The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright
by Jean Nathan
|
List Price: $15.00
Our Price: $1.50
Your Save: $ 13.50 ( 90% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Picador
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780312424923
ISBN: 0312424922
Label: Picador
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 320
Publication Date: 2005-08-01
Publisher: Picador
Release Date: 2005-07-14
Studio: Picador
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Was Expecting
Comment: It's my own fault for not reading the cover more closely, the book wasn't what I was expecting. While it was very well written, it didn't really interest me. The pictures included in the book makes Dare Wright seem very self absorb and in her own little world. Though she was extremely unhappy, you get the sense that she thought the world owed her something.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting background to the author,Dare Wright!
Comment: As an elementary teacher, I am very familiar with the children's books written by Dare Wright. However, I was not familiar with her life. Therefore, when I saw this book I was intrigued and had to have it.
I am so glad that I bought this book because it explains Dare's life, her ups and downs, and how she decided to write such adorable books. The book also goes into great detail about her family background, which explains why Dare was such a creative and "unique" individual. The book also explains why Dare was such a tortured individual.
An interesting read! The author did a wonderful job!
(PS: the photos are also fascinating!)
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: the Search for Dare Wright
Comment: I couldn't put the book down it was fascinating! Whether you ever heard of Dare Wright or not I promise this book with spark your interest.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Little Family, Lonely No More
Comment: Just as every little girl wonders about the secret life of her dolls -- teddy bear picnics and dolly tea parties when Mommie is not at home -- so we adults wonder about the lives of the authors who have brought us our favorite childhood books. They must have been beautiful princesses, we surmise, or else lonely old maids whose lives were lived through their characters. Dare Wright was an odd combination of the two -- a beautiful child/woman, who was primped and shaped by her mother, Edie, a well-known, well-respected portrait painter of her time, though a devastatingly domineering mother -- but who, after her mother died, indeed became a lonely old maid, bereft of any family ties.
Jean Nathan's "The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright" strips away the pink and white gingham cover facade of the Lonely Doll books to show us the bizarre, unconventional life of Dare Wright, a model/photographer/and author of the books, and her mother, a two-for-one pair all-but conjoined throughout Dare's life.
When first introduced to a child, the adventures of the lonely doll, Edith, and her companions, Mr. Bear and Little Bear, are enchanting. The lonely doll seems to be living in a swanky New York City apartment, but there are no scenes of a little girl's room, or even any evidence that a child lived in that home at all. In fact, Edith doesn't seem to belong to anyone; does she live alone? Is that her apartment? Whose dressing room and jewel box do Edith and Little Bear pillage and plunder? And how exactly did the Bears come to show up on the lonely doll's doorstep?
Reading Jean Nathan's book, it is quite clear to the arm-chair psychoanalyst that Mr. Bear and Little Bear are substitutes for the father and big brother that Edie callusly cast out of her life and her daughter's. For many years, Edie pretended that she had never had a son, while Dare tried to make sense of her buried memories of a family of four people that she could not clearly picture in her conscious mind.
There are parts of the book that don't seem right, and as a doll collector (and owner of a very old cloth doll) I wished had been explored more carefully: the doll in the picture book series is made of fabric (by the Italian doll company Lenci), but doesn't photograph as a 20+year-old doll; the fabric looks immaculate, and shows no signs of wear. In later books, the doll keeps getting makeovers, but somehow the cloth's integrity is sturdy enough to keep up with changing fashions. And I have long been fascinated by the photo of Edith and Little Bear, standing with their backs to the camera, on the totally deserted Brooklyn Bridge. The mechanics of managing that location shoot must have entailed months of paperwork and permits and I would have liked to have just a few details of the artist's creative processes, and the actual task of wrangling those dolls (who truly seemed to have minds of their own) into such perfect poses.
"The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll" is a book for grown-ups; once you have read it, you can never again look at the series of Lonely Doll books with child-like wonder. But for the adult reader it fills in the missing pieces of the books; the lonely Dare Wright created for herself a mother-less universe, with a father and brother who promised to never leave her, and together the three of them would live happily ever after.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Comment: If I had never read this book, I would never have imagined this kind of life. I have never read any of Dare Wright's books but I ordered this book shortly after reading the New York Times review. It read like an extended version of a DC Tales of the Unexpected comic about a possessive stage mother and her devoted income-generating daughter who never grew up and wore a wig of blonde banana curls. Sad to know that this actually happened to Dare Wright. I recommend this book. It's very sad but very informative about selfish personalities and a warning about dealing with such people. It also gives good reason for sleepaway camp. Too much parental contact is too much.
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not What I Was Expecting
Comment: It's my own fault for not reading the cover more closely, the book wasn't what I was expecting. While it was very well written, it didn't really interest me. The pictures included in the book makes Dare Wright seem very self absorb and in her own little world. Though she was extremely unhappy, you get the sense that she thought the world owed her something.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting background to the author,Dare Wright!
Comment: As an elementary teacher, I am very familiar with the children's books written by Dare Wright. However, I was not familiar with her life. Therefore, when I saw this book I was intrigued and had to have it.
I am so glad that I bought this book because it explains Dare's life, her ups and downs, and how she decided to write such adorable books. The book also goes into great detail about her family background, which explains why Dare was such a creative and "unique" individual. The book also explains why Dare was such a tortured individual.
An interesting read! The author did a wonderful job!
(PS: the photos are also fascinating!)
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: the Search for Dare Wright
Comment: I couldn't put the book down it was fascinating! Whether you ever heard of Dare Wright or not I promise this book with spark your interest.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Little Family, Lonely No More
Comment: Just as every little girl wonders about the secret life of her dolls -- teddy bear picnics and dolly tea parties when Mommie is not at home -- so we adults wonder about the lives of the authors who have brought us our favorite childhood books. They must have been beautiful princesses, we surmise, or else lonely old maids whose lives were lived through their characters. Dare Wright was an odd combination of the two -- a beautiful child/woman, who was primped and shaped by her mother, Edie, a well-known, well-respected portrait painter of her time, though a devastatingly domineering mother -- but who, after her mother died, indeed became a lonely old maid, bereft of any family ties.
Jean Nathan's "The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright" strips away the pink and white gingham cover facade of the Lonely Doll books to show us the bizarre, unconventional life of Dare Wright, a model/photographer/and author of the books, and her mother, a two-for-one pair all-but conjoined throughout Dare's life.
When first introduced to a child, the adventures of the lonely doll, Edith, and her companions, Mr. Bear and Little Bear, are enchanting. The lonely doll seems to be living in a swanky New York City apartment, but there are no scenes of a little girl's room, or even any evidence that a child lived in that home at all. In fact, Edith doesn't seem to belong to anyone; does she live alone? Is that her apartment? Whose dressing room and jewel box do Edith and Little Bear pillage and plunder? And how exactly did the Bears come to show up on the lonely doll's doorstep?
Reading Jean Nathan's book, it is quite clear to the arm-chair psychoanalyst that Mr. Bear and Little Bear are substitutes for the father and big brother that Edie callusly cast out of her life and her daughter's. For many years, Edie pretended that she had never had a son, while Dare tried to make sense of her buried memories of a family of four people that she could not clearly picture in her conscious mind.
There are parts of the book that don't seem right, and as a doll collector (and owner of a very old cloth doll) I wished had been explored more carefully: the doll in the picture book series is made of fabric (by the Italian doll company Lenci), but doesn't photograph as a 20+year-old doll; the fabric looks immaculate, and shows no signs of wear. In later books, the doll keeps getting makeovers, but somehow the cloth's integrity is sturdy enough to keep up with changing fashions. And I have long been fascinated by the photo of Edith and Little Bear, standing with their backs to the camera, on the totally deserted Brooklyn Bridge. The mechanics of managing that location shoot must have entailed months of paperwork and permits and I would have liked to have just a few details of the artist's creative processes, and the actual task of wrangling those dolls (who truly seemed to have minds of their own) into such perfect poses.
"The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll" is a book for grown-ups; once you have read it, you can never again look at the series of Lonely Doll books with child-like wonder. But for the adult reader it fills in the missing pieces of the books; the lonely Dare Wright created for herself a mother-less universe, with a father and brother who promised to never leave her, and together the three of them would live happily ever after.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Comment: If I had never read this book, I would never have imagined this kind of life. I have never read any of Dare Wright's books but I ordered this book shortly after reading the New York Times review. It read like an extended version of a DC Tales of the Unexpected comic about a possessive stage mother and her devoted income-generating daughter who never grew up and wore a wig of blonde banana curls. Sad to know that this actually happened to Dare Wright. I recommend this book. It's very sad but very informative about selfish personalities and a warning about dealing with such people. It also gives good reason for sleepaway camp. Too much parental contact is too much.
In 1957, a children’s book called The Lonely Doll was published. With its pink-and-white-checked cover and photographs featuring a wide-eyed doll, it captured the imaginations of young girls and made the author, Dare Wright, a household name. Close to forty years after its publication, the book was out of print but not forgotten. When the cover image inexplicably came to journalist Jean Nathan one afternoon, she went in search of the book--and ultimately its author. Nathan found Dare Wright living out her last days in a decrepit public hospital in Queens, New York. Over the next five years, Nathan pieced together Dare Wright’s bizarre life of glamour and painful isolation to create this mesmerizing biography of a woman who struggled to escape the imprisonment of her childhood through her art.
|
|
|
- Ask about this education product "The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright" in the forum
- Give review on this education product "The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright" in the forum
- Search related information in the forum
|
|
|
|
|
| OOEN Referral Program Spotlight |
 | | Dover Business College
Advance your business, healthcare, or technology career with practical training from Dover Business College. Our entire faculty is dedicated to your success. We work with you to help you choose the career that’s best for you, and help you land the right job with job placement assistance, interviewing and resume-building skills, and more. Take only the classes you need to succeed at your chosen career, and learn the practical skills employers demand. | |  | |
 | | ECPI
A tech degree from ECPI means success in the real world. For over 36 years, ECPI has taught courses that focus on the skills employers need. Accredited programs such as Networking, Software Development, or Electronics are available. ECPI has locations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and online classes. Complete your Tech degree in as little as 16 months. | | | |
 | | Eastwick Colleges
Interested in a career in nursing, business, allied health, ultrasound, welding or electronics? Eastwick Colleges, including HoHoKus Schools and RETS Institute, offer five convenient New Jersey locations for your career or future degree. With a commitment to your success, Eastwick Colleges offer practical, skill-focused programs, as well as tutoring services at no additional cost. Post-graduation career placement services work with you to find the job that fits your lifestyle. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Take advantage of Eastwick Colleges’ reputation for excellence in career training and placement. | | | |
|
What is OOEN Referral Program Spotlight?
OOEN provides comprehensive listing of online courses, degree programs, colleges and universities.
Also OOEN provides links to their information request pages; if you want to find out more about any course,
degree program, college or university, you can just fill out the form linked from OOEN and request information.
It is completely free for anyone to request information, and you can request information from as many colleges
and universities as you'd like. We list featured schools and their brief information
in this "OOEN Referral Program Spotlight" section of OOEN Store for Education,
in case that you are interested in taking a class or two or even pursuing degree program
through these featured schools.
|
|
|
