Sunday, August 1, 2010

FURIOUS LOVE: GUEST REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
FURIOUS LOVE

Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton
and the Marriage of the Century
by Sam Kashner
and Nancy Schoenberger

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The definitive story of Hollywood's most famous couple!

He was a tough-guy Welshman softened by the affections of a breathtakingly beautiful woman; she was a modern-day Cleopatra madly in love with her own Mark Antony. For nearly a quarter of a century, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were Hollywood royalty, and their fiery romance—often called "the marriage of the century"—was the most notorious, publicized, and celebrated love affair of its day.

For the first time,Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner and acclaimed biographer Nancy Schoenberger tell the complete story of this larger-than-life couple, showing how their romance and two marriages commanded the attention of the world. Also for the first time, in exclusive access given to the authors, Elizabeth Taylor herself gives never-revealed details and firsthand accounts of her life with Burton.

Drawing upon brand-new information and interviews—and on Burton's private, passionate, and heartbreaking letters to Taylor—Furious Love sheds new light on the movies, the sex, the scandal, the fame, the brawls, the booze, the bitter separations, and, of course, the fabled jewels. It offers an intimate glimpse into Elizabeth and Richard's privileged world and their elite circle of friends, among them Princess Grace, Montgomery Clift, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Peter O'Toole, Michael Caine, Marlon Brando, Rex Harrison, Mike Nichols, Laurence Olivier, Robert Kennedy, Tennessee Williams, Noël Coward, John Huston, Ava Gardner, the Rothschilds, Maria Callas, and Aristotle Onassis. It provides an entertaining, eye-opening look at their films, their wildly lucrative reign in Europe and in Hollywood—and the price they paid for their extravagant lives.

Shocking and unsparing in its honesty, Furious Love explores the very public marriage of "Liz and Dick" as well as the private struggles of Elizabeth and Richard, including Le Scandale, their affair on the set of the notorious epic Cleopatra that earned them condemnation from the Vatican; Burton's hardscrabble youth in Wales; the crippling alcoholism that nearly destroyed his career and contributed to his early death; the medical issues that plagued both him and Elizabeth; and the failed aspirations and shame that haunted him throughout their relationship. As Kashner and Schoenberger illuminate the events and choices that shaped this illustrious couple's story, they demonstrate how the legendary pair presaged America's changing attitudes toward sex, marriage, morality, and celebrity. Yet ultimately, as the authors show, Elizabeth and Richard shared something priceless beyond the drama: enduring love.

Addictive and entertaining, Furious Love is more than a celebrity biography; it's an honest yet sympathetic portrait of a man, a woman, and a passion that shocked and mesmerized the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Sam Kashner, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, is the author of three books of nonfiction and one novel, Sinatraland.

Poet and biographer Nancy Schoenberger is the author of
Dangerous Muse: The Life of Lady Caroline Blackwood. She directs the Creative Writing Program at the College of William and Mary.

ABOUT MY GUEST REVIEWER:

I am excited to have my favorite Guest Reviewer with her take on this book. If you follow my blog you may remember her but if not, let me tell you about Alex Leras. With a background in journalism and having been the NASCAR Public Relations Director (first female I might add back when women were rarely even in the pits let alone in a car driving), Alex Leras is a more than qualified reviewer. She traveled to every race for years in her capacity for NASCAR and then later in charge of media for the well known, fan favorite, NASCAR CHAMPION Driver Bill "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" Elliott, and one of racing legendary families when she also represented P. J. and Page Jones of the Parnelli Jones racing family. Alex Leras paved the way for the women you see today working in racing as she did her job in the late 1970s through to mid 1990s. As a resident of Daytona Beach for many years, with a background in journalism and English, I am proud and pleased for you to read her review of FURIOUS LOVE (Thanks, Sis!)

GUEST REVIEW:

The sub-title of this book is "Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the marriage of the century", and it is a delicious look into the real lives of these two truly larger than life personalities. In this era where being a celebrity does not necessarily mean you have accomplished anything, Taylor and Burton were remarkably talented actors who lived extraordinary lives, public and private. For those of us who journeyed through our young adulthood with these two, it is a trip down memory lane reliving moments we shared with them, even if vicariously.

To someone like me, who actually saw Burton on Broadway in that spectacular depiction of Shakespeare's "Hamlet", those pages were wonderful to read and live through that time again. He stands out in my mind, even after all these years and having seen numerous Broadway shows, as the ultimate stage actor. His voice, which is discussed often in the book, struck chords whenever you heard it. He really made contact with his audience, even when he whispered. I still bemoan the fact that our tickets to "Camelot" on Broadway were for the week after he left the role and wish I could have seen him in that portrayal.

Then there is Elizabeth Taylor; what more is there to say other than for decades she was recognized as the most beautiful woman on the planet. Growing up in her shadow forced many of us to try to imitate her style and never succeed. But also we recognized there was a huge acting talent there that often was overlooked by the media and many of her peers. Finally receiving her first Oscar for "Butterfield 8" seemed so long overdue and the fact that Burton never received the truly deserved statuette from the Hollywood community is sad and something he felt denied.

Kashner and Schoenberger had access to Taylor's many private letters from Burton and even her cooperation with much of the story telling. They show the reader the private life of these two magical people and show how much they loved one another and found themselves treated by the media as caricatures. They hated being "Liz and Dick" and referred to each other as "Richard" and "Elizabeth". Taylor cooperated with the authors because she was concerned that Burton's name and legacy would be forgotten.

The story is told so well that the reader will not want to put it down, even though you know how it ends. That final sad note of Burton dying in 1984 at Celigny but still writing to his beloved Elizabeth will stay with you. She was not invited to attend his funeral because Burton's widow Sally felt the media crush would be unacceptable and sadly, she was right. Finally, when Elizabeth journeyed to his gravesite for what she hoped would be a private moment of farewell, the media was waiting. Even this privacy was denied the couple. She endured this but managed to revisit his grave alone the next morning and said it was "one of the few occasions ever that Richard and I were alone".

To this day, Elizabeth Taylor has not changed her instructions that, upon her death, she be buried with her beloved Richard. (Alex Leras, Reviewer)

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO KYLE AND GOOD PEOPLE
AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 3 COPIES OF THIS WONDERFUL
NEW BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!




--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THIS BOOK THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN AND READ THIS BOOK. YOU MAY WANT TO COMMENT ON THE GUEST REVIEW!

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY OF MINE YOU ARE ENTERED IN. JUST GIVE ONE, PLEASE.

GIVEAWAY ENDS
6 PM, EST,
AUGUST 14!

GOOD LUCK

41 comments:

Colleen Turner said...

I love Elizabeth Taylor! She is one of my all time favorite actresses and I have read one biography on her which I loved. From the review it sounds like this is a can't-put-down book, so I would love to win!!!
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I entered the Take Hatchette To The Beach giveaway.
candc320@gmail.com

Pamela Keener said...

I love that Elizabeth gave access to these authors so that Richard name and legacy would not be forgotten.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I have entered Scout, Atticus & Boo & To Kill a Mockingbird giveaway.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I tweeted the giveaway.
http://twitter.com/pam4290/status/20071908372
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Steve Capell said...

The number of Hollywood romances that seem to hit the skids is absolutely sad in many ways. I wonder how much joy they really experience with all the fame and fortune that seems to cause stress and the ultimate collapse of marriages. I like Colleen Turner have always enjoyed the talent of Elizabeth Taylor and for this reason I would really like to read this documentary on her life. Thanks for the opportunity.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

I found it interesting that Elizabeth Taylor wasn't invited to Richard Burton's funeral. I'd love to win this book for my mother. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I entered the Stieg Larsson trilogy giveaway. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Reading said...

I didn't realize that Liz Taylor's first oscar was for Butterfield 8. Thnaks for the giveaway.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

traveler said...

I am fascinated by these two larger than life stars. Their lives and talent are amazing. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered The To Kill a Mockingbird giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

Interesting book which relates so much which I would enjoy greatly. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered The Beach giveaway. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

gcpeach17 said...

Elizabeth and Richard!! What can I say? I loved the review and always find it so sad that your lives are not your own when you are a Star. I was glad to read that she had some alone time at Richard's grave sight. I would love to read this book and want to thank you for the giveaway chance.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

gcpeach17 said...

I am also entered in the 'A Vintage Affair' giveaway and am looking forward to reading that book as well.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

Irene said...

I have read a number of bio's on Richard and Elizabeth, but this one appears to be the most comprehensive. I would love to read this book. I want to win!
Thank you...


cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

Irene said...

I always thought that Sally Burton did not invite Elizabeth Taylor to Richard Burton's funeral because she was jealous of their still passionate relationship. I never realized it was to prevent the media from invading the sad event.


cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

Irene said...

I enter the 50th Anniversary (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) giveaway.

cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

Irene said...

+5 FB Bonus


cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

Unknown said...

I love Elizabeth Taylor and I love reading about real people also. I am a follower. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Laura said...

Please enter me.
Laura
laura.leahj@gmail.com

Benita said...

Elizabeth Taylor has always been a favorite of mine. I remember seeing her for the first time in National Velvet. She was striking! And loved by all. It sounds like this is a must read. Thanks for the possibility.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I entered Take Hachette to the Beach.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Allison said...

I love reading interesting love stories, it sounds like a great read!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

Entered Bitch is the New Black

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Alyce said...

I'd love to win because I really don't know that much about Elizabeth Taylor or Richard Burton, and I love biographies.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

Alyce said...

I entered the TKAM, Scout Atticus & Boo giveaway.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

bison61 said...

I like that Kashner and Schoenberger had access to Taylor's many private letters from Burton and even her cooperation with much of the story telling.

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Christine H said...

+5swag chirth7@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

+5swag jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jolee said...

Think it's very cool that it's written by a Vanity Fair editor.joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

Also entered the Hatchette To the Beach giveaway. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

degood said...

I love reading biographys and enjoy Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton movies so i think this book would be interesting. I like that it is based in part on Burtons letters to Taylor. I would love to read this.

kerrie@mayansfamily.com

degood said...

I entered the Crazy for Love giveaway.

kerrie@mayansfamily.com

Ruthie said...

I remember when she was known as 'the most beautiful woman in the world' & her every move made headlines.
Please enter me, thanks.

ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

Ruthie said...

Entered 'Vintage Affair'

ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

dag888888 said...

Love Old Hollywood, even follow E.T. on twitter.

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

dag888888 said...

Entered Hachette beach books giveaway.

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

rubynreba said...

I've always been fascinated with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Love to read about it.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I entered Take Hachette to the Beach giveaway.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Ruthie said...

FB fan bonus

ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

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