The Hot Sheet

Books

Just Joan: A Joan Crawford Appreciation by Donna Marie Nowak — The author considers herself the ultimate Joan Crawford fan and has compiled what is surely the ultimate collection of just about everything imaginable related to Crawford. In a breezy, conversational style, Nowak offers an essay on Crawford's predominantly gay fan base and in-depth reviews of her films, television appearances, and biographies, debunks rumors (Crawford wasn't forced to dress in a car while making her final film, the no-budget camp classic Trog), and even creates trivia games and word puzzles focused on the star. (Bear Manor Media, $34.95) 

Patti LuPone: A Memoir by Patti LuPone — The two-time Tony award-winning leading lady offers a thrilling, no-holds-barred trip through her incredible career, bookended by opening and closing nights of her triumph in Gypsy. LuPone pulls no punches as she recalls the tension-filled Evita tryouts (the demanding score wreaked havoc on LuPone's vocal cords, and she says the ghost of Eva Peron visited her three times) and her feud with her Life Goes On costar, and is particularly candid as she details her controversial firing from Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber (she accuses Webber and his Really Useful company of sabotage and feeding negative rumors to the press). It's as juicy a memoir as fans would expect from the fiery and undeniably brilliant LuPone. (Crown Archetype, $25.99)