The Marilyn Diaries

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Summary: The Marilyn Diaries
Review: I really enjoyed the thoughtfull and detailed story of MMs life. The book is moving and thought provoking. "The Marilyn Diaries" brings the person behind the star to life more than anything I have read or seen. I heartily recommend this book. AAA+++

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Summary: Fact or Fiction?
Review: I recently read the Marilyn Diaries by Charles Casillo and I must say that I was completely swept away. It was impossible to believe that these were not actually Marilyn's word. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a work of fiction. Reading it I felt like I stumbled upon Marilyn's actual diary and I felt "naughty" reading it. Yet you can't put it down. Mr. Casillo obviously has a great love and passion for Miss Monroe, and he has obviously spent a tremendous amount of time researching her life. Reading this book you will actually feel like you are there. You won't be able to put it down. I LOVED IT!

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Summary: haunting
Review: I think that all Marilyn fans WANT TO KNOW; we want to know how she really felt, thought, lived, and died. The fiction and non-fiction books all portray a much different woman, whether nasty and sexually aggressive or naive and scared (she was all these, I think). This fictional diary by Charles Casillo is fascinating because he got inside her head so well I occasionally forgot I wasn't actually reading Marilyn's thoughts... I felt upon finishing that if we could read her real diary, it would be something like Casillo's verson.

Rating:
Summary: haunting
Review: I think that all Marilyn fans WANT TO KNOW; we want to know how she really felt, thought, lived, and died. The fiction and non-fiction books all portray a much different woman, whether nasty and sexually aggressive or naive and scared (she was all these, I think). This fictional diary by Charles Casillo is fascinating because he got inside her head so well I occasionally forgot I wasn't actually reading Marilyn's thoughts... I felt upon finishing that if we could read her real diary, it would be something like Casillo's verson.

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Summary: Thought it was her real diary
Review: I was half-way through before I realized it was a work of fiction. It seemed entirely believable that Marilyn wrote these entries. I was never a huge Marilyn Monroe fan, but a friend recommended I read this book, even though it is a work of fiction it has changed my perception of Marilyn and how difficult her life was. I found the book completely engrossing. I would highly recommend this novel.

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Summary: Thought it was her real diary
Review: I was half-way through before I realized it was a work of fiction. It seemed entirely believable that Marilyn wrote these entries. I was never a huge Marilyn Monroe fan, but a friend recommended I read this book, even though it is a work of fiction it has changed my perception of Marilyn and how difficult her life was. I found the book completely engrossing. I would highly recommend this novel.

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Summary: A GREAT BOOK ABOUT A MOST FASCINATING WOMAN!
Review: I was hesitant to read to read "The Marilyn Diaries" because of the totally inaccurate, degrading, and cliche-ridden portrait of Marilyn Monroe by Joyce Carol Oates in "Blonde." DON'T BE DISCOURAGED!! Casillo's portrait goes beyond the glossy surface to reveal an intelligent and articulate woman trapped by the image she created in order to become successful in Hollywood. If the reader is prepared to accept the fact that no fiction is 100% accurate, this Marilyn will weave her spell and make you feel as if you are there with her and you'll understand the era and the characters through totally fresh eyes. History has been so hard on Marilyn Monroe. Although she wasn't perfect (who is?) Casillo's book strips away the glitz and glamour of the studio photographs and techni-color movies and adds flesh, blood, bones and a beating heart to the character. She is intelligent, articulate, beautiful, vulnerable, brilliant, and self destructive too. Ms. Oate's book was ... I only mention that here so that people won't think that "The Marilyn Diaries" is like that and avoid it. Don't! Thanks Charles Casillo for telling the other side of one of history's most fascinating women. Without a doubt "The Marilyn Diaries," will become the standard by which all other works of fiction about Marilyn Monroe will be judged

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Summary: In the mind of Marilyn....
Review: I'm young, and I completely enjoyed this book, and very few books intrest me. Charles Casillo did an excellent job in terms of "being Marilyn" At times I would check the back just to make sure that these diary entries weren't actually written by Marilyn, Casillo had me believing that everything in this book was either said or written by Miss Monroe.

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Summary: BRILLIANT YET FLAWED
Review: Like other huge MM fans, I had my doubts about this book, but of course had to read it. It was extremely well researched, well written and hard to put down. That said, being one who subscribes to the theory that Marilyn was murdered, the ending (spoiler ahead!) left much to be desired. The diary entries were poignant, revealing and cleverly tied in many, many little things I knew about Marilyn. But, the ending was a real disappointment to me, as it gave no real reason why Ms. Monroe, who had just renegotiated a deal with Fox to finish Something's Got to Give, was planning (according to Joe DiMaggio, who should be an unimpeachable source) to remarry Joe on August 8, and was clearly delighted with the progress on her first true home, would suddenly say Oh, well, and overdose on pills. I'm giving it 4 stars because so much was good--the ending ranked about 2 stars with me. Still, definitely worth reading.

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Summary: Privacy and Pain
Review: The Marilyn Diaries is a sensitive, insightful and facinating voyage into the complex mind and heart of the world's most famous blond. I am not a fan of the celebrity bio as a rule, being full of imagined conversations and motivations passing as fact, but this work calls itself and novel and gently woos you into forgetting that it is "fictional." And I caught myself forgetting that often! The author is obviously a huge fan of Marilyn, but an intelligent and amazingly empathetic one and he gives us a touching and achingly painful experience of the last few months of Marilyn's life, from within. I found the Hollywood party scenes beautifully written, capturing the awkwardness of being viewed from afar, the most beautiful wallflower ever. A toast to this Marilyn Monroe and to her portrait artist, Charles Casillo.