Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous
Review: I was extremely overjoyed with this read. It's hilarious! I was hysterical! After reading the story of Lucy's life from Lucy herself, (in Love, Lucy)it was interesting to here the story of the tragic and rocky, yet peaceful end of her life from someone else. It was saddening to read about the depression she suffered from towards the very end of her life, but it was good she had a friend that cared about her as much as this man did. One note, her love for Desi must have been pretty evident because he noticed right away that she still yearned for him. The author is starstruck...but who wouldn't be. He is also constantly comparing to "I Love Lucy", but I didn't mind since I am a diehard Lucy Fan. But despite a few minor setbacks, it's great! And in the words of Lucie Arnaz in the foreward.. "People should read this."
Rating: 
Summary: Meet The Personal Side Of Lucy
Review: I was in a bookstore picking up a new release of another book I had on my to read list when I turned my head and saw this book promiently displayed (with only 2 copies left!). I opened the book and skimmed a couple of pages here and there and KNEW I HAD to buy this book! I put this book before my "new released" book and what a ride Lee gives the reader in the final decade of Lucy's life! I was up to 2AM finishing the book up, I could not put it down!This book was poignant, written with true friendship, love for Lucy, honesty and personality. From page one upon meeting Lee, the read is made to feel that he/she is an ant sitting on Lee's shoulder experiencing all the times and visits he had with Lucy. I appreciated the fact that in telling his experiences, Lee did not glaze over any touchy moments when Lucy may not have been happy about something as well as didn't overload sugar in her good times. I found the written account to be what the experience was. What made Lucy tick? What made Lucy happy? What made Lucy laugh? What made Lucy angry? We was Lucy thinking? We got to meet people in Lucy's later life that we may not have ever met. In simplicity, Lucy the star, the icon and Queen of Comedy was in many ways an everyday person like so many of us are. The reader felt like they were having lunch with Lucy with her specialty of grilled cheese sandwiches or beans and franks. We had dinners that included her beloved Waldorf Salad. I laughed, I cried with the book. I got into an insight of her last years being married to Gary Morton that I really never contexted in the way it was. It was kind of sad as how it was, isn't what I had in mind. I think in several ways, Lucy never got over Desi. The only thing that made this reader wonder about is that we got to meet Lucie and her family and on occasion see them get together with Lucy. Desi Jr. is touched upon in several places but we never got to experience him visiting Lucy. From reading the book, I don't think it was just excluded by the author but the reader does wonder why Desi Jr. isn't around. I wholeheartedly suggest that any Lucy fan buy this book, read it, and add it to your Lucy library. This would make a WONDERFUL Christmas/Hannukah gift for the holiday season for the Lucy fan on your gift list!
Rating: 
Summary: Loved Lucy, Loathed Lee
Review: I was really looking forward to this book, having enjoyed James Brochu's memoir (he was another of Lucy's backgammon pals) instead I was shocked to find this an obnoxious, self-serving tale of a fan who sees himself as a "relative" ("Gary Morton's sister Helen's husband, Bob, was my father's first cousin" he writes) and a "friend". Actually he seems closer to a hanger-on (there is a less gentle term for that these days), albeit he and his boyfriend have well-paying jobs unlike a lot of gay boys who latch on to elderly actresses. We certainly don't learn much about Lucy here, and apparently neither did Mr. Tannen. Unlike Brochu's book, quoting Lucy in detail about her career and associates, Tannen does not appear very interested or even knowledgable about her contemporaries or even Lucy's pre-I LOVE LUCY career. All that time together appears to be spent doing little more than playing backgammon. Several times he tastelessly comments about personal incidents reminding him of MOMMIE DEAREST and SUNSET BLVD. Frankly, I was reminded of ALL ABOUT EVE ie: a little schemer pushing their way into the life of a great star. There certainly is a bit of latent hostility under his fawning. He doesn't fail to get us the full details about times when Lucy behaved badly toward him (ie: telling him the correct way to toast an English muffin) but seems rather vague about a fit he threw in a car that resulted in Lucy breaking ties for two years. He seems jealous of anyone else in Lucy's life including her husband. His nasty remarks at Gary's expense seem quite ungrateful considering Gary was his source for entering into Lucy's life. He doesn't attack Lucy's children, of course (he barely mentions either of them though at one point dares to suggest he himself was something of a son to Lucy). He is complimentary to Lucie in the few brief comments directed at her, apparently to keep in her good graces and in touch. Lucie praises his book lavishly on the dust jacket, probably because he states Desi Arnaz was the love of Lucy's life and never got over him. This, of course, is what Little Lucie, always closer to her father, wants to hear. The cover pose with Lucy, in which Tannen has arm over her shoulder and the other hand by her neck (there's even another photo inside with a similiar pose as well as this shot reproduced inside) certainly suggests he was possessive. He was not in show business (unless you call making commercials show business) but does not hesitate to attack every major career Lucy made during the 1980's as a mistake, apparently because she dared to without getting his advice. Some of the ideas he puts forth are truly terrible (ie: Lucy starring past age 70 on Broadway for the first time in over 20 years which might have been a real disaster and not just from the critic reception. Lucy's health was not good her last decade, is he really so insensitive not to realize what working eight shows a week at that point could have done to her?). He certainly seems not to have considered the fact that Lucy was only seeking a little companionship from him as a backgammon partner and was not interested in either getting professional advice from him or being his mentor for a major show business career. He does seem to have genuine affection for Lucy (although she certainly is not the only star he might have been so "close" to given to chance as fawns over Don Johnson, Tommy Tune, or Patricia Neal when he meets them via Lucy; the Tune interaction is particularly interesting because Lucy's comments to him suggest she thought he might take his star watching to another level). Had he been nicer to Gary (whom Lucy was clearly devoted to all accounts) or more of a real friend (ie: helping her interact with her children more) I would have like Tannen and his book a lot more. He does love Lucy, but as a person or a star? That answer seems unclear.
Rating: 
Summary: REPETETIVE AND DISTURBING
Review: I'm sure Lee Tannen's intentions were good. I, however, cannot endorse this book.
First of all, Tannen's obsession with Lucy goes beyond normalcy. This is truly evident, not only in the way he has compared almost every situation he describes with Lucy to a particular "I Love Lucy" episode but the fact that he makes no secret of his dislike for Gary Morton is beyond reproach and disturbingly creepy. It is almost as if he's jealous of Gary and wants Lucy all to himself which is what happens most of the time in his anecdotes, which become repetetive and trite after a few chapters.
I Love Lucy as much as anyone but to idolize someone to the point of obsession the way Tannen does with Lucy is too "far out" for my taste.
I agree with the reviewer who wrote that Lucie Arnaz only endorsed this book because Tannen wrote what she wanted to hear....that Desi Arnaz was the love of Lucy's life (no big secret)and that he never got the credit he deserved for making Lucy the television institution she became (again, no big secret).
The book itself in context, grammar, etc. is very poorly written. With all the money Tannen claims to have he could have had this book at least edited properly.
When Lucy wrote him off for a year after he threw a temper tantrum (which he later regretted) Lucy should have kept her distance completely. This book, alas, adds nothing new to the Lucy Legend. As a matter of fact, it detracts greatly from it.
Rating:
Summary: BUY AND READ THIS BOOK..WHAT A BLAST!
Review: Just when you thought you new EVERYTHING about Lucy... SURPRISE! This book takes us on an amazing journey through the last decade of her life. If you ever wished you could have gotten a chance to meet and spend time with Lucy..when reading this book it's like YOU ARE FINALLY THERE! And some of the adventures he takes you on with her...they are hysterical - in a Manhattan movie house watching "Terms of Endearment;" on the slopes of Snowmass, Colorado and mostly around her favorite backgammon table in Beverly HIlls! What a trip she was! And after reading this book I love her even more! I couldn't put the book down....started before lunch, broke for dinner.. and finished around 2am...IT'S JUST THE KIND OF LAUGHTER I NEEED AFTER THE HELLISH MONTH WE HAVE ALL JUST GONE THROUGH IN AMERICA!
Rating:
Summary: A touching memoir of time spent with a beloved legend...
Review: Lee Tannen has given the millions of Lucy fans all over the world an especially welcome early-holiday gift--his touching memoir, I LOVE LUCY: MY FRIENDSHIP WITH LUCILLE BALL. While it can be argued that Lee is by no means the "typical" everyday Lucy fan (he has a jet-set career and many friends in high places), he brings tremendous compassion and intelligence to the often heartbreaking story of Lucy's final years. Exploring the often sad, mundane realities of her existence in the twilight of her life, he gives us Lucy--the real, honest, frank, demanding, and yes, heartbroken woman behind the laughs. An intelligent and open-minded memoir of a unique and complex friendship, one which had a profound effect on both the author and his once-in-a-lifetime subject, America's greatest comedienne.
Rating:
Summary: refreshingly honest and intimate portrayal of a friendship
Review: Lee Tannen has successfully and engagingly portrayed his relationship with the star Lucille Ball. From the very beginning of the book it is apparent that Lucy let Lee Tannen into her life at a time when she was becoming reclusive and spending time with only the closest of friends. Lee Tannen describes with wit and clarity the ordinary comings and goings of a friendship. It is a very moving journey of friendship and companionship between a very intelligent, energetic, and funny young man, with a star......it is clear that Lee Tannen loved Lucy, and importantly, equally clear that Lucy loved him. A wonderful read!
Rating:
Summary: It's a Roll of the Dice with Lucy and Lee
Review: Lee Tannen provides a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the private life of Lucille Ball. As he and Lucy spend many an afternoon playing backgammon, many interesting details of her life surface that have not shown up in any other biographies or memoirs of Ms. Ball. Nevertheless, there is something very uneven about Mr. Tannen's book. He never seems to get past the fact he is sitting with Lucille Ball, Queen of Comedy and Television Superstar. The friendship almost seems contrived at times, with him in complete awe of Lucy. Can a true friendship exist when one person cannot get past their childlike fascination with Lucy Ricardo? There is also the extremely annoying habit of comparing nearly every incident he and Ms. Ball experience to an episode of "I Love Lucy". It is mildly (and that word is used loosely) entertaining the first two times, but quickly grates on your nerves and warrants a bit of text skimming to avoid the irritating bits. True Lucy fans will no doubt devour this book as it does provide something not seen in many other Lucy-bio's, with the exception of Jim Brochu's 'Lucy in the Afternoon'. Read with caution, however, as the experience may leave you somewhat frustrated, with an overwhelming desire to learn how to play backgammon.
Rating:
Summary: Lucy's Last Decade
Review: Lee Tannen was a good friend and frequent backgammon partner of Lucy during the last ten years of her life. He presents us with a lightweight yet winning book, although at times I felt I had strayed into the script of "Sunset Boulevard" as he details Lucy's isolation, her days spent playing backgammon inside her shuttered Beverly Hills home, with her outdated 50's decor and kitchen appliances.
He doesn't make the Lucy he knew into a saintly figure; instead he lets us in on her "star-ego" moments and her lapses into pettiness. He describes in detail how each of her homes and her ski condo at Snowmass, Colorado are decorated, and tells us of her wardrobe with her extensive collection of fur coats.
Although his book is entertaining, with some degree of unavoidable name-dropping, I think most people prefer to remember Lucy as she was in the 50s when her antics made a whole nation laugh with delight.
Rating: 
Summary: the last ten years of Lucille Ball's life
Review: Lee Tannen was a good friend and frequent backgammon partner of Lucy during the last ten years of her life. He presents us with a lightweight yet winning book, although at times I felt I had strayed into the script of "Sunset Boulevard" as he details Lucy's isolation, her days spent playing backgammon inside her shuttered Beverly Hills home, with her outdated 50's decor and kitchen appliances.
He doesn't make the Lucy he knew into a saintly figure; instead he lets us in on her "star-ego" moments and her lapses into pettiness. He describes in detail how each of her homes and her ski condo at Snowmass, Colorado are decorated, and tells us of her wardrobe with her extensive collection of fur coats.
Although his book is entertaining, with some degree of unavoidable name-dropping, I think most people prefer to remember Lucy as she was in the 50s when her antics made a whole nation laugh with delight.
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