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Hello, my name is Kelly and I welcome you to the Bookend Diaries book blog. I created this blog to share my own reviews of existing and new books, to discuss with other readers what we’re currently reading, update you on my book club picks, and of course, to ultimately support the work of the authors we all enjoy. I am addicted to reading and I thought this would be a great way to reach out to other readers who are as obsessed with books as I am.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Me And My Shadow: A Family Memoir by Lorna Luft



***Purchased through Barnes and Noble

Synopsis

The question follows Lorna Luft to this day: "What's it like to be Dorothy's daughter?" Although by appearances glamorous and truly thrilling, growing up as the daughter of Judy Garland was anything but a journey over the rainbow.
With unsparing candor, Lorna Luft offers the first-ever insider portrait of one of Hollywood's most celebrated families: a rare story of a little girl, her half-sister Liza, and her baby brother trying desperately to hang on to the mother whose life seemed destined to burn brightly but briefly. Lorna makes an extraordinary journey back into the spiral of love, addiction, pain, and loss that lurked behind a charmed facade.
Filled with behind-the-scenes dramas, hilarious untold stories, and little-known details of Garland family life, Me and My Shadows is a tribute to Lorna's victory over her own past, a story of hope, of love and its limitations, and a deeply moving testament to the healing powers of embracing one's past and charting a course of self-love and discovery.

My Comments:

My favorite actress is Judy Garland and when I saw this book, I knew that it was a must read. Especially, being able to read what life was like through her daughter’s eyes. Judy Garland was so talented and gifted and achieved so much fame. But, she also paid a high price for it and there were lots of sacrifices that she made along the way. Even with everything she went through she was a very devoted Mother and loved her family with all of her heart. It was amazing to me to read about what life was like to be her daughter, and the many movie stars that came in and out of their home on a daily basis which was common place. What was great about this book is that it went inside the studios of the Golden Age era and got you to see what they expected from their movie stars. She will always be known for movie classics such as, “Meet Me In St. Louis,” “The Harvey Girls,” “Easter Parade,” & “A Star is Born,” just to name a few. Of course Dorothy from the “Wizard of Oz,” was her most famous role. It just makes me wonder if she was ever able to click her ruby slippers together and find her own way home. I will always have admiration for the legacy that she left behind, and it's testament to the life that she lived. She has blessed us with her many talents to enjoy for a lifetime filled with our own special memories.

2 comments:

  1. I love Judy Garland and am very interested in her life. Although she is most famous for the Wizard of Oz. Meet me in St. Louis was my favorite.

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  2. I'm sorry wait...Judy Garland...hold the phone...Judy Garland is Liza Minnelli's MOM! Seriously!?! I know that is not the point of this review but how did I not know that!!

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