[.ca] Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (ISBN 0688135145)

This Is Really How It Was!:
I was transfixed by reading the comprehensive and well documented non fiction book DESILU written by acclaimed entertainment journalist Tom Gilbert and Coyne Sanders. These authors did their extensive research and transposed their factual material into an engrossing, extremely well written and fascinating account of how one of the entertainment industry's most famous acting, creative and producing teams- Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz- created the most beloved sitcom in history I LOVE LUCY as well as a television mega-empire in the early days of the industry (long before AMERICAN IDOL and SURVIVOR became the current rage!). The book gives a detailed inside look into the dynamics of their personalities, joys and conflicts. I would recommend DESILU without hesitation to anyone interested in a) the life and career of Lucille Ball b)the life and career of Desi Arnaz c)the early days of television d)the company that created some of the most beloved televsion shows in its time and of all times. An engrossing read!

Their True Life:
The book "Desilu" is really a heart-breaking book on Lucy and Desi's lives. The authors seems to meditate only on the fallings of these two people and they seem to enjoy the chance to write on someone that had a hard life backstage. It is one thing to tell about their TRUE life but this book is TOO much. I would not recomend this book to anyone especially a Lucy fan. My friend read it and can't get himself to watch the show anymore. If you want to read a book on them, I would instead recomend: "Love Lucy" by Lucille herself (I give that one five plus stars) and/or "I Love Lucy" by Michael McClay (five stars). I have read them both and they are both very nicely writen and I'm sure you will enjoy them.

THIS IS IT--'FILMED IN HOLLYWOOD BY DESILU'!:
This is the ultimate book for those who love not only Lucy but the fabled studio that did so much interesting TV. It's all here--I Love Lucy, the Specials, the Lucy Show, Star Trek, Mission Impossible, Mannix... full and never dull rundowns on the lives of Lucy and Desi and how their lives impacted television and the hundreds that worked for them. Not a love letter to either of them but not a Desilu Dearest either. This is the one you must have--this and "The Lucy Book" are essential.

Lucy, I'm home...:
This is a really nice book on the real inside story about America's favorite sitcom couple, Lucy and Desi Arnez. The authors have taken great care to present these two television icons with dignity and respect. In doing so, much of the glitz of these stars is torn away, showing two determined and driven people grasping to hold on to their marriage while making millions laugh every week on their tv show. This book takes you through the careers of Lucy and Desi and explains the complex relationship they had. Both were highly motivated to be successful and this strain on the their personal lives proved to be fatal. A great deal of background material is covered as to the "I Love Lucy" show's inception, the chemistry between all the characters such as Vivian Vance and William Frawley, plus the various directors and producers who prepared the show. Unknown to many, it was Desi who served as the show's guiding creative talent and business executive in managing the show and other spinoffs. At the end of the book, you feel that you have gotten to know these two people a lot better. As the book ends, there is a certain sadness that overtakes the reader. It leaves you thinking how ironic that they brought so much happiness to so many while they themselves found it so elusive.

A sad book:
This book is a sad look on Lucy and Desi's lives. The only thing that the athors are interested in are the sad happenings of these two great people. If you are a Lucy fan, do not read this unless you want to be torn away from Lucy.