This book is like cotton candy covered in glitter, fabulous and unappetizing. The women are so attractive, and the men are so rich, and every single one of them is a miserable bastard. But damn me if their descent into misery isn't the most entertaining thing ever. I would read parts out to my boyfriend and he would be like, "Haha, seriously... what just happened? Did that just happen?" This book is like, the most scathing critique of sexism that has absolutely no idea that it is a scathing critique of sexism. The movie is TERRIBLE, btw. Maybe I'll watch some Mad Men instead... and yeah the first 100 or so pages seem pretty boring but you gotta get past that, man. I mean, you don't just stop watching Alien just before the chestburster scene, right?And I leave you with Charlene's "Never Been To Me"Hey lady, you, lady, cursin' at your lifeYou're a discontented mother and a regimented wifeI've no doubt you dream about the things you never doBut I wish someone had a talk to me like I wanna talk to youOoh I've been to Georgia and California, oh, anywhere I could runTook the hand of a preacherman and we made love in the sunBut I ran out of places and friendly faces because I had to be freeI've been to paradise, but I've never been to mePlease lady, please, lady, don't just walk away'Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone todayI can see so much of me still living in your eyesWon't you share a part of a weary heart that has lived a million liesOh I've been to Nice and the isle of GreeceWhere I sipped champagne on a yachtI moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed 'em what I've gotI've been undressed by kings and I've seen some thingsThat a woman ain't s'posed to seeI've been to paradise, but I've never been to meHey, you know what paradise is? It's a lieA fantasy we create about people and places as we'd like them to beBut you know what truth is?It's that little baby you're holding, and it's that man you fought with this morningThe same one you're going to make love with tonight. That's truth, that's loveSometimes I've been to cryin' for unborn childrenThat might have made me completeBut I, I took the sweet life and never knew I'd be bitter from the sweetI spent my life exploring the subtle whoring that cost too much to be freeHey lady, I've been to paradise, but I've never been to meI've been to paradise - never been to me(I've been to Georgia and California, and anywhere I could run)I've been to paradise - never been to me(I've been to Nice and the isle of GreeceWhile I sipped champagne on a yacht)I've been to paradise - never been to me(I've been to cryin' for unborn children )(Fade)
I first became interested in this classic piece of scandalous literary trash after learning that its author, in her zeal to promote this book, was responsible for the creation of the modern book tour.I wasn't entirely certain what to expect, but was surprised to find it was actually a pretty decent read. It tells the story of Anne Welles, a reserved New England woman whose primary act of independent thought in the post WWII years is to reject an assumed marriage and expected life in a small town in favor of a career as a secretary in New York. After landing a job in the office of an entertainment lawyer, Anne befriends Neely O'Hara, a scrappy teen with a powerful voice fighting to escape Vaudeville for Broadway, and Jennifer North, a gorgeous, statuesque performer who is painfully aware that looks do not equal talent and her time to exploit her physical assets is limited.The book traces the lives of the three women over the next two decades. In the process, it chronicles the ruthlessness and dysfunction of the entertainment industry and the heavy price it extracts from those who become dependent upon its favors. As the title suggests, drug use and its destructive aftermath plays prominently in the story.As a trashy novel, the book is wildly successful; it's hard not to get caught up in the lives of the three protagonists and their never-ending dramas, despite the maddeningly self-destructive choices they make. More than that, though, I found this book to be a weirdly fascinating glimpse into cultural history. It's been branded as anti-feminist, but I suspect its depiction of a world in which even rich and successful women are heavily dependent upon the attentions of men for their sense of self worth is not inaccurate for the time is was written. Though I found its insider view of the dark side of the entertainment industry to still be juicy enough, I suspect the things I found most scandalous about this book are quite different than those of its contemporary audience. The fact that these women had premarital sex and took drugs didn't cause me to bat an eye, but their liberal use of homosexual slurs gave me serious pause. I think one of the most shocking things about this book, though, was the fact these women wore fur. I mean, really - can you imagine?
What do You think about Valley Of The Dolls (1997)?
Enter endless debauchery! I can see why people put up such a stink about Valley Of The Dolls when it was published. The book makes me happy to not have fame.As an example of roman à clef, friends close to the author suspected that Susann wrote this book based her own experience, Ethel Merman, Judy Garland, Carol Landis, JFK, Monroe, Dean Martin etc. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. If you look up the real biographies, there are many parallels to the book. Hollywood was and still seems to be a hard place to live a balanced life. The Neely character (thought to be based on Judy Garland) could be compared to Britney Spears. How could anyone stay sane with all the exposure and expectations?I enjoyed this one, but it is not for everyone. It's super intense and you want to slap most of the characters and hug them at other times.
—Alina
****Spoilers****I loved Valley of the Dolls. This book is in my top ten of saddest stories of all time. This book is sad and honest, which makes it even worse. This book deals with addiction, the pressures of being a woman and maintaining a certain look, pills to make you look that way, fame and the pressures that come with it and of course, sexuality.The character of Neely O'Hara was my favorite in the beginning. A young, vibrant girl who had talent, came from nothing and wanted to make it big. In the end, I found myself hating Neely. She became a self destructive, self indulgent monster who no longer had empathy for anyone but herself.The tragic death of the character, Jennifer North, made a huge impression on me. She killed herself to maintain her only two assets in life - her face and her tits. I found it terribly sad on many levels. She killed herself because she would have rather been dead that have a mastectomy and lose one of her breasts. She clearly only felt she was worthy because of her looks and body, which lead to her tragic demise. But truly, the character that I am the most sad about is Anne. I looked at Anne and saw an independent woman, a woman who knew what she wanted and someone who didn't depend on her looks to get ahead. However, Anne sadly gave in to lust, to limerance and to her deep affection for Lyon Burke, who she eventually does marry, however he cheats on her consistently - first with Neely and then with other women. It is sad in the end when Anne decides to just give up and take "the dolls" to relieve herself from the pain. I just finished this book and it weighs heavily on me. This is a serious book and it is very sad, if you're willing to look at it as more than a piece of sexual fluff with fame references.
—Nicole
i remember the first time i read valley of the dolls. i picked it up, instantly hated it, and then read it nonstop for a series of days. i hated that neelie was such a bitch, and that anne could be so haughty. and that other chick.. yeah, you know the one. the porn one who went to spain or whatever. anyway. in the entire course of the book i found myself loving the girls, hating them, feeling mortified when they made a scene in public, and ultimately, hurting with them when they fell from their high horses. then i turned the last few pages, and i realized that the thing i hated most was that the book was over.
—sayDIE
