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Ava Gardner: "Love Is Nothing"
by
Lee Server
"The most complete and engrossing biography yet of this exotic Southern girl...Excellent."--Liz Smith
She was the sex symbol who dazzled all the other sex symbols. She was the temptress who drove Frank Sinatra to the brink of suicide and haunted him to the end of his life. Ernest Hemingway saved one of her kidney stones as a sacred memento, and Howard Hugh...more
Paperback, 560 pages
Published
May 15th 2007
by St. Martin's Griffin
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While I did enjoy this book I have to say that it was written in the most dragged out fashion possible. I think were this book not on such a fascinating subject, prone to some of the most outrageous spectacles and highly-charged relationships humanly possible, I do not think I would have been able to finish it.
This is seen amongst fans of Ava Gardner as the definitive biography on her and I suppose there's good reason for it. No one can accuse Lee Server of being sparse with details...more
This is seen amongst fans of Ava Gardner as the definitive biography on her and I suppose there's good reason for it. No one can accuse Lee Server of being sparse with details...more
An interesting read. I felt it could have been better, though. The author clearly adored his subject, sometimes too much. I'm not sure if anyone interviewed offered much of an opinion on Ms. Gardner other than she was supremely beautiful, or if those were the only quotes the author chose to include. Every page seemed to quote someone saying how beautiful they thought she was or how good she was in bed. Nothing much on the actual individual, other than temperamental and restless. It would h...more
The author was a huge Ava Gardner fan and Lee Server was writing this biography like he was her boyfriend or something. he was thinking like a fan and trying so hard to glamorize her that it definitely got annoying and made the book a bit difficult to read. every page was "she's beautiful..." "look at her body" "how fine" "what a woman"
and i'm like "OK! enough already. where's the story?" she was so average. plus she was a drunk. but this...more
and i'm like "OK! enough already. where's the story?" she was so average. plus she was a drunk. but this...more
I guess I'm giving Ava Gardner 3 stars, not the book. She was a drunk, plain and simple, and it ruined her life. Well, Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra helped ruin it too, I suppose. Mickey Rooney cheated on her, Artie Shaw was a condescending sadist bastard, and Frank, well, he was Frank. I would hand this to the typical teenage girl and say, "Look kid. Here's proof that being beautiful won't do squat to insure a beautiful life."
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Biography's ok, but what a depressing life. What is it with this beautiful successful women who marry men who hate women?
I'm not really one for biographies, but this one caught my eye in the library a few years ago and continues to linger with me. It's written as more of a narrative so you really feel like you're watching Ava Gardner's life on screen in front of you. And what a fascinating life--tumultuous affairs, broken teeth (Howard Hughes's), sex, Sinatra, bull-fighting, Hemingway, and Hollywood, all coated with booze and curse words (the lady had a fouler mouth than me, unbelievably). The research the author ...more
Lee Server does an excellent job of documenting and capturing the life of Ava Gardner. Well researched and exhaustive. Ava Gardner sadly ended up old and alone like so many of Hollywood's beautiful yet empty vessels. She had beauty, fame and riches and what did she do with her life other then sleep with as many men as she could and drink as much as she could. She could have done many positive things with the gifts she was given in life yet chose the road of excessive drinking and chasing men who...more
An amazing story. Although not as dishy as a Kitty Kelly book, this captured Ava's life. It seemed to be very objective, as evidence by the even-handed, non-judgemental description of her life with Sinatra. She struggled with her profession (never was comfortable as an actress, although she did like the wealth and life-style), she did the best she could. It makes me want to rent her earlier movies, The Barefoot Contessa, Flying Dutchman..., I do have Night of the Iguana and plan to watch tha...more
This was an interesting read. It just goes to show extreme beauty, money, and fame do not always lead to happiness.
In some ways AG was an extremely admirable and courageous woman, but in other ways her behavior was condemnable. This book was a well-written look at a complex and conflicted person.
On the plus side, AG was extremely open minded for her day. She would not tolerate racism in any form. She just didn't think that way. AG told the studio execs to screw o...more
In some ways AG was an extremely admirable and courageous woman, but in other ways her behavior was condemnable. This book was a well-written look at a complex and conflicted person.
On the plus side, AG was extremely open minded for her day. She would not tolerate racism in any form. She just didn't think that way. AG told the studio execs to screw o...more
I loved reading this book!! I looked forward to it every day.
Born on Christmas Eve, 1922, Ava Gardner was considered an unparalleled beauty and it was that beauty that brought her fame and recognition. She married for love – three times – first Mickey Rooney, then Artie Shaw, and then the love of her life, Frank Sinatra. She starred in movies opposite Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, and Charlton Heston. But she remained shy in front of the camera to the very end. What I liked most ...more
Born on Christmas Eve, 1922, Ava Gardner was considered an unparalleled beauty and it was that beauty that brought her fame and recognition. She married for love – three times – first Mickey Rooney, then Artie Shaw, and then the love of her life, Frank Sinatra. She starred in movies opposite Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, and Charlton Heston. But she remained shy in front of the camera to the very end. What I liked most ...more
I'm not especially a fan of biographies, and certainly not of Hollywood stars, but I was intrigued by this after a NY Times rave. I wasn't disappointed. More, I was totally enthralled not just by the portrait of Gardner, but by all the behind the scenes action of many of the films she worked on, as well as the portrait of Hollywood, her loves and co-stars, and the movie business over several decades.
Truly memorable, and a great beach (or patio!) read.
Bob
Truly memorable, and a great beach (or patio!) read.
Bob
A fascinating biography of the legendary movie star. A subtle portrait of a complex woman and of the Hollywood system. Quite poignant, much more than I expected. Some parts of Gardner's life are tragic and heartbreaking, yet she is such an extraordinary character that one feels for her without pitying her. Strong and vulnerable, deeply romantic yet also quite realistic and even sometimes cynical, she lived quite a life and Server, who seems to have done quite a huge amount of research, is a gift...more
Tara
added it
It's very depressing how she ruined so much of her life with alcohol abuse. You want to travel back in time and shake her. Good biography, though not much new info. It did make me want to back and see several of her films again after reading the story behind their making.
I've read a couple of books about Ava Gardner, including her autobiography, so much of the information wasn't new to me. This, however, was a very concise, well-researched book about her. If I were to pick the best biography on this beautiful lady, it would be this one.
I enjoyed reading this biography. Server didn't try to to make Gardner into an overly sympathetic heroine, but rather showed her to be a complex and troubled woman, who just happened to be beautiful. Very insightful.
One of the best books on the golden age of Hollywood that I've read in a while. Ava Gardner's life was more riveting than any movie she starred in - by turns funny, sad and shocking. In an era of hypocrisy she was unashamedly herself.
I didn't know much about Ava Gardner except that I saw the Barefoot Contessa (with Humphrey Bogart) and Mogambo (with Clark Gable) and thought she acted exceptionally well in both movies, so I decided to check out this book. The majority of it is about her sexcapades with tons of dudes, including Fidel Castro, and it was an empowering description of a woman being in charge of her sexuality. But the sexcapades got old after awhile. I wanted to know more about the movies she was in and what filmin...more
Thoroughly researched. Gave a good feel of the character that Ava was; quite sad really that she never found what she was looking for...
Her life was far more facinating than any movie she ever made. I'm sorry that she was never able to have any children.
Her beauty was unsurpassed and something everyone commented on - but most interestingly I thought was how free-spirited she was. Anything went as far as she was concerned and she was unabashed in going after what she wanted and lived life unapologetically. She was a fascinating character and seemed unaffected by her beauty until it was threatened in a freak accident. Torrid love affairs with Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra litter her story, but she never found a love she could live ...more
Michele Anderson
added it
very engrossing and quick read for a biograpghy on such a beguiling actress
I loved this book! A surprisingly juicy read.
Ava Gardner was super trampy...that and the drinking is the summary of this 500 page autobiography. Throw in some volatile personalities like Frank Sinatra and you have a recipe for a trashy read. Plus, she was from North Carolina...Smithfield to be exact...grew up on a tobacco farm. The book was interesting but the end of her life becomes a depressing tale of alcoholism and sexually predatory behavior...cut back 100 pages and it would have gotten 4 stars.
While hardly the best written book, I found the actress' life and persona completely fascinating. I'm not sure the current generation's gossip mag cover girls could keep up with her! Interested to now check out some of her movies.
Intense and fascinating look at the life of Ava Gardner showing well written insights of Ava behind the movie star mask. I had not realized there were so many dynamics between Ava's relationship with Frank Sinatra. I knew very little about Ava Gardner and was given this book as a gift. I was pleasantly surprised.
Having known nothing about Ava Gardner's life pre-Frank, I learned a lot about her childhood and struggles in Hollywood. The writing seemed drawn-out, making this book difficult to finish. The most surprising tidbit for me was Andy Rooney's young life as one of Hollywood's most notorious womanizers.
She is amazing. This has helped me rebuild some healthy narcissism post-breakup, and has given me a fresh perspective on life and the search for happiness. For the past year, since finishing the book, I have been watching all of her films in order with my friend Kate, who also loved the book.
Entertaining and enlightening read about Ava's crazy life and voluminous drinking. Nice combination of informative and gossipy style.
And yes, she was a bit of a drunken slut. But people who knew her describe over and over really liking her, admiring her intelligence and humour.
And yes, she was a bit of a drunken slut. But people who knew her describe over and over really liking her, admiring her intelligence and humour.
I thought she would be glamourous and fun, but in reality, I really think I would have hated her if we went to the same high school. "Eve didn't care much for learning...she much preferred to focus on the upkeep of her nails and hair." GAG.
A biography of Ava, written by the brilliant Lee Server. What can I say - but can this author dish it!! Juicy, shocking and an eye opener to how fast and loose Ava lived her life. I am fascinated by biographies and this one was a whopper.
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