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Not the Girl Next Door: Joan Crawford, a Personal Biography Audiobook
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(2.97) - 138 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
She was beautiful, talented, irascible, ruthless, vulnerable, and a true Hollywood legend. From abused child to dance-hall entertainer to silent-film actress, she went on to become one of Hollywood’s screen goddesses with films such as Possessed opposite Clark Gable, with whom she began a torrid off-screen affair, Grand Hotel, and Mildred Pierce, her Academy Award–winning film. Joan Crawford succeeded and survived through sheer determination, talent, invention, and re-invention.
Now, Charlotte Chandler, the acclaimed biographer of Ingrid Bergman (Ingrid), Bette Davis (The Girl Who Walked Home Alone), and Groucho Marx (Hello, I Must Be Going), gives us a revealing and often surprising portrait of Joan Crawford, much of it in Joan Crawford’s own words.
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"A somewhat interesting read about the life of Hollywood actress Joan Crawford. It is mostly composed of quotes from Crawford and several other people who knew or where married to her. It is a very positive portrayal of her so contrasts with her daughter's Mommie Dearest biography. "
— George (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Indispensable for future considerations of Crawford.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“This is the definitive book on Crawford’s life and her career. It’s entertaining while offering convincing authenticity.”
— Rocky Mountain News -
“Reveal[s] a hardworking, disciplined and generous woman who lived for work…Chandler’s bio is a breezy, laudatory read that would have pleased Crawford.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“The former Lucille LaSueur’s story may never have been better told.”
— Booklist
Not the Girl Next Door Listener Reviews
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" Blah, blah. Why do I keep wasting my money? "
— Laura, 12/19/2013 -
" An O K book. I would have liked it better if it was a book with more depth. "
— Linda, 12/3/2013 -
" A somewhat interesting read about the life of Hollywood actress Joan Crawford. It is mostly composed of quotes from Crawford and several other people who knew or where married to her. It is a very positive portrayal of her so contrasts with her daughter's Mommie Dearest biography. "
— George, 12/1/2013 -
" This book is wonderful! Especially for those who only know her from "Mommie Dearest" infamy. You get to know the real Joan Crawford and what a strong, amazing woman she actually was and not the monster her adopted daughter invented. "
— Tanika, 11/27/2013 -
" Not so much a biography as summaries of the plots of all her movies. "
— Trisha, 11/27/2013 -
" Okay but very surface. I don't think this book tells the whole story. This book was obviously written by a fan but not by a great biographer. "
— Christine, 7/15/2013 -
" This book tells the other side of the story as compared to Mommie Dearest. Interviews/stories from Joan Crawford,Douglas Fairbanks Jr and others give a more balanced view of who Joan Crawford was. "
— Diane, 4/25/2012 -
" A good book in that details Joan's work thoroughly. I would have liked more details about her personal life which I felt was glossed over. "
— Amy, 3/30/2012 -
" It was a difficult read for me. I couldnt get into it because it shifted too much from quotes to narrative. I also found the movie plots very distracting and often skipped them. "
— Joan, 10/15/2011 -
" The only redeeming thing about this book was the list of Joan Crawford's work. What I was hoping to be a revealing look at her life was more like a sickly sweet love letter to the image of Joan Crawford and not the person. "
— Hester, 7/12/2011 -
" This book doesn't contain the finest writing -- it's a bit choppy in places -- but it's a fun read. (The author is an obvious fan, but seems to try to be even-handed in her treatment of things like "Mommie Dearest.") "
— Vicki, 4/11/2011 -
" An interesting review of another famous icon. Little known facts humanizes someone most of us (thanks to Mommy Dearest) have preconceived notions of. "
— Sara, 1/30/2011 -
" This book was disappointing and dull in comparison to Chandler's novel about Bette Davis. The summaries of Crawford's movies are distracting throughout the text and poorly written. "
— Melissa, 1/13/2011 -
" It was OK. There are better and more comprehensive biographies of this great star. "
— Rose, 10/7/2010 -
" A bit dull, especially given the subject. Was interesting to hear the other side of the Mommie Dearest tale, though (this author interviewed the other children and many friends). I liked reading interviews with her ex-husbands as well. "
— Jessica, 6/30/2010 -
" This book was disappointing and dull in comparison to Chandler's novel about Bette Davis. The summaries of Crawford's movies are distracting throughout the text and poorly written. "
— Melissa, 5/30/2010 -
" The only redeeming thing about this book was the list of Joan Crawford's work. What I was hoping to be a revealing look at her life was more like a sickly sweet love letter to the image of Joan Crawford and not the person. "
— Hester, 3/24/2009 -
" It was a difficult read for me. I couldnt get into it because it shifted too much from quotes to narrative. I also found the movie plots very distracting and often skipped them. "
— Joan, 6/28/2008 -
" It was OK. There are better and more comprehensive biographies of this great star. "
— Rose, 6/27/2008 -
" This book doesn't contain the finest writing -- it's a bit choppy in places -- but it's a fun read. (The author is an obvious fan, but seems to try to be even-handed in her treatment of things like "Mommie Dearest.") "
— Vicki, 4/13/2008 -
" An interesting review of another famous icon. Little known facts humanizes someone most of us (thanks to Mommy Dearest) have preconceived notions of. "
— Sara, 3/18/2008 -
" A bit dull, especially given the subject. Was interesting to hear the other side of the Mommie Dearest tale, though (this author interviewed the other children and many friends). I liked reading interviews with her ex-husbands as well. "
— Jessica, 2/25/2008
About Charlotte Chandler
Charlotte Chandler's first book, Hello, I Must Be Going, was a bestseller about Groucho Marx. Her second book, The Ultimate Seduction, included conversations with Mae West, Tennessee Williams, Henry Moore, and others. Her next book, I, Fellini, was a New York Times Notable Book and has been published in twenty-five foreign editions. Her book about Billy Wilder, Nobody's Perfect, is being produced as a stage play by David Brown. She lives in New York City.
About Christine Williams
Christine Williams is a singer and actor based in Ashland, Oregon. Her performance credits include productions at regional theaters and on concert stages across the country and around the world, from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Barbican Centre in London to the Aspen Music Festival and the Grotowski Institute in Poland.