Scan barcode
mbenzz's review against another edition
3.0
If you love all things Hollwood(land), then you'll really enjoy this book. Taking place in the early 1920's during the beginning stages of the height of the Silent Film era, three friends struggle to find their place in the fast-paced immoral world that is Hollywood and the film industry.
Overall, I thought this was a good story, and while I genuinely did like the characters (Millie was a bit of a twit), they managed to squeeze a LOT into a year.
Some of it seemed like a natural progression (the drug abuse by one of the characters, I thought that was a believable path for her to go down after what happened to her), while others seemed a but much. The murder was a wee bit over-the-top for me, but it was based on a true event (though the names were changed), so I guess it's not completely out of the realm of believabiliy.
This is a quick if forgettable read. It's extremely predictable, so nothing here is really surprising or shocking. While I usually hate the term, this qualifies as the quintessential 'Beach Read'. Fun, but certainly not memorable.
Overall, I thought this was a good story, and while I genuinely did like the characters (Millie was a bit of a twit), they managed to squeeze a LOT into a year.
Some of it seemed like a natural progression (the drug abuse by one of the characters, I thought that was a believable path for her to go down after what happened to her), while others seemed a but much. The murder was a wee bit over-the-top for me, but it was based on a true event (though the names were changed), so I guess it's not completely out of the realm of believabiliy.
This is a quick if forgettable read. It's extremely predictable, so nothing here is really surprising or shocking. While I usually hate the term, this qualifies as the quintessential 'Beach Read'. Fun, but certainly not memorable.
januaryghosts's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Antisemitism, Homophobia, Rape, and Trafficking
kleonard's review against another edition
1.0
This isn't terrible, it's just boring and predictable and uses a lot of cliches. The characters are cardboard. In the mid-1920s, three white folks--responsible, clever Irene, dim, cuddly MIllie, and handsome, gay Henry--go to Hollywood to become stars. Along the way, of course, there is sexism and a rape and gay-bashing and the perils of heroin addiction, but then everyone is spotted as the talents they are and get jobs they like! Irene becomes a writer, Millie becomes an actress and then a mother, and Henry learns about gay Hollywood and has a romance with a director. The director is murdered, but Henry gets over it, marries a white woman in a relationship with a black man, and gets to find new lovers. Everyone lives near each other and have a happily ever after. The author calls women's breasts "orbs," and uses about a thousand other tired descriptors and phrases I could do with never reading again. The author also tries to cite a lot of 1920s events and realities of Hollywood, but they remain on the surface, window-dressing. The reader's guide at the back is terrible and earnest and is apparently geared towards five-year-olds.
ninjaterri's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lindasbookedup's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
A slow start, a bit of N abrupt end, but overall a good work of historical fiction.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Told through the viewpoint of three very different people who make a decision to completely alter their lives, but jumping off a train and heading to Hollywood to fulfill dreams. Henry, Irene and Millie were in a traveling burlesque show and they leave quickly to try to make it on their own in the land of dreams. It is the 1920s in Hollywood and this time period makes things harder for almost everyone in one way or another; this book is a look into many different cultures and how being an other, as most were, made things harder.
Told through the viewpoint of three very different people who make a decision to completely alter their lives, but jumping off a train and heading to Hollywood to fulfill dreams. Henry, Irene and Millie were in a traveling burlesque show and they leave quickly to try to make it on their own in the land of dreams. It is the 1920s in Hollywood and this time period makes things harder for almost everyone in one way or another; this book is a look into many different cultures and how being an other, as most were, made things harder.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
In July 1921, burlesque dancers Irene Van Beck and Millie Martin, and the burlesque comedian Henry Weiss jump off a moving train as their first step of escaping the clutches of their burlesque show boss and making their way to Hollywood for their chance at hitting it big in Tinseltown. Having barely survived life in a burlesque, making no money, getting little food, and risking beatings from the boss, on the scalp, to prevent bruises showing on their bodies while stripping, Irene and Millie had no where further down to go than to become prostitutes. Irene was going to leave by herself but Millie reminded her of her late sister so she was taking her with her and this was their chance to escape the horrid life they were living. Henry realized they were getting ready to jump off the train and followed them since he considered them his only friends. Together this trio becomes a "family" of sorts, looking out for each other and sharing whatever they had, in a chance for them to all survive and thrive in Hollywood.
With the town overflowing with other hopefuls ready to do anything for a job or any kind of break, they face a life of continued poverty and rejection. A person has to stand out in Hollywood to get anywhere and even then there are hundreds more standing in line behind you if you make a misstep. I enjoyed reading how this trio used their looks, imagination, and wits to finagle jobs and later better living quarters, as they worked their way into writing for or acting in silent pictures. I liked the characters of Irene, Millie, and Henry and especially liked their loyalty to each other, not allowing one to continue to suffer when another of them began earning money and the security of a job. That security could change in a second though due to prejudges so prevalent in that time.
I grew up watching black and white old westerns, some barely into the talkie stage and have probably seen most of them that were on TV over the decades. There is so much history of early movie making, during the time that silent movies were on the verge of becoming talking movies and this book name drops so many names that I remember reading about over the years. Each chapter starts with a quote from famous Hollywood names and I could probably read a book of just quotes and enjoy it, but in this book we get to learn what is behind the quotes, how things really were, under the fake glamour and glitz of the silver screen.
Thank you Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
With the town overflowing with other hopefuls ready to do anything for a job or any kind of break, they face a life of continued poverty and rejection. A person has to stand out in Hollywood to get anywhere and even then there are hundreds more standing in line behind you if you make a misstep. I enjoyed reading how this trio used their looks, imagination, and wits to finagle jobs and later better living quarters, as they worked their way into writing for or acting in silent pictures. I liked the characters of Irene, Millie, and Henry and especially liked their loyalty to each other, not allowing one to continue to suffer when another of them began earning money and the security of a job. That security could change in a second though due to prejudges so prevalent in that time.
I grew up watching black and white old westerns, some barely into the talkie stage and have probably seen most of them that were on TV over the decades. There is so much history of early movie making, during the time that silent movies were on the verge of becoming talking movies and this book name drops so many names that I remember reading about over the years. Each chapter starts with a quote from famous Hollywood names and I could probably read a book of just quotes and enjoy it, but in this book we get to learn what is behind the quotes, how things really were, under the fake glamour and glitz of the silver screen.
Thank you Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
machadofam8's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed the story but the writing was way over the top.
juliannegern's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book a lot. It’s probably more like 3.5 stars because the plot was a little shallow, but I rounded up. I loved the friendships and the setting during the Golden Age of Hollywood!