Queen Meryl
The Iconic Roles, Heroic Deeds, and Legendary Life of Meryl Streep
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3.7 • 6 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
A captivating and inspiring portrait of legendary actress Meryl Streep and her work, Queen Meryl explores the fearless icon's trailblazing roles in film, her feminist activism, and the indelible mark she's left on pop culture.
Meryl Streep is the most celebrated actress of our time. She's a chameleon who disappears fully into each character she plays. She never tackles the same role twice. Instead, she leverages her rarified platform to channel a range of dynamic, complicated women--Joanna Kramer, Karen Silkwood, Julia Child, Margaret Thatcher, Katharine Graham--rather than limit herself to marginal roles for which other actresses must settle: Supportive Wife. Supportive Mother. Supportive Yet Utterly Disposable Love Interest. Streep will have none of that.
The once-awkward, frizzy-haired suburban teen blossomed into a rising ingénue on the stage at Vassar College and the Yale School of Drama. She came of age during the women's movement of the '60s and '70s, and has worn her activism on her sleeve even when it was unfashionable. When she reached 40, the age when many leading ladies fade away, Streep plunged forward, taking her pick of parts that interested her and winning a pile of awards along the way. Meanwhile, she remained an unlikely box-office draw, her clout even managing to grow with age: The Devil Wears Prada, starring Streep as the Anna Wintour avatar Miranda Priestly, scored $326 million worldwide.
Journalist and author Erin Carlson documents all of Streep's Oscars, accents, causes, memes, friendships, and feuds; also exploring the "off-brand" forays into action-adventure (The River Wild) and musicals (Mamma Mia!), and how Streep managed to sneak her feminism into each character. In the spirit of nontraditional bestsellers like Notorious RBG and The Tao of Bill Murray, Queen Meryl is illustrated by artist Justin Teodoro and filled with fascinating lists and sidebars, delivering joy in homage to its unique and brilliant subject.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Entertainment journalist Carlson follows I'll Have What She's Having, her 2017 examination of writer and director Nora Ephron's romantic comedies, with this fast-paced and enjoyable homage to acting legend Meryl Streep. In a breathless, admiring tone, Carlson quickly covers Streep's childhood and education before rushing onto her career. Streep's roles including Linda in The Deer Hunter, her star-making role in Kramer vs. Kramer, and as the unforgettable Miranda Priestly in the film adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada are meticulously covered. Though Streep has had an extraordinary run, Carlson too eagerly absolves her of any responsibility for less than apt role choices (She-Devil with Roseanne Barr, for example). The focus is on Streep's extraordinary dramatic gifts, but Carlson regularly reminds readers of the difficulties women face especially in Hollywood over getting equal pay, dealing with ageism, and deflecting unwanted sexual attention (Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, and Harvey Weinstein are mentioned unflatteringly) as well as of Streep's feminist activism. Generously supplemented with gossipy sidebars and lists and with fashion magazine like brush-and-ink drawings, Carlson's latest will be embraced by Streep-struck fans, but cinephiles will have to wait longer for an in-depth examination of Streep's extraordinary career.
Customer Reviews
AMAZING READ!
You have to read this book. Meryl’s life is so fascinating and there is much to take away and apply to your own life.
Don’t waste your money
Not good
Don’t pay a dime if you’re a conservative or anyone who wants a well-written book
I have no issue with Meryl’s politics differing from mine - I’m able to separate & (greatly) appreciate her art, which is why I bought this book.
What I do take issue with is an immature, self-centered author sprinkling her anti-conservative political views (& other uninteresting views) throughout a book that is supposed to be about Meryl Streep.
Note to the “author”: nobody gives a crud how *you* feel & think in a book we buy to learn more about *Meryl*.
Note to potential readers/buyers: if you’re conservative, the author is going to take your money while slapping you in the face throughout, and at the end, she’ll finish it all off with a massive Trump Derangement Syndrome-induced tirade at the end.
No problem, though, if you still want to learn more about Meryl…most everything in this book seems to be culled from articles you can easily pull up on Google.