The Best of Friends audiobook

The book is written by Mariana Pasternak, Martha Stewart's former best friend and witness for the prosecution in the stock trading trial that landed the domestic diva in jail. The book is riveting, not only because it provides a fascinating glimpse into the rarified life of Martha and her people, but also because Pasternak is such an unreliable narrator. Sometimes she is almost unbearable in her narcissism and other times you cannot help but cheer for the single mother who, after fleeing Romania, came to live the American dream. Mainly, I thought that she and Martha deserved one another as friends.At the end of the story, I found myself hitting repeat on one of the tracks. After the dramatic ups and downs of Mariana's life, she takes stock of what she has learned:"The real worth of a life cannot be measured by its mortar or its materials. The real worth of a life is best assessed by the pain one feels upon that life's undoing, and the lengths one will go to gather all the pieces, join the joists, and, relying part of prayer, part on muscle, and mostly on love, resurrect the roof." I just love this and have had it rolling through my brain for the last two weeks. I love that Pasternak knows that, at some point, everyone's life will come undone. Because I've learned this to be true. And I love that she recognizes that the natural instinct is to rebuild that life: to gather the pieces, join the joists and resurrect the roof. And I think she says it all so beautifully.But what Pasternak does not ask is what happens when the life that is lost is not worth salvaging. What if you decide, instead, to scatter those pieces, pocketing a few gems and leaving the rest behind? What if the original plans no longer make sense? What then?

I think I am one of the few (or the only) to have a positive review of this book and of the author. Many readers felt that Mariana Pasternak spoke too much of herself. However this book was about her life spent as Martha's best friends, so speaking of her personal history, her life, her family, was rightfully so and I really found it interesting, particularly her escape from communist Romania. Mariana's writing ability impressed me as well, and felt that she used metaphors and descriptions of a highly educated and experienced author. But besides all that, I enjoy a book of getting the real dirt on a celebrity. I grew up with Martha Stewart's show on TV, Martha's magazines on the family coffee table, and a mother striving to achieve a Martha Stewart standard in the home, garden, and at meals. Therefore I was eager to get the inside, behind the scenes, scoop of her life, her relationships, and her businesses. I have since passed this book along for my mother to read.

A look at Martha Stewart over a 20-year period through a woman who says she became Martha's closest friend. Although the friendship ended because of Martha's trial, Mariana still delivers a very sympathetic view of Martha and a not-always-great one of herself. It seems to be a pretty balanced book. Both women went through divorce, but Mariana was the only one whose finances suffered. They traveled the world together and their families were close. A fascinating look behind that steel Stewart exterior, and at intense friendships that can die just like marriages. Very interesting, enjoyable read.

Yep, that's Martha Stewart. Whether you love her, hate her, or don't really care, it's always tempting to read what someone has to say about her. Mariana Pasternak has quite a lot to say, though this book often reads more like a luscious travelogue, opulent menu, and curated list of antiques, not to mention McMansions and bothersome name-dropping. I enjoyed reading of Pasternak's childhood in communist Romania, and her eventual escape and resettlement in Connecticut. I also found the whole Martha Stewart branding interesting, how Stewart rose from catering local parties to a billionairess who wants for nothing except, I guess, true love. But Pasternak's a whiner who complains about making ends meet while continuing to borrow money from Martha so that she, too, can live the life of the rich and famous -- and then acts offended when Martha expects her to pay it back. She also "writes down" to the reader with references to books, movies, and music I'll wager most of us are not familiar with, though of course she would be, the intellectual that she is. (Sarcasm.) The friendship breaks apart after Martha's trial for inside trading, and Pasternak's testimony. All in all this book portrays Pasternak -- the author -- as the nicer, smarter, prettier (exotic), better smelling of the two "best friends," and I'm not sure I'd want either of them as a pal. Readable, though!

They say "you can't choose your family but you can always choose your friends.Very dishy & contrary to other's opinions, I really enjoyed her writing. I felt sad for Pasternak's co dependency on Martha and even sadder after M put her in an uncompromising situation. I can understand Pasternak writing the quaint memoir after she lost everything because of Martha's mistakes. Martha should have looked after her friends instead of expecting them to perjure themselves or her fame. I have a feeling that Pasternak held back on all her dirt. Maybe Part 2 in the future. Leave it to Gloria Aldrich to suggest writing the novel about Martha!

Like many others I said no more Martha Stewart tell alls! This one seemed to be a little more even handed then others but neither the author nor Martha come off as someone I'd like to get to know better. Pasternak seems somewhat pretentious and a bit tiresome but for the most part well meaning. Fluff but mostly enjoyable.

Interesting bookThis story was interesting. Friendship is the main idea running through the book. I was sorry to see that the author decided to divorce her husband as they seemed compatible. Martha was a pied piper and her moods were very high to extremely low.

An inside look at friendship and when both parties are getting what they need from the relationship it works. Anyone can put on a face and hide behind it. We got a look behind the Martha Stewart mask. Is my mask that important to me?

Simply fascinating...difficult at times to decipher fact from fiction but the author and ex- friend of Martha Stewart certainly offers a legitimate glimpse into Stewart's high-profile world.