So appreciated . I have been looking for an audiobook version for a very long time. Read by Christina Crawford as well. Glorious . Thank you so very much.
This is an abridged version of the book, which I've read many times. But it's all good, we get to hear Christina reading her own story - thank you so much for posting this gem!
I wasn't sure if this even existed. So glad this has been posted. I always wanted to read the book of this crazy over the top movie I have always enjoyed but found disturbing. Thank You so much for posting!
Thank you Ryan! I'm not able to buy the book from here (Argentina) and this really makes me happy because I've not read this famous book about our beloved Joan Crawford. Again, thank you!
Yes, thank u for posting this. I have read so much about Joan and Christina Crawford. Ive seen the movie so so so many times. People say it wasnt true n didnt really happen but who makes up this stuff, but then again, why did Christina claim this but the other siblings say it was nothing like that.
The message that is repeated over and over in this book is “I was an innocent angel who never did anything wrong! And my mother was the devil!” There are usually always two sides to every story, and to me it feels like a lot of details seem to have been conveniently left out, as a lot of it doesn’t fully add up. And I HATE being doubtful towards an alleged victim of abuse! But we HAVE to remain skeptical, as the other party cannot defend themselves and the financial motivation is just too convenient.
Thank you so much for posting these clips. :) I'm not really buying into Christina's story... but at the same time I am sure some of the things she said are true,just a little (or extremely) exaggerated.A few things that seem weird to me: 1. First thing she writes about is-dead Joan,to the detail.Gave me chills,but I gotta give her kudos for the way she described her. 2. The next thing is her first memory of Joan-a swimming competition.This is where the mirror cracks for me.A kid who wanted to beat grown woman in a stupid competition. 3. The word HATE is repeated so many times and is so strongly emphasized while the word LOVE sounds fake and ironic,when talking about her 'feelings' for Joan. -I am aware that Joan had problems and childhood issues but...from what Christina said about her parenting it just seems to me that Joan was a strict mother who wanted to teach her kids to appreciate what they have and be independent.I see Christina as a difficult kid who was obsessed with becoming not LIKE Joan but JOAN HERSELF,as if she was jealous of Joan. -She is still called A CHILD even tho she's in her 70s. What was she doing all these years besides whining on talk shows? Idk...seems like a brat to me with wild imagination and high IQ. -I do love her way of writing,tho...Like,I could read stuff she makes up and not feel tired. But,I'm #TeamJoan on this.
Watch Joan Crawford DEFENDED and get a better view of the truth. Watch Christina Crawford's interview of 1960 and hear the TRUTH from Christina's own mouth. Joan and Al Steele bought Christina a Thunderbird but she kept parking it on the wrong side of the street and it kept getting towed Joan was tired of continually having to pay for the parking tickets so Joan and Al took the car back from Christina. Joan paid for Christina's college, she dropped out. Joan got Christina a job at MCA talent agency, Christina quit. Joan got Christina several acting jobs. Christina was cast in a Neil Simon play playing Myrna Loy's daughter, but she was so disruptive, uncooperative, and unprofessional that she was fired. Joan did a documentary on the Queen Mary ship, Christina accompanied her. Joan did the Jerry Lewis Telethon many times, Christina accompanied her once. Joan bought Christina beautiful clothes before she would send her to Chadwick and Christina always gave her clothes away to the other girls and then Chadwick School would call Joan and ask her why Christina only had one shabby outfit. Christina is a known liar and a psychotic. Her book has been debunked by her two other adopted sisters and their children, and a long list of people who knew and worked with Joan. Joan paid the hospital bills for countless people at MGM who couldn't afford it. She paid the funeral expenses for a widow who lost her husband in the military. All without recognition, given privately and in secret. Christina wanted Joan's success, lifestyle, fame, money, and beauty.
I read this book and just completed the audio book. MY thoughts::: Indeed Christina endured loneliness and tribulations not to mention extreme discipline and perhaps some abuse from Joan... but at the end of the day Christina was kind of a brat. I can promise you had Joan adopted from Mexico or and other country the children would have been nicer and more appreciative... Word is bond. Rest In Peace Joan where ever you are. Its a shame that this story was told ... millions of us who have endured the same or worse don't write tell all's about our parents... we suck it up and go to therapy like everyone else.
Ugh! I've only gotten as far as the swimming.... "Mommy, you don't play fair......" Joan Crawford, quite naturally, explains she's bigger. I've heard enough.
Thank you for sharing this audiobook Mommie Dearest, I loved reading the book, however one must remember Christina Crawford could have freed herself from her evil mother on her 18th birthday, Ive seen many photos of Christina with her evil mother smiling many times.... Joan Crawford paid for Christina's collage education , and helped Christina with her failed acting career. Both Joan Crawford's other daughters came forward and said Joan Crawford was a loving caring mother...
Christina’s self pity and exaggeration is ridiculous. Was Joan perfect? Did she often act too harshly? Yes. Was she an evil woman? No. Oh jeez, she had to eat a cold steak. Oh no, she was spanked. Ugh.
Even Bette Davis who loathed Joan said she didn't believe Christina ...I believed Joan was a harsh dusaplinarian..but not the pshyco she's been labeled as
Joan was over the top most times, but listening to Christina here I can see that very early on she was spoiled rotten. Eat your damn steak even if it's not exactly what you want when it was served as a hot meal with all the trimmings. I don't like well done steak but my dad was the bbq master and I ate that delicious porterhouse steak...always well done...with thanks that my dad made me a delicious meal. The other Joan oddities were abusive, yes, but for the first time I see a Christian brat syndrome too.
Christina Crawford was left out of the will by Joan so she wrote a book for financial gain. I believe that it was Christina who in part drove Joan to alcoholism. She was a rebellious child, difficult, and unnaturally envious from a very early age. Joan was a strict disciplinarian as described by her other children who strongly disagree with Christina saying Joan was warm, and loving . Also we are living in an age where if you even scold a child it is frowned upon, and called abuse. Lets pretend that Christina is not the liar that she is, and was in fact abused, then all her actions would suggest is that she is the most unforgiving, lacking any human compassion or genuine warmth, blood thirsty, and money hungry. How do you make a fortune out of someone you hate, and still hate them with such unyielding, and unending vicious wrath. This is what love, and human tenderness would look like..."my mother was abusive, as a grown up I have considered her struggles emotionally, psychologically, and in the work place. I would like to think I understand, and chose to forgive, and love those things which were good rather then to have hate that consumes me for my parent." Christina C. Proves through her every action exactly what kind of witch she really is. A total psychopath.
I agree with you!! She loves being a C Crawford! Would she have written a book about her life in a Mexican orphanage!! The good thing is,This book made many people fall in love with Joan Crawford!! C Crawford has nothing but hate left in her life. She lost her husband, her looks and her life. She wanted to be Joan Crawford!!!!
This woman couldn't make it as an actress, no talent. Was cut out of her mother's will, no money. Her sole income has been based around the fairy-tale book she wrote. It's really rather pathetic, but I do thank her. Because of the book and movie, I discovered Joan Crawford, and she has become my favorite actress of all time. So thanks Christina. Your hopes to smear your mother's reputation has boomaranged and now she is loved and has become an icon, which she deserves. I hope you realize your part in elevating your dear mother's place in history, I'm grateful.
Strange- when Larry King asked her if she loved her mother, Christina responded with an emphatic no. And yet here she is, trying to get us to believe the opposite. It's hard to take her tone seriously now. Also, she told him that her mother was found to be unfit to adopt in CA, but here she said it was because the law didn't allow single mothers to adopt back then.
Did the publisher administer a polygraph to Christina before this book was released? I think Christina was very jealous of her mother no matter how big of a drunk or terror she was.
Oh an what's more thing.... my abuse and the abuse of so many others are far far worse than this... SMH... It is not enough to write a tell all in my opinion. Which only proves Joan had her reasons and had good Judgment when it came to Christina.
Christina is still trying to make money off the exploitation book on her mother. Christina will never be the Actress Joan Crawford was, no matter how hard she continues to try. Jealousy is truly a "Green eyed Monster".
30mins- we were all raised like that. Am pleased of it too. My own are grown now and haven’t a clue how lucky they are. Sometimes it’s necessary to orchestrate an ‘ego death’ or ‘taken down a peg or two’... their own parents had even less but had manners and were polite and decent and above all respectful, motivated and appreciative. Does this book turn around or does this ‘wow is me...’ horizontal drivel continue. Great nap background music 😂 my dogs asleep now anyways
This stinking thing that wrote this book was after money, she didn't care what she said. All of us could go back to childhood and write stories about our parents ,we could all make them sound as bad as she has. I think she exaggerated because from the eyes of any child any kind of trouble felt like the world was coming to an end. I'm not saying Mrs Crawford was a perfect mother. . Not one of us could remember this crap as clear as she has without Making it sound worse than it was. You nor I lived in that house , her brother came out against her about this pile of crap she wrote ,for what reason Mrs Crawford was already dead she could not hurt him in any way. She was just trying to put money in her pocket. I'd love to have someone do the same to her with a book about all the hurtful thins she did in her life and exaggerate it , I really think she wouldn't care she made her money waiting for her Mother to die to then defame her with this bullshit. Unless you were there to see it take it for what it is a spoiled brat doing her best to destroy the women who raised her.
It’s pretty crazy-this book is just chock a of lies. Christina Crawford-I hope you’re happy. It’s truly awful that you assert this disproportionately exaggerated trash. I hope the truth will eventually surface but even if it does, the damage is irreparable. Nothing that Joan ever did deserved how she was treated by a spiteful, vindictive daughter who can’t write any better than the National Enquirer, which is far more reputable than this tripe.
So appreciated . I have been looking for an audiobook version for a very long time. Read by Christina Crawford as well. Glorious . Thank you so very much.
This is an abridged version of the book, which I've read many times. But it's all good, we get to hear Christina reading her own story - thank you so much for posting this gem!
Wow! What a find. Thank you for taking the time to post this.
I've been wanting to read this, but hearing by the writer herself...bonus! Thanks for posting this! Saving to my "Watch Later" list!
I wasn't sure if this even existed. So glad this has been posted. I always wanted to read the book of this crazy over the top movie I have always enjoyed but found disturbing. Thank You so much for posting!
Thank you Ryan! I'm not able to buy the book from here (Argentina) and this really makes me happy because I've not read this famous book about our beloved Joan Crawford. Again, thank you!
Yes, thank u for posting this. I have read so much about Joan and Christina Crawford. Ive seen the movie so so so many times. People say it wasnt true n didnt really happen but who makes up this stuff, but then again, why did Christina claim this but the other siblings say it was nothing like that.
AWESOME
I have the audio book myself, but on cassette tapes, and no way to play it. Thanks for posting it here!
This is incredible. Thank you for posting this gem.
I wish Joan was alive to be able to comment on the book
At least Joan had the last word. The little spoiled bitch didn’t get shit!!
Me too
She would probably sue her
Same!
Thank you for this.
Fantastic....thank you.
Thanks!
Great thanks
The message that is repeated over and over in this book is “I was an innocent angel who never did anything wrong! And my mother was the devil!”
There are usually always two sides to every story, and to me it feels like a lot of details seem to have been conveniently left out, as a lot of it doesn’t fully add up. And I HATE being doubtful towards an alleged victim of abuse! But we HAVE to remain skeptical, as the other party cannot defend themselves and the financial motivation is just too convenient.
So… the wire hangers did actually happen. She redacted this in a Larry King interview in the 2000’s.
How does she even remember being that young
Thank you so much for posting these clips. :)
I'm not really buying into Christina's story... but at the same time I am sure some of the things she said are true,just a little (or extremely) exaggerated.A few things that seem weird to me:
1. First thing she writes about is-dead Joan,to the detail.Gave me chills,but I gotta give her kudos for the way she described her.
2. The next thing is her first memory of Joan-a swimming competition.This is where the mirror cracks for me.A kid who wanted to beat grown woman in a stupid competition.
3. The word HATE is repeated so many times and is so strongly emphasized while the word LOVE sounds fake and ironic,when talking about her 'feelings' for Joan.
-I am aware that Joan had problems and childhood issues but...from what Christina said about her parenting it just seems to me that Joan was a strict mother who wanted to teach her kids to appreciate what they have and be independent.I see Christina as a difficult kid who was obsessed with becoming not LIKE Joan but JOAN HERSELF,as if she was jealous of Joan.
-She is still called A CHILD even tho she's in her 70s. What was she doing all these years besides whining on talk shows? Idk...seems like a brat to me with wild imagination and high IQ.
-I do love her way of writing,tho...Like,I could read stuff she makes up and not feel tired. But,I'm #TeamJoan on this.
Watch Joan Crawford DEFENDED and get a better view of the truth. Watch Christina Crawford's interview of 1960 and hear the TRUTH from Christina's own mouth. Joan and Al Steele bought Christina a Thunderbird but she kept parking it on the wrong side of the street and it kept getting towed Joan was tired of continually having to pay for the parking tickets so Joan and Al took the car back from Christina. Joan paid for Christina's college, she dropped out. Joan got Christina a job at MCA talent agency, Christina quit. Joan got Christina several acting jobs. Christina was cast in a Neil Simon play playing Myrna Loy's daughter, but she was so disruptive, uncooperative, and unprofessional that she was fired. Joan did a documentary on the Queen Mary ship, Christina accompanied her. Joan did the Jerry Lewis Telethon many times, Christina accompanied her once. Joan bought Christina beautiful clothes before she would send her to Chadwick and Christina always gave her clothes away to the other girls and then Chadwick School would call Joan and ask her why Christina only had one shabby outfit. Christina is a known liar and a psychotic. Her book has been debunked by her two other adopted sisters and their children, and a long list of people who knew and worked with Joan. Joan paid the hospital bills for countless people at MGM who couldn't afford it. She paid the funeral expenses for a widow who lost her husband in the military. All without recognition, given privately and in secret. Christina wanted Joan's success, lifestyle, fame, money, and beauty.
I read this book and just completed the audio book. MY thoughts::: Indeed Christina endured loneliness and tribulations not to mention extreme discipline and perhaps some abuse from Joan... but at the end of the day Christina was kind of a brat. I can promise you had Joan adopted from Mexico or and other country the children would have been nicer and more appreciative... Word is bond. Rest In Peace Joan where ever you are. Its a shame that this story was told ... millions of us who have endured the same or worse don't write tell all's about our parents... we suck it up and go to therapy like everyone else.
How does she provide insight into Jc gable etc. and her. life prior to her arrival ,, odd
Not fair for her to release her book after Joan’s death. Dead person can’t defend herself, we never get to learn her side of story.
Ugh! I've only gotten as far as the swimming.... "Mommy, you don't play fair......" Joan Crawford, quite naturally, explains she's bigger.
I've heard enough.
Thank you for sharing this audiobook Mommie Dearest, I loved reading the book, however one must remember Christina Crawford could have freed herself from her evil mother on her 18th birthday, Ive seen many photos of Christina with her evil mother smiling many times.... Joan Crawford paid for Christina's collage education , and helped Christina with her failed acting career. Both Joan Crawford's other daughters came forward and said Joan Crawford was a loving caring mother...
Christina’s self pity and exaggeration is ridiculous. Was Joan perfect? Did she often act too harshly? Yes. Was she an evil woman? No. Oh jeez, she had to eat a cold steak. Oh no, she was spanked. Ugh.
She was a perfectionist no doubt and that can be difficult to live with, but it beats foster homes and orphanages.
Even Bette Davis who loathed Joan said she didn't believe Christina ...I believed Joan was a harsh dusaplinarian..but not the pshyco she's been labeled as
Hmmm. 30 minutes in, and I'm not quite sure this broad is on the up-and-up.
She loves reading this story out loud. She relishes in it. Poor Joan adopted her, gave her a good life and this evil witch never once appreciated it.
Joan was over the top most times, but listening to Christina here I can see that very early on she was spoiled rotten. Eat your damn steak even if it's not exactly what you want when it was served as a hot meal with all the trimmings. I don't like well done steak but my dad was the bbq master and I ate that delicious porterhouse steak...always well done...with thanks that my dad made me a delicious meal. The other Joan oddities were abusive, yes, but for the first time I see a Christian brat syndrome too.
She didn’t have the guts to publish this when Joan was alive she waited after death
The first nine and a half minutes were eye-rollingly corny.
T E A M J O A N .
Many mothers and daughters have competitive relationships that come to a full boil during the teen years. This is normal.
Christina Crawford was left out of the will by Joan so she wrote a book for financial gain. I believe that it was Christina who in part drove Joan to alcoholism. She was a rebellious child, difficult, and unnaturally envious from a very early age. Joan was a strict disciplinarian as described by her other children who strongly disagree with Christina saying Joan was warm, and loving . Also we are living in an age where if you even scold a child it is frowned upon, and called abuse. Lets pretend that Christina is not the liar that she is, and was in fact abused, then all her actions would suggest is that she is the most unforgiving, lacking any human compassion or genuine warmth, blood thirsty, and money hungry. How do you make a fortune out of someone you hate, and still hate them with such unyielding, and unending vicious wrath. This is what love, and human tenderness would look like..."my mother was abusive, as a grown up I have considered her struggles emotionally, psychologically, and in the work place. I would like to think I understand, and chose to forgive, and love those things which were good rather then to have hate that consumes me for my parent." Christina C. Proves through her every action exactly what kind of witch she really is. A total psychopath.
I agree with you!!
She loves being a
C Crawford! Would she have written a book about her life in a Mexican orphanage!!
The good thing is,This book made many people fall in love with
Joan Crawford!!
C Crawford has nothing but hate left in her life.
She lost her husband,
her looks and her life.
She wanted to be
Joan Crawford!!!!
This woman couldn't make it as an actress, no talent. Was cut out of her mother's will, no money. Her sole income has been based around the fairy-tale book she wrote. It's really rather pathetic, but I do thank her. Because of the book and movie, I discovered Joan Crawford, and she has become my favorite actress of all time. So thanks Christina. Your hopes to smear your mother's reputation has boomaranged and now she is loved and has become an icon, which she deserves. I hope you realize your part in elevating your dear mother's place in history, I'm grateful.
Strange- when Larry King asked her if she loved her mother, Christina responded with an emphatic no. And yet here she is, trying to get us to believe the opposite. It's hard to take her tone seriously now. Also, she told him that her mother was found to be unfit to adopt in CA, but here she said it was because the law didn't allow single mothers to adopt back then.
This should be the right stuff you should have known . You have to make your own way! Stop blaming your mother . Stop this .
Did the publisher administer a polygraph to Christina before this book was released? I think Christina was very jealous of her mother no matter how big of a drunk or terror she was.
Joan Crawford saved her adopted children from the horrors of the foster care system and orphanages.
CHRISTINA HAS SUCH A GREAT IMAGINATION SHE SHPULD NOW WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK
Anything for money, eh, Christina?
Oh an what's more thing.... my abuse and the abuse of so many others are far far worse than this... SMH... It is not enough to write a tell all in my opinion. Which only proves Joan had her reasons and had good Judgment when it came to Christina.
The fun part about writing a book after someone dies is that it’s one sided. 😒
liar liar, pants on fire
Apparently Christina has to wear asbestos pants because they keep catching on fire.
Christina is still trying to make money off the exploitation book on her mother. Christina will never be the Actress Joan Crawford was, no matter how hard she continues to try. Jealousy is truly a "Green eyed Monster".
I'm sorry but I just don't believe Christina ,
30mins- we were all raised like that. Am pleased of it too. My own are grown now and haven’t a clue how lucky they are. Sometimes it’s necessary to orchestrate an ‘ego death’ or ‘taken down a peg or two’... their own parents had even less but had manners and were polite and decent and above all respectful, motivated and appreciative. Does this book turn around or does this ‘wow is me...’ horizontal drivel continue. Great nap background music 😂 my dogs asleep now anyways
This stinking thing that wrote this book was after money, she didn't care what she said. All of us could go back to childhood and write stories about our parents ,we could all make them sound as bad as she has. I think she exaggerated because from the eyes of any child any kind of trouble felt like the world was coming to an end. I'm not saying Mrs Crawford was a perfect mother. . Not one of us could remember this crap as clear as she has without Making it sound worse than it was. You nor I lived in that house , her brother came out against her about this pile of crap she wrote ,for what reason Mrs Crawford was already dead she could not hurt him in any way. She was just trying to put money in her pocket. I'd love to have someone do the same to her with a book about all the hurtful thins she did in her life and exaggerate it , I really think she wouldn't care she made her money waiting for her Mother to die to then defame her with this bullshit. Unless you were there to see it take it for what it is a spoiled brat doing her best to destroy the women who raised her.
I think most of this is made up people who are abused don't want to sing it from the roof tops. R I p joan
It’s pretty crazy-this book is just chock a of lies. Christina Crawford-I hope you’re happy. It’s truly awful that you assert this disproportionately exaggerated trash. I hope the truth will eventually surface but even if it does, the damage is irreparable. Nothing that Joan ever did deserved how she was treated by a spiteful, vindictive daughter who can’t write any better than the National Enquirer, which is far more reputable than this tripe.
So sad. Ppl actually believe this BS ! Joan didn't abuse her. She's a liar