It Seemed Important at the Time: A Romance Memoir
It Seemed Important at the Time: A Romance Memoir book cover

It Seemed Important at the Time: A Romance Memoir

Hardcover – Picture Book, September 28, 2004

by
Price
$15.93
Format
Hardcover
Pages
176
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0743264808
Dimensions
6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
Weight
10.4 ounces

Description

From Publishers Weekly Not surprisingly, it takes an older woman to write a great kiss-and-tell memoir—who else would have enough lovers under her belt? Vanderbilt opens with an appetizer of schoolgirl sex with a chum from Miss Porter's School in the 1930s and then regales readers with a star-studded cast of intimates—Howard Hughes, Leopold Stokowski, Bill Paley, Marlon Brando, Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, among others. Some were one-night-stands, some torrid affairs; three or four she even married. Romance, after all, is "the search for something else, a renewal and a hope for transformation in life." In her less giddy moments, Vanderbilt considers how some of this relentless love-affairing may have been provoked by an unhappy childhood. She was only 10 when her mother lost custody of her in an infamous public trial; young Gloria was sent to live with cold Aunt Gertrude Whitney. When she was 21 and inheriting her fortune, husband Stokowski persuaded her to cut off financial support for her mother, which alienated mother and daughter for another 20 years. While there's a little venting about men who've swindled her, it's the dishy gossip—Paley chasing her around the sofas in his living room, Truman Capote basing Breakfast at Tiffany's on life at her brownstone—that keeps the pages turning. Even in the last chapter, Vanderbilt's going on about some man who's "the Nijinsky of cunnilingus." Ah, toujours l'amour! Photos. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Is this book an heiress-turned-actor tells-all type? Or is it a desire to unburden the mind of memories and stories for the public good? Whatever the motivation, Vanderbilt once again (following Once Upon a Time , 1986, and A Mother's Story , 1997) unleashes her autobiographical instincts in her search for parental love. It's all related in a breathless tone, with not much depth but with a great number of famous names, from Frank Sinatra and Bill Paley to Marlon Brando and the current to-remain-anonymous celebrity. Those addicted to star magazines like People and Us will find Vanderbilt's account a good way to understand a bygone era of glamor. Others might be attracted by the "poor little rich girl" series of romances. Expect some demand for what one might hope is the last in a series. Barbara Jacobs Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Features & Highlights

  • The personal story of the renowned fashion designer discusses the fierce custody battle between her mother and aunt that marked her childhood, her affairs with such men as Howard Hughes and Frank Sinatra, and her marriages to such figures as Leopold Stokowski and Wyatt Cooper. 75,000 first printing. First serial, Vanity Fair.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(328)
★★★★
20%
(219)
★★★
15%
(164)
★★
7%
(77)
★
28%
(305)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Because of Her Beauty and Charisma

I believe it is important to always honor oneself: through your decisions, mistakes, pains, loss and experiences. When looking back on your life and the memories you've made, the bad tattoos, the stupid flings, the comebacks you keep rehearsing and will never have the chance to fire back at antagonists, honor yourself and just... be... you, and know WHO you are! Gloria Vanderbilt has done that. The title of this piece is perfect for the story and for a memoir. It seems that Gloria Vanderbilt lived a Disney Princess' existence. The supporting characters responded around her sometimes in fairytale ways and sometimes in human error but usually with a combination of the two. Ever noticed how so many Disney main characters don't have mothers present? GV's mom was less than lucid and somewhat driven by recreant indulgence and so the girl GV was raised by an aunt. This mother hungry set seem always slightly broken but well weathered and somehow easier to pull for, more worth sympathizing with. Albeit there is nothing here to feel sorry about: Ms. Vanderbilt won't let you!

She has had a good time, has loved love, loving and gettin' lots of lovin' and never had to apologize because she's quick to flitter off to the next episode guided by celebrity invitation and supercharged but shrouded crushes . The sumptious pictures really help complete and fill in the elegance of the story. She's never full of herself and is a refreshingly hard worker. That lack of fullness could have added a little edge to the memoir, but the absence of self-puffing is reflected in her loose end romances and the expression on her beautiful face featured on this extremely readable and decadent memoir. More of the shining stars who light up our guilty pleasure loving lives should take such an approach. Sexy and classy!
28 people found this helpful
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Mind Candy...

I wanted this book after reading a commentary by Vanderbilt's son, Anderson Cooper. He was reflecting on how we adults never really like to think about, let alone read about our parents sex lives and his mother asked him to proofread her romance memoir. He played up the more racy parts of the book, which turned out to be the only racy parts of the book.

This book is not so much about romance, as it is about a woman finding he own way in the world. Gloria Vanderbilt was, of course, born rich and influential. She ran with the young and beautiful of Hollywood's golden age. She also struggled between being the proper young lady her controlling aunt expected and her desire to be noticed by her self-absorbed and very troubled mother.

It is not long or terrible complicated, but it is more moving than I had expected.
15 people found this helpful
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Little Gloria, It Seems, Never Grew Up.

Little Gloria proved that it was not necessarily a "good life" and this is a 'tell-all' to beat all. Gloria Vanderbilt was the female equivalent to Eddie Fisher in BEEN THERE DONE THAT, only more open and vulgar with her descriptions of the sex involved. She knew exactly what she was doing. Eddie had a hard youth growing up in Philadelphia. She, on the other hand, was rolling in wealth, moving from one place to another. Sure, there was the custody battle described in LITTLE GLORIA, HAPPY AT LAST. But, was she ever happy? And she didn't exactly stay little.

She turned into a Don Juan with no scruples at any time. Most times, it's the men who 'use' women, but this memoir shows clearly that was the opposite for Ms. Vanderbilt (Cooper).

Peppered with sexy photos to match the braggart sex-kitten actions, she might be compared with Ann Margaret, or Elvis! In the family portrait, she looked like a Russian duchess with the four children in tow. She went from man to man indiscriminately looking for a father, as did Marily Monroe, she said. She lived the high life, that's for sure, but she was not happy inside.

She labels her mother as a lesbian. I disagree with her that same-sex couples should or could raise children. How could they possibly be termed as normal or set a good example, and children are taught by the "parents" the facts of life (which should not be perverted.) Gloria went to the extreme opposite of her mother, more promiscuous than most movie stars on the way to stardom via the bedroom activity.

Her strange ideas are not for everyday, average people. The rich do as they please. Even Truman Capote, a gay, with his cache of cocaine was exposed. She moved in a wild group and the men meant nothing to her more than mere sexual partners. She may have lived well, but she did not love anybody but "little Gloria." She has no morals. Has she no shame, a high school dropout, having all those affairs with the famous and intelligent men who should have known better. Some of those men are dead now and can't refute her accusations of bedding them. I ask, will Little Gloria ever be happy after living such a sordid life?
14 people found this helpful
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gather ye facts where ye may

It is quite irritating to read and re-read comments about Gloria Vanderbilt being unloved by her mother, her 'less than lucid' mother, or being harmed by a self absorbed mother. Perhaps those who believe these descriptions would do well to read "Double Exposure" by Gloria M. Vanderbilt and her twin, Lady Thelma Furness. This autobigraphy relates her mother's side of what happened at the custody trial (when wealthy, connected Aunt Gertrude 'won' little Gloria she no longer had an interest in her), the court allowed heresy and libel to colour testimonies and soil the reputation of mother and widow Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt as 'unfit'. Gloria M.'s own mother, Laura (little Gloria's grandmother) testified against her daughter at this trial with outrageous lies and unmotherly love. Read more about Grandma Laura's unstableness, selfishness, and self absorbsion (she left her oldest daughter at school in Paris during WW1 bombing seige). Grandma jetsetted around Europe shuttling her children to various boarding schools; she allowed her twins to move into a Manhattan apartment by themselves at age 16 to live there basically unsupervised. This was in 1922. Modern medical knowledge would most likely diagnose Grandma Laura as suffering from a neurological disorder. One wonders if it was passed down through the genes.
Learn of Gloria M's motherly love and pain of being torn away from her only daughter and the lies spun on both sides to keep them apart. "Double Exposure" should be offered in tandem with any Gloria Vanderbilt autobigraphy. Both sides of the story should be known before one can truly pass any judgement, and even then pause and ask yourself if either one is truly glorious and deserving of gushing praise for a life of having a 'good time' and 'getting lots of lovin'.
13 people found this helpful
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It is not important and neither is she.

If you want a fast read then this book is O.K. As far as a tell all memoir it is awful she comes off as a silly spoiled women with no substance. She had affairs with exciting men who she made seem boring, or nuts for dating her. Given all the affairs, she insults the reader as to elute to doing the reader a favor when she mentions the state of the man's private part during one of her interludes. Only true love in the book was the feelings for her mother which was the most compelling part of the story.
11 people found this helpful
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Vague

Definitely not a tell-all, or tell much of anything. Most of what is in this book is already in Black Knight, White Knight. Except for the part about the affair with the married photojournalist. She left him after 15 years (and somewhere in there her 3rd son committed suicide at age 22)because she met someone else. However, the guy she's supposedly with at the end of the book, another photographer, she met previous to the married man. So I'm confused. The printing style, without full justification, didn't help either.

But she did give some brief information about being embezzled by her doctor and lawyer, and losing all her money. Even though she didn't recover a penny of it from them, she was back on the street like she didn't miss a beat. It helps to have rich friends.

One good thing about this book was the photos. You get to see Gloria Vanderbilt not even looking like Gloria Vanderbilt (not so harshly made up and softer-looking). But the writing does seem dashed off and glosses over too much for me to give it but 3 stars.
10 people found this helpful
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Glamorous Biography

Here is some Hollywood history written by Gloria Vanderbilt. The book is a quick read, and the stories she tells about all her famous boyfriends like Howard Hughes, Marlon Brando, Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra are amazing.

I couldn't put this book down. I loved reading about the Glamorous and Romantic life Gloria Vanderbilt has lived.
10 people found this helpful
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"Live, Love, Laugh, And Be Happy"

IT SEEMED IMPORTANT AT THE TIME: A ROMANCE MEMOIR by entertaining writer, Gloria Vanderbilt is a book you won't want to miss.

Going from the thought process to actually acting on impulse, was a thrilling journey to be sure.

I found Ms. Vanderbilt story unique and insightful. Parts of her story were touching with moments to cherish while others were, well...you get the picture, right? We're all only human as the saying goes.

I enjoyed this book a lot and am happy to recommend it to anyone who longs to slip into someone elses world for a few fun-filled hours.

(Recommended Reading!)
8 people found this helpful
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no insight, little descriptive prose; some names and some not named

The only reason to explain this book is that the publisher made a bad decision. Vanderbilt is vaccuous, her divorces and even the loss of her son by suicide is glossed over. Some of her lovers are named, some are not, but it doesn't matter.... everything is a short snippet with Gloria always bouncing on to the next romance. Vanerbilt masters the art of having nothing to say. "It seemed important at the time" should read it isn't important now and the way its written, it probably never was. One star is one too many
5 people found this helpful
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Who is the real Gloria?

This book lacks depth and leaves the reader feeling that we still don't know Gloria Vanderbilt. Also, why does she give the impression that she only has one living son? What kind of mother would disregard her two older children? Very sad.

A much better book on the Vanderbilts is "Fortunes Children". I recommend it.
5 people found this helpful

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