Like most European students (in movies and novels, anyway), the narrator seldom studies anything, preferring to associate with a fascinating, maybe fatal, woman and her shady boyfriend. He has a hard time figuring out what the pair are up to, and his mystery is thus ours. Fundamentally, this descends from the ancient romances of inscrutable, enchanting women, with the city replacing the forest as setting; but it recalls more immediately French black-and-white films of the 50s like "Diabolique." You can read it as a mystery story or a subtly artful narrative reminiscent of Robbe-Grillet's. It's hard to believe so witty and verbally charming a novel could be a translation.

Yes, this book does reveal many entertaining backstage anecdotes about the making of the Broadway play, movie, Broadway musical, and musical movie all based on Patrick Dennis's novel about his flamboyant, eccentric, vibrant, life-loving (and supposedly fictional) Auntie Mame. There are interviews with many of the members of the casts of these various incarnations, and you can indeed see author Richard Tyler Jordan's passion for his subject. But, as others have noted, there are a lot of typos and grammar errors, and the writing does repeat itself often. It is also very clear that Jordan is more interested in (and knows more about) the play, musical, and films than the novel and its sequel. Aside from mentioning some interesting things like the one about how Mame's "Life is a banquet and most poor SOB's are starving to death" motto did not come from the book, Jordan doesn't give much indication of having read or cared much about Dennis' literary effort, which some of us (namely myself) have not been able to get our hands on and are hungering for a nice little synopsis. Still, we do get two interesting last chapters about Marion Tanner, Dennis's aunt and the supposed inspiration for the character, and one on Dennis himself. (Real name:Edward Everett Tanner III) Not as bad as some would claim, but it does lack for some things.

I remember with awe struck delight, the first time I ever saw Rosalind Russell as Auntie Mame. How I wanted an Aunt like that. Reading Richard Tyler Jordan's book added to the banquet that has become Auntie Mame. As if there weren't enough catty one-liners in the movie, Richard Tyler Jordan adds the behind the scenes ones as well. If you love Roz, Angela, Bea and/or Lucy, you want to read this book. Even if you just love the character of Mame, you will not be disappointed.

BUT DARLING, I'M YOUR AUNTIE MAME! brings together all the details of the world's favorite and most famous Aunt, Mame Dennis. From Patrick Dennis' best-selling novel to its incarnations of play to movie of the play to a musical of the play to the debacle of a movie of the musical, Richard Tyler Jordan gives you much to feast on at Auntie Mame's banquet.

Jordan --heard recently on the syndicated talk show STRICTLY BOOKS hosted by Dan Vojir on the TALKAMERICA Radio Networks-- is clear, concise and detailed as well as entertaining on his subject and engages the reader to eat heartily into the amazing history of the world's favorite madcap Aunt.

Rarely do I sit with a book and read it directly through... well, actually, I did have to sleep, as I picked the book up at 11:00 pm and found myself not able to pry myself away. When the clock chimed 3:00 am, I had to climb into bed, not starving, but still hungering to feast from Richard Tyler Jordan's chronicle.

Upon waking, I devoured the rest of the novel and was reminded once more why I --and millions of others-- have fallen in love with this incredible woman. From when my mom --who in her youth bore a striking resemblence to Rosalind Russell-- first gave me the book to read in my teens to recently sharing the movie --again-- with family and friends, Auntie Mame has been an endearing and treasured member of my family.

Richard Tyler Jordan illuminates this luminescent creature further and fills our appetites at this smorgasboard of Mame Dennis Burnside's history and it is highly recommended to anyone who has been captured by the charm, grace and whackiness of this truly elegant and lovely lady. Pick up a copy and keep yourself from starving from a deficiency of Mame in your literary diet... and in her immortal words, "Live!"

Michael Ward aka MiklBear@aol.com