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She Always Knew How: Mae West, a Personal Biography
In "She Always Knew How," her wonderful new biography of legendary actress Mae West, acclaimed biographer Charlotte Chandler draws on a series of interviews she conducted with the star just months before her death in 1980. From their first meeting, where West held out a diamond-covered hand in greeting and lamented her interviewer's lack of jewels, to their farew...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
February 10th 2009
by Simon & Schuster
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One day, a young go-getting journalist named Charlotte Chandler managed to get in to see Mae West. Which was difficult since she was a woman, and Mae West didn't like being interviewed by women--even though a self described "feminist", West preferred being around men since it allowed her to be in her persona.
And this book is the result. It's not a biography. It's a 300 page interview. There is very little background information or putting things West says in perspective, and...more
And this book is the result. It's not a biography. It's a 300 page interview. There is very little background information or putting things West says in perspective, and...more
I recommend this biography of Mae West because it describes her single-mindedness about her career and how that aided her success. She was the worshipped eldest daughter of a Brooklyn family, of German descent, who was stage-struck from early childhood. She bathed in the strong approval of her parents who supported her vaudeville career as a child singer and dancer. Her mother encouraged Mae's devotion to her self and to a career. There was a teen-age marriage, which didn't last because Mae put ...more
Knowing very little about the actress about from the witty one liners she was as famous for saying as her sexual attitude I decide to find out more and I wasn't disappointed. Written from some of the last interviews with the woman before she died and others who knew her, I was given an interesting insight into a part of Hollywood and America I had little knowledge of. My only critic of this bio however is that Miss West seems to have walked through the world in rose tinted glasses and by the end...more
For such a character, I found the book a bit flat. Mae was a very focused and driven person who had her eyes set on becoming a performer from a very early age. She's actually a great exampler of Law of Attraction in motion, in that she dreamed it and then she accomplished it, never wavering in her belief that she would get there. She is completely, unapologetically self-obsorbed, yet also generous and loyal. Given the time that she lived in, she was also ahead of her time in wanting to be f...more
My only disappointment with this book is that I suspect we got a very edited version of her story. I highly suspect that Ms. West's life was far more interesting than she admits. For all the risks she took to be a shocking commercial commodity, she tells a very modest, sanitized telling of her own life. Still, I would love to have met her. I think she led an extra ordinary life.
A side of Mae West which will surprise. A shrewd business woman, a talented writer of her own material for stage and screen and a rather modest and isolated personality who built her image with double entendre and her own special suggestive delivery. A must read for film buffs who want to know what really went on in early Hollywood.
A very insightful book into one of the people who personify Hollywood stardom. As the title says, Mae knew exactly what she wanted. From child performer on ameture nights to the mega star who kept a studio from going under, she turned out line after line to amuse and entertain.
You could define her in several words, one that does not come out usually is worker. Mae wrote, performed, and wrote again, constantly giving her stage audiences something new.
You could define her in several words, one that does not come out usually is worker. Mae wrote, performed, and wrote again, constantly giving her stage audiences something new.
I didn't care for the book. The writing improves as it progresses, but I'm disgusted with Mae West. I understand that she was a big star for her time, however she had no humility whatsoever. The woman was completely egocentric. Arrogance is not appealing--at least not to me.
Fascinating look at Mae West life, basically in her own words. I liked reading about what care she took in phrasing what she said on stage to add layers of suggestive meaning.
I enjoyed this book. It was decently written and I learned a lot about Mae that I didn't know - she started the careers of Clark Gable and other male stars, and many of the black female actresses of her time started out as her personal maid and she encouraged and aided them in getting careers. I didn't realize how she had written all of her vaudeville and Broadway productions as well as many of her movies. She really was a self-made woman which is impressive at any period, but especially in th...more
I enjoyed an inside look at a Hollywood icon. Well written, in-depth with out boring you with every insignificant detail.
I reviewed this book in a printed article in the Washington Blade's Feb 13, 2009 issue. check out my thoughts there!
I loved it! I felt like I was having an intoxicating conversation with Mae West. A conversation littered with secrets of success and magic!
A feisty and completely orignal gal. Old timer telling it like it was. Enjoyable.
For anyone who has ever found Mae West intriguing.
Worth its weight in gold for the quotes alone.
Biography of Mae West. Very Good book. She lived from 1893 - 1980.
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Mae West was an amazing woman. This book was unique in that it felt like it was told by Mae herself! I have never known anyone like her, it was a joy to read and a fun glimpse into that world.
I devour movie star biographies (esp. from the 1930s, 40s or 50s) and this was a light, fun one.....What swagger West had, literally.....wish I had a little of her moxie....
Mae West seems to have been quite the invented person Didn't find the book as interesting as I hoped. Took long time to finish.
I was hoping for more from this book.
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