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Mommie Dearest: 40th Anniversary Edition

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Mommie Dearest: 40th Anniversary Edition

By: Christina Crawford
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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About this listen

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. Activists Entertainment & Celebrities Politics & Activism Celebrity Emotionally Gripping Biography
All stars
Most relevant
Well worth the listen; spectacular production, and the subject matter is captivating and moving. It only offers a small glimpse into the subject of child abuse, and at the same time, an exhaustive one.
Between the Old Hollywood gossip, the behind-the-scenes peeks into the inner workings of that fantastic, electrifying, and abominable behemoth that is Hollywood itself, the honest and precise analysis of a dangerous and powerful woman, and the havoc she could wreak (depending on her hourly moods), the story unfolds slowly, slowly, and awfully quick.
And yet, when all is said and done, there are clearly only victims in this shocking saga, and you cannot help sympathise with all involved; from Christina, to Christopher, to the twins, to Alfred Steele, to Joan herself: a flawed, savage, wounded, woman; traumatised, exploited, and sometimes even wrongfully vilified by the press and columnists which her career depended on. There are no winners. It is all just terribly sad.

A Horrifying Glimpse into Child Abuse

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As it has been said “you never know what goes on behind closed doors”. I enjoyed every chapter of it

Eye opening

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A very one sided whiney story. I found the voice of the narrator very grating. It sounded like she was trying too hard to sound correct. It just didn’t flow, it wasn’t natural.

Very one sided story

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struggled to keep going as very long winded .
narrator fitted well with text

long winded

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The book is interesting as it gives a glimpse into the golden age of Hollywood and the duplicity of live verses image . Crawford is depicted as a true melodramatic narcassist, which doesn't stretch the imagination and triggers the public pondering on the motivation behind more recent 'celebridees' buying children to boost a flagging career.

By chapter 20, the author was not looking quite so innocent and her struggles were no different from anyone else having left home though the frustration of struggling when others with rich parents were getting pampered must be considerable. A child is the product of the parent and there was undoubtedly a hefty dose of CPTSD but by the end of the book, I was wondering how alike the two women were.

Good but long winded

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