Rating: 
Summary: A Compelling Page-Turner
Review: I tend to be one of those readers who picks up a book from his bedside table and reads for a few minutes before drifting off to sleep. This book, though, kept me up for hours the first night I started reading, and the next day I carried it with me, stealing away moments to read more -- and I ended up finishing it before that day was through. "Once Upon a Time" paints a vivid portrait of Grace Kelly's incredible life, taking the reader on a journey through her early years (living for the approval of her dominant father) her whirlwind Hollywood life (that was far more complex than I'd ever realized) and the mysterious marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco (which, while thrilling, in some ways broke her spirit). Taraborrelli's writing style, with short, concise chapters, keeps the reader flying at warp speed through the timeline of Grace's life, without sacrificing the specificity and detail one craves when cracking open a biography. As a Grace Kelly fan, I had been left disappointed by previous attempts to capture her life on paper -- but, thankfully, this book finally gives me a bit of real estate on my shelves devoted to the memory of this enigmatic beauty. The horrific death of Grace had haunted me, as it has many over the years-- but finally, after reading this book, I feel that enough of my questions-- about her life, her career, and even that terrible accident -- have been answered. The clarity of the storytelling in "Once Upon A Time", helped me put perspective on a life that would have otherwise gone misunderstood. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Lengthy Yet Lackluster
Review: I'm one of those people who is intrigued by queens and princesses and gladly grabs up most offerings on the topic. When I first saw this book, I figured that it would contain a story as perfect as its cover. Well, not quite. It wouldn't be fair to say that "Once Upon A Time" has no redeeming qualities. If nothing else, it seems to be the only in-print biography of Grace Kelly-which makes it somewhat valuable for anyone trying to learn about this famous lady. Also, it is written in a readable, conversational way-nothing overly "intellectual." And one certainly couldn't say that this book is completely devoid of interesting people, quotes, or happenings. The story of Grace and Ranier is definitely one that would have some fascination almost regardless of how badly it was told. Yet as I was reading this book, I had a nagging sense that it wasn't as "unputdownable" as it should have been. I'd often feel like stopping after reading a few pages and rarely felt like I was really "getting into" the book. Perhaps this dullness can be explained by the fact that the book was just too long. The author repeated himself frequently, seeming to resort to variations on main ideas whenever he had nothing fresh to say. (He often mentioned something similar to this throughout the first half of the book: "Although Grace was a successful career woman who seemed to have it all, she just needed her parents' approval.") Another similar problem was that the author tended to spend too much time recounting dull periods in the couple's lives. Finally, many included quotes just screamed, "That completely didn't need to be said!" There are some enlightening passages and quotes in this book, but if you read it you'll often find the problems instead of the positives. If you're looking for a good royal biography, read "Lilibet: An Intimate Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II" instead.
Rating:
Summary: Read this first
Review: It's obvious Taraborrelli did some research - that is to be commended. However, if his research led to the picture that appears in this book, he never should have written it - there's not much of a story to tell. In this book, we are told Grace Kelly had almost no royal qualities. She had no heart-felt interest in charity. She was not a great parent. She had no idea what feminism was. She loathed her life throughout most of the book - whined, complained, regretted her decision to marry a Prince - thought her marriage lacked passion - on and on. We're asked to accept she won her subjects over but never given an explanation as to how. In fact, she wrote toward the end of her life that she wished a frog would turn into a prince and take her away from the miserable island she lived on. We're asked to accept she fell in love with Ranier in the beginning of her marriage, but read stories that did not support that. The author (probably unwittingly) makes most of the men in the book accessible, reasonable, and likeable while most of the women are just the opposite. The men - Father Tucker, Prince Ranier, Prince Albert - you'll put the book down feeling warm about them. Oh, and since Prince Ranier had almost exclusive control over raising Prince Albert (and not the 2 princesses), it makes sense in this particular book that only Prince Albert turned out perfect while the two Princesses, raised almost exclusively by Grace, were complete disasters. We're asked to appreciate the "sacrifice" Grace made in giving up her acting career, yet, told that she resented her decision, never stopped trying to go back, never stopped complaining about it, etc. By this account, Grace Kelly humiliated her husband numerous times, saying to friends and/or publicly through all the years that she regretted staying in a passionless marriage. The author never asks how Ranier (or the children) must have felt at hearing such horrible sentiments. The author actually relays these statements as though they evoke sympathy for Grace. Next, the author makes some very odd statements. He says the death of Grace Kelly brought more collective grief of any celebrity since JFK. I guess Elvis, for example, didn't exist. Read the reviews - many people know very little about Kelly. Similarly, he says Kelly's long term impact will be greater than Princess Diana. Ha ha ha. (He must have been caught up in the moment). He also uses language sloppily - e.g. - "produced productions" - He misuses the word "ironic" in the popular way people misuse that word (that is, people who are not authors). I kept waiting for a story worth reading. It never materialized.
Rating:
Summary: Once Upon A Time
Review: J. Randy Taraborrelli has written a superb account of the lives of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier: Their courtship, the wedding, regrets and tribulations; and, finally, the tragic death of the princess. It is a compelling 'hard-to-put-down' read.
Rating:
Summary: Once Upon A Time
Review: J. Randy Taraborrelli has written a superb account of the lives of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier: Their courtship, the wedding, regrets and tribulations; and, finally, the tragic death of the princess. It is a compelling 'hard-to-put-down' read.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor...poor Grace!
Review: Let's be honest here, when Grace Kelly accepted Rainier's marriage proposal, she had no idea what life was going to be for her in Monaco, not to mention that she hardly knew the man she was marrying. The words that strucked me the most is when she gave that answer to a friend who was asking her if she was really in love with the man, Grace said: "I will LEARN to love him" hmmm... that says it all. She would have been happier with Oleg Cassini, because I am positive that she was REALLY in love with him, and she would have lived like a princess anyway, and a happy one! And I will go further by saying that her parents are partly responsible for her unhapiness because they absolutely forbade her to marry Cassini because he was divorced and they did everything they could to ruin her hopes of becoming his wife. Imagine a thing like that happening today! And, frankly, din't Oleg Cassini have a lot more class than that prince who was acting like a spoiled child! In my opinion, she married the wrong guy, a selfish, egocentric prince who expected everybody to obey his orders (Grace included) One doesn't marry a prince to please a father. No wonder she has been miserable and unhappy with that man. At one point, I am sure she regretted her decision, but being the great lady that she was, she decided to make the best of her situation. What really went on behind the "Pink Palace" is revealled in that wonderful book and I am appalled at what Grace Kelly went through in that marriage, she deserved better, really. To be married to a prince is not a key to happiness, it can be hell and in this book we have another example.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bird In A Cage
Review: Looking back to when I visited Monaco as a teen and toured the Pink Palace grounds, I remember hearing about what a fairytale life this American woman was having living as the Princess of Monaco. Well, this book put all those beliefs to rest. The late Grace Kelly may have been an American Princess, but happy ever after was not part of the deal. Princess Grace married Prince Rainier of Monaco merely to make her father proud. Supposedly, the "ugly duckling" of the family, Grace Kelly sought refuge in the movies by becoming an actress. Part publicity stunt and part need for attention Grace married a man she barely even knew. The few times the two were together prior to marrying they were never alone. Grace became trapped in life that didn't provide an outlet such as her acting, the love she was always seeking or the happiness that seem to escape her. Her greatest solace was her three children although three others died do to miscarriage. Princess Grace was beautiful and elegant, but very much a bird in a cage.
Rating:
Summary: A Bird In A Cage
Review: Looking back to when I visited Monaco as a teen and toured the Pink Palace grounds, I remember hearing about what a fairytale life this American woman was having living as the Princess of Monaco. Well, this book put all those beliefs to rest. The late Grace Kelly may have been an American Princess, but happy ever after was not part of the deal. Princess Grace married Prince Rainier of Monaco merely to make her father proud. Supposedly, the "ugly duckling" of the family, Grace Kelly sought refuge in the movies by becoming an actress. Part publicity stunt and part need for attention Grace married a man she barely even knew. The few times the two were together prior to marrying they were never alone. Grace became trapped in life that didn't provide an outlet such as her acting, the love she was always seeking or the happiness that seem to escape her. Her greatest solace was her three children although three others died do to miscarriage. Princess Grace was beautiful and elegant, but very much a bird in a cage.
Rating:
Summary: really good
Review: This a is a very good ind interesting book on Grace Kelly's life. I think it's well written, and some great photos and the author did a good job in writing it truthfully, delicately and telling a good balence of a negative and posative
Rating:
Summary: really good
Review: This a is a very good ind interesting book on Grace Kelly's life. I think it's well written, and some great photos and the author did a good job in writing it truthfully, delicately and telling a good balence of a negative and posative
|
