IN my opinion this book has a different perspective than most books about Marilyn. He talks abou how both the grandmother and mother suffered from mental, illness, her constant fear of becoming mentally ill herself, the failure of her mother to care for her becasse of her illness, her early life and the many orphanages and forster homes she grew up in.
He coverrs her mother, Gladys, in detail, and about her revolving door hospitalisation over maany years, and how desperately and deeply Marilyn's tried to understand and help her mother.
He speaks about her constant drive for belonging to someone, and about Marilyn's meeting with her half - sister and their close relationship. He describes the detail of Marilyn's first marriahe to a serving US Navy man, as a desoperate attempt to stay out of yet another oprphenage placement.
She was made to change her mane by the studio - formerly her name was Norma Jean Baker - to Marilyn Monroe, at the insistance of the studio, as they felt it was not suitable. Talks in depth about her second marriage, to Baseball star Joe DiMaggio, who although was divorced from her because he wanted a houswife - something Marilyn didn't see in her future - he was one of the few people to stick by her as a good friend in her last years.
He describes her miscarriage, and the resulting inability of Marilyn to concieve further children which was devestating as she dearly withed for motherhood. He described the relationship between Marilyn and Grace, her mother's best friend, and Marilyn's too. Frank Sinatra and his relationship with her is finely desctibed, with good insights. Her marriage to Arthur Miller, which brought about deep emotional problems to Marilyn in the latter statges of her marriage.
It goes on to investigate the activities of the FBI in cnnection to Marilyn, and her addicition to prescription medication., and her admission to a Mental Hospital, and how DiMaggio got her out from there. She had a lifelong battle with mental health problems, which is sympathetically told to the reader.
And, of course, looks into her relationship with the Kennedy family and her infamous rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President". Her overdose, according to the author, was down to this web of Kennedy relationships.
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