Fergie: Her Secret Life (CL)

Before I read the book I questioned the authors reasons for writing it - especially as she called him her 'dearest friend', but by the end of the book I understood completely. Her loyalty to the author was negligeable and 'hurtful', especially when he told of the circumstances following his suicide attempt; she said next time he commits suicide (as her clairvoyant told her he would) and when he is dead could he get JFK to tell his son that she was destined to marry him (John Kennedy Junior) - bizarre to say the least! At her worst Fergie was shown to be thoughtless, selfish, deceitful, spineless and spoilt. However, the author also gives a balanced view, as in the case where Fergie held and kissed neglected, orphaned kids when many of the other adults present could not even bring themselves to enter the room because of the stench. As for John Bryan - he needs help for sure - what a shallow character!

I have just read the book for the second time. Very interesting insight into the psychology of all parties involved, including the author. I feel the author had a love/hate relationship with the Duchess of York. When she was good, she was very good: when she was bad she was very bad. It must have been a nightmare trying to "organise" two shambolic personalities. At the same time, I get the feeling it was very attractive to be "an inside player" rather than an outside observer.Well written.

I cannot say enough about this book of ALLAN STARKIE'S....FERGIE: HER SECRET LIFE!!! It's like he was a mind-reader, or psychic when it came to him (Allan Starkie) getting into the thoughts and feelings of SARAH FERGUSON! Truly amazing insight....he is to be commended....and perhaps the QUEEN will KNIGHT him...NOT!!! (Perhaps in his next life?) Good show my man. I can't wait to see his next book....and who's the SUBJECT MATTER???

At first, I thought this was going to be another one of those books written by someone who saw the Duchess of York from a distance and figured that gave them the right to capitalize on the experience. I was very wrong! This author has a captivatingly twisted tale to tell about his daily dealings with Sarah and her toe-sucking "financial advisor" John Bryan. This stuff is so incredibly bizarre, that it couldn't be fictionalized. It is the story of one man--John Bryan--who was so greedy, sleezy, arrogant, self-absorbed, and insecure--and the married woman he shamelessly pursued, she having her own set of faults, weaknesses and standards, such as indecisiveness, stupidity, selfishness and extreme insecurity--to name only a few. Their relationship was so destructive and emotionally and physically abusive, that they almost destroyed each other, but not until they had basically destroyed themselves, first. The author stuck with both of them as a best friend until he was driven to unsuccessful suicide and prison, before he finally came to his senses. After reading this book, one would think twice about having the Duchess of York on one's list of friends.