Double Life

Portrait of a Marriage--Before Gay Liberation

The story of a legendary same-sex marriage between two of New York’s most admired art-world AND Broadway stars.

Shayne was a Broadway actor who went on to produce many hit TV shows and retired as President of Warner Brothers Television in 1986.

Sunshine has been a successful and celebrated artist and sculptor. The two trade off writing every chapter—a dual memoir!

Double Life covers both of their coming-of-age stories: childhood snippets, how they met, and lots of honesty around their relationship’s ups and downs.

The second half is kind of like "Ill-Equipped for a Life of Sex"—truthful, but not uncomfortable.

Within their careers and relationships, there is a solid history of the entertainment worlds with plenty of gossip; from Marlon Brando on Broadway to the New York art scene in the 1950s and 60s to TV and "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Double Life has hit a nerve among longtime gay couples, particularly men, who ask, “Where are we? How come there are no stories about us?” It’s completely delightful and real—I can see why this has been a sleeper hit.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

meaningful and special

How delightful it is and so good to read warm, caring, and romantic stories about gay men.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Needed Two Narrators

I'm really enjoying this. It's an interesting insiders' look at Broadway, Hollywood, and gay life in the 50s on. The obvious thing here is that since is a dual biography, switching back and forth between two people, there should have been two readers, making it easier to track who's speaking.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Delicious

The book contains a dizzying array of anecdotes by two men whose lives have intersected with those of some of the most notable celebrities of the art, advertising and show business. The gossip is there, but never mean-spirited - and this is an invaluable recounting of life in New York and Los Angeles’s inner circles during the 50s, 60s and 70s. This is a treasure trove of celebrity stories you’ll want to repeat at dinner parties for months to come.

It is also the story of two men who kept their relationship alive through the good and bad times when homosexuality was still taboo — until they finally had the right to really be themselves and marry. The prose can be a little purple at times, but hats off to Alan and Norman for telling their story in a very entertaining and moving book.

Blessed

Most people don't ever experience genuine unconditional love like these to have. How Blessed you both are. As for me I always cry and wonder if I'll ever have that blessing of finding true unconditional love.

Interesting Book

I was surprised to enjoy this as much as I did given that I don't know these people. it was very well written and the narration was perfect. I would recommend it if you like a bit of inside Hollywood thrown in to your story.

Appallingly self-absorbed

They both spoke only deflectively of the perils they and other children faced at the hands of predatory adults; I grew up in the fifties as a bi-child and the abuse was ubiquitous for girls and boys alike. Still, I was enjoying their diaries of bygone days until Norman gleefully described the "ground-breaking" ad he helped pioneer, depicting a woman as a masochistic victim in chains. Oblivious to his contribution to rape culture and the commercial debasement of women, he prattled on about his radical esthetic until I had to stop listening. As a lifelong activist in the struggle for equal rights in the USA for minorities, women, LGBTQ, religions, etc., I was ultimately disappointed in their self-absorption.

Wonderful Story

I really enjoyed listening to this story. It was very enlightening. I would recommend it.

Beloved Sunshine and Shayne

I have absolutely nothing in common with these two "extraordinary" men. But, I felt so touched and filling with love and a profound respect for them. The narrator was superb, and he brought richness and depth to the story. Sometimes,I felt as though I was right there with them. They've gone through so much together. And at a time when being gay was the epitome of "taboo" Yet they remained togethet through all the ups and downs of any heterosexual couple might experience; actually much more. I also enjoyed the way it brought to life love. Not just between two men but, between two people who just wanted to make there way in the world. And most of all proving that "Love is love". I fell in love with Norman and Alan. Thank you for sharing your stories. And I'm so happy you got to see same-sex marriage legalized, and were able to marry. You are wonderful. `♡♡~

1 of 2 people found this review helpful