Synopsis:

Judy Garland - the girl with the pigtails, the symbol of innocence in the The Wizard of Oz; the brightest star of the Hollywood musical and an entertainer of almost magical power; the woman of a half-dozen comebacks, a hundred heartbreaks and countless thousands of headlines.

Now, more than thirty years after her death, the true story of this astonishing woman can be revealed. Gerald Clarke's biography draws on a remarkable list of sources to tell the tale, including the unfinished manuscript of Judy's autobiography, and brings to vivid life the unforgettable characters who played leading roles in her unending drama - from Orson Welles to Yul Brynner, James Mason to Frank Sinatra.

Told with humour, tears, emotion and love. Get Happy is the complete biography of the unforgettable Judy Garland.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rules:

1) Make a Journal Entry when you a) Receive it, b) Review it and c) Release it.

2) Try to Read it within 6 weeks, let me know if it will take longer.

3) Enjoy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participant List:

1) Bookworm-lady, Spain (Europe)
2) penelopewanders, Switzerland (Europe)
3) earthcaroleanne, UK (UK)
4) Abi-Gibby, UK (UK)
5) Back to Ythan
6) Billbooks, Australia (Int'l)---Asked to be skipped
7) Southernfryed, USA (USA)


Thanks for taking part.

Ythan :)

Book 37 of 87, 87 books for 87 years.

In memory of my gran (Ena).

4.7.1920 - 22.12.2007.

Always in our hearts.

Much more in-depth story than I was expecting; it started off well and drew me in but as the story progressed it became very repetitive and by the end was starting to suck the life out of me.

Now that it's complete, I'm left feeling with a profound disappointment in every aspect of her life. One minute she is a victim of her Mother, people she works with, the men in her life, then all of a sudden she is a completely manipulative diva; whether that comes from her upbringing, drug addiction, possible bipolar disorder or just the way she was or had to become to further her career.

She definitely had more second chances in the world of show business than I would have expected but she never really seemed to get anywhere or learn anything from her mistakes or her successes.

Overall, I guess this story really concludes as a cautionary tale to stay away from show business, drugs and quit while you are ahead and make a better, less chaotic, safer life for yourself and people who genuinely love you for who you are and not what gifts you have.

On its way to Spain.

And here it is; thanks for sharing, Ythan, I think I will start it soon, as I am very interested (and the book I am currently reading is terribly boring...)

Currently reading it; I will ask Penelopewanders for her address.

What a poignant story, and how well researched and written!
I read Truman Capote's biography by Mr Clarke many years ago, and I remember I also enjoyed it a lot.
A very talented lady indeed (I get very emotional each time I see her sing "The Man that Got Away" in "A Star is Born"), a great singer with a privileged voice, who became a moving actress and disciplined dancer... but who had become an addict since childhood, and had disastrous relationships throughout her life.
Any woman who could write (and believe) that "In the obscure recesses of their hearts, all women know that the male must lead, the female must follow"... was indeed bound for disaster.
Only 47 when she died, but looking much older, she could have led a happier life had she not been plagued by debts, alcohol, drugs, inadequate husbands...
This book has led me straight to my musicals on DVD, I would like to remember Ms Garland as she was then, singing "Over the Rainbow"...
Thanks for sharing, Ythan; now the book will travel to Penelopewanders in Switzerland...

Sent to Penelopewanders, who is next in this bookray.
Enjoy! :)

This has arrived safely in the Swiss alps. A new term in starting up with loads of meetings and work-related reading, but I'll try to get to this soon. Thanks so much for sending and for making this book available.

This is here as a ring, and I don't suppose I would have read the biography otherwise. It was interesting, and terrible at the same time, as unhappy lives can be. At some point Garland's reckless faith in people unworthy of a second glance boggles the mind. Perhaps the scene where she's franctically looking for her money - under the carpet and elsewhere - is one of the significant ones. To think she was able to generate so much money time and time again, and ends her life practically destitute is pretty shocking to me. Yes, she surely squandered a lot of money, not to mention her health - both physical and mental, thanks to (or no thanks to!) her drug addiction, but at the end of the day it was her inability to find (and especially accept) the necessary support allowing her to help herself which seems to have been her downfall. An interesting read, but I can't say I "got happy" reading it.

This now leaves the Swiss Alps and heads over to the UK. Thanks so much for making this available. Enjoy!

This was waiting for me when I got home. Unfortunately it will have to wait until I get back from the Loughborough Uncon.

I agree with absolutely everything Ythan has said but she missed out one thing from the cautionary tales - men. Unbelievable to think her mother had her on a cocktail of drugs under the age of 10 and MGM added to that when she was 13. Who's to blame for the individual she became, or is it a combination of everything? I also agreed with James Mason who said "those who had not known her would be puzzled by the passions she evoked". Perhaps not puzzled at the beginning of her life but certainly later when she became so destructive. Plus, I couldn't help thinking about the children who appeared to have very little involvement in her life but reading about what happened when she was at home, it was probably for the best. One thing that annoyed me with the writing was when he quoted Baudelaire or Barrett Browning to describe Judy. I just didn't like it.

Posted on in the bookring.

Arrived safely in blustery Cornwall today

Not much more I can add here as its all been said by previous readers but what I can say here is, I thought that this was a very interesting book about the life of Judy Garland. It was a lot more in depth than I thought it would be. I agree with Ythan about the book starting off well and as the book progressed it started to such the life out of you.

Congratulations, you have picked up a travelling book!
If you have a moment, we'd love you to let us know you have the book as we're keen to follow its journey. You can even post a review when you've read it before passing it on to the next lucky person.
Happy reading!


Not sure what to do? Follow these steps!

1) You may continue as an Anonymous Finder. Or, Register as a member , then you too will receive future journal entries on this book and track its journey around the world!

2) Make a journal entry on this book to let us know how you found it!

3) If you choose to read the book, please make another journal entry when you finish it to let us know what you thought!

4) Ready to pass the book on? Click on "make release notes" to let us know where it's going! Leave the book in a public place or give it to a friend!

***Please Note***
When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of.

**** Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option. ****

Home again.

On its way to the USA.

Book arrived today! That was fast! Looking forward to reading this. Thanks for including me in your bookring, Ythan.

7/26/2018
I chose to read this book this month because it fit Plum-crazy's what to read for July's theme of 7 Deadly Sins because the title has 7 words. As others have said, Judy Garland had a sad life when those she loved and trusted took advantage of her. I did find her story interesting to read. While reading this book I did spend time on youtube listening to her sing. I also watched the movie "Meet Me In St. Louis." I will be passing this book to some family members.

11/8/2018
My niece brought this back.

1/28/2019
reserved for Kaila-ann as my part of a book trade

it is in the mail as my part of a book trade-Enjoy!

Came in the mail today, yay!! I’ll be adding it to the stacks. Thank you so much for sending this to me!