Going My Own Way

Rating:
Summary: Not "Mommie Dearest" but still good
Review: I liked this book a lot. I read it about six years ago and I just ordered it. It uses laughable language that was popular in the 1950s, like "licking", "hip", and others. It makes me mad to read that Gary's father beat him with belts and canes, but I don't feel too bad because Gary just TOOK IT! Why don't you grow a backbone and stand up for yourself to "the old man" (oh yes, that was another one that got real annoying).

The only thing I thought was tacky was using Christina Crawford's best seller "Mommie Dearest" on his own book cover to promote this book (the paperback). He writes something like "Joan Crawford was a Mary Poppins compared to Bing". I thought it was in bad taste. Everyone's got to do an upmanship: "You think so-and-so had it bad, wait until you hear MY story..." And for the record I think Christina had it WORSE than Gary. But this was still an enjoyable book and I'm sad that Gary's not around anymore.

Rating:
Summary: YUCK!
Review: It is true that Bing Crosby was an absent father for much of the upbringing of his first family. It is true that he compinsated for this with strict rules, regulations, and whippings. However, Gary Crosby, (who if you read through the lines comes off as a son of much greater privledge and opportunity than others in this huge world) is a bit of a sob-story sissy, who never could quite live with his station in life. It's not greatly written with any particularly interesting style; but rather it is a series of misfortunes, usually beginning at the end of a chapter with a catch-line like "Everything was fine until...happened", spilling over to the next chapter which begins the cycle of woe all over again.
Misguided, misinterpreted, and misused, poor Gary Crosby. So?

Rating:
Summary: A WASTE OF TIME!!!
Review: This book was a total waste of time... I could barely force myself to finish it. Nothing but a big sob story from Gary Crosby who, at the time when he came up with this stuff, was out of a job and needed money (so he cashed in on dragging his dad's name through the dirt). I mean, you can dig up dirt on anyone----- no human being is perfect----- but tell me, which do you think is worse---- a man who wasn't the perfect father (and never claimed to be, in fact said the exact opposite), or a man who has to take the imperfections of someone else, exaggerate them, and blow em way out of proportion in order to get back into the spotlight himself. The whole book was just disgusting and a total waste of time. I suggest you read Bing's autobiography "Call Me Lucky" where he talks openly about how he raised his kids and his reasoning behind it (not to mention some hilarious stories of him, Bob Hope, and other hollywood greats). So, I highly recommend NOT getting this book unless you want to waste your time, or unless you need some good material to burn in order to keep warm this winter.