This book definitely feels like memoir, impressionistic in nature, a mix of truth and fiction. It was very interesting but kind of glosses over the bit where Gypsy learns to take her clothes off on stage. One day she lowers her shoulder strap, the next she's in a tease costume, the next she's a world famous burlesque performer. There had to be some interesting psychological insights in the moments between.

There is quite a bit of animal cruelty in this book, just the nature of vaudeville I guess.