Reviews

This latest in the flood of books about Marilyn Monroe comes from feminist-journalist Steinem. Steinem admits that as a teenager she walked out on the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes because she was embarrassed at Monroe's performance/persona. Now admiring of her subject, Steinem spends little time on Monroe's films but instead concentrates on her personality, believing it, along with her appearance, to be responsible for her status as a cultural icon. Occasionally Steinem's prose is too purple, but for the most part the book serves well as an even-handed introduction to the Monroe phenomenon. Barris's numerous photographs are attractive but somewhat repetitious, as they apparently were taken at just a few sessions. Fortunately, some photos from additional sources are used to depict other aspects of Monroe's life. John Smothers, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Freehold, N.J.