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agentgumidragon's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
stephen_coulon's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The world’s introduction to feminist heroine Lorelai Lee, a parvenu from Little Rock who turned society’s constraints on women to her mercenary advantage. It’s easy to fall in love with Lorelai’s charm and hilarious antics, but the real satire lies in Loos’s cataloging all the different species of clueless and creepy men in society. Most people are familiar with the film adaptation from 1953 starring Marilyn Monroe, but the novel is far more sardonic and progressive in approach. It’s not only aggressively feminist (though like all great satire, in subtext), but it’s also LGBT friendly, in coding at least. If you read carefully you may even find a couple of gay characters, an unusual encounter in a 1920s book. My 1963 Curtis Books edition includes the original illustrations from trendsetting moderne artist Ralph Barton, which are the absolute cutest. It’s easy to see why the greatest authors of the time, Wharton, Joyce, Fitzgerald, Santayana, Faulkner, Huxley, all loved and praised this book.
laurarosessupposes's review against another edition
4.0
Really wasn't sure about this when I started due to the writing style but I got to enjoy it more as it progressed and I grew used to it. The style fits the narrative perfectly and further emphasises the humour. This is a very funny book. Really enjoyable and a nice easy, light-hearted read to break up more intense narratives.
artistmaybe's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book when I first started it as I felt the main character could not be that niece or dumb, but as you read through the book you realize its a form of manipulation to get what she wants and she succeeds very well at it.
cdjdhj's review against another edition
3.0
After watching the 1953 Marilyn Monroe classic film by the same name and seeing that the movie was actually based on a book, I found it free in Amazon Classics, with the audio included. The book is written as a diary of a young American woman from Arkansas, Lorelei Lee who with her friend Dorothy, travel through Europe thanks to the generosity of men who seem completely mesmerized by her beauty (and sexuality) and seem unable to say no to her. I liked the movie better, but I was glad to have read the book, and learn that the author, Anita Loos, was a prolific author, screenwriter and playwright. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is the blockbuster satirical classic for which she is most remembered. (Amazon Classic audiobook).
kathryn14's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Ridiculous in all the best ways
9.5/10
9.5/10