Lauren Bacall by Myself

I knew little about Bacall until I bought this book and fell in love with her story, cried while reading her last moments with Bogart. I read it in less than a week and highly recommend it!

I thought this was interesting view into Lauren Bacall's life - it seemed very candid. A peek into the world of Humphrey Bogart's life, his love for drinking, sailing, acting and Lauren. Her love affair with Bogart starting at such an early age, she grew up depending either on her mother or Bogie, never really experiencing life on her own until Bogie died. She recounts many aspects of her life such as how Bette Davis played a role in her beginning and how being Jewish had an impact on her life at that time. All through her highs and lows she had an inner strength that kept her going, a remarkable woman.

No question this is one of the best of film/stage star autobiographies. Whether Ms. Bacall had help with its writing, or simply an on-his-toes, thorough, seasoned editor is questionable. It's funny. Sometimes uproariously funny. More often one just enjoys Ms. Bacall's wry earthy wit.It's lovable especially because of the love within her close-knit family, and especially her special bond with her mother, who, perhaps to the envy of some female readers, was totally supportive and nurturing to her daughter. She seems to have played a positive role in all the lives she touched.It's irritating in that she consistently gets herself into no win situations with married men after Bogie's death, and she even alludes to his attraction to others during their marriage (how far these attractions went is left unsaid); irritating in that she attempts to control her lovers though calculation and manipulation; irritating in that she ignores all warning signs of unhappiness ahead until it reaches her domestic doorstep. Perhaps instead of focusing on Robard's drinking problems, her time would have been better spent trying to understand her own, through Alanon, psychotherapy, etc. He eventually solved this issue, and went on to a lasting marriage. The book ends with her still hanging out on a limb. As she is so likeable, one wishes better for her. I do not believe Bogie would have approved of this book, being a private person. And I would have loved to have heard Jason's side of their marriage. But again, another private person. Nevertheless Ms. Bacall is to be admired for her forthrightness, only tempered when discretion is necessary. Cheers for Ms. Bacall. No matter what, she has guts and this autobiography is top-notch, riveting from beginning to end!

Neither judgmental nor defensive, "Lauren Bacall, By Myself" is the best autobiography I have ever read. Extensive and quite well-written, it covers so much ground that fans of the old Hollywood and Broadway days will doubtless love this book whether they particularly like Bacall herself or not. I liked the fact that she did not divide the book into chapters; life is not that way and reading this bio is just like stepping into Bacall's life and seeing it with your own eyes. Cleverly titled (am I the only one who senses a double meaning) and full of life, "Lauren Bacall, By Myself" is a literary achievement for Bacall and a great pleasure for any reader.

The biggest reason to read this autobiography is to learn about one of the greatest showbiz romances, between film stars Humphrey Bogart and Lauren (Betty) Bacall. It culminated in marriage, movies and children together, lasted 11 years, and only ended because of Bogart's death in his late 50s due to cancer. In and of itself, that is a wonderful story that any woman especially will adore. There are many other pleasures in this book though. Bacall recalls her growing up years with an extraordinary mother and close knit Jewish extended family that saw her through every milestone of her life, including her mother's showing up at a college campus to find Bacall's son when needed. She was a great beauty from the start and got her career going with modeling that ultimately branched off into acting. She also recounts her successes on the stage and her romances with Frank Sinatra (very odd) and Jason Robards, who she married and later divorced. She has two children by Bogart and one by Robards and touches on them as well.

One of the best books I have ever read. A great love story for the romantic in all of us. It goes behind the scenes of hollywood, to reveal a relationship that started out on the sly; with a love that would last a lifetime. Very sad, yet a love we all wish we could find. I couldn't put it down. Bacall is a true heroine, a person easy to relate to. Her descriptions and writing flows nicely, and its like your chatting with a friend, rather then reading about a famous actress. It caught my attention right from the start, when hearing about her struggle to make it big!