My Maril: Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and me - Terry Karger

All I can say is WOW! This book about Marilyn Monroe will be different from anything you've ever read about her. The book is written by Terry Karger, who is the daughter of the voice coach, Fred Karger, that got Marilyn started in Hollywood. Terry met Marilyn, whose real name was Maril, in March of 1948, when she was only 6, and Maril was taking voice lessons from Fred. Maril became a valued member of the Karger family. Terry has resisted telling the story of Maril all these years. But she finally decided it was time to do it. And, boy, are we glad she did. This story is so illuminating of a Marilyn Monroe that none of us have ever seen before. 

I won't give away everything, but I do want to tell you to pay special attention late in the book as to how Marilyn died on August 5, 1962. And how the Kennedys were VERY MUCH involved. You will enjoy reading about how Marilyn became an integral part of the Karger family. And how Terry spent so much time with the Hollywood elite. You will be interested in Marilyn's close relationship with Terry's father, Fred. And you will certainly enjoy reading about Fred's 2 marriages to Jane Wyman, and how that led Terry to become a big part of Ronald Reagan's life.

I especially liked learning more about Joe DiMaggio's relationship with Marilyn. We've all heard how Joe loved Marilyn, even for the nearly 37 years that he lived after Marilyn died. But there are a lot of other details we didn't know...until now! Finally, the pictures that we see throughout the book are amazing. They show a side of Marilyn that we just didn't ever get to see. And it's fun to see pictures of so many big-time celebrities back in their heyday.

But through it all, Maril was someone that we just didn't know. She was kind, generous, funny, warm, very intelligent, and loving. You have to read this book so you can also learn who the real Marilyn Monroe was. Thank you to Terry Karger, for finally giving us a picture of someone who has historically been portrayed incorrectly. You will learn who she was and why Terry and her family loved her so much. People, the book is available at Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. Get your copy...quick! You will thank me.