Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Out of the Corner
Out of the Corner: A Memoir | Jennifer Grey
28 posts | 25 read | 29 to read
A deeply candid and refreshingly spirited memoir of identity lost and found from the star of the iconic film Dirty Dancing Jennifer Grey peels back all the artifice, denial, obfuscation, and myriad assumptions and exposes a gorgeous, human portrait of her life.Jamie Lee Curtis We all know Jennifer Grey as a talented actress, but Out of the Corner introduces us to a gifted writer.Michael J. Fox In this beautiful, close-to-the bone account, Jennifer Grey takes readers on a vivid tour of the experiences that have shaped her, from her childhood as the daughter of Broadway and film legend Joel Grey, to the surprise hit with Patrick Swayze that made her Americas sweetheart, to her inspiring season eleven win on ABCs Dancing with the Stars. Throughout this intimate narrative, Grey richly evokes places and times that were defining for a generationfrom her preteen days in 1970s Malibu and wild child nights in New Yorks club scene, to her roles in quintessential movies of the 1980s, including The Cotton Club, Red Dawn, and her breakout performance in Ferris Buellers Day Off. With self-deprecating humor and frankness, she looks back on her unbridled, romantic adventures in Hollywood. And with enormous bravery, she shares the devastating fallout from a plastic surgery procedure that caused the sudden and stunning loss of her professional identity and career. Grey inspires with her hard-won battle back, reclaiming her sense of self from a culture and business that can impose a narrow and unforgiving definition of female worth. She finds, at last, her own true north and starts a family of her own, just in the nick of time. Distinctive, moving, and powerful, told with generosity and pluck, Out of the Corner is a memoir about a never-ending personal evolution, a coming-of-age story for women of every age.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Addison_Reads
post image
Pickpick

#NonfictionNovember

I've been binging celebrity memoirs recently, and this one was a great audiobook read by Jennifer Grey.

The 80s nostalgia in this was a lot of fun. Grey gives insights into both her acting career and her personal life, and through it all, she felt "real" and honest. It was much more candid than I expected it to be, but that's what made it so entertaining.

blurb
Caroline2
post image

Not quite 99p kindle deal but almost! 👍

blurb
Sharpeipup
post image

Not exactly a glowing review & he‘s not wrong. 😂

deeannloso I enjoyed this one. 😊 2y
34 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Deblovestoread
post image

#BookReport: My favorite books of the week were the tagged and the Thompson. Jennifer‘s memoir was the right amount of gossipy tidbits and telling her story. Murder on MH was another great installment of my current favorite series for #SeriesLove23. I also liked Beyond the Wand. The other two were ok. #WeeklyForecast: Will finish Godmothers today and maybe the Warner, too. Want to start DemonC but have all these other commitments…🤷🏻‍♀️

Cinfhen So glad you liked the Grey memoir😁I‘m hoping to finish Godmothers tomorrow and then I might start Babel. It‘s calling me 😂 2y
mcctrish Oooo I want to read/listen to this 2y
See All 6 Comments
Andrew65 Some great books ahead, I loved 44 Scotland Street. 2y
TheSpineView Looks like some great reads ahead! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
48 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
Cinfhen
post image
Pickpick

LOVED this memoir ♥️We‘re 4/4 @MallenNC @monalyisha #ALspine 😁Jennifer Grey spills the beans showing all her #TrueColors @Riveted_Reader_Melissa #NFChallenge2023 and I was enthralled with all the 80‘s nostalgia. Using for #52Books23 #Epilogue Audio read by Jennifer was excellent 🙌🏻

Librarybelle Your enthusiasm for this one makes me want to pick it up really soon! 2y
Cinfhen I really enjoyed this one @Librarybelle but MPP is already a slough!! I wouldn‘t rush to read the Marra 2y
See All 9 Comments
monalyisha Oh, I bet I‘d enjoy this! 2y
squirrelbrain I liked this one too, although I wish I could have done audio but I couldn‘t get hold of it. 2y
Deblovestoread Reading your comments made me check Libby. They have the audio with a short wait. Sounds like a fun listen! 2y
LaraReads Excited about the nostalgia! Glad you liked it! 2y
Cinfhen Yay @Deblovestoread it‘s a GOOD listen ! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Glad you could borrow the audio - hope you can find it too @LaraReads 😁 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds very good! I may have to check it out too! And great pick for the prompt 😉 2y
88 likes4 stack adds9 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

TOTALLY forgot that Jennifer Grey dated Matthew Broderick😁 and just my luck…they vacationed together in the #BritishVirginIslands #ReadingTheAmericas23 @MallenNC I‘m LOVING this memoir…wayyyyy juicer than Minnie Driver‘s 🙃

vivastory Wasn't that when they were in the car accident? 2y
Cinfhen Yesssssss @vivastory another “fact” a totally forgot about😂 2y
Bklover I may have to read this! I remember the car accident but forgot it was JG with him. Also I read Michael J Fox‘s most recent memoir and he talks about her as his wife‘s best friend, which for some reason I found interesting. 2y
See All 12 Comments
Cinfhen Jennifer talks about her best friend Tracy from HS, it‘s very sweet @Bklover I‘m REALLY enjoying this one. Lots of nostalgia for the 80‘s and Jennifer does not hold back 2y
Librarybelle I keep meaning to read this one 2y
britt_brooke In my TBR! 2y
MallenNC Oh yeah this is the opposite of Minnie‘s! So juicy. She has had quite a life and she talks all about it. I loved it. 2y
Megabooks Yes! One of the best celebrity memoirs last year! 2y
Megabooks And I so related to her car accident story. 😢 2y
Cinfhen This is SO in my wheelhouse of celebrity memoirs!!! I can‘t get enough @Librarybelle @britt_brooke definitely go audio if you can!!! 2y
Cinfhen I remember when you read this last year Meg @Megabooks and I bought it on Audible after your review- so glad @MallenNC put this on her #ALspine list!!!! I need to start watching for all your recommendations, Melyssa 🤓 2y
Cinfhen @Megabooks im sure it was so hard reading that part of the story 😔 2y
83 likes12 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

Whoa 😮 Jennifer Grey just blow wide open her good girl persona 😱I‘m really enjoying this juicy memoir @MallenNC #AudioWalk 🎧❣️

82 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Cinfhen
post image

#ALSpine book 4 @MallenNC So far it‘s really good!!! Total Dirty Dancing fan 🙋🏼‍♀️ I like Jennifer Grey ( I kind of forgot she‘s a bit of Hollywood royalty 👑)

blurb
deeannloso
post image

“In this beautiful, close-to-the bone account, Jennifer Grey takes readers on a vivid tour of the experiences that have shaped her, from her childhood as the daughter of Broadway and film legend Joel Grey, to the surprise hit with Patrick Swayze that made her America‘s sweetheart, to her inspiring season eleven win on ABC‘s Dancing with the Stars.”

34 likes1 stack add
review
keys_on_fire
post image
Pickpick

I felt the authenticity of Jennifer come through loud and clear. Not super gossipy, but with enough reveals to be intriguing. I both read and listened to this and Jennifer narrating the audio is a wonderful plus.

115 pts for #WinterReadathon and first book finished for #bookspinbingo #adventathon and #wintercosy
@Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @TheAromaofBooks @ozma.of.oz @PuddleJumper

DieAReader 📚🤓♥️Great job! 2y
Andrew65 Well done 🎅🎅🎅 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
BookmarkTavern Glad you enjoyed it! 2y
41 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
BekaReid
post image

This evening's reading buddy #myedgarcat

BookNAround Awww. Edgar looks like a real sweetie. 2y
17 likes1 comment
quote
PaperbackReader
post image

“Women are born perfect,”

review
MallenNC
post image
Pickpick

I felt so much nostalgia reading this! Jennifer Grey has led an interesting life, starred in ‘80s classics and dated or befriended lots of stars along the way. She‘s very honest about it in this book, from her relationships to her nose job. It‘s a bit more gossipy than some celeb books but not mean spirited. The parts about Dirty Dancing and Dancing With the Stars were the best parts but I did enjoy it all.

review
squirrelbrain
post image
Pickpick

Dirty Dancing is one of my favourite films *evah* (and Ferris is hubby‘s favourite) so I loved this autobiography.

I can‘t help feeling sad for the younger Jennifer though - she always seemed to be striving for something that she never quite reached I wonder how happy her childhood and teenage years really were?

Loved the gossip about other Eighties stars; Matthew Broderick, Madonna and of course Mr Swayze. Also enjoyed the section on DWTS.

Caroline2 Oh I‘ve been dyyying to read this since I heard it was coming out. LOVE dirty dancing so much and introduced the boys to Ferris the other day! 😆 so glad to hear it‘s good. 👍 2y
Susanita I carried a watermelon 🍉 2y
SleepyDragon Does it go to present day? Just wondering if she mentions much about her husband. 2y
See All 9 Comments
squirrelbrain @SleepyDragon - it was published this year so it‘s right up to date and she does talk about her husband. 2y
SleepyDragon @squirrelbrain That's cool. Sometimes a celeb will publish a memoir about a specific period of their life, so I wasn't sure. Her husband is also awesome, and I really enjoyed when they appeared together on The Conners. I added this to my TBR. Thanks! 2y
LeeRHarry Have this on my holds list at the library - can‘t wait for it to come in. Dirty Dancing holds a special place in my heart 💕 2y
squirrelbrain I had to watch the ending of the film (several times!) after reading the book @LeeRHarry ❤️ 2y
LeeRHarry @squirrelbrain I‘m sure I will after I‘ve read it too 💕 2y
Megabooks Excellent insights! I wonder what she was reaching for too. This was a good one! 2y
75 likes2 stack adds9 comments
blurb
MallenNC
post image

The 35th anniversary of Dirty Dancing seems like the right day to start this book. I loved that movie so much. To this day I use “I carried a watermelon” to indicate an embarrassing experience.

review
Soubhiville
post image
Pickpick

Dirty Dancing was one of the ten or so VHS tapes we owned when I was a kid, so we watched it a zillion times. I loved it, and Ferris Bueller, which Jennifer was also in. I always wondered why she didn‘t do much afterwards. I‘d heard about her nose job, but only vaguely, and it seems both she and Hollywood were disappointed with the results.

I really enjoyed this memoir. Jennifer seems sweet and I was glad to hear about her life out of the corner

Soubhiville Great for fans of the author obviously, but also fans of Hollywood memoirs in general, as she knew a ton of stars, including Matthew Broderick, Johnny Depp, Madonna, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Of course you get the scoop on working with Patrick Swayze too. 2y
vivastory I've never seen Dirty Dancing 😬 Have you seen the recently edited ending of DD feat Muppet theme song? It's pretty humorous 2y
Soubhiville @vivastory I did see that, it‘s ridiculous and so funny! 2y
squirrelbrain I need to get to this one now…. Just need to figure out which platform I saw it on…! @vivastory - that sounds hilarious, I‘ll check it out! 2y
70 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
MaggieCarr
post image
Pickpick

Love me a good memoir and this was one of those. I only knew JG in the Dirty Dancing context so now, of course, I'll be seeking out some other filmography. She seems so ageless and surrounded by other famous people that it seems surreal. Her mom, Jo Wilder, is ageless herself in her 80s. Wonderful wisdom and storytelling though at first I struggled with the lack of chronological order but it does help put context the farther and farther you read.

35 likes1 stack add
review
BookishTrish
post image
Mehso-so

As a lifelong Dirty Dancing fan, I‘m not sure what I was expecting. Loved the title and how the book explored Grey‘s relationship with her family, romances, and beauty standards. The pacing was a bit off for me.

KathyWheeler That cat is beautiful! 2y
squirrelbrain I got this on BorrowBox but then returned it unread as I have too many other books to read… doesn‘t sound like I missed much! 2y
RaeLovesToRead EARL!!! 💕💕🤗 2y
Maria514626 Your cat is gorgeous! And poofy! (I‘m allergic to cats so pictures of them delight me to no end.) 2y
64 likes4 comments
review
jdiehr
post image
Pickpick

Listening to Jennifer tell her story made me feel like I was sitting with her over drinks, leaning in and saying, "Really? Tell me more!"

An entertaining memoir that hits on all the topics fans will want to know about.

JamieArc I live in Lansing, MI and the current craze is the logo “Dirty Lansing” in the same font as the movie 🤣 2y
jdiehr @JamieArc Too funny 😄 2y
Amiable @JamieArc My son was born in Lansing when I was in grad school at MSU! Is Sparrow Hospital still there? 😀 2y
34 likes3 comments
review
Kboltz
post image
Pickpick

Listened to this and it is read by Jennifer Grey. She is very honest about everything that has happened in her life. From Dirty Dancing to her relationships to Dancing with the Stars to still having pain from the car wreck with Matthew Broderick. Loved the chapter on her decision to be a stay at home mom at the age of 40. Great listen!

review
melissanorr
post image
Mehso-so

This wasn't what I was expecting so I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped. However, if you are looking for a memoir that addresses the struggles of mental health, substance abuse, and celebrity culture, this will be a good one.

review
Bekkers
Pickpick

Book #35 for 2022. I loved Dirty Dancing growing up so I enjoyed learning about her life. Very interesting

blurb
bookish_wookish
post image

It just started raining here so its the perfect time to start my newest library pick up!

review
NatalieR
post image
Pickpick

Jennifer Grey wrote and narrated an excellent memoir. The prologue opens with a detailed account of her infamous nose job. She chronicles her childhood, early adulthood of being engaged to Matthew Broderick and Johnny Depp, and mature adulthood of being a wife and mother. I‘ve always wondered why she didn‘t do more acting. Well, this memoir put all of that to rest for me. I admire how she views her life and the course she is on.

NatalieR @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I hope you enjoy! 😀 2y
90 likes4 stack adds2 comments
review
limada
post image
Pickpick

I didn't know much about Jennifer Grey beyond Dirty Dancing and a nose job before. There's definitely a lot more to her backstory than I imagined. It's an interesting book and Jennifer has connections to a lot more people than you'd think. It's a good compliment to Patrick Swayze and Michael J. Fox's memoirs since their stories both play a role here.

review
Megabooks
post image
Pickpick

If you‘re among the #80sFolks on Litsy, this is a can‘t-miss memoir! Grey shares about her childhood, famous father, and her rise to fame herself. She does a fair amount of dishing about everyone from Swayze to Matthew Broderick to Madonna but manages not to vilify anyone. She skips most of her 30s and picks up at motherhood in her 40s and her run on DWTS. There is A LOT about her infamous nose job! Go with the #audiobook!

squirrelbrain Ooh I wondered if it would include her nose job! This one is DEFINITELY stacked - it‘s *the* film of my teenage years. 3y
RebL Memoir fan here. Thought I hit all the 80s peeps last year. Thanks for the tip. 3y
Cinfhen Yay!!! And I hear Selma Blair‘s memoir is also excellent 3y
See All 9 Comments
Megabooks @squirrelbrain enjoy!! 🙌🏻 3y
Megabooks @RebL this just came out two weeks ago, so you didn‘t miss it. I hope you like it! 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen first in line for it Tuesday 😉 Blair is more my generation, so I‘m excited! 3y
Cinfhen Ohhh, lucky you!! Can‘t wait to hear your thoughts on that one 😁 3y
vivastory Did you see the recently edited ending of Dirty Dancing with the Muppet Show theme song? It's pretty spectacular. 3y
Megabooks @vivastory no, I didn‘t, but I‘ll look it up! Thanks! 3y
90 likes7 stack adds9 comments
blurb
Erinreadsthebooks
post image

Will I be reading this memoir?! Ya damn skippy I‘ll be reading this memoir. Glad the NYT Books Insta page let me know to be on the lookout for it. I LOVE Dirty Dancing ❤️🤩👏🙌🤓😍

quietjenn I just read her interview in People and it made me very curious about the book. 3y
31 likes3 stack adds1 comment