I love to read non-fiction books especially those about famous people. Autobiographies and biographies are my favorite type books to read. I haven’t ever read any books about Lucille Ball before, but have always been interested in her life. While browsing the library shelves I spotted Lucy in the Afternoon – An Intimate Memoir of Lucille Ball. I decided to check it out. I asked my Mom if she had read it because she has read so many more books than I have. She said she had read it and that it was a good book. She knew that I would like it.
About the book:
Jim Brochu had been a huge fan of Lucille Ball for years. He watched every episode of her show many, many times. When Jim was 14 he went to a Broadway play that Lucy was doing. After the show he spotted her and tried unsuccessfully to get her autograph. Then eighteen years later he took a comedy class that Lucy taught. His idea of a small close-knit class was put to an end when he arrived and there were a hundred students there. Ten years later Jim wrote a play that he thought would be perfect for Lucy. He sent it to her and in return got a call from Lucy’s husband, Gary Morton. Lucy loved the script, but felt it wasn’t right for her. Lucy did want to meet Jim the next day for a game of backgammon.
Jim was to meet Lucy when she returned from New York. She ended up having a heart attack and not going to New York. Jim sent Lucy a limerick along with two hundred roses. Finally the day would come when Jim got the call to come to Lucy’s house at 2:00. They made small talk and felt comfortable talking after about an hour. She asked him to return the next day at 2:00 for what would begin a daily ritual for the next nine months, until Lucy’s death.
Each day when Jim got home from Lucy’s house he wrote down what they had talked about that day. She told him intimate details about her life and he didn’t want to forget a thing. She discussed so many things with him. The book tells things from Lucy’s childhood, her Broadway plays and movies, her romance and marriage to Desi, her divorce from Desi, stuff from I Love Lucy show, things about family, friends and other Hollywood stars.
Questions the book answers:
Where was Lucy’s house and what did it look like? While Lucy was living in New York in a hotel what happened where she could have been killed? How did Lucy finally break into the business after being told she had no talent? Why was Lucy accused of being a communist and how was she finally cleared of it? How did Lucy meet Desi and how did he propose? What things did Desi do that drove Lucy crazy? Who did Lucy admire so much that she dyed her hair red to be like her? Why did Lucy and Desi divorce and how did the children handle it? How did Lucy feel about Vivian Vance, who played Ethel on I Love Lucy? What are some of the inside details about different I Love Lucy episodes? What actress could Lucy not stand, but ended up raising her daughter for a year? What famous Hollywood stars did Lucy enjoy working with? What Hollywood star was to be a guest on the Lucy show and showed up drunk at 10 am while drinking straight vodka? What was her marriage like to Gary Morton and how was it different from the marriage to Desi?
I hope that I’ve piqued your interest in reading the book by giving you some things to look forward to.
My thoughts:
I found the book easy to read and very interesting. Millions loved Lucy, but from reading the book you will see she is just an average everyday person. There is some offensive language in the book, as Lucy did have a foul mouth on her at times. She spoke her mind and wasn’t afraid to say what she thought. That didn’t offend me though because it’s just all a part of what makes up Lucy.
Although Jim only knew her the last nine months of her life, they became very close. She looked forward to his daily visits. She enjoyed playing backgammon more than anything and Jim was a more than willing partner. I thought he covered the story of her life well and that the book was a nice tribute to the person that Lucy was. He began with her childhood and told stories from throughout her life until her death in April 1989.
I loved how Jim described her house in California and the one is Florida. He decribed them in great detail and I felt like I was walking through the house. I love hearing about houses and I could picture things in my mind as I read the book.
I liked looking at the pictures in the book, but I wish they would have been better quality. They were in black and white and some of them quite grainy and blurry. It would have been much better if they had been in color or at least clearly. There were 19 assorted pictures included.
Lucy in the Afternoon is a quick read and only took me a few days. I just read at night before bed. It kept me interested and I felt that it was complete. If you are a fan of Lucille Ball and haven’t read this book I think you will enjoy it.
Recommended:
