"An actor from Hollywood's Golden age tries to relive his former glory"
Reviewed by Sharon Salituro
Posted October 6, 2017
Mystery
Del Corwyn was a young man who wanted nothing more than to
be an actor. Del knows his goal is not going to be easy.
While working for a movie studio as a gaffer, he has the
pleasure of meeting Marilyn Monroe. Del and Marilyn soon
develop a friendship not many people knew about. Fast forward some 60 years. Del is now an aging actor no one
wants in their movies. Marilyn has died, and Del still
recalls some of their greatest talks. Although Del is still
a ladies man some of the younger women really have no clue
who he is. One night at a club that used to be the hang out
for all actors, Del meets Nora, a young actress who just
made a highly anticipated film. Their evening conversation
turns into a friendship. Del also meets Felicia, a minister. This is the first time
that Del can remember meeting a woman close to his age he
finds attractive. While all of this is going on, Del is told
by his accountant that he must downsize. The last thing that
Del wants to do is sell his mansion as there are just too
many memories there, but Del knows it must be done. While
looking through some boxes in the process of getting his
home ready to sell, Del finds an envelope with his name on
it. The handwriting is Marilyn Monroe's. It seems Marilyn
had written a novel about her life. Del has hit the jackpot
as studios will be willing to pay top dollar for the book
and Del would be right back in the spotlight. But, at what
cost? Does Del really want to open up this BEAUTIFUL MESS? John Herrick writes a terrific novel. The story of an aging
actor who could possibly get his old life back captivated
me. I enjoyed the way that Herrick writes about the
friendship of Del and Marilyn. Somehow I feel that Marilyn
probably did have someone like him in her life. From all the
stories that have been written about her, it sounds like she
really had a sad life and could use a friend. Herrick also writes about the trials any young actor has to
go through to succeed. There are several different
characters in this novel with stories that seem parallel.
Nora is a young actress with fame but still can't handle it.
The way Herrick writes about Nora is probably similar to
what Marilyn went through in her life so I wonder if Nora
will end up like Marilyn? I would love to see a sequel to this book. Did Del and
Felicia find happiness and what about Nora, how did her life
turn out? Pick up BEAUTIFUL MESS, it is a great fun read
with cultural icons and the chance to wonder, what if?
SUMMARY
A fallen star. Four Los Angeles misfits. And the Marilyn
Monroe you only thought you knew. A dazzling new twist on friendship, romance and pop culture
from John Herrick, Amazon bestselling author of FROM THE
DEAD and 8 REASONS YOUR LIFE MATTERS ... Del Corwyn is an aging relic. An actor who advanced from
errand boy to Academy Award nominee, Del kept company with
the elite of Hollywood's golden era and shared a close
friendship with Marilyn Monroe. Today, however, he faces
bankruptcy. Humiliated, Del is forced to downgrade his lifestyle, sell
the home he's long cherished, and fade into a history of
forgotten legends--unless he can revive his career. All he
needs is one last chance. While searching through
memorabilia from his beloved past, Del rediscovers a
mysterious envelope, dated 1962, containing an original
screenplay by Marilyn Monroe--and proof that she named him
its legal guardian. Del surges to the top of Hollywood's A-list overnight. But
the opportunity to reclaim his fame and fortune brings a
choice: Is Del willing to sacrifice newfound love,
self-respect and his most cherished friendship to achieve
his greatest dream? A story of warmth, humor and honesty, BEAUTIFUL MESS follows
one man's journey toward love and relevance where he least
expects it--and proves coming-of-age isn't just for the young.
What do you think about this review?
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