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A review by chrissie_whitley
The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss by Anderson Cooper, Gloria Vanderbilt
5.0
A surprisingly enthralling memoir and epistolary narration of the life of Gloria Vanderbilt. I identified so much with both Gloria and Anderson, and the book was all the more enjoyable for it. From abandonment issues, to this fervor for life and yet an ache for stability, I connected with this woman named Gloria Vanderbilt in unexpected and deeply human ways. Her ability here to open up is remarkable, and I commend her for it.
The familiar phrase accuses Death of being the thief in the night, but I point my finger to Time. Time is double-faced and sneaky, both thief and gift-giver, like an abusive relationship who will ultimately win regardless. Thankfully, part of the gift Time gives is the ability to attain varying levels of wisdom and Gloria here is so introspective and full of the benefits of hindsight.
Anderson speaks as investigative reporter, son, and confidant, as he questions, reassures, and guides his mother back through time like a hypnotist. He mentions early on that he continually marvels at his mother's ability to deflect the perspective which can harden people as she, despite all she has endured, remains vulnerable. That is something easily garnered from her story and present voice. Everything about this book only made me want to get to know her personally, and perhaps adopt her as a surrogate grandmother, as Time has stolen my own away from me.
Being from North Carolina, and growing up with the Biltmore Estate as part of the school's field trip rotation, that family's history has fascinated me from early on. Indeed, I'm constantly fascinated by large families whose ancestors and descendants have made an impression in our history. From British Royalty, to the Kennedys, to the Vanderbilts, it's all part of the same section of my brain that becomes fascinated by epic historical fiction (like type [a:Edward Rutherfurd|16204|Edward Rutherfurd|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1368159716p2/16204.jpg] or [a:Ken Follett|3447|Ken Follett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1480592356p2/3447.jpg] have penned) as the author extends the story to show how this one family tree branches out and touches lives and impacts the future.
Audiobook, as read by the author, [a:Anderson Cooper|2995|Anderson Cooper|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1206676534p2/2995.jpg], and his mother, [a:Gloria Vanderbilt|148141|Gloria Vanderbilt|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245545103p2/148141.jpg]: As you follow these two reading back through their year-long email to each other, the duo becomes a trio as you find yourself within the folds of the story. Gloria's voice is rich with the history of her life, and her fantastic accent adds another layer that I admittedly found myself imitating in single word blips as she spoke them. Nothing seems to hinder her own voice, and she is just as emotional during the moving parts as someone would be as they relayed their own story for the first time and in person. She immediately made me wish I could meet her.
Anderson narrates the introductions to each chapter with a brief history lesson in his reporter voice, which I found perfectly appropriate here for these sections. But, he does dip into that same tv voice during his own email readings at times, and (I know he's not an actor) I couldn't help wishing he would shake that off a bit and just be Anderson, Gloria's son for that moment in time. However, on the whole, you couldn't ask for two better people to read their own words from this fantastic memoir.
The familiar phrase accuses Death of being the thief in the night, but I point my finger to Time. Time is double-faced and sneaky, both thief and gift-giver, like an abusive relationship who will ultimately win regardless. Thankfully, part of the gift Time gives is the ability to attain varying levels of wisdom and Gloria here is so introspective and full of the benefits of hindsight.
Anderson speaks as investigative reporter, son, and confidant, as he questions, reassures, and guides his mother back through time like a hypnotist. He mentions early on that he continually marvels at his mother's ability to deflect the perspective which can harden people as she, despite all she has endured, remains vulnerable. That is something easily garnered from her story and present voice. Everything about this book only made me want to get to know her personally, and perhaps adopt her as a surrogate grandmother, as Time has stolen my own away from me.
Being from North Carolina, and growing up with the Biltmore Estate as part of the school's field trip rotation, that family's history has fascinated me from early on. Indeed, I'm constantly fascinated by large families whose ancestors and descendants have made an impression in our history. From British Royalty, to the Kennedys, to the Vanderbilts, it's all part of the same section of my brain that becomes fascinated by epic historical fiction (like type [a:Edward Rutherfurd|16204|Edward Rutherfurd|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1368159716p2/16204.jpg] or [a:Ken Follett|3447|Ken Follett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1480592356p2/3447.jpg] have penned) as the author extends the story to show how this one family tree branches out and touches lives and impacts the future.
Audiobook, as read by the author, [a:Anderson Cooper|2995|Anderson Cooper|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1206676534p2/2995.jpg], and his mother, [a:Gloria Vanderbilt|148141|Gloria Vanderbilt|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245545103p2/148141.jpg]: As you follow these two reading back through their year-long email to each other, the duo becomes a trio as you find yourself within the folds of the story. Gloria's voice is rich with the history of her life, and her fantastic accent adds another layer that I admittedly found myself imitating in single word blips as she spoke them. Nothing seems to hinder her own voice, and she is just as emotional during the moving parts as someone would be as they relayed their own story for the first time and in person. She immediately made me wish I could meet her.
Anderson narrates the introductions to each chapter with a brief history lesson in his reporter voice, which I found perfectly appropriate here for these sections. But, he does dip into that same tv voice during his own email readings at times, and (I know he's not an actor) I couldn't help wishing he would shake that off a bit and just be Anderson, Gloria's son for that moment in time. However, on the whole, you couldn't ask for two better people to read their own words from this fantastic memoir.