During parts of the book, Evanier takes 2 pages at a time of one person’s account quoted verbatim to convey the story. There were moments when I needed to double check that this was still the eyewitness talking, and not Evanier’s commentary. I was less thrilled with this style early in the book, but appreciated the detail as Darin’s life began to enter its downward spiral.
The book succeeds on two very distinct levels.
First—it’s a snapshot of a time in popular music when the crooner ruled, and Vegas was the place to show off your chops for 12 week runs at The Sands. Bobby Darin was at the center of it, being vastly considered to be the most complete entertainer when he was in his prime. All of the usual suspects are written about in detail, including Frank Sinatra (whom Darin had a love-hate relationship with), Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, and George Burns, who was a sort of father figure to Bobby Darin. You can almost smell the cigar smoke and hear the band warming up as Evanier paints the scenes with great detail. It’s biography as social document about this great time in music.
Second—It’s a fascinating portrait of the duality of a troubled life. Darin could barely function in normal life, until he got on stage and transformed himself into the ultimate showman. He clearly suffered from a mood disorder, and was manic at the same time. He could be an amazingly generous and caring man, and in a moment, become an unconscionable prick to his loved ones and closest friends. The book neither deifies or degrades Darin’s life. It simply tells it. That is this book’s greatest triumph. It never judges.
Read this book for the history and the catharsis. Its chock full of both.
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1 - Bryce Eddings
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