Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Valley of the Dolls
Book Review: Cult classic for good reason!
Summary: 5 Stars
I know every review says this but this book was so ahead of it's time. The situations and the closeted (or not so closeted) casual use of alcohol and "dolls", which is the code word the female characters use for pills, make the book seem like a modern day story.Book Review: DOLLS: I am hooked!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished reading the book again, and I found things that I had missed the first time around! Imagine! I never made the connection that these characters were based on people Jackie had known! I now can see why the novel was so controversial! Neely? Try Judy Garland! Helen? Try Ethel Merman! Jennifer? Try Marilyn Monroe! These had been just characters in her book until I read Lovley Me. I can now see where Helen was based on Ethel Merman. Although I must say, I was shocked to see where Neely was based on Judy Garland. But, in seeing this, I made the connection that although you think you know stars, for the first time, I see that even famous people have different sides that they show to others! I even learned some things about myself in reading this book! I see where I am like Neely in the way that I only take people for what they are and not what they want me to think they are. Having finished the book for the fifth time, I really relate to the childish way that Neely tries to manipulate the people in her life. The suicide attempt that happens after she is taken off of Let's Live Tonight almost matched the suicide attempt I had last summer when I couldn't stop drinking! I am forever in debt to Jacqueline Susann for showing me that fame isn't all it's cracked up to be! I have learned many valuable lessons in reading the book. Maybe I am not so bad off after all! Jennifer had a real talent for being honest and loving, but she never saw all that she could offer to someone. Never in my life would I have imagined that beauty could be a curse! An absolutely fabulous book about life and escapism! Once you read Valley, Mount Everest doesn't seem so beautiful after all!Book Review: DOLLS: The perfect escape!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first read Valley, I was a little surprised. Having seen the movie first, I expected the book to be the same. Boy was I in for a surprise! The movie didn't do it justice. This is the best book for anyone who ever wanted to see the edgier and raw side of love! Follow the adventures of Anne, Neely and Jennifer as the rise to fame and ultimately end up in the only place left to go: DOWN into the Valley of the Dolls! Anyone can be a star, but only for a short time. After the glitz wears off, you need an escape. The best escape comes in the form of a bullet-shaped pill. DOLL! Blessed DOLL! Try to be the same after you read the book. I know I wont ever be the same! Thanks to Jackie, I now understand the true meaning of self-sacrifice! What is a doll? The answer is up to you!Book Review: Doll of a Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book. One of the best reading experiences I've had in awhile! Especially for a book of its size! The story never gets stale or dull, the characters never lose your interest. In fact, in some ways, the story grips your interest tighter and tighter as it progresses and doesn't even let go on the last page!Some of the best writing I've come across in a long time as well. It was over 400 pages and I just couldn't put it down! Be prepared to read it 100 pages at a time (if you're lucky and don't read it all the way through)!
While certainly a decadent story, it isn't in any way empty fluff. Despite their obvious and sometimes heinous character flaws you definately are captivated and endeared to the main characters and even some side characters! Yet at the same time it manages to not be wholly depressing - just unapologetically real! And the lighthearded, humorous moments that occur naturally act further to attach you to the story and the book.
The book didn't foster any emotional reactions, as tales of tradgedy and such usually do. But I think it was meant that way. Because the characters AREN'T necessarily tragic! Just struggling. And their struggles definately create a hunger to get to their conclusions - no matter what they may be, happy endings or further tradgedies.
The only negative thing about this book is its reflection of real life. Its not escapism, its not a fairy tale. Its just a doll of a book!
Book Review: Dolls Are Bad, But Who Cares
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful book. I read once and could never put it down. I read after I saw the movie Isn't She Great, which is about the author. This book is about the friendships of Anne, Jennifer, and Neely. They all become famous and start taking "dolls." Dolls are pills, uppers, and downers. Neely becomes a famous actress, who ends up, in a rehab. She makes a come back though. Anne goes from being a secretary to a model for make-up on TV. She has a couple of men in the book, Allen, Kevin, and Lyon Burke. She ends up still on dolls, but married to a cheating Lyon, and has a kid. Jennifer goes from being married to a prince, to be married to Tony. She gets pregnant, but has an abortion, when she finds out the horrible truth about Tony. Then she becomes an actress, who in makes "dirty" movies, in France. Then she comes to back to America. She finds out she has lumps on her ovaries. She has them removed, along with a lump in her breast. They tell her she needs to have her breast removed. She refuses, and goes home and takes a whole bottle of red "dolls." Also know as the powerful sleeping pills Secondals. There is a movie based on this book. I feel that the movie screwed up this book. I think this is great for everyone