About book Mr. S: My Life With Frank Sinatra (2003)
Love the Writing StyleGeorge Jacobs has written a memoir of his time as valet to the super star of the 50's and '60's, Frank Sinatra. Sinatra was the epitome of suave and debonair in his hey dry. Every movement he made was chronicled by the press. There is nothing new here. If one either grew up during this time or is interested in Old Hollywood and Young Vegas, one would have heard of or read most of these stories.The difference in this book from all the others is the perspective. George lived with Sinatra longer than anyone. He can tell us from the inside. Everyone else is telling it from mostly the outside. Also, George tells it with love. One has to have respect for someone like George, who, despite the bad ending, remained a true friend, despite Sinatra's rejection, and disinterest.Another difference of this book is the way the story is told. It is like George is YOUR friend and he is just having a casual conversation with you. It seems he is confiding in you, showing his vulnerability, showing you his heart. He tells us of all the sides of Sinatra, and even when it is less than flattering, George tells us with such reverence, that it seems like George is telling it from a place of needing to understand it himself. One never feels George is gossiping or mean-spirited.The book is an easy, quick read. It's a bromance. If one loves to read about pop culture this book is for you. And if you are a Frank Sinatra fan, this is a must-read.
I'm a bit of a sucker for Hollywood memoires, from David Niven through to Peter Biskind, so this appealed, both for the inside nature of the tale, told by Frank Sinatra's former butler, and for the fact I knew little about Sinatra. Were it not for those factors, this would probably only get three stars from me, but it's such an enjoyably gossipy memoir that it sneaks a four. Sinatra seemed like an obsessed man, determined to feel, and been seen as, a proper man - mad, bad and dangerous to know, but also a hit with the ladies. His ongoing obsession with Ava Gardner that seems to have stayed with him for at least 15 years after they split up, doesn't prevent Sinatra and his buddies from drinking and whoring around the US and the rest of the world. This gives him his connection to JFK, who seems to have been as much of a fan of whores as Sinatra himself, but his desire to be seen as a man not to be messed with, particularly through his mafia links, isolates and ostracises him.George Jacobs must have seen a lot in his 15 years working for Sinatra. He packs this book full of good stories, but a great deal of others must have been discarded. This is a lightweight and easy read for anyone who isn't going to be infuriated or upset by the constant thread of whoring.
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Fast-paced memoir about the '50's and '60's entertainment scene and the socio-political goings-on. It’s fascinating to read about the drama and intrigue of the stars, particularly the bittersweet love affair between Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. “It seemed to me that the entire fifteen years that I had been with Frank were a kind of crazy odyssey on his part to do everything in the world, and I mean the entire world, to get over losing her,” Jacobs writes. Frank Sinatra himself could be kind and generous one minute, and hysterical and vindictive the next, resulting in destroyed relationships with people who loved him.
—Shannon
I don't believe everything in this book, and really that's the whole point: this book is supposedly a "tell-all" about Sinatra, so if you can't believe it the whole book is worthless.If this book were believed then supposedly Marilyn Monroe didn't ever wear feminine pads. It makes other outrageous claims and completely libels JFK, Greta Garbo, and other beloved celebs in the process.The author jumps around constantly and there's no development to any of the stories or sub plots. A quick, guilty pleasure, but you may as well read fiction or write your own book about Sinatra.
—Tallarico
This book tells some wonderful stories of Frank and also some bad. I enjoyed the information it held whether true or not, it was very interesting. The book never seemed dull and never made me want to drift away. I can't say that I disliked this book in anyway. In the book Jacobs speaks of the parties, gigs, elections, and just bonding time with Frank Sinatra. He starts out by informing the reader of how their friendship ended and then goes into detail about their life together from 1953 to 1968. I gave the book 5 stars because I was pulled into the book at all times. Whether the stories in this book are true or not I don't know but I enjoyed it.
—Karlee
