The Purple Diaries

I loved the thorough research and classic-film details of this meticulously crafted biography about Mary Astor's “mother-love sacrifice:” her embarking on a custody battle with her ex-husband, who threatened to expose her diary. Here's a quote from the book that explains the import of Astor's diary extracts that were published in the 1930s: “Although the writing ... was ... ‘an over-emotional account of a romantic interlude,' never had so frank a document concerning a Hollywood personality's amorous adventures been made public. Astor spoke offhandedly about open marriages and extramarital affairs, presenting a woman who lived far outside the social norms of American morality. Thus, those diary extracts made for extremely steamy reading.” Egan is evenhanded and understanding throughout. And at the end of the book, after Astor had been through many, many difficulties and her film career was played out, I was stunned to learn that she was only 46 years old. An extraordinary woman.