NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAmerica was flying high in the Roaring Twenties. Then, almost overnight, the Great Depression brought it crashing down. When the dust settled, people were primed for a star who could distract them from reality. Enter Gypsy Rose Lee, a strutting, bawdy, erudite stripper who possessed a gift for delivering exactly what America needed. With her superb narrative skills and … superb narrative skills and eye for detail, Karen Abbott brings to life an era of ambition, glamour, struggle, and survival. Using exclusive interviews and never-before-published material, she vividly delves into Gypsy’s world, including her intense triangle relationship with her sister, actress June Havoc, and their formidable mother, Rose, a petite but ferocious woman who literally killed to get her daughters on the stage. Weaving in the compelling saga of the Minskys—four scrappy brothers from New York City who would pave the way for Gypsy Rose Lee’s brand of burlesque and transform the entertainment landscape—Karen Abbott creates a rich account of a legend whose sensational tale of tragedy and triumph embodies the American Dream.
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Quite informative, but the flashback organization was challenging at times. Well researched.
The narrative bounces incredibly badly amongst characters and it is hard to follow the thread. A slow read. May not finish it. This story could be so engaging, but… it isn’t.
Rather slow and plodding.
Hard to follow because it is too disjointed.
scrambles a great story
Enjoyed reading about this American icon. Enjoyed the book.
loved this book and could not put it down
This is a well researched and well written biography. It’s got what you hope for- an insightful and thoughtful work, not only into the person herself, but the time and circumstance surrounding her.
Informativs,but repetitious.
I wish I could say I loved this book but I can’t. I didn’t know much about Gypsy Rose Lee which is why I purchased this book. I wish I could say I loved it but I can’t. It was quite confusing with the chapters going back and forth to Gypsy’s childhood then adulthood with no rhyme or reason. At times I didn’t know if I was reading a book about June …
If you were expecting a book version of the movie starring Natalie Wood as Gypsie, as I was, this was an eye opening novel. Her mother was a monster who chewed up every child actor under her dubious patronage. It’s a very well researched book and the author covers a lot of ground with an unbiased view. I, on the other hand, was left with profound …
Really interesting read. Very well researched by the author.