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The Other Side of Ethel Mertz: The Life Story of Vivian Vance

The Other Side of Ethel Mertz: The Life Story of Vivian Vance

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent book about an extraordinary woman!
Review: Castelluccio and Walker do an excellent job chronicalling the life of Vivian Vance. It was easy to follow, sometimes sad, but at a few points I found myself laughing out loud! It was an amazing journey through a life of a person that most of us know from I Love Lucy but do not know anything about her private life. From the quotes in the beginning to the triumphant end the book did not have one boring moment. Packed with little-known facts it is a must read for any I Love Lucy fan. You'll never look at Ethel Mertz the same again!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: More than I really wanted to know
Review: As a lifetime I Love Lucy fan with 40 years and a graduate degree under my belt, I wish I'd just kept my curiosity about Vivian Vance rather than read this book. Yes, the book is fairly well written but I think the really interesting parts of her life remain unwritten.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Another side to Vivian Vance
Review: I thought that "The Other Side of Vivian Vance" was an excellent book. I have been an avid watcher of the I Love Lucy Show and and an avid reader of all aspects of the show. I have always known that Ms. Vance was an incredible Broadway and Television actress. This book brings out her trials and tribulations and HER triumps clearly. I read the book in less than 24-hours. I suggest this book strongly.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: First time biographers - and that's a good thing
Review: This is the best biography I've read in a long time - and I read a lot of biographies. The authors fresh take on not only Vivian Vance but the celeb-bio form make this a great read. You will learn much about Vivian Vance that you never knew - and in a surprisingly original way. I've recommended and given this book to many friends this year, and they've all loved it. Go. Buy. Enjoy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I Love Viv
Review: I've read all the Lucy biographies and they only touched upon Vivian. With this book, you can enjoy Viv's high points and feel for her in her low points. Some of the organization in the book seemed a little off, but for any true I LOVE LUCY fan, this book is a MUST!!!!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Everything you wanted to know about Vivian Vance.
Review: Being an "I Love Lucy" fan from childhood, I've always wondered about Vivian. It is so easy to get information about Lucille Ball, but has been very hard to get info about Vivian Vance. I thought I was the only one who appreciated her comedic talents. The show would not be the same without her; to me her character was essential. Now with this book, jam-packed with information, you get a true sense of her personality and long history before the show. After reading this book, I felt I knew Vivian, a completely different person than her character "Ethel". I want to thank the authors for giving us an opportunity to know Vivian Vance.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent
Review: Frank Castelluccio and Alvin Walker have done a superb job in their research into the life of Vivian Vance. Although sad at times, this book gives us a look at her abilities and accomplishments, as well as her disappointments, and proves what a fine actress Vivian really was. It is interesting to read about the names of the Broadway and off-Broadway shows she was in and who the other stars were that she worked with. I had no idea she worked with and was close to Marjorie Lord, who had many fond memories of and words of praise for Vivian. If you are a fan of Vivian or I Love Lucy, you will enjoy this book. It is worth the price of the hard cover.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Long overdue.
Review: This was a great story that took too long to be told. It was so interesting to find out the truth of America's favorite side-kick. Very well-written.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Crisp and to-the-point bio of a great actress!
Review: Crisp, to-the-point, never dwelling on anything (good or bad) too long -- this book presents the one-of-a-kind Vivian Vance as she was. Neither sinner nor saint, she fought and scraped her way to become a legend. It's all here.

Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball took great risks to bring a new medium -- TV -- out of its infancy and into what it is today, an essential member of the family. Only now does VV get the recognition she so richly deserves.

Don't wait for the paperback -- get this book now!

An aside: Lucie Arnaz is one class act. She provides gentle but truthful insight and a small but touching act of kindness (but I don't want to spoil that one for the readers). Thank you , Lucie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This second banana will never be forgotten!
Review: I found this book extremely interesting in the fact that Vivian Vance both hated and embraced the "Ethel" side of her personality. I am sure there are struggling actors the world over who would kill for the kind of success and recognition she received for this role. While I can understand her frustration in her perception of losing her identity, she must have known that "Ethel Mertz" will always be what she is remembered for and what a legacy of laughs...The world had never seen a female team like Lucille and Vivian and I doubt we ever will again.


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