Lucille Ball has been extremely popular with audiences as of late, fairly recently being the focus of yet another biopic and documentary, in addition to a makeup collection (Besame Cosmetics) and clothing line (Unique Vintage) within the past few years. Unsurprisingly, her popularity with audiences is nothing new; she successfully appeared on the stage, on the radio, in films, and–of course–made her biggest splash with the I Love Lucy show.
While much has been written about Ball, Sarah Royal’s A.K.A. Lucy: The Dynamic and Determined Life of Lucille Ball is a welcome addition to the bibliography, offering a casual but well-researched look at the accomplishments, impact, and influence of Ball. While there is much biographic and career-related information in this book, there is also a fascinating chapter about Ball’s impact on pop culture, which I enjoyed immensely–and certainly bought into when the Lucy-themed Barbie dolls were being released. Moreover, this volume is beautifully illustrated, which is fitting–after all, Ball herself was a model for a time. Additionally, this book has a foreword by Amy Poehler, who produced a documentary about Ball within the past few years.
This book is sure to be welcomed by fellow Lucy fans and fans of classic television.
Hometowns to Hollywood 