Blonde (Abridged) Audiobook

" Another incredible accomplishment. I never thought I would find Marilyn Monroe so fascinating and so sympathetic. "

" The reason I gave this book 2 1/2 stars is because it is just way too lengthy. I felt like I had to trudge through the first half and put it down on many occasions for an emotional breather. The second half of the book - wow. I couldn't put it down. Norma Jeane lived such a short life and so many assumptions are made about her. I thought Joyce Carol Oates was kind to her in 95% of the book. I'm probably a sucker but I do believe she was "lost". She wasn't "born to be touched", but rather to touch others with her acting skills (who knows how far she could have gone with more training) and her one-of-a-kind personality and, of course, beauty. Her method acting seemed to play into her schizophrenic tendencies. I also believe the Kennedy conspiracy. I'm thinking that her death in the book wasn't too far from the actual way she died. "

" My first and last JCO book. I simply don't see what others do in her writing. It's awful! "

" a history of a sex symbol; from a feminist view point. "

" Well, I had a baby with about 200 pages to go. And then the library recalled it as someone else had it on hold. So have to pick it up again soon! "

" A little confusing, didn't make much sense.But I enjoyed it nonetheless. "

" I wish every book I love this much could go on as long as this one did. "

" I love this author, and loved this book "

" I do not like the way Marilyn Monroe was portrayed in this book. "

" Brilliant and disturbing... Gave much food for thought and how much this is imagination versus truth. That said, I could not put this book down. And I gave it to my therapist afterwards to read... "

" Umm, just read Bess's review. I concur. "

" A very intersting take on the life of Marilyn Monroe. Joyce makes Monroe a complex character and retells the myth more from Monroe's point of view. Wasn't a big Marilyn fan before but will definitely wathc more of her movies now. "

" I loved this book when I read it. If you have any interest in Marilyn Munroe and her extremely troubled life, I think you would like this book. "

" Marilyn Monroe biography. Stopped in the middle - which I hardly ever do. Found it too emotional/depressing. "

" A disturbing fictionalized biography of Marilyn Monroe. Joyce Carol Oates recounts the story of a young, damaged woman whose extreme beauty and innocence led her down the path of emotional unfulfillment and up the ladder of fame. "

" after the biography of Marilyn by this fiction is an insight to Marilyn's life given by the imagination of a woman ... and Joyce is a brillant writer ... "

" Extremely lengthy but if you can dedicate the time and have any interest in Marilyn Monroe whatsoever, I would give it a go. "

" What a read! Joyce Carol Oates is a master of the English language. Her ability to rope you in and take you for a ride is marvelous. This is a long, slow read, but you'll want to take you time and relish all her writerly gifts. Magical. "

" my all time favorite book on marilyn monroe. "

" I'm like a giddy school girl IN LOVE with this book! "

" My favorite JCO novel. "

" Too morbid and dark. Actually gave me anxiety to read it. "

" I really, really adore Marilyn Monroe, and first time I read this at approx. 17 years of age, I simply loved it. However it lost a lot when I tried to read it once more. She's just trying to be so painfully poetic, it gets terribly annoying. "

" I love love love Oates, but struggled through this one a bit. I'm not sure if it was the way the book was written or the story of Marilyn which I imagined I would be different that didn't enchant me. I actually wouldn't mind re-reading it sometime... "

" Perfect vaca book - over 700 pages. "

" I really enjoy reading Joyce Carol Oates - and this was just as good as her other books. Of course the subject is depressing, but it was well done. "

" Well, I had a baby with about 200 pages to go. And then the library recalled it as someone else had it on hold. So have to pick it up again soon! "

" One of the best books I've ever read - and re-read. "

" I loved this book so much I read it while walking. Another book I could not put down. And before I read this, I didn't give two hoots about Marilyn Monroe. Now I find her fascinating... and I owe it all to this book. The writing is beautiful. Joyce Carol Oates at her best. "

" Hard to put down! It feels like you can really see into Marilyn's heart and mind. Even though this is fiction, it seemed real to me. "

" A little confusing, didn't make much sense.But I enjoyed it nonetheless. "