Heartbreaker: A Memoir of Judy Garland [With CD]

by John Meyer

Book Overview

The author chronicles the life of the Hollywood superstar from his relationship and memories of her, covering her career, relationships, and struggles with both drugs and alcohol as well as life in the public eye.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806527544
• ISBN13: 9780806527543
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A Must Read for Judy Fans and Those interested in Celebrity

John Meyer opens his heart in this tell-all book! I bought the book for the marvelous CD, which is included-- a casual recording of Judy telling stories, flirting with a new lover, preparing for a performance and learning a lovely new song. When I started to read the book itself, I couldn't put it down! Yes, it is a story of celebrity and addiction, but it is also a story of a star-crossed meeting, a courtship, euphoria, falling in love, playing house, getting to know one another, creating boundries, growing together, really getting to know one another, creating new boundaries, acceptance, hope, love and heartbreak. Mr. Meyer is honest, sincere and ALWAYS respectful of the great artist that was Judy Garland. If he waxes poetic, it is in the style of the great romatic songwriters: Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer. As a singer, I am touched by this book-- Simply put, it is a story of a fan who has never stopped loving Judy, a song writer who was able to have the great Judy Garland sing his song and a young man who got his heart broken by an all-time great heartbreaker.

You're a fan? Buy it (again) for the CD!

I loved the book 20 years ago and I still love it today. What makes it so good for me is the way John Meyer reproduces her way of talking. You can almost hear her. I bought it again for the CD, of course (and read it yet again). Sure, it's not a studio recording but I didn't expect a clear recording and it is better quality than I expected. I found myself smiling broadly after listening to 'I'd like to hate myself in the morning' (I love the way she "corrects" the line 'somehow that something' to 'that somehow something'!). She also talks a little and it's always a pleasure. Made me rush back to the recordings of the Jack Paar interviews. It's a happy recording and as always it's good to hear her. It's rare to get new stuff and just for that it would be worth 5 stars. But it is more than that, she sounds good. Thank you Mr Meyer - but why did you wait so long!

FAN MEETS -BEDS-and (ALMOST) WEDS a STAR

I have read every book written about the amazing Judy Garland. I happen to love this book. (For Garland fans who idolize Judy and feel she could do no wrong, this is not the book for you.) This book is the story of a 30-something struggling songwriter, living with his parents who makes a living playing show tunes in local New York piano bar. He also composes music, writes lyrics and has a pet project, a script for his play called "The Draft Dodger." New York is filled with thousands of hopefuls just like him. What makes his story extraordinary is how he graduated from stuggling hopeful to (minor)celebrity in less than two months simply because of a chance meeting with Judy Garland. In the fall of 1968, Judy Garland was at her lowest point: she had no money, she was heavily in debt to the IRS for back taxes, she couldn't get a booking because her music arrangments were being held until she paid money she owed, her dependence on prescription drugs was worsening, her former husbands, lovers, and even her children had abandoned her because of her erratic behavior created by the drugs, and her health was declining. One of the fans/hangers-on who surrounded Judy during this period was going to plan a new show with new songs so Judy could work again, and decided John Meyer might have some suitable material. On the night he met Judy, Meyer was so enthralled with her that they snuck out of the fan's home (while the fan was in the shower) had dinner together and spent the night together at Meyer's parents home. ... This is a fascinating story, written in a diary style format, which indeed gives the impression of reading someone's private diary. I have spoken with Garland fans who knew Judy, Meyer and Deans during this period of time and was told that Meyer's story is quite accurate. Most telling through all of this is that Judy, although at her lowest point, was telling funny stories, laughing and enjoying herself despite such adverse conditions. This is a book you won't easily forget! As a footnote, Meyer later dated singer Margaret Whiting (who knew Judy) and she made positive comments regarding their relationship.

You'll Learn a Lot about Judy's Last Days

You will discover much about the latter-day Judy Garlandfrom John Meyer's book, actually a diary, about the legendaryperformer. The only false note is the frequent sexual aspectof it. It is improbable that the sexually ambiguous Meyer, (...),"screwed" the star. Everything else seems vivid and true and puts you there with Meyer andGarland, as a "fly on the wall." It is a well-written diarythat will surely offend the diva-worshippers who wouldn't wantto know about Judy's appalling habits, i.e. kleptomania, selfishness, gulping pills and booze, and "two-hour make-up jobs." On the plus side, it offers us a close-up glimpse at a very, very sharp-witted and funny woman. Looking back at thisbrief "affair" of the late-60s, you get a pang of sadness thatthe ambitious Meyer never made it as songwriter. If you'veheard his songs, "I'd Like to Hate Myself in the Morning," or"After the Holidays," you will understand why. His musicis middling to awful, and his only claim to fame will be hisJudy book, one of many, many, many written by husbands, friends, associates, professional writers and fans. This oneis excellent in that you'll find out things you didn't know,as opposed to rehashing the usual well-documented trivia.

Fireworks as Worlds Collide

When a legend in her decline hitches up with a cocktail pianist with ambitions to be a songwriter there are sure to be fireworks. John Meyer met Judy Garland one night and they became lovers. She sings his song ("I'd Like to Hate Myself in the Morning") and he moves her into his parents' apartment. This is a cautionary tale of "Hollywood home invasion" that is a bittersweet companion peice to "Me and Jezabel" (Bette Davis) and "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool" (Gloria Grahame) which cast superstars as domestic pests. Sadly the last chapters descend into bathos and self pity when the songwriter comes down with the flu and the legend moves on to her next husband. Not for those Garland fans who won't hear a word against their idol.