Valley of the Dolls
Back of the Book
Its three protagonists—Anne Welles, the uptight-but-full-of-a-strange-yearning New England beauty; Neely O'Hara, the Judy Garland á clef; and Jennifer North, who is sort of the Marilyn Monroe á clef and also sort of the Brigitte Bardot á clef but mainly sort of the least realized character in the book—all spend most of the novel with what they want excruciatingly just out of reach, and all are ultimately not only defeated but self-defeating ... I should say, first of all, that I have absolutely no criticisms to make of this book. It is perfect, and I'm not just saying that because I practically memorized it at the age of 13 and it was one of my primary illicit sources of sexual information in the gap between information and experience, and I therefore view it with fond nostalgia.... However melodramatic its plot may be, Valley of the Dolls is simply old-fashioned riveting.
We Love It Because
Self-aware and full of cheek, Valley of the Dolls remains the premier examination of clichéd Hollywood archetypes, and becomes more and more central to contemporary discussions on the impacts of the beauty and wellness industry on the individual lives and selfhoods of countless women - striving towards an end that remains out of reach. Susann is able to reveal the powers of perception and cult of personality that have been, since the dawn of time, points of mass obsession.
Memorable Passage
I’ve got a library copy of Gone With the Wind, a quart of milk and all these cookies. Wow! What an orgy!
About the Author
Jacqueline Susann (1918–1974) was a trailblazing American author whose impact on popular culture during the 1960s remains unparalleled. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Susann gained fame with her groundbreaking novel, Valley of the Dolls, which became an instant sensation and went on to become one of the best-selling books of all time. Published in 1966, the novel offered a candid and unflinching portrayal of the lives of three women navigating the glamorous but tumultuous worlds of show business and high society. Susann's bold exploration of themes such as fame, addiction, and the price of success challenged societal norms and marked a shift in the landscape of commercial fiction. Her fearless approach to storytelling, coupled with her own larger-than-life personality, made her a cultural icon. Jacqueline Susann is worth knowing for her groundbreaking contributions to the literary scene, her influence on the trajectory of commercial fiction, and her legacy as a pioneering woman in a male-dominated industry.
Further Viewing
Valley of the Dolls (1967), directed by Marc Robson, The Criterion Channel
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