Memories Are Made of This
Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Deana Martin's captivating, heartfelt memoir of her father, Dean Martin
Charming, debonair, and impeccably attired in a black tuxedo, Dean Martin was coolness incarnate. His music provided the soundtrack of romance, and his image captivated movie and television audiences for more than fifty years. His daughter Deana was among his most devoted fans, but she also knew a side of him that few others ever glimpsed.
In this heartfelt memoir, Deana recalls the constantly changing blended family that marked her youth, along with the unexpected moments of silliness and tenderness that this unusual Hollywood family shared. She candidly reveals the impact of Dean’s fame and characteristic aloofness, but delights in sharing wonderful, never-before-told stories about her father and his pallies known as the Rat Pack. This enchanting account of life as the daughter of one of Hollywood’s sexiest icons will leave you entertained, delighted, and nostalgic for a time gone by.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this evenhanded biography of her famous father, Deana Martin acknowledges that Dean "wasn't a good father, but he was a good man." The youngest child of four from Dean Martin's marriage to his first wife, Betty MacDonald, the author recalls how her mother began drinking so heavily that Dean's new wife, Jeanne Biegger, eventually took Betty's three girls in (Betty's son was living with his grandparents) and brought them up along with the three children she had with Dean. Martin details her father's life from his teenage years as a card dealer to his first Atlantic City gig with Jerry Lewis, offering her own observations along the way ("A glass of apple juice masquerading as scotch in his hand, he perfected a role that was going to become... indistinguishable from the real Dean Martin"). Perhaps Martin forgives her emotionally detached father too quickly, as when he doesn't show up at her first live theater performance ("I guess Dad felt that with so many children, if he did it for one, he would have spent his whole life doing it for the others"). But in the end, hers is a heartfelt and honest portrait of a mysterious father.
Customer Reviews
Loved this book
This book brought back so many memories of my own father. He love Frank Sinantra, and our house was filled with his music. To love Frank was to love Dean. The author's details helped me to remember all the little things I had forgotten. When's father passed away I remember taking some of his shirts so I could wear them and think of him similar to Deana. There are certain smells that remind me of him too; every time I hear a Sinatra or Martin song I have to stop what I'm doing, close my eyes and just reminisce. Thank you for sharing part of your life with me and for bring my younger years back to memory.
Roller coaster
This book is an emotional roller coaster. I couldn't put it down. As I was reading, I felt as though I lived in the author's skin. A MUST read!
A huge thank you for opening up your memories and heart to share with us.
Smiled & Cried
This book made me do both. One cool cat Dean was. And what a lovely daughter he has who adores her Dad, Deana.
God Bless your whole family