Bette & Joan

The Divine Feud

By: Shaun Considine

Narrated by: January LaVoy

Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

They were two of the most talented beauties Hollywood ever produced: the elegant Joan Crawford, a former chorus girl who shot through the ranks at MGM, and the brash, tempestuous Bette Davis, a Broadway star notorious for refusing to bow to the studio bosses. Their work together in the hit film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? sowed the seeds for a mutual hatred that would consume their lives. As each fading star tried to outshine the other, lives were upended and reputations were destroyed. Glamorous, merciless, and cruel, their feud became the stuff of legends.

Based on interviews the author conducted with both actresses and more than a decade of research, Bette & Joan shows the hard-drinking, hard-fighting duo at their best and worst. The epic story of these dueling divas is hilarious, monstrous, and tragic. This updated edition includes two new chapters. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford are portrayed by Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange in the Ryan Murphy TV series Feud.

©1989 Shaun Considine (P)2017 Graymalkin Media, LLC

Interesting

A great insight into the classic movie era. It makes me wonder if their is much difference from the Hollywood of today. It is a little hard to believe the intensity of self absorption in so many of the individuals, but then again absolute power does corrupt. It is just disheartening that there is so much viciousness in the world. I am, however putting several of their movies on my list to watch.

I enjoyed the narration, her voice was pleasant and the cadence just right.

Don't pass this up if you are a fan of either!

Had a lot of fun with this book. Kept me sane and laughing in some really nasty rushhour traffic. Definately worth the listen!

Excellent narrator

Story was really interesting and lots of fun info on these two celebrities. The highlight was January LaVoy as narrator. She was able to imitate voices flawlessly.

LOVED Bette & Joan

The reading was BRILLIANT! I loved that the nuances were captured in the voiceovers! Really kept it alive and engaging! Well done! Will definitely re-read! 🥳

I'm a sucker for old, celebrity drama!

I loved this entire book. Great descriptions, narration and drama! It made me want to hear more biographies about other old stars.

So much fun

I have no idea why I bought this book. I tend to like horror/sci-fi type stuff and avoid non-fiction. Having said that, I loved this book. I looked forward to going to bed at night and listening to it. The narrator did an awesome job and the story is more bizarre than most of the fiction I listen to. Just a fun book!

Continuing the fascination.

I don't know why so many people are obsessed with this story about two aging, talented, grasping and occasionally vicious actresses. I just know you can count me among their number. I loooooved the Bette and Joan miniseries with Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon and I love all the Hollywood scuttle butt about the days when actresses were actresses and actors were, with few exceptions, kind of just there to fill in the scenery, let's be honest. The narrator is good, with just enough inflection to discern between Bette and Joan, but otherwise I found her a bit flat. The book is good...nothing super new...but it delves into conversations with some people I never heard from before, like Spencer Tracy on Crawford, and Joan Blondell on Davis...so there are a few new tidbits, but mostly it's just a little more in-depth than the show. I also find it interesting because the author matches up what is going on in their professional life with what is happening between Bette and Joan. Whatever...I admit it, I binge-listened to it!

Excellent. Especially if you adore the TV Show

This audiobook explores the lives of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis leading up to and after their only time working together on 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane'. It has everything— salacious details on both stars love affairs and scandals, and tender heartbreaking exploration of their home lives and what led to such ambition. It's a great alone and as a companion to the TV Show, though it does shine light on some of the program's creative licenses. All in all... HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

great read & great narrator

i liked it & tolerated parts of it.
i had a hard time listening to Joan's conquests.
i had a hard time listening to Bette's egotistical & narcissistic attitude about Joan & her acting career.
but i liked how fair the author was about describing both their lives.
i especially liked how he said from the beginning one or the other was lying about the feud.
since that set the tone for me about their feud, i enjoyed their personal triumphs & tribulations off screen.

Very interesting and a bit sad.

These two “ladies” seemed to have no moral compass and to live lives of not so quiet desperation. Showbiz can be a killer to the psyche, I guess. But Bette and Joan would have found a way to do that to themselves without it, I would imagine. I wonder if they were ever really happy or content...probably not, in the long-term. This book is very well researched, written, and narrated. Highly recommend if you like Hollywood stories.