Elizabeth and Michael

The Queen of Hollywood and the King of Pop - A Love Story

By: Donald Bogle

Narrated by: Michael Early

Length: 17 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

From the moment Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson met, they were hooked on each other. Soon a deep friendship blossomed unexpectedly, unlike anything either had ever experienced. Through thick and thin, through their various emotional upheavals, through the peaks and valleys of their careers, through their personal traumas and heartaches, through the unending health issues and extreme physical pain that each experienced, and through the glare of the often merciless public spotlight, their bond held them together, and their love for each other endured.

Donald Bogle skillfully re-creates the moving narrative of Taylor and Jackson's experiences together and their intense emotional connection, without shying away from the controversies that swirled around them. Through interviews with friends and acquaintances of the two stars as well as anonymous but credible sources, Elizabeth and Michael emerges as a tender, intimate look at this famous odd couple and a treasure to their millions of fans.

©2016 Donald Bogle (P)2016 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Insight on Elizabeth’s and Michael’s friendship

I was expecting more on their friendship but understand the author felt it necessary to give background on each prior to their meeting and friendship. Overall I enjoyed it.

This is a Wikipedia Entry

If you’re a fan of the legends Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor, chances are you’ll know 99.9% of the information shared in this book, that reads no less than a Wikipedia entry. Bogle, who I once respected as a first-rate historian on race, culture, and pop culture phenomenon, lazily aggregates the established biographical efforts of J. Randy Taraborrelli, Jermaine Jackson, Frank Cassio, among others. One wonders why the publisher would take a chance on a piece that essentially plagiarizes. Bogle offers no new research or insider accounts on the lives and work of these two icons, nor does he add any value to the critical understanding of the otherworldly love and pathology of their intense and lasting bond. I used a credit on this listen, and by the time I got to chapter 18, I simply couldn’t take it anymore. I’m in my right mind to contact Audible for a refund.

As an addendum, I would point out to readers two wildly inaccurate lines reported as facts in the book:

1. MJ didn’t spend over $100 million on Elizabeth’s wedding with Larry Fortensky—that he hosted at his Neverland ranch, it was $1.5M.

2. During MJ’s marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, MJ himself didn’t delight in wearing jewelry during their intimate romps in bed, according to Taraborrelli, MJ insisted she wear the jewelry—all of which he gladly procured for her.

These blatant inaccuracies again—no doubt of which there are more—amplifies the sheer slothful nature of Bogle’s pen.

In a word, folks: Disappointed.