Beautifully written. I have read so many books about M. Monroe but this book had some refreshing stories in it. I truly enjoyed it

In Marilyn in Manhattan , Winder paints an illuminating and sensitive portrait of Marilyn Monroe during her brief time living in New York City during late 1954-1955. Through the recollections of those that knew her best, we learn about the fragile, intelligent human behind the sexual glamour that has become forever synonymous with Marilyn's image, rooting for her as she struggles to find love, stability, and gain control over her career, image, and future. Winder's portrait of Marilyn is intensely relatable even today, as her battles against patriarchal stereotypes, the belittling of her intelligence, and dismissals of her ideas and desires are still fought by many women over half a century later. Cinematically descriptive, Winder's poetic and well-researched writing creates a window into the past, where both Marilyn and her New York become tantalizing real, sights, sounds, and aromas coalescing detailed images in the reader's mind throughout. Because Marilyn in Manhattan goes so thoroughly into this brief period of Marilyn's life, it is a wonderful companion to her other biographies and both new fans and devotees who are well-read on Marilyn's life will find much to love and discover.

Who isn't obsessed with Marilyn? Gone way before her time. I've read a lot of stuff about Marilyn, but I had no idea that she had spent almost a year in New York during a disagreement with her studio. She was tired of the sex kitten roles and she wanted to be an actress. Which is where she started her allegiance with the Strasbergs along with some other pretty famous people.

She also hung out with Capote, the rat pack, met her second husband, Arthur Miller (ugh, dullsville) and had a crush on Milton Berle (double ugh). She loved New York because she wasn't hounded by the paparazzi and could literally go anywhere she wanted. She even started her own movie production company with the help of a friend.

It was interesting to read how when the studio did decide to work with her and she went back to LA and filmed Bus Stop, how the director worked with her. And then how her next film, The Prince and The Showgirl, directed by Laurence Olivier, who didn't have time to let her get into character, was so different.

I think the author did a great job with the book and I now have a lot more trivia in my head to use on those NTN boxes or even when watching Jeopardy at home.

Thanks to Flatiron Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

There are so many things I can say about this book that I just don't have time to write them all down. So in order to shorten it up a little bit I will just say that this book was one of the best portraits of Marilyn Monroe that I have ever read. She has always been someone that I've admired and this book shows so much of her inner beauty, courage, intelligence and her ability to inspire and surprise so many.

Many parts of this book contained new information for me, which I loved because I have never really read in-depth about the year that she spent in New York. It is so heartbreaking to me that only after her death are people willing to really see all that this woman had to offer. I enjoyed reading this book because it also showed many of the people that you don't often hear about that she bonded with over this period that were her true champions even after she returned to Hollywood.

Fellow actress Maureen Stapleton said of Marilyn "This was a girl who had nothing but the great gem that she was, and everyone got to hold and fondle that gem, and then put it back when they were done with it." This quote to me says so many things about Marilyn's life and the many things she endured just to survive.

The only thing that I wish was added to this book would be more pictures of her during this time. I can't wait for this to come out so that I can buy a copy for my bookshelf!

Though I am generally interested in biographies, I found this to be overly repetitive and far too detailed about minutia. This could have been part of a larger work, but it is small and claustrophobic.

Marilyn Monroe lived in Manhattan for a short time and became involved with people who would remain part of her life, including her third husband, Arthur Miller. I felt Winder skipped over some of the elements that could have brought more depth, rather she concentrated on trivial details and naming names, discussing clothing and shoes!

I was disappointed.

view it on Mailonline.com -- do a search.
The book has details of Marilyn's life in New York that the author drew out of interviews.
It's rather a fascinating and new portrait.