Christie Brinkley's daughter, Alex, with her ex-Billy Joel, said to her mom after reading UPTOWN GIRL, "You really spilled the beans." Brinkley asked her what that means and Alexa told her, "You know mom, you really told it all." Brinkley does share your life's story from a young girl with a father who used harsh corporal punishment on her and her brother and then gave up paternity rights to her mother and step-father who became her beloved father. Four marriages that ended in divorce although she maintained "I never wanted to end things with Billy." She faults his drinking and feeling abandoned while Joel toured and "the worst kind of loneliness because you just can't make it work together." Brinkley's first marriage was to a young French man she met in Paris where she went to study art before she was 20. She was discovered by a photographer in the city which was the catalysis to a rapid rise in the modeling world. "Modeling was never in my plan. Never." Her fourth marriage to Peter Cook was sensationalized in their divorce proceedings revealing his illicit affair with an 18-year old. There's the harrowing helicopter crash that she and the other passengers miraculously survived. She spilled the beans about having made love to Taubman, her 3rd short lived marriage while he was in his hospital bed following the crash, their short lived marriage and the birth of her son, Jack. Taubman signed sole paternity over to Brinkley for a payout all at his request. Through everything Brinkley writes in a style that feels honest and direct. Her decades as a COVER GIRL and swimsuit model always presented a happy, smiling and of course, beautiful face. There's much more to the surface with Brinkley than just an exceptionally pretty face and I found myself admiring her for her confidence without conceit, her devotion to friends and family and her convictions. "Write you own script!" was her mainstay mantra that served her well. I found myself invested in getting to know Brinkley and relating to her as a career woman, wife, mother, daughter and friend. I'm sorry I didn't catch her performing in "Chicago." But, I'm recommending UPTOWN GIRL for its depth into the life and character of a highly photographed woman whose inner beauty radiates through her setbacks and successes. It was an inspiring and compelling read from cover to cover.
No comments:
Post a Comment