Book Summary and Reviews of Frank & Ava by John Brady

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Chris W. (Temple City, CA)

A sad, dysfunctional relationship ...
Having grown up with a mother who adored Frank Sinatra and played his music almost every day, I felt I knew a lot about him and his on-and-off, dysfunctional relationship with Ava. However, I gained more insight and learned so much about their careers and them, both together and separate, in this book. Most of the time the narrative read like a page turner. Sometimes there were just a few paragraphs that covered a specific incident, but these shorter sections didn't seem smoothly connected and it felt more like the author was simply presenting events he had researched in chronological order. What were Frank and Ava doing in the timeframes between those events? I also learned a lot about many other stars during that period and how their lives were involved with Frank and Ava. That was a bonus and quite enlightening. I hope the final publication has pictures. How did they look at the end of their lives? I will be passing this book on to my mother and her friends. Anyone who is a fan of Sinatra or who wants to learn more about the stars of that era will enjoy this book.

Karen L. (Wilton, IA)

A fascinating look at old Hollywood
I couldn't put it down. It was a quick read for me. I enjoyed learning more about 2 stars I didn't know much about. I also got a glimpse of other stars lives like Bogart and Bacall. I thought it was sad that Frank loved Ava so much but they couldn't make it work. I think the book would appeal to Frank Sinatra and /or Ava Gardner fans. It would also appeal to fans of old movies and old Hollywood.

Dorothy G. (Naperville, IL)

Hard to put down!
I have read several books on Frank Sinatra and also books on Ava Gardner. While they all touch on the relationship between Ava and Frank, it is more a skim. This book follows the relationship from start to finish --- a romance that never really died. Great segments about Bogart, Bacall, Jerry Lewis, Grace Kelly Hemingway, etc. Ava and Frank were Hollywood royalty and seemed to touch every other star at some point in their careers/relationships. So many great side stories were woven into this story and every one relevant and interesting. Hated to put the book down and hated for it to end. A wonderful guided tour through two peoples' lives. Cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Gunta K. (Glens Falls, NY)

Magnificent Ol'Blue Eyes
Those of us of a certain age who have been fortunate enough to hear and see Frank Sinatra perform in person, either in a grand concert or Vegas will appreciate this book by John Brady as we have seen, in person, all of Frank's antics and outbursts. We have listened to his dreamy voice and actually still do, on CD, on Sirius, in our homes and in restaurants. He is the man for a certain generation. Unforgettable.

Ava Gardner was elegant, lithe, beautiful. Her throaty voice and movements like a cat were and are marvelous. Again those of us of a certain age watched every film of hers as they came out. She was particularly impressive in "Mogambo".

John Brady has taken the events in the lives of those two and presented them to us in a way which makes us go down memory lane. Theirs and our own. He also describes Frank's wife Nancy and his mother. The environment that shaped Frank.
Ava born in a shack in the South, five sisters. No education but mesmerizing beauty. This book depicts her as a woman who did what she wanted , how she wanted to do it and when she wanted to do it. Takes courage, willpower, spirit.
Their fights were legendary, their lavish life style, their not welcome back at certain high end hotels during their life time were fodder for newspapers of those times. Their love of life and love for each other. A great book, very readable and most enjoyable.

Janis H. (Willow Street, PA)

Frank and Ava in Love and War
Tabloids feed us a daily diet of the fortunes and misfortunes of our entertainment idols, but the plethora of scandals we absorb pale in comparison to the firestorm that Frank Sinatra "The Voice of the 40s" created when he divorced his nice Italian wife Nancy to marry screen siren Ava Gardner. As revealed in Ava and Frank In Love and War, Louis B. Mayer micromanaged the lives of the MGM screen goddesses and heart throbs like Ava Gardner and Clark Gable. 2015 fans who take a trip down memory lane while reading this book might be dismayed to learn that all that glittered was not gold for the actors who played their roles in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Ava and Frank's marriage did not last long, but their love for each other consumed them throughout their adult lives. This book is both informative and hauntingly sad. Most importantly, it revisits two people, now deceased, who captured the minds of millions of fans nearly eighty years ago. It is a good read for fans of movie history. I am strongly recommending it.

Kathy G. (Danville, CA)

Frank and Ava
I have loved everything about the Golden Age of Movies. After reading the book, I have changed my mind. The book was half history of the time(well researched) and half sexual conquests. I enjoyed the book but at the same time, saddened that the movie producers and the actors were not very respective of one another. It read like THE NATIONAL INQUIRER. Guess things are not much different now. I guess if one really wants to know about Hollywood during the Golden Age, FRANK AND AVA would be the book to read.

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