brilliant story but robotically narrated

the story was really brought to life with clever writing of a complicated story with many players integral to it all.
unfortunately, the narration was very robotic and I had to remind myself it wasn't a computer generated voice. it is clear and well read but the tone is annoying sometimes which detracts from the story.

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Incessant bed-hopping during Hollywood's Golden Era

Mary Astor was a minor star in the Talkies and beyond, but really hit the big-time in the early 1930's when she sought custody of her 4-year old daughter from her doctor husband Frankyn Thorpe. The book is mostly a word-for-transcript of the custody hearings.
As both Mary Astor and her husband seem to spend most of their lives jumping in and out of bed with dozens of people, some quite well-known, the story comes to life when it is revealed that Mary Astor wrote her diaries every night detailing her escapades. So inevitably both she and her husband spent their time at the trial describing how promiscuous the other spouse was and hence unfit to have custody. It was quite hard to find a sympathetic character in this book.

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Interesting in parts

This book needed a final edit. Interested in parts, but drawn out and repetitive in others. I was pleased when I got to the end! Insightful about the early days of Hollywood studios.

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Wonderful easy going read

I really enjoyed this book, it was very interesting and gave insight into old Hollywood, perfect easy listen

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1 person found this helpful

Fascinating read

The reader had a very strange clipped way of speaking but overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a fascinating insight into Hollywood in the 1930s.

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Mary Astor and Her Purple Diaries

Mary Astor and Her Purple Diaries.

When I was a teenager I remember reading Mary Astor's autobiography. I randomly picked it up in a library, not expecting much and quickly realised she had quite a story to tell. The Purple Diaies lifts the lid on double standards in marriage and how Mary Astor's racy private memoirs were leveraged as blackmail by her husband who wanted to control and punish Mary and take custody of their daughter Marilyn.

There is alot of psychological insight in the writing and I was intrigued to hear the details of the long court case and how eventually, justice prevailed. If you are interested in early films and how the justice system worked in 1930s America, you will enjoy this fascinating listen.

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3 people found this helpful

Good

Really enjoyed listening to this book. I’ve never heard of this story before. Would recommend

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Carefully told tale of its times.

This is not Mary Astors full life story but the story of the scandal that engulfed her in the mid 30s.
That said, there’s enough here to fully contextualise the scandal and to enable the listener to feel close to Astor.
The reiteration of the court case itself seems faithful and well researched although the editorialising in Astors favour sometimes seems a little obvious.
So many court cases (including this one) are not in themselves about the aspects of the case which grip the world at large, and I thought the writer did a good job balancing these two realities.
Astor was a talented woman who sustained a career across decades in a way which only a handful of others (and maybe none who were as big as she was in silent movies) ever did.
Her talent is evident in many films where she provides wonderful support, although her starring roles in silent films are almost never seen.
All child custody cases are by definition Tawdry. Family disputes that become public being the essence of the word. But this tale is worth telling as it speaks to the place of women and mothers and fathers in society, their rights, roles, and obligations at a particular time. 90 years on, it’s history.
The law, culture, individual human behaviour, all submitted to the microscope supposedly in service of the welfare of a child.
Astors own close is clear, and measured, even in the midst of drama and under incredible provocation. I wonder if people today will understand her, let alone empathise. We’re in a world where freely expressing all emotion, no matter the impact on see or others is considers a right. Restraint in emotional soul baring is often seen as a failing (indeed the end of the podcast speaks very clearly to this current shibboleth). But I heard Astors voice and it spoke to me of her intelligence and innate morality.
The reader has a wonderful voice and enunciates perfectly. Reminds me of the best English actresses of previous generations. Mellifluous, but earthy.
It’s social history not celebrity bio. And a fascinating insight into how a court case develops. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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interesting

Had heard of the actress Mary Astor mainly due to the movie The Maltese Falcon. Had also heard that she was " a bit of a girl ". Having listened to this book and the era in which it was set it informs of the double standards in place back in the 30's. would recommend.

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A dreadful listen

Repetitive and dull - not enjoyable at all - I had thought that this might be interesting however I would not recommend this to anyone with either an interest in early cinema or the stars of early cinema. Basically a sordid divorce and custody trial of morally bankrupt characters.

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