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Doris Day: The Untold Story of the Girl Next Door by David Kaufman
Book Summary InformationAuthor: David Kaufman Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published) Published: 2008-06-10 ISBN: 1905264305 Number of pages: 512 Publisher: Virgin Books
Book Reviews of Doris Day: The Untold Story of the Girl Next DoorBook Review: A waste of precious time... Summary: 1 StarsPLEASE NOTE: The "1-star" rating I gave this book is a mistake--I clicked it by accident and couldn't figure out how to take the star back!
I had heard that there were many inaccuracies in this book, so instead of giving Mr. Kaufman any of my hard-earned money, I borrowed the book from my local library---which turned out to be a good decision! My library only has one copy of the book, so I had to go on a waitlist. When I finally was able to borrow the book, I was sorely disappointed in it. Mr. Kaufman wastes page after page on self-serving name-dropping and personal opinions. Most of the information is "hearsay" and he seems to take particular delight in portraying Miss Day as a vindictive, disloyal, workaholic who "easily moves on" when a friend displeases her.
Mr. Kaufman also insists that Miss Day was born in 1922. Miss Day herself says that she was born in 1924; what reason would she have for lying about this? And why does it matter???
I've been a Doris Day fan for as long as I can remember. I own and have read her autobiography several times. There was absolutely nothing in Mr. Kaufman's book that I didn't already know (maybe the title should have been "Doris Day: The Already-Was-Told Story of the Girl Next Door"...?). I was offended by the overall tone of the book; and I don't believe that Mr. Kaufman is a true fan of Miss Day's.
There are millions of us who love Doris Day. We appreciate her honesty and her caring heart. What we DON'T appreciate is someone who writes a totally inaccurate summary of her life for his own financial gain! Mr. Kaufman, I'm glad I didn't give you any of my money!
Summary of Doris Day: The Untold Story of the Girl Next DoorDavid Kaufman has now written the long-awaited, definitive biography of Doris Day. By telling Day's incredible, previously untold story, Kaufman takes the reader to the epicenter of American popular culture- a roller-coaster saga, from the 1940s to the 1980s. While Day symbolized virtuous America to the rest of the world-especially in her heyday, the 1950s and early 1960s-both she and that era are still perceived as being far more innocent and carefree than they really were. Indeed, what makes Day's story so richly fascinating is the fact that she was in many ways the opposite of her image as "the girl next door." She was also a real-life Cinderella who regretted having gone to the ball and who found a series of princes who proved far less than charming. Thanks to Kaufman's dogged diligence in tracking down countless colleagues and intimates, he gives us: Scintillating tales of fame, beauty, money, tragedy, sexual ambiguity, and sexual conquests. Anecdotes about a vast array of major subsidiary players in Day's life, including Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra, Alfred Hitchcock, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Charles Manson, Mickey Mantle, Candice Bergen, and Rock Hudson. Kaufman reveals Day's demons while emphasizing the extraordinary credit she deserves as an artist. In the tradition of great biographies, Kaufman's detailed work not only reveals the surprising story of one of America's most beloved icons, but also compels us to rush back and see her best films-including The Man Who Knew Too Much, Pillow Talk, Love Me or Leave Me-and to listen to her unforgettable songs-"Sentimental Journey," "Secret Love," "Que Sera, Sera." Though she made more than 550 recordings and starred in 39 movies-not to mention her own TV show for five years-the epic story of Doris Day's life has never been told . . . until now.
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