Which book, biography of autobiography of Lucy and Desi is the best you've ever read?

Oops, I meant biography *or autobiography...

I'm one of the few who did not LOVE Love, Lucy, i liked it a lot, i could hear Lucy in every phrase, that part was great, but it ended too soon. Desi's A Book was great but so honest that i looked at them both differently from then on. Desilu was awesome but again, it awoke me to the way things REALLY were, Lucille was meant to shock and it did, but i liked it also. The Lucy in the Afternoon and I Loved Lucy books about the end of her life were extremely depressing but great nonetheless. I love all my Lucy books, the Lucy book itself is the best reference book and the I Love Lucy book is perfect. The coffee table books are great, the one about all the memorabilia is unbelievable, you sometimes forget how BIG they both were! The MGM and RKO books were great. Laughs Luck and Lucy didn't have enough Lucy in it for me, but at least it offered a different perspective. The MacClay book i really liked and the 50th anniversary book was awesome, but let's face it, when you've read every book, you especially enjoy the ones that offer something different, or tell you things you never knew.

I havent read Lucille in the afternoon yet. I am a huge fan of Love, Lucy ( hence my username) I also really like Desilu. I cannot wait for the new book to come out!

I got the call yesterday at lunch that it's waiting for me at the bookstore, i don't know if i'll be able to wait till Saturday. Ball of Fire might stir the fires in my brain to another fifty posts!

I've read Love, Lucy, Desilu, Life After Lucy, and Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel. And I have the big 50th Anniversary book (which I love!) and a couple more books like that.
My favorite on out of the biographies is Life After Lucy, I've red that thing like 10 times lol. The Love, Lucy book, was okay, I read it a couple of times. The Desilu book was okay too, sad at the end, and I didn't really like all the cursing in it. Too much for me.
I want to get A Book really bad, but then again, for some odd reason, I'm scared to read it. lol *shrugs*

And you call yourself a Desi fan, sheesh! LOL!

Originally posted by SPLAIN
And you call yourself a Desi fan, sheesh! LOL!

LOL Dang it you beat me to that! :p. haha

My favorite book depends on what I'm looking for. I agree that The Lucy Book is definately the best reference book even though I don't agree with the authors opinion half the time.:mad: :)

Get in Line, nobody does! Love, Lucy where do you get all those fantastic pictures of Lucy for your avatar, been hangin out with Ricardos Forever? Or UK Lucy Fan?

Even Mickey's got the best Desi Arnaz pic i've seen in years!

thats easy!! go to www.google.com and then click on images and type in Lucille Ball... i could look at pictures of her for hours!! :)

And you call yourself a Desi fan, sheesh! LOL!


:lol: whats that s'pposed to mean? lol you mean because I won't read A Book?

ZACTLY! How could a big Desi fan like you not read the only book he ever wrote and one that would have to be about one of the greatest LOVE stories of all time, and it was a bestseller too! Come on now, GET IT! LOL!

Ahh! I'm going to go get it!! LOL *looks everywhere for it*

"Love, Lucy" is my favorite Lucy autobiography so far. I haven't read any of the others yet. I would like to get Desi's autobiography entitled The Book. That's looks interesting to read.

Besides the autobiographies, my favorite Lucy books are "The Lucy Book", and "The I Love Lucy Book". Please note that I only like "The Lucy Book" for it references. IMO, the author opinion's in the book are just so wrong most of the time especially on her later shows.

Well, everybody agrees with you on that! Maybe with the exception of the author and his mother!

I don't know. I like "Love Lucy" the book, but it just leaves a huge gap out of her life. I understand she stopped writing in the sixties, so that's 30 plus years of her life untold! "The Lucy Book" captures the work side of the last thirty years, but the personal side, although Lee Tannen did a good job, was just a pool of darkness, for fans at least. Boy, I wish she could've written another book before she passed away. I wish she never passed away in the first place. I wish she could've had an extended life like George Burns, Katie Hepburn, or Bob Hope.

My top three favorite books would probably have to be "Love, Lucy," "A Book," and "Loving Lucy." I have about 18 books about Lucy/I Love Lucy, and most of the books I've read I've liked very much.

Well, she was just starting to write the NEW book when she left us, yes, it's a shame she never got around to it before, must be that lousy manager again!

Wow, thats amazing, just very bad timing. I guess whats meant to be is meant to be. :( But she left us her legacy, and I guess we'll just have to live with that.

Lucy was very uncomfortable about getting to work on her book in 1989. Even though Desi was no longer around (which she worried about originally because she didn't want to hurt him), Lucy worried that no one would want to read it, she wouldn't be able to remember certain things, and that many of the people who could help her remember and share interesting stories were no longer around. She dreaded the date she was to begin working on it, but she didn't have to worry about it because she died before that was to commence. :(

I agree though, it would have been GREAT if she had written one earlier and expanded it past 1964, or remembered about the 250 or so pages she already had written in the '60's, and kept going from there!

I just think we're lucky enough to have 53 years of her life told in her own words, even if she remained at the top for another 25 years or so.

Yes, true, but many of us would like to silence the SHE NEVER DID ANYTHING GREAT AFTER I LOVE LUCY brigade, because she DID, often too!

MOST DEFINITELY. The Lucy show was great, Here's Lucy was great, and I even think Life with Lucy was great too. I really enjoy it when Vivian Vance comes to visit her in Here's Lucy. Vivian Vance was also very gorgeous, and it was great to see then on camera together again. What about Stone Pillow? I think that was a good movie, even though I've never seen it, but I still think it was good. Anything with Lucille Ball is bound to make money. Even the 50th Anniversary Special made alot of money. It just seems like everyone tunes in when she's on. Honestly though, I think "Lucy", the most recent movie with those tow actors on CBS was horrible. I mean, all the showed were clips of the show...if we wanted to see "i Love Lucy", the we would watch our own. Instead they try to re-enact every single clip. You can't mimick the brilliance of a genious. What everyone wants to see is the personal side, the behind the scenes. That movie went straight off of "Love Lucy", by Lucille Ball. If that was the case, I would have just read the book again. That movie was a disgrace.

Stone Pillow was GREAT, but you never saw it, huh? You should be a critic! Maybe i could include it on your tape? I copied it last night for somebody and it was an ok tv movie, not the best, but Lucy herself was very good, it did'nt do as well as it should have as people wanted to see Lucy in a comedy, not a drama. If you want to see Lucy really shine in a drama, let me include a copy of The Big Street for you in there, but that will only leave three hours for everything else though!

Originally posted by SPLAIN
Yes, true, but many of us would like to silence the SHE NEVER DID ANYTHING GREAT AFTER I LOVE LUCY brigade, because she DID, often too!

Oh, I totally agree Claude. There's much more to Lucille Ball than "I Love Lucy." Sometimes I'd prefer to watch an episode of one of her later shows rather than "I Love Lucy", because unfortunately they're NEVER shown, and people forget how GOOD many of them are!

Love, Lucy

It's not that i don't love I Love Lucy anymore, it's just that i know every single ep by heart and want to see Lucy in something different. Which is why i appreciate The Lucy Show and especially Here's Lucy lately, then there are the specials, and the guest shots, and the quiz and talk shows and so much more than just 180 eps of I Love Lucy!

Thats true. Eveyone knows her work by heart, at least the I Love Lucy show, but we want to know EVERYTHING about her, and Desi. Thats why I love Lucy & Desi, A Home Movie. It's so filling. I've never saw any guest appearances of her yet, just I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, and Here's Lucy.

Well, you'll really enjoy your tape then and see a totally different Lucy, take all clips then, not the movies.

I can hardly wait. Thanks again Claude. This sounds like the tape of a lifetime!:D

You know, when I read "Love Lucy", it seemed like she was skipping so much detail in everything, from her marriage to her life period. Maybe it was because she was trying not to hurt people. I don't know, it seemed like a short summary of a life and a legacy that's bigger than even Lucille Ball herself.

My favorite book for information is "Desilu." My favorite autobiography is "A Book," even though I did like "Love, Lucy" a lot, too. Desi was more honest in his storytelling, whereas Lucy holds back a bit.

She holds back a lot! You have to remember the time period where it was written too, early sixties as opposed to Desi's mid seventies. The best thing about Love Lucy is you can hear her in every line like she's talking to you. But, Desilu is much better at getting a more rounded picture of things. I just read Ball of Fire this past weekend, and it was . . . well, nice cover picture, lousy pics inside though, and some errors too, actually if you don't want to buy all the other Lucy books, you can read this one, it's so many reprints of the old stories.

Was the cover on yours the picture of her from like 1951 where she looks shocked? That's the one on the cover of the book I saw here and I didn't like it at all.:(

I HATED it also, it's from the Lucy thinks Ricky is trying to kill her, horrible pic and with that different style hairdo, doesn't even resemble her signature look on the show!

And out of all the great Lucy pics out there, who in the heck decided on that one!:eek:

Random House, the publisher, i guess! Every day, i come on here and discover great new pics of Lucy and these twits use the same old common ordinary one people have looked at for decades now, hey, maybe that was their point!

I like The Lucy Book Lucille and Desilu! All are very informative!

Originally posted by SPLAIN
It's not that i don't love I Love Lucy anymore, it's just that i know every single ep by heart and want to see Lucy in something different. Which is why i appreciate The Lucy Show and especially Here's Lucy lately, then there are the specials, and the guest shots, and the quiz and talk shows and so much more than just 180 eps of I Love Lucy!

I love all of her shows and I especially know each one of those Lucy episodes by heart . . . so many memories! I am just glad that discovered I Love Lucy when I did or else I probably wouldn't be a fan of either the show or Lucille Ball. Also, I am very grateful that I got the chance to see her other later shows. Now that I have the experienced of her legacy, I feel as it is my obligation to Lucille Ball to introduce her legacy to other people who aren't necessarily fans. That's part of the reason why I want to see The Lucy Show back on national tv because it would give other people a chance to see it for the first time.

Originally posted by SPLAIN
I just read Ball of Fire this past weekend, and it was . . . well, nice cover picture, lousy pics inside though, and some errors too, actually if you don't want to buy all the other Lucy books, you can read this one, it's so many reprints of the old stories.
You know what's funny, the book has some pictures I have NEVER seen, like the one of the 4 of them in the backyard at the BH house. (Lucy Desi & kids) The covers from when she died I hadn't seen either. I just got the book at the library this afternoon so I haven't read it yet. Just glanced at the pictures.

You mean to say that not only do I have to supply you with Lucy Tapes, i'll have to supply pictures as well?

Originally posted by SPLAIN
You mean to say that not only do I have to supply you with Lucy Tapes, i'll have to supply pictures as well?

LOL Claude I'll take care ofthe pictures dont worry!

Originally posted by SPLAIN
You mean to say that not only do I have to supply you with Lucy Tapes, i'll have to supply pictures as well?
Yes, but pictures are easier you know, what with FAX machines and everything. :rolleyes: :lol:

Originally posted by SPLAIN
I just read Ball of Fire this past weekend, and it was . . . well, nice cover picture, lousy pics inside though, and some errors too, actually if you don't want to buy all the other Lucy books, you can read this one, it's so many reprints of the old stories.

You know, your problem is that you know too much about the woman! Maybe you should write the next Lucy book? :) Seriously though, I just read a great write up of Ball Of Fire here - http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/09/simpson.htm which makes it sound rather good. Snippets of info just in the review that a non-Lucy fan like me didn't know! It's so sweet that she wrote a personal reply to all 2867 letters of condolence following her - second? - miscarriage. That's really something.

YES Michael, that's exactly the problem, he reprints entire passages from every other book, so if you have every book on her, his is boring and repetitive, if you don't, it's great. Because they are all new revalations to you. But he writes very well though, only wish he had something NEW to say!

See, now I'm feeling like I've misbehaved again. "Michael". :)

Originally posted by SPLAIN
YES Michael, that's exactly the problem, he reprints entire passages from every other book, so if you have every book on her, his is boring and repetitive, if you don't, it's great. Because they are all new revalations to you. But he writes very well though, only wish he had something NEW to say!

That's exactly the way I felt. I haven't been able to get the book yet, but I have the Reader's Digest (which has a long excerpt from the book...or something). I agree with you that he writes very, very well, and after seeing him on the Today Show, he seems like he's got a lot of respect for Lucy, but nothing he wrote or said was anything NEW. All stuff that I've heard many times before. However, like Mickey said, it should be a great book for people who haven't read much about Lucy, but I guess to me it's just a little tiring reading the same stuff over, and over...and over. But, I love reading it all the same. :)

Oh yeah same here, i am so happy a new book has finally come out that i'm trying to control my anger at the rerun aspect of it all, and he does write extremely well. BUT, he misses important things that happenned, focuses on the bad and skips the good, but then again, that's a normal reaction for a die hard fan like myself.

I don't know if I should even waste my money on a book like that. I'm tired of reading books from people who didn't know Lucy or Desi personally. I mean, ANYONE can be a Lucy or Desi historian, but the real magic comes out when the person actually knew them on an everyday or every week, month, or year basis.

Very true, that's why most of us are waiting for the books by Paula Stewart, Frank Gorey, Madelyn Martin and whoever else really knows because THEY WERE THERE!

Aren't you forgetting someone? I'll give you a hint: HERB!:happyface

Originally posted by SPLAIN
Very true, that's why most of us are waiting for the books by Paula Stewart, Frank Gorey, Madelyn Martin and whoever else really knows because THEY WERE THERE!

Are any of those people actually planning to write books, or are we just hoping on our last lucky star that they will?

I think that the most likely to write one would probably be Madelyn; she's a writer, good with words.

HERB WHO???????:confused:

HERB WHO???????

:) Now see, my answer would have been Which one?


Basil, thyme, sage...

Originally posted by Lodee
Aren't you forgetting someone? I'll give you a hint: HERB!:happyface

:lol: NO, anyone but him. He may have been there, but he has/had a major issue with Lucille Ball.

Herb Kenwith, and that's one Lucy book i'll never buy. The books from Paula Frank and Madelyn are supposedly ON. then again we've been hearing about them for years already. Paula was a dear friend and we could hear HER version of the Lee fight, and Frank was her majordomo,as for Madelyn, i agree, she's a REAL writer so hers would be the best. Although you don't have to be a writer to have a great book, Lucy Desi and Lee are examples of that.

and we could hear HER version of the Lee fightwhat's the Lee fight?
And you might not buy the Herb book, but I bet you would read it. Curiosity would get the better of you. ;)

Now see, my answer would have been Which one? If Herb was a Herb, I'm not sure which one he would be. Maybe Dill?:lol:

Whatever Herb he'd be, throw it out, it's gone BAD! LOL! You know me only too well Laura, i'd be the first in line to buy that book just so i could tear apart every line on these boards. The fight, refers to the big one that happened when Paula stored her stuff at Lee's place, it took forever for her to take it back and it was only after Lee blew up at her in the limo on the way somewhere, only problem was Lucy was in the car also and both Lucy and Paula claimed to have been terrified by his rant, you know he went crazy, sorta like me and Bush people, or when Michael goes after Lucy, anyhoo, it took a year or so before Lucy forgave him and talked to him again. Sorta like us here on the boards, there are always a few who no longer talk to others. If we ever settle everything, the boards will boom again!

Is that story in his book? (oh, and thanks for the explanation)

Oh yes, it's in the book as it explains that whole chapter where Lucy stopped talking to him for a year and a half or something like that. Then, after they made up, he went and made that joke after she got the Kennedy Center Honor and he thought he would lose her again. She said things had changed in Washington since the days where she had been there last in Roosevelt's days. So he jokingly asked if it was Franklin or Teddy? So she exploded in a rant about ageing, but Gary interceded and she showed Lee everything was ok!

Lee was very cool. I really enjoyed his book. It really took you into her home, and made you feel like you were actually there. Made me fall even more in love with Lucy. Great book. Hey, by the way, has anyone ever been to Universal Studios to see her Beverly Hills home?

Go to Lucy Talk, Member Pages, there's two shots of the living room and den and also the backyard and pool.

I have read "Lucille in the afternoon" it is a really good book.

The best books are Desi's 'A Book' and 'Love,Lucy' ;D

My Fav. book of all time... has to be Desi's Autobio. "A Book"

Lucy and Desi Scrapbooks, which i personally wish could have been at least as big as "War and Peace. I wanted more, much more.

I Loved lucy. I read that one to the hilt.Love the pics.

"The Lucy Book" by Fidelman