Rating: 
Summary: A list, a series of events, not a story
Review: After reading this autobio, I feel I know little more about Liz than I would have from reading her resume. She chronologically recounts the passage of her life without revealing much about herself personally or emotionally. She gushes over most people. Most seem to like her too, but aside from her generous charity work, it's hard to understand why, since we don't learn much about her as a person. She conveniently elects not to reveal the names of those she wishes to protect, while having no qualms about publishing gossip about those she doesn't. The last portion of the book is marginally more interesting than the first.
Rating: 
Summary: Shadow Lady
Review: As a person who believes a fine way to keep up on national affairs is to read "People" magazine, I naturally couldn't resist the autobiography of uber gossip columnist Liz Smith. If I had to use one word to describe this book, it would be "cautious." Ms. Smith is ever-mindful of what goes around can indeed come around and therefore, the book has an "I Will Not Be Offensive" air, particularly to mega stars, publishers, and the like.Ms. Smith must be a lady who lives in the "now." There is no past, no future, just today. She entertainingly writes of her childhood in Texas, but once she has left home, Texas and the family disappear. She had two marriages, both unsuccessful, and she writes as if she doesn't remember them very well. She doesn't complain, she doesn't reflect, just moves on. She never tackles the power/respect problems, i.e., how many of these glittery people are really her friends, and how many merely fear the power of her column? How does she feel about her entire literary reputation is based upon a gossip column? I think it would be a lonely and uncertain life; however, I don't even know if Ms. Smith has considered such things. In her excellent last chapter, she discusses frankly what goals she had had and whether she had met or exceeded them. Perhaps she did not reach high enough. The writing is snappy, and moderately interesting. Grade: C
Rating:
Summary: Shadow Lady
Review: As a person who believes a fine way to keep up on national affairs is to read "People" magazine, I naturally couldn't resist the autobiography of uber gossip columnist Liz Smith. If I had to use one word to describe this book, it would be "cautious." Ms. Smith is ever-mindful of what goes around can indeed come around and therefore, the book has an "I Will Not Be Offensive" air, particularly to mega stars, publishers, and the like. Ms. Smith must be a lady who lives in the "now." There is no past, no future, just today. She entertainingly writes of her childhood in Texas, but once she has left home, Texas and the family disappear. She had two marriages, both unsuccessful, and she writes as if she doesn't remember them very well. She doesn't complain, she doesn't reflect, just moves on. She never tackles the power/respect problems, i.e., how many of these glittery people are really her friends, and how many merely fear the power of her column? How does she feel about her entire literary reputation is based upon a gossip column? I think it would be a lonely and uncertain life; however, I don't even know if Ms. Smith has considered such things. In her excellent last chapter, she discusses frankly what goals she had had and whether she had met or exceeded them. Perhaps she did not reach high enough. The writing is snappy, and moderately interesting. Grade: C
Rating: 
Summary: Nice Girl Finishes in Front
Review: Couldn't put this down--it was like being invited to a party honoring one of the most intriguing women in the world, and then being placed in the seat right next to her. What follows is a froth of a book that quietly contains a great deal of depth, ruminations on decency and kindness as well as the morality of gossip. In the process, Ms. Smith proves that her reputation for being nicest of the gossip columnists is well-deserved. She's been on a hell of a ride, and she's had little difficulty maintaining the precarious position of participant blended with observer. Along the way, she met everyone who mattered in the second half of the 20th Century, and with skill, she names names and shares anecdotes. Some of the people she includes are long-forgotten, but many still are the stuff of tabloid headlines. She counts among her nearest and dearest Liz Taylor, Barbara Walters, Helen Gurley Brown, Elaine Stritch, Donald Trump, Katherine Hepburn and several hundred others. Of course, the subtext is that Liz, herself, has led a fascinating life. This book is like eating potato chips: once you get started, you won't be able to stop!
Rating:
Summary: What a book!!
Review: Enjoyed the book very much, such fun and what a life! The book was like being a fly on the wall!
Rating:
Summary: A fun and funny read...
Review: Go. Go now and get this book. Lots of lovely yummy tidbits from a sweet-spirited, good writer. I'm not usually keen on memoirs, but not one page of the book bored me. A fabulous read and a great gift--for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: OK, but don't expect major dish.
Review: I do enjoy Liz Smith's column and like the fact that she is not nasty in print, unlike some of her compadres. She does divulge some personal secrets in this book, and gives a good account of her early years, her infatuation with movies and movie stars, and the beginning of her career in the media. The book tends to skew after that, and I never really got the point of why Liz became so famous; something to do with the fact that, although the stars confided in her, she didn't always spill the beans in her column, much to her chagrin. There seemed to be lots and lots of alcohol and sexual mischief as Smith becomes a gadfly in the jetset herself. Almost all mention of her family in Texas stops, as if they've fallen off the face of the earth. I did not understand this, although Smith remains likeable. There are several vingettes at the end of the book, featuring some major stars -- Taylor and Burton, Sean Connery, Warren Beatty, Madonna, Bette Davis-- but nothing beyond what you'd find in any good Vanity Fair article. Interestingly, Smith mentions Arthur Laurents several times, whose "Original Story By" has also just been published. I read that book too and like Smith's better. Laurents' book gave me the impression that he did nothing but sleep with people, or wonder who wanted to sleep with him, or who other people were sleeping with. Snore... All in all, Liz Smith's book is a pretty good rendering of the long career of a highly likable character who, as another reviewer put it, never overshadowed the celebrities she was covering. Still, I'm left with the feeling that there was more to be told that she didn't...perhaps there's enough for a sequel!
Rating: 
Summary: A graet dish!
Review: I have followed the career of fellow Texan, Liz Smith for a long time. Often her name would pop up in conversations about celebrities as one who had an inside track. When I picked up Natural Blonde, I knew I was in for a good read. Beginning with her growing up years in Texas, her stint at Hardin Simmons, her short first marriage, and journalistic study at the University of Texas, she weaves a great tale of growing up in a small town where she first caught the celebrity bug. The stories of starting off in New York, the life long friendships made with both the people in front and behind the spotlight. The stories of living young in New York are priceless. As the story continues into the halcion days of the 70's and the excesses, and the all out gossip business. This is a skillfully told story. She chronicles the evolution of gossip, with all its twists and turns, and big personalities. You can tell how Liz became the widely read columnist, for her personality never overshadows the celebrity's story .. That is the only fault I can find. The very ability that makes her a favorite with the famous....not being too big a "personality" on her own, being a good old girl, keeps her from spilling some stories that she must know. There are plenty of names dropped, spanning from the old studio days to the celebrities of today. The focus on the celebrities, is at at the expense of telling about herself(or perhaps to keep from having to divulge too much about herself). One has to believe she is that way...putting the story before herself. An asset that has served her well. This is a great read and another tribute to the strong, smart cult of Texas women.
Rating: 
Summary: Not much about her Lesbianism
Review: I listened to this audio book because I had a long ride and I heard an interesting interview with Liz Smith about this book. After hearing the audio book, I guess the interview was interesting because of the interviewer's skills, not Smith's. I don't recall ever reading a Liz Smith column, but, as she has been writing gossip for 30 years, I naturally assumed that this memoir would summarize 30 years of gossip. Greatest hits, stories behind stories, embarrassments, stories that were bigger than mere gossip, follow-ups to scandals past, etc. Sadly, this was not to be. NATURAL BLONDE is a straight-up autobiography. This book is about Liz Smith and her life, not the lives of her columns many subjects. The book is told chronologically, giving equal weight to each stage of Smith's life. Consequently, the first two tapes - half the audio book - is about her largely uninteresting early life. Sorry, but who cares? At the end, as she sums up her life, she asks herself a series of "was this a life well spent" questions. They're mostly along the line of "I wanted to make money" and "I wanted to meet famous people." Missing is any sentiment of leaving the world a better place. Granted, Smith raises money for literacy, but at one point she admits that taking care of two dogs is too much responsibility for her (in terms of caring for others). If the impression is that a gossip columnist must lead a shallow life, this book confirms it. Finally, in the second half of her book, Smith gets into some expanded stories about famous people. This unfortunately short list includes Truman Capote, Donald and Ivana Trump, Malcolm Forbes, Katherine Hepburn and a few others. Unfortunately, the stories she tells about these personalities (and it is their personalities, not their accomplishments, that she covers) are anticlimactic. I was left was left wanting more substance - or at least more of a reason to be interested. Smith is more interesting discussing the newspaper industry. Her story about Kitty Kelly seems to go somewhere. Her commentary about New York City's tabloid wars was insightful if all too brief. More of this would have strengthened the book. The audiocassette version probably has two advantages over the print edition. The first is Smith's narration. Her voice adds something to the words. The second is that I can't imagine slogging through the print version of the first half of the book. In this case, the edits help the story. In sum, NATURAL BLONDE is NOT the real thing
Rating:
Summary: Unnaturally bland
Review: I listened to this audio book because I had a long ride and I heard an interesting interview with Liz Smith about this book. After hearing the audio book, I guess the interview was interesting because of the interviewer's skills, not Smith's. I don't recall ever reading a Liz Smith column, but, as she has been writing gossip for 30 years, I naturally assumed that this memoir would summarize 30 years of gossip. Greatest hits, stories behind stories, embarrassments, stories that were bigger than mere gossip, follow-ups to scandals past, etc. Sadly, this was not to be. NATURAL BLONDE is a straight-up autobiography. This book is about Liz Smith and her life, not the lives of her columns many subjects. The book is told chronologically, giving equal weight to each stage of Smith's life. Consequently, the first two tapes - half the audio book - is about her largely uninteresting early life. Sorry, but who cares? At the end, as she sums up her life, she asks herself a series of "was this a life well spent" questions. They're mostly along the line of "I wanted to make money" and "I wanted to meet famous people." Missing is any sentiment of leaving the world a better place. Granted, Smith raises money for literacy, but at one point she admits that taking care of two dogs is too much responsibility for her (in terms of caring for others). If the impression is that a gossip columnist must lead a shallow life, this book confirms it. Finally, in the second half of her book, Smith gets into some expanded stories about famous people. This unfortunately short list includes Truman Capote, Donald and Ivana Trump, Malcolm Forbes, Katherine Hepburn and a few others. Unfortunately, the stories she tells about these personalities (and it is their personalities, not their accomplishments, that she covers) are anticlimactic. I was left was left wanting more substance - or at least more of a reason to be interested. Smith is more interesting discussing the newspaper industry. Her story about Kitty Kelly seems to go somewhere. Her commentary about New York City's tabloid wars was insightful if all too brief. More of this would have strengthened the book. The audiocassette version probably has two advantages over the print edition. The first is Smith's narration. Her voice adds something to the words. The second is that I can't imagine slogging through the print version of the first half of the book. In this case, the edits help the story. In sum, NATURAL BLONDE is NOT the real thing
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