I'm not really a big book reviewer, my Goodreads are usually filled with one worded reaction or a strain of emojis, but for the sake of this blog I will try my best. I've been really into 60s literature for a while now (although it's mostly because I bought a whole bunch of books at once and still haven't gotten through them all). My most recent read has been Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann, a book written in 1965 about 3 friends trying to make it in Hollywood. The book spans over a 20-year period, starting in 1945 and moving between New York City and California up until 1965. That seems to be a main focus in most of the books I've been reading, New York and California. Even if it's set just in California, they always find a way to bring up New York and vice versa. Anyways. Without giving away as much as possible, this book was pretty hard to get through. With 448 pages, it's a super long read and I no longer have as much subway time as I did during the school year to be able to speed through books. On top of that, I mean, these girls can never catch a break! Almost nothing good happens to them and if it does well it doesn't last.
The book is about relationships and addiction and all the nasty things that come with trying to make it in the entertainment industry. Everyone seems to lose themselves, no matter how big of a role they play. Most of the characters are pretty likeable though, and at points it's easy to empathize with them. The plot was interesting enough, although there were times where it felt like it was just dragging. That's why I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5. This book is definitely not for everyone, but if the 60s is something you're interested in I would definitely give it a chance. Or at least see the movie, which I still haven't seen either but hopefully I do soon. A main factor in my decision to start this book is the fact that one of the main characters is played by Sharon Tate, and I had just finished Helter Skelter, Vincent Bugliosi's book on the Manson murders. That's another book I thought just dragged on for way too long. But if you're interested into all the legal details of murder cases and trials (Bugliosi was one of the prosecutors on the case), it's probably a good book for you.
Anyways back to the book. If you do decide to read this book, some things to look out for: The chapters could get to be really long, which can be discouraging if you just want a quick read without having to stop in the middle of a page. It's written in a way that's easy enough to understand, but again some parts kind of are just a drag. I feel like this also goes without saying, but it touches upon a lot of stressful topics (drugs, alcoholism, suicide, infidelity, and more!). But if you do manage to get through the book it'll definitely feel worth it. Not really sure what else to say. Maybe I'll watch the video and make a comparison post.
Until next time.
Rest in Peace Sharon
No comments:
Post a Comment