Ava: My Story

Rating:
Summary: ok
Review: A breezy book, with comments/chapters by her friends, so it's not all in Ava's words. And, as happens, I've read others' perspectives of stuff mentioned in here, and Ava wasn't as selfless and vain-free as this book suggests. But she seemed warm, and insecure (I once saw Roddy McDowell speak. He said, "Ava had no self confidence at all."). She seemed generous. She was beautiful, and I would have loved to have been one of those matadors she had an affair with! A good, undemanding Hollywood book to read.

Rating:
Summary: cant help lovin...
Review: In addition to demonstrating a self-deprecating wit and a candor that is often surprising, even in an autobiography, in this memoir Ava Gardner conveys a warmth and genuineness that makes her (in my opinion) an instantly likable narrator. Then, the fact that the events of her life would have given enough material to make a great story even if she herself wasn't such an engaging storyteller.
This book is tempered with irony. Ava's reflections on some of her greatest times are presented through a veil of bittersweet nostalgia. That her life was a sad one is evident; she details three failed marriages to some of the era's more notable celebrities/womanizers and her constant sense that her career path was accidental, and her eventual phase as recluse and expatriate. These events told from the perspective of an aging woman - one who seems to have been truly convinced that her fading (?) beauty is her only marketable asset create an exquisitely tragic heroine. Consistently smart and irreverent, Ava balances this obvious sadness and feeling of being misplaced with a stoic insistence that she's had "a hell of a good time." In all, her willingness to poke fun at herself and her open examinions of her personal weaknesses provide a refreshing counterpoint to the usual self-aggrandizement of the Hollywood auto-biography. I strongly recommend the book, if not for pure entertainment, for a compelling portrait devoid of literary pretensions.

Rating:
Summary: Deluded
Review: Poor Ava really paints herself as some kind of down home goody goody. This book was just sad. This very glamourous and beautiful woman was probably never "meant to be" in movies. She was incredibly insecure and not very talented. As a result, her forced life as a Hollywood star basically destroyed her. She was a severe alcoholic and as one star called her, a nymphomaniac. She slept with EVERYBODY. In this book she denies sleeping with Howard Hughes, and Robert Mitchum. Anyone who knows anything knows that she did. She basically attacked Mitchum (read his biography, "Baby, I don't care"). She tells all of her sad stories as if they weren't tragic and even at the end claims she wouldn't go back and change her life if she could. Denial to the max. Three failed marriages, abortions, chemical dependency, taking physical abuse from the likes of Hughes and George C. Scott...If this is stardom, no thanks. I beleive this was an attempt late in her life to make herself "look" better. Maybe she really believed what she wrote.

Rating:
Summary: if you are a fan of Ava's, please read this book
Review: This is an enjoyable, engaging memoir and while entertaining is also surprisingly sad. I knew, before reading the book, who Ava had married but had no idea how tumultuous were these relationships. As I've not read any other books about Ava Gardner, I can not tell whether this book's contents closely resemble truth but, frankly, I don't really care. I read autobiographies so I get a better sense of the author and in this case, Ava's wit, intelligence and humanity shine through. I certainly don't agree with the reviewer who says Ava painted herself as a goody-goody - that is the last thing she seems to do. This is a woman who, to me, has struggled with relationships, insecurities and addictions and still managed to enjoy and relish life - like many of us. If anything, I felt positive and connected to Ava for her candour! And, if, factually speaking, Ms. Gardner was not completely accurate in her own story, so what? I would rather read her story in her own words. The saddest thing to me was that she passed away at such a young age. I think "Impertinent" gives an excellent and articulate review and all I can say is read this book if you'd like to know about one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood.

Rating:
Summary: Deluded
Review: This was a wonderful book, which kept me engrossed until I finished it in 2 days. Ava tells a wonderful entertaining version of her life, warts and all. Afterwards, I rented as many movies as I could in which she starred. The book was well written, and the story of her life and loves interesting.

If you enjoy biographies, this is definately one to select.