We're all familiar with Natalie Wood belting out that number in the musical flick Gypsy, right? Yeah, she doesn't really have the pipes (or the body) to be truly convincing as the sultry, stripping, sometimes-songbird that was Gypsy Rose Lee, but that's Hollywood for ya. In real life, Rose Louise Hovick was much more interesting. Her life has been the subject of several books, movies and stage musicals. She's been featured in photographic art and had songs written about her. Her style and talents have been copied by multitudes of artists, actresses and (ahem) "professional dancers".

Enter the newly released tome American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare, by Karen Abbott. I haven't read it yet, but I'm really excited to jump into it. Being a fan of biographies, I love a good look into the lives of interesting people. And I'd have to say Gypsy was certainly interesting! I'm especially looking forward to learning more about a woman who obviously took the reins and steered her life the way she wanted it to go, regardless of what other people thought of her for it. I think nowadays we'd say something to the effect of, "You go girl!"