Out of the Corner: A Memoir

Jennifer Grey, you are so brave to open your life to the public! Thank you so much! I don't feel like I am such a failure since reading this book. My first marriage was mind numbing as well as heartbreaking. I finally ended it and found someone so very special. My children grew up and moved out. They have lives to lead. I thought I failed but realized they were well prepared to find mates, have children, and find their place. Thank you for helping to see these changes as positive moves and not as failure!

The prologue and especially the first chapter really gave me high hopes that I was in for a wonderful ride. They are so intelligently and eloquently written, they’re pure poetry with well-placed, descriptive similes and metaphors and beautiful flow of well-chosen words. Who knew Ferris Bueller’s kick-butt sister is also a kick-butt writer?!But unfortunately, this momentum quickly fizzled (but hang on – the ride gets much better again!). Subsequent chapters devolved into very matter-of-fact descriptions of the author’s life events, and many of them read more like blasé diary entries than artfully crafted prose (although some were well-crafted too). But each of these chapters was really just a short story in and of itself: the first time she kissed, the first time she smoked marijuana; her first crush, the first time she was on the receiving end of an unwanted sexual advance; when she lost her virginity, moving through towns and schools, her first panic attack, etc., etc. It reads much more like a timeline of discrete events with no real effort to pull these milestones into a complete reflection on life. Except perchance for the nose and being Jewish (and for the parents who make a few appearances), there are really no recurring characters or linked events or anything to pull these short stories together. And, guess what? We’ve all been through these milestones in one way or another, and the author’s experiences were nothing really all that extraordinary. We all have similar stories – albeit maybe absent the famous ancillary characters floating around in the backgrounds of some of these short stories.But, BUT BUT BUT, then comes page 197!...the Matthew Broderick “short story.” But this story is not short. Multiple chapters finally begin to pull you in and make you anxious to want to read on. And – finally – events, thoughts, experiences from the earlier (seemingly disconnected) discrete life milestones now make very meaningful reappearances in the author’s life. Here’s where the memoir truly becomes a memoir and really takes off – and is well worth the effort to grind though the first 197 pages.Bottom line, a must read for Jennifer Grey fans and Dirty Dancing fans. For everyone else, this is the life story of an intelligent, well-spoken, humble, and grounded woman (the latter two characteristics a rarity for actors!). But you gotta hang in there to find the real draw, fascination, and page-turning intrigue – it’s there, it just takes time to surface.On a side note, one really annoying feature of this book for me was the paper used. I can only imagine this was by design, which just baffles my mind. I’m still not even sure if it’s the printing or the paper, but it seems to be the paper since even completely blank pages have these marks. And these marks are little fuzz-like threads – the kind that fall off your sweater – sprinkled here and there. Super annoying (see photo). At the very end, there is a tribute to the font style used in the book. I think they forgot to include a tribute to the paper used. I’ve penned one for them:About the PaperThis book was printed on beautiful, matte, heavy-weight paper in eggshell. This artisanal paper was carefully crafted by mixing batches of organic, sustainably-harvested pulp with sweater fuzzies – just enough to sprinkle them randomly throughout the book. Just enough to drive your mind insane by immediately drawing your eye to these standout squiggles with each turn of the page and to completely divert your attention from the story and mood as you try to brush them away like a fly on the page. This beautiful, creative paper stock is named “Sweater Pills-ner.” And, yes, we paid extra for this feature.

Ms. Grey's book is insightful, interesting, and easy to get into. I had no idea about any of her life sans her staying role in DD and that a doctor botched her nose job. She delved into all subjects with care. BZ!

Book arrived. Excellent quality. Can’t wait to read it

I enjoyed the parts about the movies and some of her earlier life but drug use and sexual encounters as a teen was more than I really needed to know. It just goes to reinforce that what is portrayed on the outside is probably not what is really going on in people’s heads. I am only halfway through the book and I truthfully don’t know if I need to know more. Good grief.

The magic curtain that is show business gets pulled away briefly to reveal the (at its essence) relatable life journey of a very hardworking woman and a mother who is opening doors of resourcefulness and strength for her daughter.

I have to preface this by saying that, I recently had a meltdown and binge watched Dirty Dancing back to back, for a couple of days. I can't even explain why. But, I was looking for a book to read and came across this one, and I enjoy a good memoir. Jennifer's life to me, was completely fascinating. Completely different than this life I lived, not only from a different era, but different places. I've always been obsessed with what it was like in the 70's-90's, living in California and definitely, New York City. And although everybody will call her a Nepo-baby, I actually think she has enough talent that she would have found a way to showcase it anyways. Of course the relationship parts were juicy, but since I'm nosey, I wouldn't have minded more info, hehe. I was definitely hoping for more Dirty Dancing bts stuff, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. You can't read this book and criticize her for talking too much about herself. It is after all, it's a memoir. Overall, it was a good read. A story of struggle and perseverance. Heartache and love. The nuances of life.

I loved and enjoyed learning about Jennifer's life, so far.... The highs, the lows and the in betweens. I felt sad for her going through the nose surgeries and the disappointments that followed. I think she was beautiful before she had her nose fixed and definitely beautiful after... Sad that the powers that were back then didn't see it that way & caused a lull in her career... So she looked somewhat different -- AND!! She was & is still beautiful and still Jennifer Grey... Loved her in Dirty Dancing and DWTS.... watched every episode and called in my votes.... She did an AWESOME, SUPERIOR JOB!!! Felt sad that her marriage ended, but happy they are still a strong family. I wish Jennifer the very best of luck in her future endeavors... Hope she stays active and accessible so we, her ever loyal fans, can get to see her interviews and performances. Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your life...

Have not had time to read much so far, it is holding my attention

Remember that immortal, iconic line “Nobody puts Baby in the corner”? Say that to anyone, and they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about. They’ll know who you’re talking about.Out of the Corner, is the memoir of Jennifer Grey. This memoir is one of a kind. It’s intimate and honest. Candid and raw. Nothing is held back from Jennifer’s life. The good, the bad, the indifferent, and the crazy….it’s all there.Jennifer Grey was Americas sweetheart. That life started in 1970s Malibu and New York. That love of acting and the stage started with her watching her dad and going to the theatre with him. Jennifer happily shares her wild club nights and her roles in movies such as The Cotton Club, Ferris Buellers Day off and Red Dawn, where she met Patrick Swazye. Then of course, she gifted the world her appearance as Baby, when she made Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swazye.Her frankness as she discusses plastic surgery, her friendships, and failed romances, is refreshing to read. I smiled when I read that Maggie, her friend, ended up being Janice in Friends. Imagined nights when Jennifer found her friendship with Madonna, and the fun they must have had. I remembered from my youth seeing Matthew Broderick & Jennifer together on the news and in magazines.Jennifer finding what she needed to be, what she was destined to be….a mother….filled my heart. You could feel the love coming from the pages through her words.This book was a beautiful read. I didn’t want to stop, I read it in 1 ½ days. The words, the language, it was right. I’m sure some will say that there are too many swear words, but I get the feeling that’s Jennifer. That’s how I expect her if I meet her. Upfront, say it like it is. That’s what the book gave me.

Really surprised to read some aspects of Jennifer's life. Some of it was soul destroying which you might not have imagined from seeing her in Dirty Dancing - I need to watch that film again having just finished the book! Not a fan of some of the bad language and the book could have done without it. Loved that Jennifer is so besotted with her daughter and dedicates the book to her. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop - just wanted to find out what happened next.

terrific book

A really enjoyable read and insight into Jennifer Grey’s life.