What do readers think of Frank & Ava by John Brady? Write your own review.

This is a book that gives insights into the early MGM industry's workings and the actors who were part of this movie industry. It also provides details of Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra's ongoing love for each other (from friends and family biographies). I love movies, so reading about a prominent movie industry and famous actors seemed ideal. But, the writing didn't flow well. It seemed a bit choppy with little clear direction of the story. So, for the most part, the beginning of the book was interesting, as well as learning more about Frank and Ava, but otherwise, the book didn't keep me engaged. The subject matter and writing style may not appeal to anyone under the age of 50.

The only interesting part of this book was the history of the film studios in the early days. The story of Frank and Ava itself read more like a list than a story with all the short snippets of he said, she said. The lack of any flowing story made it difficult to keep wanting to read more.

The question I asked myself as I was reading this book was: Is this book necessary? Does it add anything significant and insightful about the relationship between Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner? My answer is "no" and there are quite a few reasons for this negative assessment. Here are a few:

First, two fine biographies appeared in recent years. Sinatra: The Voice (2011) by James Kaplan is the first of a planned two-volume biography that greatly adds to understanding of Sinatra as a singer devoted to his craft. Ava Gardner: "Love in Nothing" (2007) by Lee Server is widely regarded as one of the best Hollywood star biographies ever published. Both books are extremely well-written. This book is in an entirely different class in terms of quality.

Second, there are a great many other books about these two people or about Hollywood of their era. I suppose for newcomers to these two people, there is something to learn from this book and maybe that is the intended readership. But I would still point such a newcomer to other books.

Third, the book is largely an ill-organized compilation of quotations from earlier books with occasional quotes from interviews with living acquaintances of the two. It may be this latter "access," however limited the revelations, gives the book whatever originality it has. But the main impression is the opposite.
   As disappointing as this book was for me, yet it reminded me of something to look forward to: Kaplan's second volume, Sinatra: The Chairman, to be published later this year. I also plan to watch some of Ava's movies to renew my appreciation of her beautiful screen presence. If the Hollywood studios had respected her for more than her beauty, they would have nurtured her latent talents and then perhaps, just perhaps, she could have been a contender.