Customer Reviews (29)

Miss Bacall is a true legend!
I had read Miss Bacall's previous book, so thought to myself,for the price that Amazon was selling it at, so be it. I'm buying! What else could this great legend say however?A lot.The book was filled with many more personal stories and interests than I suspected it could be.It is an excllent book on one of the last of the great legends in Hollywood.I loved the book.Got her to sign it too, she was most gracious.

IT'S LAUREN BACALL
A book that just goes on about herself and people she know's --if you are a Fan this is a must to own ..

Bacall, Bogart, Broadway-- A Page Turner
Follow Betty Bacal, the shy daughter of a Rumaniam immigrant, as she becomes stage struck, trains as a actress, has an overnight success modeling for Vogue, and is transformed by director Howard Hawkes into Lauren Bacall, the newcomer who sweeps Humphrey Bogart off his feet.

Bacall's tale is irresistible, and she tells it well.The story of her transformation at Howard Hawks's hands into the Slim of "To Have and Have Not" is all the more delicious because Bacall remains, while the cameras are not running, an inexperienced teen who misses her mother and her family in New York. Bacall's off-screen innocence contrasts strikingly and delightfully with her knowing on-screen persona.

Bacall's account of her romance and marriage to Humphrey Bogart is graceful and moving.Bacall quotes Bogart's letters to her during their courtship: these reveal his stunned incredulity at finally finding love after a lifetime of romantic failures.Their marriage is a sweet reward to Bogart after years of domestic strife, and his gratitude at finding happiness and fatherhood in midlife is tremendously affecting.Bogart's gallantry and courage in his final illness reduced me to tears, as did Bacall's despair at losing the love of her life.

By her own account, Bacall's second marriage to Jason Robards was not a success.She cares for her children (two by Bogart and one by Robards), but they do not appear central to her life.The great loves dominating Bacall's post-Bogart years remain her mother and the acting profession.Bacall's dedication to her craft is evident, both on stage and on screen, and she remains ever grateful for a good role-- a gratitude that grows more poignent as she ages.

Any weaknesses?A few.Then Some, penned 27 years after By Myself, doesn't live up to the magic of the first installment, although one must admire Bacall's spirit in producing it.And Bacall's rather cursory depiction of her children leaves the reader wondering about the status of her relationships with them.But these criticisms are minor ones when measured against the charm and drama of Bacall's story.

Lauren Bacall is now in her 80s.Her memoirs span over 60 years of cinema and stage history.Her story is well worth reading for those who appreciate American theater and film.Highly recommended, especially for those interested in the private side of the Bacall-Bogart saga.

Understand the ratings before deciding on purchase...
I am someone who did not read the first book.As such, this was all new to me.I can honestly say that the beginning of this book was the BEST autobiography I have ever read.Never, have I gained such insight into the things I longed to know about a "star" and their associates.

When Lauren Bacall describes her growing up in New York I can see and feel all of those locations.I picture her handing out programs in the theater.I am in the room with her, and nervous, when she is meeting Bette Davis.I fall in love with Humphrey Bogart, just based on her descriptions of the early romance.She truly taps into my first love.As such, my spirit is crushed with her during his last days.I feel her upset, joy and bravery all through the book.This is outstanding, personal, and descriptive writing.

I do agree that the last chapters of the book bring the book to a terrible halt.Still, this book is unfairly rated by those who read the earlier book without the stale ending.75% of this book is still the earlier book-- the 5 star book.The ridiculously low ratings are especically unfair, when most are based on the Bacall's statements about our current president and have nothing at all to do with her book!

I am giving 4 stars, and recommending the earlier (5 star) book simply because the ending of this one reads like an endless obituary.I will pass this one on and pick up the first one as I know I will want to read it again.It is wonderful!

In fact, I dare you to try and read it without revisiting a Lauren Bacall/Humphrey Bogart movie and feeling like you are there.

Great book - but with some reservations...
As others have mentioned, the "By myself" portion of this book was excellent.What a fascinating life, from her upbringing in New York City to her discovery and preparation for stardom by Howard Hawks, to life with Bogie and the years of work after his passing.She was very honest about herself, her frailties and insecurities.She's also very honest about the quality of some of the roles she has taken, which I appreciate.I must also note that she must have dug very deep to recount the last year, and particulary the last few months, of Bogie's life.This intimate account is crushing - it broke my heart.

And like others, I was less impressed with "And then some".The sense that I got was that she was not necessarily name-dropping, but trying to impress upon the reader the importance of her friends in her life, and the void their passing has left.And as a mild liberal I may agree with some of her political viewpoints but would never consider hoisting my beliefs on others.I do not think that inshe was skillful in conveying her point in this portion of the book.

Nonetheless, I am glad I read the book.I might have missed it altogether had the newer edition not come out.What a life! ... Read more

Book Description
"In a word, LAUREN BACALL BY MYSELF is terrific...one of the real-life heroines of our time...and she wrote this book as she lived it."
BOSTON GLOBE
"She's a real Joe. You'll fall in love with her like everybody else."
-Humphrey Bogart ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

great look at a great dame
buy it used.good read for the beach. then see her movies.

Lauren Bacall: By Myself
I enjoyed Lauren Bacall's autobiography better than any autobiography I've ever read. Her style of writing is so personal, it's just a pleasure to read.It's written with heart, it's witty, poignant, and so honest. You'll also learn about the original "Rat Pack", and other celebrities. I can't say enough about this book!

Bacall holds nothing back here.
I read this book 20 years ago when it first came out and I couldn't put it down.The love story between her and Bogey was sweet, but tragic.His death was so detailed in this book that when my own father was dying I couldn't help but relate back to her description of Bogey's final hours. It made me sob for her.The mention of Hollywood in the 50's and all of the corrupt politicians trying to blackball performers is deplorable. I believe Ms. Bacall is our current Kate Hepburn - a no BS kind of Hollywood woman that is still well-respected and greatly admired.

Triumph and Tragedy.. A Life revealed.
I have never considered myself a Lauren Bacall fan but having recently rewatched To Have And Have Not, her film debut, I became intrigued about her and Bogart so I picked up this book after reading such positive reviews here at Amazon.

Well, was I surprised. First this is a very well written autobiography that demonstrates a keen intelligence and a reflectiveness on the past that is truly admirable. It is also incredibly honest and not just a recitation of a Hollywood star's accomplishments.

From Bacall's youth in New York where she tried desperately to find a place in the theater to her ultimate return to the stage as a star after spending years in California as Mrs. Bogart and raising a family, every stage of her life is well examined.

Bogart emerges as a truly good guy, not perfect but clearly they were a great match despite the obvious age difference.

Some of the episodes in her life with Bogart have the added quality of capturing a period in Hollywood and the film industry that is long gone. Bacall isn't and doesn't need to be a name dropper but so many famous characters pop in and out of her story that it is a virtual who's who of 1940's Hollywood.

What I initally picked up as a casual read turned into something much deeper. Lauren Bacall , who I knew little about before reading this is a woman who I came to really like as a result of this book.

Well written and well worth checking out for filmfans, fans of Bogart or anyone interested in acting and theater and the celebrity life of the 40's and 50's.

By Myself
The title of this book seems somewhat ironic as Lauren Bacall's life has been largely defined by her relationships with others, particularly the men in her life.The first man to influence her was her father, who deserted her and her mother early in her life.The role of father then fell to her beloved Uncle Charlie who was always nearby and was supportive of Bacall's efforts in life.She dreamed early on of becoming an actress, but her chances of succeeding seemed rather remote.After a few false starts in modeling and acting, she struck it big and became an overnight star at a very young age.From then on she had many love affairs with men she admired, but none so important as her relationship with Humphrey Bogart.Their 12 year marriage was filled with mutual admiration and love, which she never seemed to recapture after Bogie's death.This is a fascinating story of a fascinating woman who has had to deal with her insecurities and the tug of work vs. family responsibilities in order to emerge as one of the premier actresses of our time. ... Read more

Book Description
"CANDID AND HONEST...A philosophical looking-backward and forward--an inquiry into the question 'Is that all there is?' "
--Liz Smith
New York Newsday
"FRANK AND AMUSING...[AND] BRIMMING WITH CONFESSIONS...Part career memoir and part meditation on what it's like to be a single woman of lingering glamour, enduring vitality and advancing age...The book has the Bacall voice behind it. Her writing echoes her deep, sardonic, no-nonsense timbre and jazzy tempo....Bacall is at her best when talking about friends she has loved and watched die. Bernstein, she says, was more than a little seductive; Huston, more than a little remote; Olivier, a survivor to the end."
--Chicago Sun-Times
"HER PROSE IS SPARE AND HONEST....A kaleidoscope of thoughts and ideas on loneliness, aging, and above all, surviving...There are also poignant reminiscences of the golden years of Hollywood and many of its leading creators."
--The Washington Post Book World
"SHE REMINDS US OF SOME FAMILIAR TRUTHS WORTH ATTENDING TO. . . .What she's writing about, Ms. Bacall explains, is 'life' and indeed her musings about getting older, about intimations of mortality, about living solo, about letting go of one's children will resonate with women who, like her, are of a certain age."
--The New York Times Book Review
"ENGROSSING. . .POIGNANT."
--People ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Read about a Fabulous Life
Lauren Betty Bacall writes a very interesting memior about life and love in Hollywood. She doen't merely name drop. In fact she focuses on her life and the people that revolved into it. She met quite a few interesting people, but doesn't seem to use that to make her book more exciting. It was very interesting to read how the relationship with Bogie happened and how she struggled through the relationship with Jason robards. The book was enlightening as to how a real person in a time of great stress deals with loss and the breakup of relationships. It is a must for true biography readers.

History Teacher's Review
Bacall, Lauren.
Now
New York: Alfred A. Knopf
214 pp., $23.00. ISBN 0-394-57412-5
Publication Date September 1994

Lauren Bacall, is a screen legend, has been a star of movies, television, and theater for over sixty years and her book tells the story of how she feels about her work, her children,
her homes, her acting, her friends, and more.

The introduction of the book gives a glimpse into what her life was like between the ages of forty and sixty, how she has lived her life and the impact people she has met have had on her life. She views life at 70 as a survivor and considered herself lucky to still be acting at all.

Ms. Bacall does not know what she would do with herself if she did not work.She views working as a reason to get up out of bed, if your working you can pay the bills. The most important thing is that when you work in a movie, on television, or on stage you'll always be doing something you love to do.

She is grateful for being close to her daughter Leslie Bogart.She is more in love with her grandchildren from her sons Steve Bogart and Sam Robards then she ever thought possible.

She has realized late in life that she needs her children which surprises her. She examines all the fears that she went through in getting a country house in Amagansett. Once she had it then she spent years continually making as many changes to it as
possible.In the end when she sold it she realized she had spent more time living in other places than this house.

She recognizes that the older she gets the more difficult it is for her to be able to still get great roles, she realizes that work is much harder physically.She is human and points out body parts that have changed and is really comfortable with this.

She comes to terms with her own mortality and how hard it is to still be alive when so many of her friends are now gone.Her life has come full circle, her daughter Leslie got married.
Her son Steve is married with 3 wonderful kids. Her son Sam's marriage ended, but she knows he will find someone else.

In the end she is still alone and she is reconciled to the fact that she no longer wants that for herself anymore. She is always the eternal optimist and thinks that maybe there is someone out there for her.She is a strong woman who has done it her way and not followed all the rules of Hollywood.

She still considers Humphrey Bogart to have been the love of her life and will never get over his death.
Rachel D. Dvorkin
Elgin, Illinois

Read the other one first
Read Bacall's "By Myself" before this - she writes as if she assumes that you have. She actually rehashes a lot of what she wrote in that book: her work on Broadway, people in her life, etc. I didn't necessarily mind that - I read this one directly after the other so it complemented it. I would've found it very slight by itself, though. In this one she also talks about putting together her dream home and finding it lacking, and about her grown kids and their lives, some other topics too.

Good followup to "By Myself."
"Now" isn't as fulfilling as was "By Myself" but is still a good short read for anyone interested in Lauren Bacall. The book covers the 15 years after her first publication "By Myself." Ifyou're new to Lauren I would suggest reading "By Myself" firstand if you would like to see a more personal side of the actress give thisbook a try. ... Read more

Book Description
Lauren Bacall's life has been widely covered by the media ever since her screen debut in To Have and Have Not with Humphrey Bogart in 1944. This volume is a comprehensive critical guide to all aspects of Miss Bacall's career in film, radio, television and stage. Her personal life, no less extraordinary with marriages to Bogart and Jason Robards, is documented in a biographical essay. This volume provides cast and production credits, plot synopsis, review excerpts of all film, radio and stage appearances, with a detailed, annotated bibliography for additional research. Lauren Bacall is a living screen legend. She has excelled in all aspects of show business from movies to her first love, the Broadway stage. Her romance with Bogie thrilled the nation. Dubbed "The Look" by the press, her every move was well-recorded in the papers and fan magazines. Though she was more famous as Mrs. Bogart, she continued to act in films. After Bogart's death in 1957, Bacall put their two children and her work above all else. Standing on her own merits, rather than as half of a famous team, she achieved critical acclaim on Broadway in Applause and Woman of the Year. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

LAUREN BACALL RULES!
Hey,as far as I am concerned Lauren Bacall is not only pretty but talented!LOVED How to marry a millionar!OK BUY it!B~Y~E! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

son of a legend...
I don't imagine any of us really know what it is like to be the son of a legend..the incredible pressure that must come with living up to your father..it sounds likea wonderful easy life but as Stephen Bogart let's us know it's not..a book full of anecdotes and stories, self-examination, a bit too much whining for my tastes but nevertheless some tasty morsels can be found in this book..

Would you like some cheese with that whine?
The book is a collection of stores from interviews conducted by Stephen.Who, after a battle with cocaine, removing the chip from his shoulder, and maturing, decided to find out who his fater was.The book is a fast read, has a few interesting stories, and the pics are good.Glad I checked it out of the library and didn't pay for it.

Insightful tale of how Bogart's son came to terms with his fame
Heard BOGART: IN SEARCH OF MY FATHER, written and
read by Stephen Humphrey Bogart . . . his son was only eight
when he died and for a long time, it was difficult for him to
deal with his legendary father . . . only with the encouragement
of his famous mother, Lauren Bacall, was he finally able to
come to terms with some of the anger he felt toward his father.

I'm still not quite sure that I understand this feeling; it's almost
as if he blamed his father for dying . . . however, Stephen
Bogart did a good job of researching his father Humphrey, and
he shares many amusing anecdotes that I not heard previously.

In addition, I enjoyed reading about how Bogart and Bacall
met and fell in love.

BOGART: IN SEARCH OF MY FATHER gave me the impression
that Humphrey had no idea how to raise his children, but it
was clear that he did love them . . . Stephen Bogart now
appreciates this fact, too.

a tiring search
Well written but hardly engaging, Stephen Bogart descends to the predictable far too often.Open any section and the recipe will be identical: Fascinating anecdotes about Humphrey Bogart & mid-century Hollywood are sandwiched between massive slabs of "oh my daddy died and thats why life has been so hard for me me me!"The mantra of selfpity continues throughout.For those who blame their parents for the crippling hardship of adulthood (!) this is the book for you.Bogart fans will perhaps be less pleased - 2 stars for fluid prose & the bits which actually deal with Bogie, icon & man

By far the best bio I've read...
This book is the best biography I ever read! You learn what Bogart was really like when he wasn't on set doing a movie. You get a real good idea about how he really was in real life. Stephen Bogart tells wonderful stories that he's heard about his father and puts an end to some of the rumors about him. You learn about the last days Bogie was living and what everyone close to him went through. You get to read about the first time Bacall and Bogie met and their love story! Great book! ... Read more

Product Description
For her children Steven, Leslie and Sam. And in memory of my mother. / Inside of cover ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Epoca, published by Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA) on May 10, 2002. The length of the article is 572 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Bogart y Bacall, el sueño eterno: Un libro de la escritora alemana Unda Hörner, Lauren Bacall y Humphrey Bogart (El Aleph), bucea en la historia de una de las parejas, dentro y fuera de la pantalla, más fascinantes del cine. (Cine).(TT: Bogart and Bacall, the eternal dream: a book by German writer Unda Horner, Lauren Becall and Humphrey Bogart (the Aleph), dives in the story of one of the couples, in and out of the screen, most fascinating in cinema.)
Author: Ángel Vivas
Publication: Epoca (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 10, 2002
Publisher: Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA)
Page: 111(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more