Memories Are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes

I won this book in a contest, then I bought a copy each for my grandmother and mother, we all love Dean Martin. I thought it was a very well written book, no resentment or bitterness, just a daughter's love for her very human father.

This book really kept my interest - I didn’t want to put it down. It’s hard to tell everyone the good and bad about family life - Deana brought it all to life. Thanks for letting us “in”.

Dean(a) Martin, the youngest of Dean's daughters from his first marriage, pretty well sums it up when she says of her Dad, "No, he wasn't a good father, but he was a good man." I got curious about Dean after reading about the Martin & Lewis team, and wanted to know why the break-up occurred. Dean was a restless man after a ten-year stint, he wanted to branch out and make music, which he did in a phenomenal way. He'd already conquered the nightclub act, he'd already made 17 movies with Jerry, he went on to star with John Wayne on the big screen, plus other flicks ... he made record after record, once surpassing the Beatles with what became his theme song 'Everybody Loves Somebody' ... plus had a contract with NBC to star in his own hit television variety show for 20 years ... oh yes, and was also into radio ... he was a success in every media outlet at the time, and today his songs can be heard on the internet.Yet Deana paints a sad portrait, the other side that the public got a peek at, but weren't privy to the background story.These celebrities present a happy front, but the more you find out about them the more you see that they had their own demons to deal with, just like the rest of us.Dean married his first wife, Betty, while he was Dino Crocetti, and had four kids with her. Then he became famous and lived on the road with his act. While on the road he mixed & mingled until he fell in love with Jeanne the beauty-queen. He deserted his first wife and children (supporting them with alimony payments and child support, of course), and married wife #2, then made three kids with her.This is where Deana fills in the gaps, and tells how Betty (wife #1) and the four kids handled the situation ... and the situation got worse. Betty took to hard drinking and Hollywood living; when Dean found out, he cut off her alimony, which gradually drove the first family into worse economic shape, until Betty couldn't afford to raise the kids anymore. Her drinking problem made things worse, and the four kids were all taken to live with Dean and wife #2 in their giant fortress.Betty disappeared from the scene, and Deana described what it was like growing up with Dean and Jeanne with wealth and fame.But even wife #2 didn't keep Dean happy, so after a number of years he divorced her and played the bachelor for a short while until he got married again to wife #3 ... for a short while. After their divorce, Dean had to cough up 6 million to keep her happy and off his back, a large settlement at the time.He had it all but somehow it wasn't enough. The older he got the more he withdrew. He left wife #1, wife #2, and wife #3. He was a hard guy to get to know, and he kept most people at arm's length. I guess you have to do that when you've got a lotta dough, but he wound up doing that to members of his own family. They were treated to cars and presents, more than most of us will ever see, but I think they loved him (and he loved them)... but there was a certain distance that was maintained. Guess Dean was trying to protect himself, and withdrawing from his family members was one way to maintain his peace of mind. Deana did a good job explaining him; an interesting (and entertaining) read.

I got this book to learn about Deana Martin, and what caused that was a number of things but mostly after hearing her singing voice and finding the chipper, lively gal who took life by the horns and did something with herself. Dean Martin and his daughter Deana are both fascinating persons in many ways that depended on one another as Deana grew up, and they both found some measure of fulfillment. I do appreciate that Deana went to the trouble to write a book about something of substance. What Deana Martin could write would fill many books.What I found was STUNNING. In my own estimation, Deana Martin is very much at the heart of the American experience.I want to keep this brief, but one of the many reasons I wanted to learn about Deana Martin was in reconstructing the life of Sharon Tate. I felt Deana had something to offer in this area, and she did. Her description of the Rat Pack, Sinatra, and the vast array of Hollywood superstars is incredible. Deana's way of honoring her parents is that she misses them, that's all. Parents can only fill so much of the heart, a spouse another part, and to be overflowing is only possible with our Maker. Deana senses this, and shares old-fashioned values.I also grew up watching The Monkees television shows and Deana was featured in one of the episodes that I remember well as a young boy. That really connects for a fellow like myself. She dated Davy Jones, which is a big deal because of the influence of The Monkees music on American youth. Deana also had a picture taken with The Beatles, which had an enormous effect on American life. When reading about Deana's encounter with Sharon's murderers about a year before, it was shocking. I thought to myself what are the odds that Deana is at that house while her dad Dean Martin is down the road filming a movie with Sharon Tate? It is astronomical the coincidence, and a big part of how I view Deana's mysterious, providential circumstances in life and how she handled that. This leads me to a final observation.When Dean found out about her previous encounter about a year later after Sharon's death, her dad called her up in Las Vegas terrified, naturally, and was angry about any form of running across these wicked hooligans. Here is where the reader can miss the boat: Deana realized, perhaps later in life, that her dad was angry about the situation because he loved her and felt protective. Deana understands this, she does honor her dad -- faults and all -- and is thankful to God for her life, her parents, and the many memories of growing up around the Hollywood superstars. What we have left is a mature woman who lived through those times, has her own voice to sing with, writes this book and hopefully more, and explains what really happened. I am glad I bought this book.

This book was okay. I almost wish I hadn't read it. I should've stuck with books not written by children of the subject. The poor woman was hardly unbiased. I wish I had kept my high opinion of Dean Martin, of his strong family values. Apparently, like so many other Hollywood stars, he mainly only considered himself. The book probably deserves more stars. It was well-written and covered a lot of ground, and his daughter tried to present him in the best light possible. Still, it made me sad for her and the rest of his children and two of his wives. Guess it's not all that unusual of a story for movie stars and their unfortunate children.

Deana has written a heart wrenching, yet uplifting memoir that tells all the details of Dean Martin‘s life. From his finances to his personality, she writes about her famous father and tells her family’s story in a very interesting way that makes the book a real page turner. Luckily Deana is resilient and survived being the daughter of a famous star. Not easy to do! We can learn from her about life and surviving all the trials and tribulations. Thank you for a fabulous book.

I really enjoyed this collection of memories of Dean Martin and his family. Dean is brought back to life in all his suave sophistication. The privileges and challenges of growing up as the child of a celebrity are also part of the story. It is an honest account and written with class and sensitivity.

Very enjoyable to read

If you want a book that makes you laugh and to see another side of Dean Martin this is for you, well written from the heart.

I liked how Deana Martin told the real story of their lives!

This intimate story of the relationship that DEAN MARTIN had with the author ( his daughter) but with his world wide fans . The complexities of a man who came from humble beginnings to rise to be one of the most recognizable men in the world . The author tries to show the real DEAN MARTIN but I don't think anyone will ever know .

Deana Martin's bio of her dear old dad is pretty much limited to what parts she played in his life rather than an overall view of Dean's life. Her girlish recollections are wistful reminders of the bond between daughters and fathers even if they are super-famous. Martin has been faulted for being emotionally distant but at least he was home every night rather than out carousing. A good little read, worth the time and effort.