This was a challenging read. It’s disheartening to witness someone as iconic as Marilyn Monroe succumb to the weight of her fears, anxieties, and addictions, while those around her either fail to help or shamelessly exploit her situation for their personal financial gain.
She remains a pop culture icon, a symbol of Old Hollywood’s allure. Yet, behind the screen persona, Monroe was a human being who didn’t deserve the tragic end she met at the age of 36.
Author Barbara Leaming does an excellent job documenting and detailing Monroe’s life from the early 1950s until her death in 1962. This was a chaotic time in Monroe’s life, and Leaming ensures that we see the famous blonde as a real person, not just a Hollywood legend.
Monroe’s childhood is touched upon several times, showcasing the messy and often predatory world she repeatedly found herself in as a young girl. The mental health issues that plagued her grandmother and mother terrified Monroe throughout her life. The idea that she, too, would fall victim to something outside her control appears to have been one of the many driving forces that led her to act as she did as an adult.
Marilyn Monroe is a loving but truthful portrait of a flawed woman who desired to be a Hollywood star. Even after she reached that success, internal and external forces would conspire against her. It’s an insightful and sobering look at how fame, fortune, and celebrity aren’t always a glamorous journey.
The author also provides numerous references to the source material used to craft the factual narrative for each chapter. Leaming did her research and took the time to ensure the image we’re left with of Marilyn Monroe is of who she really was: Norma Jeane Baker.
I highly recommend Marilyn Monroe by Barbara Leaming. It can sometimes be a frustrating and heartbreaking read, but it’s a touching tribute to a woman who will forever be part of the Hollywood landscape.