Natural Blonde: A Memoir

by Liz Smith

Book Overview

America's top gossip columnist spills the beans as she traces five decades of battling press agents and editors and landing celebrity scoops." (Variety) From Tallulah Bankhead to Joan Crawford to the Kennedys and Madonna, the ultimate insider, Liz Smith, has hobnobbed, air-kissed, and lunched with just about everybody who's been anybody over the last half century and then rushed to tell the world all about it. Now, in this candid, down-to-earth...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786863250
• ISBN13: 9780786863259
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Sterling Publications
• Length: 460 Pages
• Weight: 1.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Postsecondary to Grade 12

Customer Reviews

A fun and funny read...

Go. Go now and get this book. Lots of lovely yummy tidbits from a sweet-spirited, good writer. I'm not usually keen on memoirs, but not one page of the book bored me. A fabulous read and a great gift--for yourself.

Incredible honesty

Whatta woman! I found this book so refreshingly honest in every way. Not only is Liz revealing about others, this proves she can be very open about herself. I was not shocked at any part of her life. We are all multi-dimensional beings. Moreover, she is a compassionate reporter who makes every effort to speak the truth. What more could anyone ask of a member of the press? I particularly reveled in her feelings about religion..right on Liz! Her sense of humor shines through on every page. I raced through it...and was sad as I turned to the last page. Thanks for a wonderful look into an unusual but fascinating life.

Nice Girl Finishes in Front

Couldn't put this down--it was like being invited to a party honoring one of the most intriguing women in the world, and then being placed in the seat right next to her. What follows is a froth of a book that quietly contains a great deal of depth, ruminations on decency and kindness as well as the morality of gossip. In the process, Ms. Smith proves that her reputation for being nicest of the gossip columnists is well-deserved. She's been on a hell of a ride, and she's had little difficulty maintaining the precarious position of participant blended with observer. Along the way, she met everyone who mattered in the second half of the 20th Century, and with skill, she names names and shares anecdotes. Some of the people she includes are long-forgotten, but many still are the stuff of tabloid headlines. She counts among her nearest and dearest Liz Taylor, Barbara Walters, Helen Gurley Brown, Elaine Stritch, Donald Trump, Katherine Hepburn and several hundred others. Of course, the subtext is that Liz, herself, has led a fascinating life. This book is like eating potato chips: once you get started, you won't be able to stop!

one extraordinary woman

I loved this book. Liz Smith has such an extraordinary life. It never ceases to amaze me what women do with their lives, and I love what Liz Smith has done with hers. I think it would do every woman good to read this book and see how full and how much fun life can be.

Natural Blonde

This book is a fabulous read! Liz Smith recounts her childhood in Texas, her adventures during World War II and in college. Her sense of humor and good sense served her well as she worked her way up the ladder of celebrity journalism from a copy editor for movie magazines, a producer for radio talk shows, ghostwriter for columns until, through amazingly hard work and true grit, she becomes the most famous celebrity journalist in the world, more famous than most of the folks about whom she writes. She knows everyone, retains friends for a lifetime, and shares with us funny, evocative and sometimes deeply moving stories about the rich and famous. Don't miss this. No wonder people love her so much.