Narrator was excellent

Christina's narrative voice is jarringly mature at the beginning of the book when she is a very young child, but this doesn't matter so much as you continue through the book and she "grows into" this voice.

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A harrowing tale of child abuse

Most people will probably have seen Faye Dunaway’s performance as Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest" (1981). If you have seen it and think you know the whole story, think again. The film is like a trailer for the book in terms of content. Faye Dunaway had regrets about making the film, “I think it turned my career in a direction where people would irretrievably have the wrong impression of me,” she told People magazine. And Christina Crawford expressed her disappointment with the film saying “It was meant to be a window into a tortured soul. But it was made into camp”.

By comparison, the audiobook is shocking and often difficult to listen to. The level of cruelty and abuse suffered by Christina, and her brother Christopher (to a lesser, though still traumatic extent) is harrowing and moving. It paints a picture of a self-absorbed, spiteful and controlling alcoholic diva, seemingly without conscience and prepared to meet out excessive punishments behind closed doors to her adopted children whom she ruled with a rod of steel. It's hard not to think 'what a horrible bitch!' when hearing many of these stories of her vodka-fuelled temper as the isolated children became the objects of her anger and punishment on a continuous basis.

It's a credit to the author that she survived the experience without becoming bitter and twisted and managed to achieve much in her personal life and career, working with other abused children at a time when the condition was virtually unreported. She also had to cope with attacks from fans and Hollywood friends of Joan Crawford who didn't believe the outwardly-charming star could behave in such a way - with the exception of Betty Davis!

The ultimate rejection (rejection being an ongoing tactic) was when Ms. Crawford's lawyer read her will after her funeral and it stated that she was leaving nothing to Christina and Christopher 'for reasons they both know'. I think that was the point where Christina decided to go public and wrote 'Mommie Dearest'. A book, one senses, she would happily have preferred a happy upbringing to writing.

Highly recommended - the book somehow manages to be inspiring despite the cruel and sad treatment of two vulnerable children. Good luck for the future, Christina!

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3 people found this helpful

Eye opening

As it has been said “you never know what goes on behind closed doors”. I enjoyed every chapter of it

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Great listen

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, life certainly wasn't a happy experience having Joan Crawford for a mother.
Would definetly recommend this audio book.

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An extremely sad story, performed perfectly.

This book is a story of an extremely sad life that Christina Crawford suffered. Although there are happy moments throughout the book, you can hear how the negative relationship with her mother affected every turn of Christina’s life. Absolutely would recommend this audiobook & thank you to the brilliant narrator for really bringing the book to life.

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interesting.

I felt this was very interesting and informative. However, the narrators voice was so needy in the inflection that it became a little tiresome.

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A Horrifying Glimpse into Child Abuse

Well worth the listen; spectacular production, and the subject matter is captivating and moving. It only offers a small glimpse into the subject of child abuse, and at the same time, an exhaustive one.
Between the Old Hollywood gossip, the behind-the-scenes peeks into the inner workings of that fantastic, electrifying, and abominable behemoth that is Hollywood itself, the honest and precise analysis of a dangerous and powerful woman, and the havoc she could wreak (depending on her hourly moods), the story unfolds slowly, slowly, and awfully quick.
And yet, when all is said and done, there are clearly only victims in this shocking saga, and you cannot help sympathise with all involved; from Christina, to Christopher, to the twins, to Alfred Steele, to Joan herself: a flawed, savage, wounded, woman; traumatised, exploited, and sometimes even wrongfully vilified by the press and columnists which her career depended on. There are no winners. It is all just terribly sad.

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Eye opening

Gripping, I haven’t spoken to my mother since... I have put up with her verbal abuse till I read this book.... thank You Christine

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Very one sided story

A very one sided whiney story. I found the voice of the narrator very grating. It sounded like she was trying too hard to sound correct. It just didn’t flow, it wasn’t natural.

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2 people found this helpful

Compulsively believable

A thoroughly compelling account of a gruelling relationship. Shocking and saddening. Still sensational and searing.

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