Sorry I was unable to access this title so couldn’t review, I had kindle issues with this particular text. Apologies but thank you for the opportunity,

An interesting insight into the life of a legend and a bygone era. Sid’s account is frank and engaging throughout. Poor old Judy. I wish she’d stayed with Sid. He was good for her.

The first third of this book is the story of Sid Luft’s origins. Whilst not showbizzy, it is interesting. I suspect the male mind would generally prefer the exploits of the boxer/pilot to the heady days in theatrical circles.
From the point where his life becomes entangled with Judy Garland’s the story is solid showbiz and name dropping. It shows a man who did his best to cope with an addict who was used to adoration and would accept nothing less. The failed performances and disappointed audiences but mostly the diva in fine form to the public at least.
I remember Liza Minelli saying Sid was a good father to her, his step-daughter, and he seems really fond of their assorted children. Whilst I realise this story is, of necessity, one sided I do think it grabs the essence of their marriage, and the fact that he was still in love with Judy despite her duplicity and untrustworthiness. There are various notes and messages from an apologetic wife, to her long-suffering husband. Notes which the author found amongst his subject’s papers. Which Sid must have retained despite their bitter marriage endings.
Despite having seen not just the monster but the defeated addict it seems he was still very much in love with Judy right to not only her death, but his too.
The book Is very easy to read and much of it is interesting even before the “tabloid” years.

This book started so promisingly with details about Sid Luft’s first meeting with Judy Garland aged 15 years old. I personally was then disappointed when it then backtracked and he started talking about his own life, his childhood, his time as a pilot and his earlier marriages. I must confess that I found myself skimreadimg those bits as I was not that interested. I of course expected to learn a bit of who Sid Luft was before he met Judy but not in such depth. About 1/3 of the book is solely about Sid and then he starts talking more about his life with Judy. What he has to say is very interesting and if we take everything as gospel truth then there are some shocking revelations. For most of this book I really did not like Sid very much and I found myself getting annoyed with things he said and did. What I will say about him is that he went above and beyond to help Judy in both her private and public life.

As an avid Judy Garland fan, I highly enjoyed this biography of Judy Garland and will recommend it to all others who want to know more on her life. The style of the writing was clear and engaging, with just the right amount of fluidity to make the facts come to life. I could picture Garland moving throughout her life and gained so much insight into what was clearly a simultaneously incredible and challenging life. Whilst there are a few spaces and questions I still feel the need to follow up, I have not read before such a comprehensive collection of thoughts on Garland and am glad to have found a satisfactory compilation for such an infamous figure.

Sid Luft’s in-depth look at this relationship with Judy Garland is an interesting read but there are some general flaws which at times leaves the reader lost.

The story of Luft and Judy at the forefront of the biography/autobiography works on many levels. The story of Sid and his early years before Garland works and an enjoyable read which harks to a days gone by. Unfortunately, we do have horse statistics that run through the story that at times over takes the general story. This maybe more of a personal taste circumstance but from my perspective, I found these often tedious and long winded.

I really have no idea about the reputation of Sid Luft, but this story told from his perspective seems he tried to do everything he could do out of love for his wife. This was an impossible task considering the alcoholism, medication abuse and bipolar highs and lows of the wife. He tried to get her career back on track and he was somewhat successful.

The later years as the inevitable does happen to poor Judy seems extremely harsh but she seems to be a victim of her own design. Sid Luft tells this portion with empathy and hatred for the people who lead her down this trail. It was real eye opener as I am not very well versed in the Judy Garland life and times beyond what you read through pop culture.

Overall, the book is well put together and although Sid Luft may not be a literary genius, he does put together a book that is enjoyable and informative. The emotional aspect is there and you find a man who is out of his depth to love a woman who has more problems that will take more than love to cure. Interesting and sad from a man that I now greatly admire.

I'd describe this book as interesting, disclosing little startling or shockingly revelatory but still entertaining, rather than fascinating, which Garland's life undoubtedly is. This was largely due to the slightly stodgy writing style. The subject matter is what kept me reading. While it is entirely the nature of this particular kind of beast, I found the constant name dropping a challenge. It was in turns annoying (so many names! Who were all these people?!) and frustrating (keeping track was hard work and disrupted the flow of the narrative.) Despite having preconceived opinions of Luft and not being entirely sure how I felt about reading his version of events given his part in Judy's physical and emotional deterioration, I actually enjoyed the section on his childhood and early life/career. There is no doubt he was an intriguing character in his own right. That said, it is very hard not to judge - he freely admits he was an enabler. But he does admit his failings so I was left conflicted on my feelings towards him and how responsible he was. He obviously deeply regrets not being able to save Judy .... but chances are no-one could've saved her.
I was also conscious, as I read, of a level of 'spin'. I guess it's only human nature when expressing your side of a well known and much documented story that you'll present yourself in the most favourable light, glossing over the bad and emphasising the good. But I couldn't help but feel a little cynical about the way Luft cast himself as the devoted husband - if he had wanted to convince the world to abandon any ill feeling harboured towards him in regard to Judy, I'm not sure that was ever going to be achieved with this book. There are, however, some intimate details about Judy, her personal life and her career that make it worth reading. For a devoted Judy fan, there is probably not much new but having it filtered through Luft is intriguing enough to pick this up. To a non-fan, it is solidly entertaining and an opening into Judy's amazing life and work.

Judy Garland had a fascinating life, and viewing it through just one of her partners is a strange way to address an entire book, particularly one of this length. Though definitely interesting to read, particularly from someone with a personal insight into Garland's later years, it really didn't provide me with anything that I didn't already know. Luft spends a lot of time talking about himself, as opposed to Garland, which makes it seem more like a memoir about him than Judy. No doubt some of the stories were sensationalist or at least adapted to make him appear in a better light, but I think this was only 'okay' rather than anything more interesting.