Pros: This book is a real page-turner, great for entertainment buffs.
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: "Stormy Weather", Horne's signature song, totally describes her life as told in this riveting book. Gavin is masterful in this biography.
tbrown's Full Review: James Gavin - Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Hor...
Legendary performer Lena Horne is now in her 90s and has permanently retired from performing. In her heyday, she was heralded as one of the most beautiful and charismatic performers. In Stormy Weather-The Life of Lena Horne, writer James Gavin gives a riveting view of the public and private life of this entertainment icon. Gavin takes the reader into Horne’s world from childhood to advanced years. After reading the first few pages, it is a hard book to put down.
Gavin tells the story of Horne’s life from her birth into a middle class Black family in New York and her rise from chorus girl to one of the most famous figures in entertainment. Giving an unvarnished view of Lena Horne’s life, Gavin includes not only flattering details but many surprising facts that show the reader what Horne was/is really like—including her flaws. He presents Horne not only as an entertainer but as a person.
Gavin tells of her many affairs with powerful men like boxer Joe Louis, Orson Welles and others, all of whom were as successful as she in their own fields, with egos to match hers. He also gives the reader a view of Horne’s relationships with other men, such as the father she adored but who remained distant almost to the end of his life. The book also gives some surprising facts about the antagonism between Horne and some other famous stars—Ethel Waters, whom she displaced as the most famous Black female entertainer of the time; Frank Sinatra, whom she appeared with onstage but did not get along with.
For most of her life, Horne gave true meaning to the cliché “beauty is a curse”. Though she enjoyed all the advantages that being a beautiful woman brought, she remained conflicted and suspicious of those around her, always questioning their motives. By her own admission, she yearned for love-from an indulgent but absent father, from the mother who gave nothing but wanted everything, from lovers who were charmed by her beauty but all left her or were driven away. Even Lenny Hayton (her second husband), who by all indications worshipped her, could never fulfill the need for true love. In return for his extreme indulgence and understanding, Hayton received indifference.
Gavin’s picture of Horne reveals many aspects of the entertainer’s character—the air of coldness that some say even permeated her singing, the ease with which she discarded friends who had outlived their usefulness, her distant relationship with her two children. Throughout the book we also see Horne's conflicts and problems concerning her life as a Black entertainer and a Black person.
The author does not give the impression that he is a great fan of Miss Horne—nor does he give the impression that he is disapproving. He simply gives the facts both good and bad, gleaned from interviews with other entertainers and friends of Horne, as well as various interviews with Horne herself. He is quick to note when there are discrepancies and contradictions in Horne’s public statements. His “just the facts” approach makes the book exciting and hard to put down.
I recommend Stormy Weather-The Life of Lena Horne for any movie or entertainment buff as well as those who just want a good read.
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