Old Hollywood Book Reviews (Biographies, Autobiographies, Memoirs....)

If I’m not watching a deliciously classic Old Hollywood movie, odds are GREAT (stupendous, actually) that I’m reading a biography or autobiography from Hollywood’s glamorous past. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in the middle of at least one every single day of the year. I’m slowly, but surely, adding my reviews of the books I’ve read in the past. It’d help if I’d slow down on reading new ones – but, let’s face it, that’s not going to happen!

In fact, at this very moment, I am reading three – Ginger Rogers’ wonderful autobiography, a new Lana Turner biography, and (yet another) Lucille Ball biography. I think I’ve nearly read every one ever written… I’m working on it, at any rate.

When it comes to my Old Hollywood book reviews, the majority have been bought either by myself or a member of my family. My family does, in fact, joyfully support this addiction of mine.

Enablers, all of them.

I have been blessed enough to have books sent to me in exchange for telling you about them – something that I’m more than thrilled to do. Like all of my reviews, however, the words and thoughts are my own. I always mention within the book review when the book has been gifted to me for this purpose.

A Few Words About My Classic Hollywood Book Reviews

I make a concentrated effort to never give too much away. Books are marvelous, even magical, things – making authors (in my opinion) marvelous magicians. They put time, effort, and love into their works and I have zero intention of giving anything away – whether it’s huge secrets, uncovered mysteries, or extra juicy revelations. I enjoy seeing how an author unveils each of these to their readers and I won’t ruin it for them. But there’s more to it than that. It’s delicious to have a secret revealed to you while reading a book or to “bump into” a familiar name while reading. I don’t want to rob anyone of the element of surprise. I live for these moments, myself!
I don’t review fiction. The only fiction I read is Agatha Christie mysteries. I simply refuse to cheat on her. We’ve been together too long. Not only do I collect Old Hollywood biographies and books, I also collect other genres: cookbooks, American History books, Ancient Egypt books, books of quotations, Spiritual books and… one of my proudest collections – Agatha Christie books. Love her. At any rate (the bookworm got sidetracked, didn’t she), I only review non-fiction books.
I’m not into mean-spirited books. As in AT ALL. I often say, on Hollywood Yesterday, that I am here to celebrate the stars and to keep their names, movies, faces, and “presence” alive and shining brightly. I am not, remotely, here to spread bad information or rumors about those who are no longer around to defend themselves. The “Mommie Dearest” books of the world – I won’t touch them, read them, or review them.
I’m a coffee-drinking, tea-swilling, constantly-cooking, chocolate-eating, crazy cat lady. I’m not just bragging with this one, I’m explaining something that may show up in pictures I take of my books from time to time. While reading one of my dearly beloved books, I keep it by my side 24/7. I can even be found cooking with my nose stuck in a great biography! Keeping books with me at all times means that the cover may occasionally have a smudge (that’s where the chocolate comes into play), or a coffee mug, tea cup or cat nearby. Sometimes all three. That’s how I roll. It honestly just occurred to me that each of the three pictures I chose to display in this post illustrate my points!

Old Hollywood Book Reviews On Hollywood Yesterday

More are in the works, obviously. In fact, I absolutely cannot wait to tell you all about my favorite Audrey Hepburn and Lana Turner biographies… Oh! And Lucille Ball – there are several outstanding Lucille Ball bios out there. Then, of course, there’s another one of my absolute favorites, Barbara Stanwyck…

I’d better get busy. This calls for another cup of coffee….