Non-Fiction Book Review - 'The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist' by Michelle Morgan

'The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist' is a light, fun and cute read, compared to Michelle Morgan's previous book on Marilyn, 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed', which is more detailed, sombre and serious. It's less objective and didactic than 'The Girl', too. You'd hardly believe they're by the same author.

'The Girl' is mostly about Marilyn's life around her time on her movies - 'The Seven Year Itch', 'There's No Business Like Show Business', 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', 'Bus Stop', and 'The Prince and the Showgirl'. But mainly 'The Seven Year Itch' and then 'The Prince and the Showgirl'. Inexplicably, it barely mentions her other famous films, such as 'Some Like It Hot' and 'The Misfits' (boo!). It is also about Marilyn's role as a surprising, unlikely feminist role model for her time - her fight for independence, away from the abuses of Hollywood men pigeonholing her and taking her for granted, and her starting and running her own company - and as a woman and a human being.

In a way, it is like an abridged version of 'Private and Undisclosed', and viewed from different angles, similar to an alternate cut of a movie.

It vitally mentions the #MeeToo Movement. Plus facts like Eartha Kitt, Justin Trudeau, and Patrick Stewart being outspoken feminists.

Marilyn Monroe was definitely never a dumb blonde, or merely eye candy.

No matter how she was dehumanised, and grossly treated by the public, and by the marketing, merchandising, advertising, and even the agricultural departments - blatantly, even while she was alive.

I love that Marilyn loved books and reading; that she always tried to grow and improve herself and her talents is a characteristic of hers that should never be overlooked. I love how determined, proactive, and dynamic she was.

Included in 'The Girl' are some of the best photographs of Marilyn I have ever seen. My favourite is one in colour of her reading a book on a bed (I think?) in a room with a bookcase at her home. It looks very sixties, though it was taken "during her early career.". How did she manage to look so glamourous and charming in everything she did, and in every mood she was in?

'The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist' - about Marilyn the inspiration - during her lifetime and beyond - and ultimately the tragedy. It's 'Private and Undisclosed'-lite, but it is just as engaging and addictive, if not more so. It makes for a wonderful, juicy (not in the exploitative, tabloid way) holiday read. Even better (and more highbrow), it's interesting, educational, and relevant feminist nonfiction.

Fuck, how very little things have actually changed for women since the fifties, especially in the entertainment industry. Millions of women are still being abused, taken advantage of, underestimated, underappreciated, neglected, shut out, silenced, and ignored - everywhere, all the time. While the narcissistic, entitled, empty, self-loathing, apathetic, pathetic, amoral, rich and famous men in power - often with no talent except in failing upwards and knowing how capitalism works - only face consequences for their criminal actions 0.1% of the time. It's sickening. It's inhuman. Why have we not done better?

Anyway, read 'The Girl' if you also liked 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed' (link to my review here). Likewise read my review of 'Marilyn Monroe: By Eve Arnold' for further thoughts on the greatest starlet who ever lived.

But I'm sorry, Michelle Morgan: I will not be convinced to like 'The Seven Year Itch' enough to list it as one of my favourite Marilyn Monroe films. You must be wearing blinkers, performing mental gymnastics, or unintentionally using doublespeak to explain away certain scenes from that picture. Same goes for 'Bus Stop'.

Final Score: 3.5/5