So I started this summer telling myself that I was going to read:1. June-- All of George Orwell2. July-- All of Gabriel Garcia Marquez3. August (into whenever because I wanted to take my time)-- All of Cormac McCarthy, in order. Again.I got halfway through Homage to Catalonia and decided that I have enough heaviness in my life these days, and could therefore read whatever I want.So I opened the gates for fun stuff. Graphic novels and bestsellers and then I saw Jackie Collins on a morning talk show, and was totally taken by the following:1. How poised and polite and eloquent she was in interview and in answering call-in questions.2. How accomplished she was in what she does. I mean, who owns that genre more than Ms. Jackie?3. That I'd never read any of her books, and might give it a whirl as part of my fun summer reading program.I mentioned this to my mom, a mostly-feminist who never speaks about, acknowledges, or condones that sex exists, and she breezily answered, "Jackie Collins is an American icon. She came on the scene during the sexual revolution, and filled that gap for women. Everyone should read something by her."And my mom happened to have a copy of Lovers and Players in the house.So I read it.Which brings me to the difficult part.It was just OK, you know? She definitely has a gift for storytelling like Stephen King or JK Rowling, but it's also pretty formulaic. A lot of the plot twists were predictable, and the characters were unlike anyone I've ever known. It's definitely great escapist stuff, but you have to be like completely-ready-to-check-out-on-the-level-of-an-acid-trip prepared to suspend reality.In that way, I do kind of like it. It plays into my love of soap operas, and things they suggest about the American female psyche. While there's a generally happy ending in Lovers and Players, the characters' problems are MASSIVE problems, creating a reassuring structure where the glamorous and wealthy have much more stressful lives than one would desire. It's the sort of book you'd set down thinking, "If nothing else, at least I know there is zero chance that our first child might be secretly fathered by my husband's brother, and the other a black market baby bought by my husband to cover the death of our second child during birth, after which I was too delirious to know what was happening."You have to be prepared to take that sort of thing in stride, over and over.But I learned a few things. First of all, apparently I have a level of literary snobbery that does not transcend enthusiasm. I went into this book kind of excited. Second, that there is something important about writing what you have to say, shaking what you've got, not hiding your light under a bushel basket, as Collins bravely showed through her career. I can understand why she is an icon, regardless of her snob-repellence. She spins well constructed and fun reads. Sue her for being good at that.Third, I had more to say about this book than any of the lit snob stuff I've read in years. And I've done so here to get it out of my system.Mostly, though, I write this to tip my hat to Jackie Collins. Well played on all fronts, lady.
Let's do this quick and dirty like a Jackie Collins sex scene. Initially, I thought this was going to be a homage to her awesome 1977 novel Lovers & Gamblers (and really, if you read only one Jackie Collins novel that is it; some say Chances but I say Lovers & Gamblers). However, after a strong start, it disintegrates into a hot mess. There's no character development and no motives behind any of the character's actions. One character will stop at nothing to hide from high society the fact that his daughter is illegitimate since his ex-wife was married to another man while they were married. I mean, really? Three adult men allow their near 80 year old father to bully them for no good reason. A woman falls madly in love with a man who takes her virginity with some good dicking. Turns out the man is her fiancé's brother. Oh, not to mention we're repeatedly told over and over again that bully daddy has something important to tell his sons. But we don't find out until the end, and by then, it doesn't matter plot-wise or reader-wise.This is an awful, quick read, guilty pleasure novel. If you can get past just about everything and go along for the ride it can be fun. My disappointment lies in the fact that I know Ms. Collins is (or at least was) capable of writing much better than this. I highly recommend Lovers & Gamblers if you truly want a taste of the pre-Hollywood Wives, juicy, page turning, trashy novels Jackie Collins once-upon-a-time was famous for.
What do You think about Lovers & Players (2006)?
Ok. I started this book before I went on a 6 week vacation last year and put it to the side because I was only taking my e reader with me. I forgot about it until a couple of days ago and decided to finish it off. Let me just say that even after a four month break it was not hard to get back into the story. I don't credit my memory because that kind of sucks these days, this is just about how shallow this book is. I liked it well enough for what it is, but it is riddled with WTF moments. Groups of Russian immigrants who sit around talking to each other in broken English, stereotypes of African Americans, rich people who never really grow as people. Jackie Collins writes a story that you don't need to think about to hard, and if you do try to analyze them you will make yourself crazy. Just enjoy the ride. Not my favorite of her books, I would recommend American Star and Rock Star if you really want to try a Collins book.
—Samantha
If you set aside the "Jackie Collins nonsense" this was a pretty good story. I like how the characters have separate chapters, then come together as the story evolves. Red Diamond, the wealthy seventy-nine year old playboy, actually had some funny lines, and fooled everyone with who he was giving his inheritance to. Red's three sons all have their own separate story lines. The oldest, Max, gets out of trouble by the skin of his teeth...he should have never married Mariska in the first place. The best thing he did was tell the truth to the detective and not worry about what gets said in the tabloids. Chris is a great entertainment lawyer. Jett is trying to remain sober. I hope he and Amy last. Liberty's story line was far fetched..the waitress becoming a model, then singer, nothing new or exciting. I hope Lulu learns some manners and does not have a messed up life.
—Anne Marie
The woman who reads the audio of this book is hysterical, and a genius. Her accents are insane and awesome. I think she had more fun with this book than anyone could have. Otherwise, this is truly a waste of time. I'm going to stop and read some real books for a while. This tour of the ghetto has been enlightening and exhausting. And insulting. This book probably wasn't even read twice by anyone involved in its production. Characters who are presented one way (in AA?) are introduced again later holding martinis, no mention made. The crux issues of the many, exceedingly pointless and boring story arcs are nonsense. So profoundly afraid of your child being called "illegitimate" because her mom wasn't legally married to you at the time of her birth? but now your divorced? the story clearly takes place in the early 2000s, so I can't imagine where this pathetic victorian era concern is coming from. Anyway, it's a terrible book, even as bad but good reads go, let this one go. It's just pitiful. I've never read a Jackie Collins book before and I won't again.
—sendann
