Eliza Knight

Funny, I wonder if there is a bit of truth in the way the "barbarians" underestimated the Romans by their effete appearance. Sadly, the tribe leaders met with maybe the least impressive, Claudius. Tragically so.

I've always found it odd that the Romans wiped out the Druid practice/religion when they pretty much left all others alone, even encouraging people to build temples in Rome to foreign gods.

Interesting the self-interest on display when the outraged Britons quake under the prospect of becoming Roman slaves when they enslave each other with abandon.… (més)

I was intrigued by the concept of this book – a story about the unlikely friendship between these two talented women who were underestimated by the men in their lives. They were both determined to gain professional independence and personal freedom at a time when women were expected to submit to men.

How magical that authors Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight collaborated to write about this little-known friendship between two famous women. Knight explains how “there is not much written about the friendship between Ella and Marilyn, but given what we do know, it is indisputable that they were close. With this novel we hope to shed light on what a friendship between them could have been.”

I’m a big fan of friendship stories, and I appreciated that this relationship was portrayed realistically. In some ways Ella and Marilyn were very different, but in other ways they had a lot in common. It was their commonalities that strengthened their connection over the ten years of their friendship and was at the heart of the book.

And this book also took care to describe the racist and sexist attitudes that were rampant in the 1950s and 1960s. I admired the way the authors included so many cultural issues of the time –music, clothes, movies, celebrities – also naming the various lipstick brands Marilyn used.

Even before I read this poignant novel, I knew the story of Marilyn Monroe, and it’s not a happy one. It’s well-known that she had a sad life, and though she tried to overcome her childhood abuse and neglect, her low self-esteem and poor choice of men kept her from achieving lasting success. While the book is well-written, portraying the bonds of friendship between Ella and Marilyn, as well as referring to their pasts, their romances, and families, it really feels like Marilyn’s story, and it’s ultimately a tragedy.

Knight explains in her author’s notes that “There is a lot of speculation about Marilyn Monroe’s final moments, and in fact, much of her life. Many stories, witnesses, and testimonies. Conspiracy theories abound. But the truth is, no one will ever know exactly what happened on that night. Was she murdered? Was it an overdose? Was it suicide? In our book, we decided to take the stance of an accidental overdose.” Knight says the purpose of the book was not to speculate on her death, but rather to honor what she did in life – and who she loved and admired.

The two authors say, “We put together a story we hope will honor the lives and legacies of two women who changed the face of entertainment and remain icons to this day.” If you like reading about Hollywood and the world of entertainment in the 1950s, about women’s friendships, and how women entertainers fought to gain independence in their careers, then this is the book for you.

CONTENT WARNING: drug use, addiction, talk of suicide, spousal abuse, death by drug overdose… (més)

The special friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe is explored in this novel. Marilyn’s outgoing personality and Ella’s reserved one were a compliment to each other. These women shared a rough upbringing, bonded over social injustice and tried to help each other thru the issues of being in the public eye.

I totally fell down the rabbit hole reading more of this on my own. I knew nothing of this unique friendship and gained a whole new appreciation for these women and the hand they’ve been dealt. Ella, the quiet reserved one, kept things to herself, especially her private life, and tried to steer her friend away from her questionable life choices. Marilyn, the outgoing one, who loved life and hated what was happening to her friend and would use her celebrity to make it right, her dependency on painkillers, alcohol. They both craved love but finding it in the spotlight made it impossible. Loved how these two forged a friendship against all odds and tried to lift each other. I appreciated how the authors didn’t sugarcoat their shortcomings. For me, the story was slow moving in parts. Overall the writing was compelling, honest.

Thanks to William Morrow for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.… (més)