Mommie Dearest: 40th Anniversary Edition

By: Christina Crawford

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 19 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The 40th anniversary edition of the “shocking” number one New York Times best seller with an exclusive new introduction by the author (Los Angeles Times).

When Christina Crawford’s harrowing chronicle of child abuse was first published in 1978, it brought global attention to the previously closeted subject. It also shed light on the guarded world of Hollywood and stripped away the façade of Christina’s relentless, alcoholic abuser: her adoptive mother, movie star Joan Crawford.

Christina was a young girl shown off to the world as a fortunate little princess. But at home, her lonely, controlling, even ruthless mother made her life a nightmare. A fierce battle of wills, their relationship could be characterized as an ultimately successful, for Christina, struggle for independence. She endured and survived, becoming the voice of so many other victims who suffered in silence, and giving them the courage to forge a productive life out of chaos.

This edition features an exclusive new introduction by the author, plus rare photographs from her personal collection revealing material not found in the original manuscript.

©1978, 1998, 2017 1998, 2017 by Christina Crawford (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

FINALLY GOT THE STORY!!

Joan Crawford has been one of my favorite Movie stars since I was a kid. Read all kinds of the book reviews when Mommie Dearest first came out. Had a copy of the book but never read it. I was afraid it would change the Movie Star image I had of Joan Crawford. Now 40 years later I heard the book/story on Audible for the first time. I feel very deeply for Christina Crawford & her brother! Although Joan Crawford was a horrible mother, she was a glamorous and great Movie Star! GREAT BOOK! God bless Christina Crawford!!!

Reading between the lines

I loved hearing about Christiania Crawfords life but it also makes Joan out to be a complete awful person when it sounds like to me that Christiania doesn’t take any accountability for her actions such as she was never wrong about any arguments I’m sorry but no one is that perfect it seems to me that they both had similar issues and just butted heads to much

Great listen!

I saw the movie version several years ago. This audio version is far more detailed. The narrator was very good. Overall - excellent!

insightful

An excellent story and insight into a famous Personality. However the story was probably 2 Hours longer than it should have been. The last few chapters made it sound as if Christina was whining a good amount. Other than that I enjoyed the book.

Couldn’t Put It Down

I listened to this during commutes. I couldn’t wait to get back into my car to continue listening. There were moments my jaw physically dropped in shock at the story. The narration was also perfect as the voice of Christina.

What a book!

I am a huge fan of the camp classic movie so I decided to listen to the original book...thankfully only available on Audible. What a book...what an incredible story. So much more in-depth and detailed than the movie naturally. Christina wrote the original tell-all in the 1970s and it still serves as the blueprint for this genre today. A great book filled with incredible stories...the dynamic between Joan and Christina is intricate.

A painful capture of one child’s experience with abuse.

Wow, what a sad story. Christina’s account of the pain & suffering she experienced at the hand of her own mother is absolutely heart breaking. I was completely in awe of this girl’s strength throughout her young life & into adulthood. Beautifully written & the narrator’s performance was perfect.

Interesting

Wow - I have always been wary of this book/topic because who knows what is true or not. I have seen the movie countless times and the movie is LIGHT compared to the book. This book is brutal with how her children were treated. Proceed with caution if this topic is upsetting to you. It's really unfortunate and hard to believe.
That being said, the book was very well written and the performance of the narrator was great. It's a quick listen and it gets right into the nitty gritty. Recommended!

What an amazing story!

I’m so happy Christina was able to tell and prove her side of things and wonder if her non-believers ever “heard” the truth! Great job to Christina who held her ground with great strength and never let her demons win! ❤️

Child abuse, awareness,

This book was very poignant, straight to the point my heart truly aches for all the pain that she had to deal with, Christina Crawford came out really strong, even through after all the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, she forgave her mother, She has a touching heart, a brave woman, I know that she wrote this book, to tell, what she went through, I truly believe she went through such hell, but to come all strong, in hindsight, she ended up being the winner, so her mother did not leave anything to her or her brother, and totally disinheritance her, Christina still came out in the end, for her braveness she has suffered so many loss, over the years, she is now 83 years old, I hope she is well, all I can say, is I admire her for your braveness, her mom does the longer here, but she forgave, it takes a very strong, and big woman to do all that, any one else probably would’ve been, mentally off, or in the hospital somewhere, she was able to receive therapy and work out the problems, that she went through, that takes a courageous and strong woman that’s what I think, I don’t know her personally, but reading this book, made me feel her pain, I am a mother, and I could never do what her mother has done to her, really sad, but again I say she came out strong. She is a winner in the end. I like the book overall, and thought it was a great book. Why I like it because she told the truth, and she spoke up, we need to don’t know that celebrities do things to, and I need that the thought that Joan Crawford had to uphold, lies, very unhappy woman that she was, she was truly unhappy, from her own personal childhood, and she pistole that on her adoptive children particularly Christina and Christopher. The book is good I would highly recommend it to a friend.