BEVERLY HILLS—When Betty Marvin, the ex-wife of the late film icon Lee Marvin, sent me her book “Tales of Hollywood Housewife,” I was expecting a fun, honest, entertaining read, that personifies Betty Marvin. However, I was stunned by her candor and brilliant writing, which stretched beyond the boundaries of a typical Hollywood wife and it felt more like a book that could be a candidate for a great classic read. Whether you loved Lee Marvin, loved or hated Hollywood or even have any interest in Hollywood stories or not, this is a book for everyone. Her outstanding life, which was filled with emotional and physical highs and lows, chronicles her rise to stardom alongside her talented husband, only to fall into the depths of poverty in a short period of time. Like Tab Hunter’s autobiography, it’s honest, filled with new details on the lives of stars and not tawdry or tasteless with rumors and conjecture about others. This book is as solid as the woman who wrote it, and that’s saying a lot in today’s society and list of authors.

Betty’s only star struck moment I thought was her meeting the grand dame herself, movie star Joan Crawford. But there were no wire hangers thrown in her story. What you find is an intimate set of stories and overall admiration for what Betty would find out on her own to be a tough industry that stars have to navigate, and there are no ways around the land mines and pitfalls of the industry. Eventually Hollywood blows up a part of the star’s mental and emotional well being. You just hope it doesn’t ever destroy your spirit in the process. It surely has not done so to Betty Marvin, who once lived in her car, but pulled herself out of poverty for a second time and made a great life for herself.

Betty Marvin is now surrounded by loving friends, who want nothing but friendship from her, unlike the days when she was Mrs. Lee Marvin, then they wanted to be near her husband. A far cry from the days when she was married to one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, whose baritone voice became as famous as the actor’s name itself. The book delves into the day she met Marvin and fell in love with the man, only to realize in Hollywood, marriage and family have to take a backseat to fame. Never in this book did Betty seem desperate, devastated or down and out. Yes, she had tough times and went from rags to riches to rags again; however, the story is fulfilling to the reader and very inspiring. I’d have to say after reading this incredible book about a woman with tremendous strength, class and dignity, that if Lee Marvin were alive today, I’d bet he’d fall in love with this beautiful lady all over again. After reading Betty’s book, I did.

This biography talks in detail about lies Betty’s been told by those she loved and depended on, to the people who wanted her out of the way so that her husband’s stardom and fame would continue to ascend. She didn’t seem intimidated by anything and perhaps part of it is because she is truly naïve at heart. Though she’s gone through tribulations that would crush a mere mortal, Betty Marvin in “Tales of a Hollywood Housewife” proves that she’s ready for her close up, but not the one that ends with cameras and spotlights glaring down at a person’s outer beauty, but for her, it’s her soul that is spotlighted on.

“Tales of a Hollywood Housewife” is one of the best autobiographies in the past 10 years. It goes right on the top of my shelf alongside “Tab Hunter Confidential.” This book is available at bookstores around the nation and by going to amazon.com. If there is one book you want for winter reading, it should be this one.