The Rainbow Comes and Goes

The Rainbow Comes and Goes presents an intimate correspondence between CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and his mother Gloria Vanderbilt, initiated when she turned 91 years old. Through email exchanges and conversations, mother and son discuss their lives, losses, and relationship across the decades. Cooper and Vanderbilt share memories and revelations about their experiences, from her days as the "poor little rich girl" of the Vanderbilt dynasty to his journey becoming a war correspondent and news anchor. The book includes their discussions of family tragedies, career challenges, and personal transformations that shaped both their lives. The pair examine their different perspectives on shared events, filling in gaps in their understanding of each other's stories and exploring questions left unasked over the years. Their exchanges reveal the complexities of mother-son bonds and family dynamics across multiple generations. This dual memoir offers insights about love, loss, and the possibility of deeper connections even late in life. The format of written exchanges creates a unique exploration of how parents and children can bridge emotional distances and find new understanding.

Readers appreciate the intimate look at the relationship between Cooper and Vanderbilt, with many noting the honesty in their email exchanges about family, loss, and personal growth. Several reviewers mention connecting with their discussions about grief and mother-son bonds. Positive reviews highlight: - The candid exploration of the Vanderbilt family history - Both authors' vulnerability in sharing personal struggles - The audiobook narration by both Cooper and Vanderbilt Common criticisms: - Too much focus on wealth and privilege - Some conversations feel surface-level - Repetitive content from previous books/interviews Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (21,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2,800+ ratings) One reviewer noted: "Their email format makes you feel like you're eavesdropping on private conversations." Another wrote: "Expected more depth given the marketing about 'nothing left unsaid' between mother and son."

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🌈 Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper wrote this book through a series of email exchanges over the course of a year, when Gloria was 91 and Anderson was 48. 📱 The book's title comes from a poem by William Wordsworth and was chosen because it captured the fleeting nature of life's joys and sorrows that mother and son discussed. 💌 The intimate conversation between mother and son was sparked after Gloria fell ill, making Anderson realize there were many questions about her life he had never asked. 👑 Despite being born into one of America's wealthiest families, Gloria Vanderbilt experienced significant trauma early in life, including a highly publicized custody battle dubbed "the trial of the century" when she was just 10 years old. 🎨 Throughout the book, Gloria reveals how she reinvented herself multiple times - from socialite to actress, artist, author, and eventually fashion designer who pioneered designer jeans in the 1970s.