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Frank & Ava by John Brady

Frank & Ava

In Love and War

by John Brady

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Readers' Rating (19):
  • Published:
  • Oct 2015, 304 pages
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There are currently 19 reader reviews for Frank & Ava
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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 andmore
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 tourmore
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 wasmore
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 playedmore
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.
Mary S. (Hilton Head Island, SC)

Age of Hollywood Glamour and Stars
If you are not a movie buff or interested in the golden age of Hollywood movies and glamorous stars, this book is not for you. However, if you enjoy the old movie classics and bigger than life movie stars, you will thoroughly enjoy how the author captures the era and personalities of the 1940s and 1950s in Hollywood. While the story revolves around the relationship of Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra, the author delves into the societal mores of the time and brings many of the Hollywood legends to life once more. The middle of the book gets a bit too involved in unnecessary detail, but for the most part, the bookmore
dlt (Tacoma, WA)

Very Long Gossip Column
I considered this book to be mildly interesting. My first complaint is that it continuously inserts short snippets (paragraphs) of information about someone's relationship or an action that seems irrelevant to the main story thread at the time. It also meanders around a bit in a seemingly distracted way.

It is written more like a stream of conscious than a well planned outline of two famous individuals and their love and trials with each other and others.

Liberally sprinkled through out are names of individuals - many famous, some infamous and the then the not so famous. I actually grew tired of trying tomore
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