Swans and Pistols, Leon Bing

Swans and Pistols: Modeling, Motherhood, and making it in the Me Generation………

this was NOT my kind of book. i have read a number of Autobiographies and i can typically find something enjoyable in each of them. Bing’s book was difficult at best, like slogging through a swimming pool of oatmeal at worst.

she led an interesting life for sure. the book takes you through key moments in her life from being a kid to having a kid, doing drugs to dating a coke dealer, modeling to writing.

ultimately, i dont want to disrespect someones life story, so i will minimize the nitpicking.

instead, i will state that i do not feel she is a good story teller. she approached her life story with a lack of zeal. her stories seemed cold. i didnt feel like i was reading a book about her as much as a textbook that tried to tell jokes.

the sections that were interesting, such as her acquaintance with gangster Mickey Cohen. sadly, these interesting sections were kept short shallow. Bing spends more time writing about catwalk moves and the designs of various clothing patterns she modeled for Rudy Gernreich.

The book comes with a center section of photos, half of which were taken by Dennis Hopper. Where was Hopper in the book? he was mentioned 3 times at most as part of an outer perimeter of people she knew.

I would enjoy reading about Leon’s life, but i think that she needs to learn when to write clinically (as with her interview and research pieces) and when to let some emotion out.

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This review is based on a book kindly provided for free by the publisher or author. Please check my FTC Douche-claimer for details regarding this disclaimer’s existence.