Edie: American Girl by Jean Stein
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Book Reviews of Edie: American Girl
Book Review: Unforgettable and Haunting
Summary: 5 Stars
When the movie "Factory Girl" (god-awful by the way) came out, it renewed my interest in this book and Edie Sedgwick. My interest in her dates back to when I first bought this book, way back in 1982. The test of a great book is that is grows richer and deeper upon re-reading. And this one does.
At first, this was simply the story of a notorious party girl. Upon re-reading (I've read this countless times), "Edie" becomes the story of how the thread of mental illness traveled through generations. This book is truly unforgettable and haunting. And I'm sure, while suffering another bout of boredom, I'll read it again. - Siouxie
P.S. Someone should give this book to Britney Spears. She's traveling the same path at age 25; Edie was dead at 28.
Book Review: You Can't Put It Down
Summary: 5 Stars
Superbly assembled book by George Plimpton and Jean Stein. A knock out best seller with penetrating psychological insights.
I found the most intriguing sections to be on the Sedgwick family and their ultra high Brahmin Yankee world, especially the father of the clan, Francis Sedgwick, who spent the last part of his life as a surprisingly good sculptor. I particularly liked his work on St. Francis of Assisi.
The Sedgwicks appeared to have an astounding abundance of talent, style, wealth, social position and sheer good looks, along with an equally astounding propensity toward self-destruction.
One wonders if too much of a good thing can be disastrous.
Book Review: Little Girl Lost
Summary: 5 Stars
I still have the worn hardback copy bought in the early 80's from a bargain bin - perhaps the best five bucks ever spent. Edie's life continues to enchant and horrify, years later, and it's one of the few books I return to every few years. Told as an oral history, it's full of anecdotes from those who knew and loved her, and others who were along for the crazy ride in Warhol's The Factory. Read the book before seeing "Factory Girl" when it's finally out in theaters soon. It's not likely the movie can do justice to this deep, intimate portrayal of the Sixties "Youthquaker" all outward breeze and style masking internal pain.Book Review: Good
Summary: 5 Stars
Even though you read bad things about how Jean Stein put this book together in Warhol's DIARIES, that doesn't cancel out that it is a rivetting book. Edie was sort of vacuous, but nonetheless interesting in her recklessnes. Although she is surprisingly articulate in her oral passages. More than you would expect after reading about her. This frankly, I don't think, is an inherently interesting story, so Plimpton and Stein are to be commended for the way they put this oral history together. Hollywood has been talking ever since this book was published of making it into a movie, but it hasn't happened yet. I'd like to see it!Book Review: probably my favorite non-fiction book
Summary: 5 Stars
I have given this book as a gift to at least 5 people. No other book about the factory, American class structures, addiction, or celebrity comes close to "Edie" (originally titled "Edie: An American Biography"- don't know why they changed it for the paperback). Legs Mc Neill's oral history of punk rock "Please Kill Me" (another favorite) was obviously quite influenced by this book. Both the subject and structure of "Edie" are fascinating. If you like films like the Maysles brothers' "Grey Gardens", or have any interest in counter-culture history, do yourself a favor and buy this book.