Marilyn Monroe Returns: The Healing of a Soul

The anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's 80th birthday witnessed the publication of several new titles about her life and work. Even beside the impressive Bert Stern photo tome, Dr. Finkelstein's past-life regression therapy journal with Canadian pop singer Sherrie Lea Laird stands out: Laird firmly believes that she is the recincarnation of the 1950s screen icon, and Finkelstein, with 30 years of past-life regression work under his belt, believes she's right. Disturbed by her innate knowledge and fearing its adverse effects on herself and her singing career, Laird's struggle to come to terms with her larger-than-life ex-identity provide the book's narrative arc. Constructed of e-mail correspondence, phone call reconstructions and therapy session transcripts, as well as side-by-side images comparing Monroe's hands, feet, facial features and handwriting to Laird's, the book reads like a ready-made stage play where the actor's total conviction checks the audience's incredulity. In the first person, Laird relates Norma Jean's childhood experiences, her love affairs and her puzzling death, and works with Finkelstein to accept-rather than overcome or repress-the memories of her past life, which he sees as the only path toward healing.. Whether or not you believe them, Finkelstein and Laird must be given credit for their unparalleled take on the life and legacy of Marilyn Monroe.