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Madness Under the Royal Palms
Like the bestsellers "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and "Philistines at the Hedgerow," this work allows readers an unprecedented look inside the lives of the rich and eccentric who live in what may be the most expensive four miles of real estate in the world: Palm Beach, Florida.
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
October 27th 2009
by Hyperion
(first published 2009)
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Although i can't say I was surprised by the content of this book, I did find it hard to put down. No it doesn't surprise me that the ultra-wealthy have no class, morals, compassion or care for anyone other than themselves, they've always been as such. Never ONCE have I met someone with money who doesn't TRY to make me feel inferior or unworthy of their company. Emphasis on "try" of course, because I certainly don't envy their lives, their cars, their clothing, their homes. Give me ...more
A well-written expose on how the pursuit of money and status for the sake of money and status has the power to make people live a principle-less, disturbing life.
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Leamer (The Kennedy Women) reveals the secrets of the Palm Beach elite who reside behind the high walls and manicured hedges of this exclusive enclave. A winter resident since 1994, the author gains the trust of his subjects, playing tennis with them and attending their parties. Such firsthand experience is supplemented by newspaper articles and interviews with scores of men and women who, although usually guarded, are unusually open to Leamer (the informant for the chapter "Palm Beach Mill...more
Leamer's book is interesting enough to finish, but he's not a contender for Dominick Dunne's title. Dunne is still the master of the celebutante true crime genre. Leamer obviously spent many years living in Palm Beach and one can understand his reluctance to portray friends and acquaintances in a harsh light - but all too often, his gossipy stories of hangers-on and trophy wives read like a schoolgirl's attempt to join the popular clique by spreading tales about the class slut. Perhaps we're ...more
A Quote from Madness..."Palm Beach is full of people pierced by sorrows brought on by the pursuit of money. It sets wives against husbands, children against stepmothers, the young against the old, and the healthy against the infirm."
this is one of the worst books I've ever ready, probably because it's all true. But beyond that, it was just painfully boring and on a topic that I have absolutely NO interest in...
I didn't know what this book was about before I read...more
this is one of the worst books I've ever ready, probably because it's all true. But beyond that, it was just painfully boring and on a topic that I have absolutely NO interest in...
I didn't know what this book was about before I read...more
Hmmm...yet again I find myself on the low end of the rating scale for a book that was fairly well liked by others. Perhaps I am becoming too picky in my advancing years.
The dust jacket of this book promised pages of love, death, murder and intiruge and it delivered gossip, dysfunction and boredom. Telling the tale of the rich, but not necessarily famous, of Palm Beach, the author offers an US Magazine look at the seedy ongoings behind the walls of one of the wealthiest neighborhoods ...more
The dust jacket of this book promised pages of love, death, murder and intiruge and it delivered gossip, dysfunction and boredom. Telling the tale of the rich, but not necessarily famous, of Palm Beach, the author offers an US Magazine look at the seedy ongoings behind the walls of one of the wealthiest neighborhoods ...more
Titillating but shallow. I expected more out of this book. It's clear that Mr. Leamer is no Dominick Dunne (pity). Leamer only seemed to scratch the surface of the many people written about in the book and it barely kept my interest. The book is also poorly edited with many of the stories spread out over multiple chapters. It's hard to keep track of who was who and the time line of exactly when events transpired. Considering his book spans over one hundred years this is a pretty major pitf...more
Wow. I always thought Las Vegas was the most greedy and soulless
city in the USA, but now I guess that distinction goes to Palm Beach.
Maybe anybody that had a grain of humanity in them was just too boring to write about. It was interesting to see how championship "users"
fought to see who could out use the other. Petty petty petty people.
I think the author was just as shallow as those he was writing about.
I get the impression he wormed his way into...more
Bailey Caskey
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I have a difficult time NOT finishing books, no matter how bad. But life is too short to waste on bad books. The intro to this book lead me to believe I was going to embark on exciting tale about a mysterious culture and intriguing characters (much like that of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). However, it instantly fell short with its boring, tediously detailed writing (each chapter is basically a biography of each character). It also fell short with it's subject matter. The real ...more
Sooo boring. Could barely get through this book.
Palm Beach is manicured to the max - people and places. This is a story of the cracks behind the facades - we know of the gap between the haves & have nots, but here's the divide between the old haves & the new haves in all its detail: from old men with trophy wives and their corollaries - gold-digging "walkers" who escort the rich widows, to aggressive New Yorkers (think the Donald) who've changed the culture of a place that once defined the cream of culture. Perfect for a vacation ...more
I am not sure what to say about this audio book. I have a weird way of choosing what audio books I will listen to. I go to the local bookstore and I search through the New Releases section and I input the titles that look interesting to me into my iTouch and then I buy the unabridged audios from Audible.
I don't know what I was thinking on that day because I ended up in the Non-Fiction aisle of new releases where I ran across the not-so-striking cover of Madness Under the Royal Palms...more
I don't know what I was thinking on that day because I ended up in the Non-Fiction aisle of new releases where I ran across the not-so-striking cover of Madness Under the Royal Palms...more
Since this is a true story of life, loves, lusts and murder in Palm Beach FL, I can tell you that it certainly didn't make me want to be a part of such a community! The rich all want to be the richest,which they seem to think makes them the best. To do so, they befriend those who can help them too the next step up. Once there, the friendship ends and they may even become enemies. People are very shallow and will manipulate anyone to get what they want. The change from "old money" ...more
This book really shows how silly the so called "elite" can be and just how much they get away with simply because they have means. I started reading this book in Palm Beach airport after visiting with my in-laws in West Palm Beach so it struck an extra chord.
If you like scandal and stories about people with more money than sense give this book a read.
If you like scandal and stories about people with more money than sense give this book a read.
So interesting to see how the "other half" lives, and how they got to be there. The author lives in Palm Beach, has experienced the environs of the ultra-wealthy, whom he interviewed for this book. I wonder if some will ever speak to him again. He truly trashes their jaded lifestyles and only really liked one or two. What stories!
Leamer gives an unedited view of the Palm Beach aristocracy. It is an historical and anthropologic view of wealth and what it's patrons do with it. As he describes old and new money as well as religion and status, one sees so many people with less moral ethics than hoodlums to the point where it is easy to overlook those with high ethical standards. Leamer has had his life threatened by some he writes about as well as those Palm Beach residents who do not want their community besmirched. I h...more
On a whim, I picked up this book last month during a trip to Palm Beach, and I'm so glad that I did. The book is absolutely fascinating!! The insight into the lives (mostly tragic) of spotlighted Palm Beach residents is intriguing. I didn't want to put the book down...it's a voyeuristic treat.
Great writing that keeps you engaged. But the tabloid gossip leaves you with bad taste in your mouth. Sad story of how money, greed and superficiality robs you of your soul and divides families. Shows you how rich families are like pack of vultures picking at the carcass of its own.
I swear I read the wrong jacket cover on this one - what I thought would be a true crime story was actually a book-length gossip column on the crazies at Palm Beach. There was murder and mayhem, but in the end, it was a number of reasonably interesting profiles of screwed-up rich people.
I kept the Book Review (Phila Inquirer) for a few years, and finally last month I did a search at my small NJ library, and now the book is due back in a few days, and I need to return it..... But I don't want to. Whew.... I'll write more when I finish reading about these crazy people. Money truly does not buy happiness. And in West Palm Beach money doesn't even buy relaxation.
What I learned from this book? That the people in this book are disgusting, not because they are rich, but because money and status is the only thing that seems to matter to them. That's life? I think not. Oh, and lying, cheating, adultery, bigamy, theft, murder, etc.
Ah, life in Palm Beach; very good look at the pettiness, prejudices and intrigues from an insider, who probably became an outside after he wrote this book. Not as tightly written and fast-paced as I'd have liked, but in all, a good beach or plane ride read.
I thought this was interesting, especially since it is written in the first person by Palm Beach resident Laurence Leamer. He analyzes the social standards of the in group and quietly points out their shallowness, arrogance, duplicity, and prejudices. I really like the statement he made, something to the effect that money and manners don't make morals. Makes me want to stay far, far away from this lifestyle---but I sure would like to see the town! The book, however, seems to ramble a bit a...more
Leamer really captures the true spirit of Palm Beach and the bizarre enclave of eccentrics that inhabit it has always been... Great detail of the fascinating -and yet completely pointless, empty lives- of the uber-wealthy.
Leamer did admirable research on his subject - the dysfunctional lives of the rich and spoiled. Probably of particular interest to those who enjoy gossipy exposes. However, I found Leamer's storyline disjointed.
What a bunch of shallow, insecure, anti-semitic hypocrites! (did I leave anything out?) I had no idea of what the social life and everyday lives of the wealthy was like. I am so happy to NOT be one of them!
A familiar theme--the rich trying to buy happiness and winding up with ashes and dust--but the well-detailed stories along with the pictures of many of the principals are not without a gruesome fascination.
I read this book over the course of 24 hours. The book was based on the authors observations and some interviews when available. The author was able to tie in the varied storylines quite well.
This book was fairly interesting - most of these people are living proof that too much money does not buy you happiness. It was just an ok read - kind of depressing - definitely not a book to brighten your day.
Dreadful (not just the topic but the writing). I made it to pg 67, only because I'm waiting on some other books and needed something to read.
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