Interstingly and somewhat sadly, Mommie Dearest is what people think of when they think of Joan Crawford. They do not remember that she was a very talented and great star.
Personally, I think that while Joan was no bed of roses (what self-made woman was at the time
) , that book was hyperpole and sour grapes. I mean if Joan was that histrionic, where were the rest of the witnesses, like that reporter in the "I'M NOT ONE OF YOUR FANS" scene. Also, the brother refused to have anything to do with it. So, in my book, Tina wanted to make money by sullying her mother's name.