You’d remember her as the prematurely snuffed on-screen siren and sex symbol of the 50s, the woman with the power to make even a President go weak in the knees.

Marilyn Monroe has always been stereotyped as a dumb blonde, which seems to have moulded her successful career.

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on 1 June 1926, Monroe grew up with a schizophrenic mother who left her in the care of guardians and foster homes throughout her childhood. She never knew her father. Having her first marriage while still a teenager, she struggled to mature into womanhood overnight and didn’t have it easy.

Her career in the entertainment business started when she was photographed for an Army newspaper. She was then picked up by a modelling agency and after some nude photoshoots, minor film and musical roles, she soon rose to being a leading actress and singer who was to become one of the greatest pop and fashion icons of all time.

Sadly, by the time she hit 36, the star was found dead in her apartment, leaving behind many unanswered questions about her complicated life. Since then, there has been much speculation about her dabbling with drugs, having various lovers, including America’s political thoroughbreds, the Kennedy brothers, and even the cause of her death.

So what do you think she’ll tell you if she were still alive today?

Coffee Table Talk

The coffee table book, titled Coffee with Marilyn, contains the author’s (Yona Zeldis McDonough) fictional conversation with the deceased actress about her infamous yet mysterious life. Coffee with Marilyn is part of a series of books written in a similar fictional interview structure based on actual interviews with stars and published by Duncan Baired Publishers.

On several occasions, the author tries to beat down Monroe’s dumb blonde image by making her sound intelligent as she airs her views on politics and such. These attempts didn’t really work as they made UrbanWire more amused with Monroe’s answers than amazed with her supposed intellect.

However, don’t dismiss this book as just another ridiculous parody of a star’s life. McDonough should be given due credit for giving us a peek into Monroe’s life before all the glitz and glamour.

A sad tale unravels at the start of the book; a tale of how the adoring public never saw the less glamourous side of a pop icon, who was really just a little girl hungry for love.

The book will also drop nuggets of Monroe trivia, which even some die-hard fans of the late sex symbol mightn’t have known.

For example, few would know that before her celebrity marriages to Joe DiMaggio in 1954 and Arthur Miller 2 years later, Marilyn had already married her neighbour James Dougherty when she was just 16!

Though the book gives us a very colourful insight into Monroe’s life, the storyline takes a drastic turn near the end when the author brings up the topic of her death.

As much as the author tries to imply in the book that Monroe’s death was unintentional and that her drug overdose was an accident, you’ve probably heard otherwise from long-time rumours and conspiracy theories, and might find that bit a little unbelievable.

The Aftertaste

Overall, though the content of the book is based on various interviews before Monroe’s demise, please don’t take this work of fiction as a biography of the dead star. Just sit back, relax and have a laugh as you take your Coffee With Marilyn with a small pinch of salt.

UrbanWire gives Coffee With Marilyn 3 out of 5 stars.

Coffee With Marilyn will be available in all major bookstores in May 2008 at a recommended retail price of $16.80.