[These notes were made in 1992:]. "Could be called Sonja Dearest," blares the front cover, but tho' the tone of this book is clearly set by the resentments and disappointments of Sonja's brother Leif, the all-out attack on her character does not surface until the later part of the book. That appears to have been the part of her life, not at all coincidentally, when she incurred the hostility of her brother Leif in a series of financially mean-spirited and (if he is to be believed) even fraudulent transactions. The earlier account of her career, if a little dry, is by and large admiring. Very little is said on the subject of actual technique, although one or two of the press quotes contain the occasional enlightening phrase - "too much toe work at the beginning" of her "Dying Swan" number, for instance. It seems that Sonja was consciously forcing parallels with ballet, and particularly with Pavlova. I have little difficulty believing the accounts given of her bad temper, financial acumen, love of luxury and frequent affairs. It is clear that she was the child of privilege, and continued that way to the end of her life. I had no idea that her professional touring career (with the original Stars on Ice show, and others) was so extensive. There is a helpful filmography at the rear of the book. Sharp as she was, one does not get the impression that Henie was a very political animal, except insofar as any particular political attitude helped her get ahead personally. Hence the much ballyhooed picture of her shaking Hitler's hand. It would be nice to put this up against a more objective biography, but the element of personal animus also makes it very interesting. One thing's for sure - a cute little kewpie doll Sonja Henie was not!
