Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
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Book Reviews of Love, Lucy
Book Review: A Delightful Surprise
Summary: 5 Stars
Lucille Ball abandoned this book in 1964, out of concern that its contents would hurt Desi Arnaz. She then forgot about it (as did everyone else in her life, it seems), and it sat neglected in a box of papers until the mid-1990s. This is a phenomenal book, and easily the best I've read so far regarding Lucille Ball.
Love, Lucy should be read along with other biographies in order to get a balanced perspective (Miss Ball tends to be a bit circumspect, though not as private as I expected her to be, regarding her own shortcomings and her private life), but on the whole it is a fascinating glimpse into a legendary life when it was far from over. She had only recently divorced Desi Arnaz and was in the heart of working on The Lucy Show at the time she abandoned the project, and was still terribly active in the running of Desilu.
Lucille sometimes remembers things in a way that makes her seem a bit more moral than she really was. She doesn't discuss running wild and being naughty in her teen years, but since she had young children of her own at the time of the writing of Love, Lucy, I don't suppose I should have expected her to do so. Who wants to display their shortcomings to their kids and then say "don't do that!"
What is most beautiful about this book is the discussion of her love of Desi Arnaz and their marriage. Even though the marriage didn't survive, they adored one another and continued to do so until the ends of their lives. The quote that made me laugh out loud, and I could HEAR Lucy saying it was "It was not love at first sight; it took five minutes."
Book Review: Finally, the comic genius in her OWN words
Summary: 5 Stars
and not in the twisted, fabricated words of someone else. This is the ONLY autobiography Lucille Ball ever wrote, so it is a real treasure.From the minute you open the book till the time you close it, you hear Lucy's voice guiding you through her life. When you start to read it, after a few moments, your voice just sort of drowns out and Lucy's voice takes over. Relive with her her happiness and heartache, her loves and hates, her triumphs and failures. I actually felt her love for her kids and Desi. It just came shining through. The hardest part of reading this book is putting it down after you're done and realizing that that the voice you just heard is truly silent forever. But you can hear that wonderful voice anytime you please simply by just opening this heartfelt, extremely moving and touching look at Lucy's life as she saw it. She doesn't give very many details, simply for fear of hurting certain people who were still alive and whom she still cared for, but she gives enough to paint you a really good picture. I can see why Lucy would've wanted to abandon this great book, because she didn't want to hurt anyone, but I'm so glad it was finally found. Even though Lucy's body isn't here any more, you can see her in her prime whenever you feel like a laugh just by turning on the TV, and reading her own words and feelings in this book. Finally, here is a book about her without all the lies and gossip. This is the total truth, but she was never cruel or mean. She was tactful in her choice of words. This book is a must read, if not must have, for any Lucy fan.Book Review: Love, Lucy by Your Favorite... Lucille Ball
Summary: 5 Stars
There are so many books out there that try to tell the story of Lucille Ball's life. But what book could better tell the story of Lucy's life better than Lucy herself?! This bbok is absolutely fabulous! Lucy not only gives you a journal of her life - when she made movies and shows and what they were about - but, because she is looking back on her life, she tells you what she thought of her life and how she thought it would be handled better. Kind of like her "secrets to life". Though the book goes only from her birth in 1911to around 1970, Lucy really details her life to what the public would like to know including her marriages to Desi Arnez and Gary Morton, her childhood and her life away from making the people of America (and all over the world) laugh, at her homes in Beverly Hills, Palm Springs and a ranch in Chatsworth. She also tells about her relationships to other stars and how they used to hang around each other and have fun together.
This book is truely a great book that any person remotely interested in Lucille's life will enjoy. You can believe every word of it as you can her Lucy's voice through it all! I read the book three times straight through and sometimes, when I'm board, I pick up in the middle and enjoy it for hours. You will love this book!
Book Review: her voice comes through, warm and genuine
Summary: 5 Stars
I am delighted by "Love, Lucy", the autobiography Lucille Ball began decades ago but then abandoned, perhaps because it was too painful, perhaps because she thought it would hurt Desi. Growing up in the 50s and seeing Lucy and Desi weekly on tv, I knew they had the "real thing". Their true love came through clearly to me and reminded me of my own parents' and my close aunt and uncle's relationships. Although their marriage did not survive their cultural differences and Desi's infidelities, everyone who knew them say they loved each other to their last days.In "Love, Lucy", the beloved redhead's voice speaks in a warm, genuine fashion to makes the readers feel as if they were spending a summer afternoon by the pool with Lucille Ball. Here is the story of her early days in upstate New York, her career struggles as a young actress longing to be the romantic lead in "A" pictures, her finding a niche at last---and what a niche!--as America's most beloved female comedienne. She writes of the great joy she and Desi shared when, after long years, they were blessed with a daughter and a son.
Like all of us, Lucy was only human and had her flaws, but in this book, her best side shines bright with generosity, talent,grace, and love.
Book Review: A Touching Autobiograppy - I Read It Three Times
Summary: 5 Stars
This book, without a ghost writer, was taken from a munuscript composed by Lucy herself in 1966 and not discovered until several years after her death. That's the best feature of the book - you feel as though Lucy is sitting in front of you, recounting her life. Those looking for juicy, dirty gossip had better look elsewhere; Lucy was far too classy for that. Without getting into unnecessarily sordid, perhaps lewd details, characterstic of many divorces, she reveals the causes of her divorce from her dreamboat, Desi Arnaz. Her use of the English language, including her vocabulary and grammar belie the image of the scatter brained, mischievous bubbleheaded characters portrayed during her tremendous career, especially the I Love Lucy show. Lucy was indeed a very astute, insightful lady, equally at home in a luxurious ballroom gown and a hobo's costume. She could certainly do it all. In her own words, she was not easily taken in by others. It showed in this book. I would heartily recommend to any fan of the great T.V. legend, Lucille Ball. A bargain at three times the price