and her body to elicite laughs like no other female person during this time.
The book covers all of the difficulties and challenges such a clash of cultures, and expectations could produce. It also shows us, the behind the scenes of achievement and the cost that comes from being driven to be successful.
The personal side of their family is both intriguing and bittersweet. The many miscarriages; Desi’s love of family and yet his need to see women on the side, jealousies, professional/financial limitations, chance meetings with people who could and would influence their destinies, the birth of their children, the neglect of their children’s need for more time with their parents and the success of their television show and the Desilu Studio create so much drama it is amazing that even though they divorce and marry others…their love continues to endure their difficulties until death.
It was a little eye- opening to discover that the woman that we welcomed into our lives growing up wasn’t always zany and laughing. She could be moody and difficult. She was a complex woman dealing with many layers of success and dissapointments. She was a perfectionist who demanded total and complete obedience and yet was submissive in many ways to Desi and his controlling ways. In other aspects, she was unbending. It was often forgiven, as she was usually on the money with what she asked for regarding her show. She hated aging and was very unhappy professionally during her remaining years after the end of her show biz career.
The book is fascinating and definately worth the time it takes to read it from cover to cover. It was copyrighted in 2003 and was published by Alfred A. Knopf
Wonderful Tonight, an autobiographical book written by Pattie Boyd and Penny Junor opens a window not only into the maturation of Pattie from girlhood to womanhood; but also, into the world of riches, rock and roll and into the chaos of the 60′s.
It was fascinating to me to learn the stories behind the two very famous songs written about her by two very creative, talented and complex men; both men loved her and neglected her and eventually lost her.
She writes of a lifetime of sorting out the experiences she had during this turbulent time with both men as well as eventually understanding the choices she made and why she made them. She seems very open about her chaotic childhood. Her childhood patterns of having to subject herself to the whims of those around her seem to have set the stage for her adulthood relationships.
She was a woman of accomplishment in her own right in the field of modeling during her courtship with George Harrison of the Beatles fame. She allowed herself to give up the only defining thing to her independence and only later understood the sacrifice to her emotional well-being.
Feeling the pull of attraction during a low period in her marriage to George who she refers to as her soul mate…she gives in to temptation. Pattie then found herself in a relationship with Eric only to be lost in a sea of alcoholic addiction and neglect.
Years later, understanding what it cost her…she, at times, both regrets and holds dear, the memories that came from walking away from her marriages. She has lived an interesting life.
I very much enjoyed stepping into Patties thoughts as she worked her way through her life with her friends, family and famous lovers. She sheds a bright light into the relationship of the fab four during the highs and lows of their glittering careers.
Alan Alda wrote, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, in a way that gives an interesting look inside of the thoughts of the man who has made a career out of making audiences laugh for a few decades.
People often mistakingly think of comedic actors as making light of all things. This book, i think, shows that Mr. Alda is a deep thinker. He reflects on many areas of life that could use a little more attention. His words teach others to not take life at face value…to examine what you think; and, why you think what you do…where you place your values in life. Too many people float through life just existing; they think that is enough out of life to just skip over the difficult and to absorb only the perks.
In some of the speaches Alan was asked to perform, he challenged the listeners to take action by getting involved in change. His own life shows the dedication of a person stepping outside of themselves to get involved in issues larger than himself.
Reaching adulthood myself in the 80′s, i remember the struggles of the movers and shakers to get the constitution amended with the Equal Rights Amendment. Ultimately the movement failed. Hindsight illuminates the consequences of that…but, changing the way people conduct themselves on a personal and professional level is never an easy thing. To Alan Alda’s credit he made a huge attempt at enlightenment.
Alan Alda’s title says to me, that we all share a sliver of amazement when we go back and observe things that we have said and written down that appear to show a bit of brillance. Sometimes it is as if we are seperate from ourselves when we express wisdom…almost as if someone else had said it. It is in those moments that we understand ourselves a bit better and clearly know how we really feel about things on a deeper level.
Alan had a brush with death a few years ago in Chile from an intestinal blockage. He lives his life with passion and curiosity. He examines small and large topics in his book. Some of his opinions you may agree with and some you may not…but it will indeed set your mind to ruminating.
It is a good read. This book was copywrighted in 2007. It was published by Random House. You can visit their website at : www.randomhouse.com/largeprint. Mr. Alda has his own website at : www.alanalda.com.
The jacket’s design was by karen Lau and the jackets photos were courtesy of the author.