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  • Mommie Dearest: 40th Anniversary Edition

  • Written by: Christina Crawford
  • Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
  • Length: 19 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (16 ratings)

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Mommie Dearest: 40th Anniversary Edition

Written by: Christina Crawford
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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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.

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What listeners say about Mommie Dearest: 40th Anniversary Edition

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Completely ABSORBING! Great book!

There's a reason this book is still part of the fabric of American culture. It's a great read. I was especially interested in all the fascinating additional material and footnotes from the anniversary edition. The narrator was a little bit much but I got used to her dramatics and over-pronunciation after a while. I really enjoyed it.

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Really Liked the Reader Performance

The subject of child abuse was never going to be an easy one to engage listeners if the story didn't have the right voice to take you on this shocking journey through traumatic physical, mental and emotional abuse. Tavis Gilbert achieved that empathy and connection and was the perfect voice to relate Cristina Crawford's tale.

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Insightful and inspiring read.

I am so glad to have finally read this book which has been looming on my TBR list for years. I am glad to have read the anniversary edition which includes letters from childhood friends and colleagues as I know the author faced so much backlash when this book first hit the shelves. I had heard that Mommie Dearest was a dramatic one-sided account from a greedy disinherited brat, and I feel that statement could not stray further from the truth. Christina Crawford make sure to share the many ups as well as the downs of her tumultuous relationship with her mother. I also feel that she is very honest about her own flaws which can not be said of the other "Revenge Books" that followed suit. The author did a superb job of the narration as well and I often forgot that it wasn't the author doing the narration themself.

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