Rating: 
Summary: Charming memoir of beloved star
Review: "I Loved Lucy" is the story of the friendship between Lucille Ball and Lee Tannen, a distant relative of Lucy's second husband. The book is packed with charming stories that will make you both laugh and cry. Lee was priveleged to be with Lucy at some of her highest moments, like receiving the Kennedy Center Honors, as well as some of her lowest, such as the debacle of "Life With Lucy", her failed last sitcom. Lee's love for Lucy, both the person and the image, are obvious in every page, but he does not gloss over Lucy's sometimes strong temperment. Also, interesting is Lee Tannen's depiction of his own relative, Gary Morton, Lucy's husband; Lucy's admiration and respect for the late Vivian Vance; her statements about Desi Arnaz and her children; and Lucy's obsession with backgammon. This is a wonderful book about a wonderful lady...any Lucy fan should read it!
Rating:
Summary: The best book on Lucy that I've ever read...
Review: ... and I've read most of them! I sort of expected this book to be some tabloidish tale, an exploitive expose' about The Queen Of Television Comedy. I was completely wrong and am not ashamed to admit that. It was one of the only books about Lucille Ball that I had not purchased. I ran across it one day at the library so I checked it out. I ended up purchasing the book for my collection before I even finished it. The glowing letter of endorsement from Lucy's daughter Lucie Arnaz that graces the back cover should have been enough for me to make the purchase upon its release! Tannen dishes a lot of dirt here, but it's nothing that Lucy would necessarily be mad at him for revealing. His words give Lucy fans a complete idea of what Lucy's last years were like. Stories about how Lucy desperately wanted to make the movie "Driving Miss Daisy" (Lee says she would have been all wrong for it, and he's right); her disastrous last two projects (the TV movie "The Stone Pillow", and the failed ABC sitcom "Life With Lucy"); her obsession with backgammon and game shows (she loved Vanna White of "Wheel Of Fortune"), plus a lot of other stories let us in on a Lucy we never really knew. As the star of one of the world's most popular TV shows, most people would think that Lucy lived a grand life of luxury. She did, but she seemed mostly unaware that it was so grand- and that it could have been even grander. She did not enjoy change. Her homes are described in detail, down to what the furniture looked like. It's all extremely riveting, especially for anyone that is a fan of Lucille Ball. The thing that makes this book so wonderful is that you truly get a sense that Lee Tannen REALLY did love Lucy. He didn't write this book to cash in on anything. He just wanted to share a side of Lucy with her fans that they didn't know about before. She does't come out smelling so perfect at all times, but this book certainly will not tarnish anyone's image of her. If you have any interest in Lucille Ball at all, this is a book that you will not want to miss out on. It was extremely hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: The best book on Lucy that I've ever read...
Review: ... and I've read most of them! I sort of expected this book to be some tabloidish tale, an exploitive expose' about The Queen Of Television Comedy. I was completely wrong and am not ashamed to admit that. It was one of the only books about Lucille Ball that I had not purchased. I ran across it one day at the library so I checked it out. I ended up purchasing the book for my collection before I even finished it. The glowing letter of endorsement from Lucy's daughter Lucie Arnaz that graces the back cover should have been enough for me to make the purchase upon its release! Tannen dishes a lot of dirt here, but it's nothing that Lucy would necessarily be mad at him for revealing. His words give Lucy fans a complete idea of what Lucy's last years were like. Stories about how Lucy desperately wanted to make the movie "Driving Miss Daisy" (Lee says she would have been all wrong for it, and he's right); her disastrous last two projects (the TV movie "The Stone Pillow", and the failed ABC sitcom "Life With Lucy"); her obsession with backgammon and game shows (she loved Vanna White of "Wheel Of Fortune"), plus a lot of other stories let us in on a Lucy we never really knew. As the star of one of the world's most popular TV shows, most people would think that Lucy lived a grand life of luxury. She did, but she seemed mostly unaware that it was so grand- and that it could have been even grander. She did not enjoy change. Her homes are described in detail, down to what the furniture looked like. It's all extremely riveting, especially for anyone that is a fan of Lucille Ball. The thing that makes this book so wonderful is that you truly get a sense that Lee Tannen REALLY did love Lucy. He didn't write this book to cash in on anything. He just wanted to share a side of Lucy with her fans that they didn't know about before. She does't come out smelling so perfect at all times, but this book certainly will not tarnish anyone's image of her. If you have any interest in Lucille Ball at all, this is a book that you will not want to miss out on. It was extremely hard to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: Yes, loved but did he respect her enough?
Review: Actually, I agree with the one lone previous negative review by
another customer here. There was a palpable disturbing aura to this book. Granted, Mr. Tannen's experience was years ago, and perhaps he may still develop more emotional maturity. Yet the book kept unfolding a story of a young man who had really no idea the extent of the suffering Lucy Ball Morton had, and how he exacerbated it. Like many people, I am an ardent Lucy Ricardo/I Love Lucy fan, and it pained me to see how isolated the actress was in later years, how worthless she felt, the discarded Ricardo, so to speak. Out of desperation she created a tunnel-vision, thus focusing on one pastime, backgammon, and one companion, Lee Tannen. I sensed Lucy knew how inadequate such a situation was --of course just my opinion, yet I could feel Lucy secretly cringing (and cringed with her) everytime Lee Tannen made boyishly cruel and crude jokes about her, to her. Mr. Tannen seemed to delight in feeling superior to her, an adolescent's joy in being able to tell friends how he had the opportunity, boldness, and the power to argue back to Lucy; to demand a ride in her Lear jet; to impose on her via his friendly, joking manner. Also, to characterize Gary Morton as money-hungry, and incapable, as the author does, truly does not seem entirely justified. If anything, Mr. Morton seemed perceptive enough to see, that Lee Tannen was not grasping the entire picture per Lucy's image and career. Gary's instincts appeared on target -- to allow Lucy to give in to Lee's pressure, to appear in a Blackgama ad as a ridiculous gypsy queen, would have stripped her of her dignity. It's one thing for a youngish Lucy in her t.v. series years ago to amuse people, where they knew a beautiful woman in her prime was playing a decrepit old thing; it would be pathetic for Lucy in her old age to do so. And Lee Tannen's assertion that Gary was wrong for not wanting Lucy in the Night of 100 Stars -- again, Gary made sense. Why indeed let Lucy be herded in among the crowd, which did include lesser luminaries in talent. Why couldn't her own husband think of her as special, and that that uniqueness called for a different option, that of declining such an invitation? Also, it must have been hard for Gary to see this young brash man insinuate himself in the Morton's own home. So there was a very subtle manipulative factor utilized by the young man, that cannot be ignored. This isn't to say that the love Mr. Tannen had for Lucy wasn't real. But he really never seemed moved enough to begin, and to keep, asking important questions -- queries, comments that could have gradually opened Lucy up -- Lucille Ball was so incredibly bright, it just seems as if she knew Mr. Tannen didn't really want to know the real her, and therefore what was there to do but just accept him on the level of backgammon tournaments, and someone whose celebrity-desires she could fulfill. Mr. Tannen repeatedly said that Lucille Ball was often like Lucy Ricardo, citing her driving mishaps, and jokingly linking her to Mommie Dearest, and Sunset Boulevard -- I feel Lucy would have been embarrassed and humiliated by these passages in the book. It was disrespectful. Lee seems to agree with many people that Lucy Ricardo was a funny character -- and yet through the years, I see it differently. The show was hilarious, because the Lucy character was NOT lovable. It was Lucille Ball's genious to capitalize on her own frigidity. Lucy Ricardo had no sense of humour, there was a coldness to her, she rarely genuinely smiled or laughed -- her smiles and giddiness were part of her campaigns to win over Ricky, Ethel, Fred. Lucy Ricardo is the one who stands rigid by the mantle, arms crossed or one arm resting near a knick-knack, staring cooly into space, as the three others dialogue, socialize. It is the humourous reactions of onlookers -- her husband, friends, strangers to Lucy Ricardo's sober, solemn, stubborn defiant actions, that provided hilarity. And yet in this book, the author only seems intent on emphasizing a surface buffoonery in Lucille. Perhaps he met her at too early an age in his life -- this was a sophisticated yet street-smart woman who deserved more consideration. Surely a book may be written, and hopefully will be some day, by someone who digs deeper into the life of Lucille Ball, even as s/he seeks to understand, why Lucille could not feel comfortable accepting the love of her own children. And also, as long as I'm wishing here, how about another Lucy documentary -- but on aspects so rarely gleaned - I want to hear reactions from some of the people who actually sat in the audience, at an I Love Lucy show; I want to know what the dressing rooms were like, and what about the production crew -- who did what, what was it like, not just interviewing the writers as usual. Anyone still around who remembers what Elois Jensen thought in helping Lucy per costuming? I want to see an uncut warm-up when Desi appears before the show to welcome the audience, I want, I want, etc. etc. I appreciate seeing the clips/montages, but I have all the episodes. We've all seen these scenes, and can view them anytime we fans desire.
Lucille Ball will remain a fascinating subject, and there is still so much untapped to learn about her. I know Lucie Arnaz
appreciated Lee Tannen's text. I've always admired her, and her warm, down-to-earth soulfulness. I encourage her to re-think how this book did not serve her mother, and how wonderful if Lucie
wrote her own memoirs, aiming for a more balanced approach.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating But Sometimes Disturbing
Review: Although I found the author to be somewhat creepy (what normal young man would spend so much time with a reclusive old lady?) I found the well-written depiction of Lucy's last decade to be mostly fascinating. The author is indeed a very talented writer, and it's a difficult book to put down. He does a really good job of describing life in Beverly Hills and for an aging superstar. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED " I loved Lucy!"
Review: Anyone who even LIKED Lucy needs to read this book. Expecting coffee table fare, I found this book to be the most touching, funny, behind-the-scenes book I have ever read! Great and surprising stories - very cool and personal photos. In a small way, I felt as if I had actually spent some time with Lucy, playing Backgammon and hearing her unique "Lucy view" of the world. Read this book and you will love Lucy even more! If anyone doesn't see how special this book is - I hope they die screaming!...Is that so wong???
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED " I loved Lucy!"
Review: Anyone who even LIKED Lucy needs to read this book. Expecting coffee table fare, I found this book to be the most touching, funny, behind-the-scenes book I have ever read! Great and surprising stories - very cool and personal photos. In a small way, I felt as if I had actually spent some time with Lucy, playing Backgammon and hearing her unique "Lucy view" of the world. Read this book and you will love Lucy even more! If anyone doesn't see how special this book is - I hope they die screaming!...Is that so wong???
Rating: 
Summary: Lacking Respect, Lee Tannen Could Hardly Have Loved Lucy
Review: As the niece of Gary Morton, my mother's brother, and a long-time resident of Los Angeles, I spent a significant amount of time with Lucy and Gary in their homes from 1962 on. I was, therefore, amazed at how inaccurate many of the so-called "facts" in this book are. To start with, my uncle was several years older than Tannen portrays him and was never a member of the Hillcrest Country Club. Thus, he never wore a terry robe with a Hillcrest Country Club logo on it, as Tannen claims. I was also surprised at how someone who claims to have loved Lucy so much would show such disrespect for her and her family throughout the book by making unsubstantiated negative statements about them and discussing so many private things. In mentioning Lucy's relationship with her children, Tannen guesses about their feelings for each other and the reasons for them, and then presents these guesses as facts. He also infers - without any substantiation - that my uncle, who was Lucy's husband for nearly 30 years, was interested in how much money Lucy made for his own selfish reasons. Since my uncle acted as Lucy's agent at her request, it is more likely that he was concerned about how much money she was being paid on a project because he wanted to ensure she was treated with the respect she deserved. From my perspective, Gary always looked out for Lucy's best interests. Tannen also makes a statement about an opinion of my uncle supposedly held by Lucy's television show writers. I truly doubt these writers ever discussed their opinions about anything with Tannen, if in fact they spoke to him at all. Knowing Lucy as well as I did and how much she valued her privacy, I believe that had Tannen written this book while she was still alive, she would cut him out of her life altogether, as she had done once before. Perhaps Tannen's real motive in writing this book was more self-serving, i.e., to make up for his inability to get Lucy to participate in one of his projects - such as the Broadway play he pushed for her to do. In short, many of the purported "facts" in this book are nothing more than Tannen's personal beliefs and opinions. If you're interested in fantasies about Lucy and her life, read this book. If you're interested in facts, I would suggest you look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: look at *ME*--I'm with Lucy!
Review: I confess to not reading the entire book.
I really didn't want to. The tone was rather gushy and breathless. The photos of author and actress seemed to usually show him smirking into the camera, draped around her, as if broadcasting "here *I* am with a STAR!" One didn't get the impression of the author as a friend, but as someone more needy. His likening Ms. Ball and himself to the main characters in "Sunset Boulevard" was therefore strange. He seemed to never forget--or let the reader forget either--that Lucy had been the Queen of TV Comedy, An Icon. And to then cast Lucy into the Norma Desmond role of someone who was forgotten, in need of the constant company of an adoring young man, AND crazy, is egregious. Not only contraditory, but also egotistical. Glad I avoided the bits where he fantasizes that he's actually reliving episodes of "I Love Lucy"; to paraphrase Groucho Marx, sometimes a TV show is just a TV show.
Rating: 
Summary: Obessed Fan Stalks Fading Television Legend
Review: I couldn't give this book low stars because I read it very quick. Meaning that there was something very fascinating about this read. However I found this book extremely disturbing on many levels. First of all this author never ever found out what Lucy was really like or even who she really was. All he does is play games with her (at her request) and idolize her. He compares everything that happens to her in real life to an "I Love Lucy" episode. Which was not only boring to read but very very disturbing. He gets momentos from her (framed pictures) and sits around watching old "I Love Lucy" reruns while looking at the scripts while Lucy looks on. This is beyond creepy. The whole thing reminded me of MISERY - except Lucy was the one in control. Sort of MISERY in reverse. We never really get to know about Lee or his boyfriend. (Except they are rich) We only hear tabloid style mean jabs at Lucy's husband - very unfair because that is the ONLY way he got to know Lucy at all. It's sad when the only thing good about this book is the letter written by Lucie Arnaz to the author. It is such a sincere and nice letter. Much better than this fawning strange book. It was nice to see that Lucy had a soft sentimental as well as tough side. As Lucie Anaz put it she was "only human". Fascinating but gross!
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