My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond

Good book on the behind the scenes of the Maisel document. The book provides an insider's view of the day to day of big and little Edith. If you are a fan of the Edie's this is a must read!

Lois Wright brilliantly reveals the business side of making films (even documentaries) and further reveals how manipulative the Maysles were of their subjects. Ms. Wright's book offers up much more than eccentricities that ostensibly define these women as the Maysles film would have us believe; in her book she reveals the loneliness, fatigue, delusions and paranoia that regrettably consumed them in their self-exile. A must read for anyone interested in learning far more about the human side of Big & Little Edie Beale. [...]

If you have seen both Grey Gardens and The Beales of Grey Gardens, but are left wanting more.....this book is terrific. Lois Wright, the author and friend of the mom and daughter duo keeps a journal/diary of the time she moved in with them. While the reason for her move was not entirely clear, she manages to survive among the cats, raccoons, and endless fleas to capture a clear, non-biased picture of these two delightful women. It is everyday life that others may find odd, but I found fascinating and insightful. I do think that I learned a bit more about the personalities of The Edies and I wish they were still with us today to comment on entertainment, politics, fashion, art, and whatever else they became passionate about. 'My Life at Grey Garden: 13 Months and Beyond' was everything I expected and more.

Jackie O's aunt and cousin lived in a Munster-type mansion in East Hampton. Edith Bouvier Beale (or 'Big Edie') was the sister of Black Jack Bouvier. Edie had a daughter, 'Little Edie', and both lived in harmony and dis-harmony in the ramshackle old house. Author Lois Wright, artist of questionable talent and palm reader, lived with the ladies for 13 months. The book is based on Wright's journal, which she kept during the 1970's. Big Edie, who was bedridden upstairs, had cats and the cats had fleas. Wright described the agony of the fleas, as well as raccoons climbing out of the ceiling (which Little Edie fed daily) and rats that jumped on the author and Little Edie on occasion. Wright wore boots and a hat 24/7 to ward off most of the critters. Newspapers were placed on beds, on floors, even in the Edies bathtub for the cats. Nevertheless, they were allowed to "go" where they pleased. If a cat or kitten died, Big Edie kept it on her bed for a couple of days, covered with a Kleenex. Contrary to past publicity, Jackie O and Ari stepped in and helped her relatives - Ari sending gifts, Jackie paying bills. The eccentricities of the three ladies are well worth reading about in this mesmerizing page-turner (Wright seemed a bit 'off' herself.) Just to let you be aware that there are DVDs available about Grey Gardens, starring the Beales, that are excellent. It brings Ms. Wright's pages to life, which completes their picture.