Marlene Dietrich by Maria Riva Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Marlene Dietrich
Book Review: Marlene Deitrich
Summary: 5 Stars
WOW! 800 pages.....I have only begun to dig into this book.....
but it is worth it if you love bios and Marlene......
Book Review: Marlene: All-too-Human Goddess
Summary: 5 Stars
"Marlene Dietrich", a massive, tell-all biography by her daughter, Maria Riva, is a fascinating read about a fascinating subject. Ms. Riva had been writing this book for years, and it was understood by all (including her legendary mother) that it not be published until after her death. A "Mommie Dearest" book? Not really. Riva is in awe of her mother, and does have some affection for her, although it sounds as if Dietrich DARED people to love her. She was a very strong-willed woman, infinitely German in this respect, stubborn, opinionated, and even somewhat delusional. However, well into her seventies, she once peered at herself in her full-length mirror before going onstage, and uttered, "Look at her-isn't she frightening?" The woman had more than a little self-perspective to utter a remark like that. She probably just wouldn't tolerate it coming from someone else. Screen legends are human, even though they may not think so. They are flawed, under pressure to "deliver the goods" and "never grow old", and, in the case of an aging star legendary for her glamorous beauty, "never to become ugly". Miss Dietrich was VERY aware of this, and ultimately trapped by this. But back to the book. It is almost exhaustive in its detail, particularly Ms. Riva's fascination with her mother's self-discipline, scrutinous eye for detail and beauty, and opinions on everything, is fascinating to myself, as well as millions of others. Her disdain for her parents' treatment of "Tami" is well-grounded-they didn't sound like the most sympathetic souls when it came to "personal issues", so who is to say that she is an "ungrateful, self-pitying daughter"? There are millions of parents who AREN'T famous who are insensitive to "personal issues." I think that the critics of this book should realize that ANY book is written with the intention of making money, and that no one would believe a totally whitewashed account of "My wonderful mother". This book could be THE book about being a show-business legend and its effect on everyone involved. Miss Dietrich, in my opinion, was the epitome of "Hollywood glamor" at its divine best. One can see why Madonna, who is a genius at self-perpetuating and publicizing a myth, emulated her for a while. I don't think that she has Dietrich's beauty or class or style, but that's another story. I have been a Dietrich fan since my teens, (I'm in my 40s now), and I am still fascinated by her. I am also a little horrified now, after reading Ms. Riva's book, but I also had to grow up with the fact that screen legends are human, too-even that fascinating, forbidden orchid known as Marlene Dietrich.Book Review: My favorite book!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first saw the cover for this book, in 1993, I thought I was looking at a picture of Madonna! Then I opened it and found that it was about Marlene Dietrich. Still, I checked it out from my local library, and I couldn't put it down! I spent my entire summer vacation reading this book. I hardly knew anything about Dietrich--or Hollywood's Golden Age--before this. Like many young people (I was fifteen at the time), I wasn't interested in watching those "boring", old black-and-white films, but this book changed all that. Marlene is such a fascinating person, flaws and all. She is also an extremely talented one, helping with the design of her famous costumes, and even to arranging her own lighting. Riva's anecdotes about her mother and old Hollywood made me wish I could have grown up during the twenties/thirties, instead of the eighties/nineties. I highly recommend this biography, especially for young people who have yet to discover actors and films from a time long gone by.Book Review: My life with Marlene Dietrich.....
Summary: 2 Stars
At times this book was a good read.Then you get intricatedetails of Maria's life, hiding behind this legend is a little girl(&Tammi) wishing praise from the world in a book she wrote in order to fulfill her need to write about herself.Truthful and full of detail as it is.This book may captivate you,then may make you upset because you took the time to read...Marlene dedicated herself to her daughter,loved her! Maria managed her mother's professional life and experienced the up's and down's of legend.She deserves praise for this. For all of us we see fame as the ultimate way to cheat death.Marlene suceeded! In this we can see that this life is worthwhile discussing...Many of us may die alone,without legend.Another obituary,another face.Not Marlene!Book Review: One of a kind
Summary: 4 Stars
Marlene Dietrich was a creation and lived an extra-ordinary life but her daughter was forced to be the real actor in the family. I felt close to Maria as she revealed her life with her mother. The small things hinted more about the legend's real character than things that have been written in the past.