Valley Of The Dolls

I first read this book in the 1970's when it was passed round at school. I still have my original copy from that period, but it is falling apart now - hence I bought a new copy.After all these years, I still love this book, and I think it still holds up as a good read. Anne, Jenifer and Neely are three young women who become friends in 1945, in post-war New York. The book chronicles their trials and tribulations over a period of about 15 years. One becomes a big star and a horrendous diva, one becomes a model and makes a lot of money, and one a lesser star who at one stage makes "art films" in Paris. Husbands and lovers come and go, and all three women end up dependant on prescription drugs / sleeping tablets - the "dolls" of the title.The characters are well written and the story cracks along at a fair old pace. There's a certain feminist slant to it (although I doubt that was the intention when it was written) in that the heroines live their lives on their terms; even when their men betray them and let them down. But the main thing about this book is that it is a good story; you find yourself rooting for Anne, Neely and Jennifer even if at some points the story you don't especially like them (Neely in particular!).In its day it was considered quite shocking. It dealt with sex and drug use in a way that was seen as explicit. It certainly did not show up Hollywood and show business in a good light. It's quite fun to try to guess upon whom the characters were based, but I suspect they were not based on anyone, but were compilations, if you like, of various celebrities of the 50's and 60's.I'm pleased that Virago have decided to release it again as a "modern classic". It's very readable and I do recommend it if you haven't come across it before. It remains one of my all time favourite good reads!

Valley of the Dolls is as timely today as it was when first published in 1966. It caused quite a stir when first published spending weeks at the top of best seller lists and was one of the most talked about books of the 60s. American author Jacqueline Susann became an instant celebrity. It has not aged at all, easily holding its own when 50 years later bonk busters are more risqué yet nothing seems to shock us readers the way they used to. Jacqueline Susann was the Queen of the genre paving the way for future female best selling novelists like Jackie Collins, Judith Krantz, Jilly Cooper, Shirley Conran to name a few.I'm surprised as a teenager in the early 70s I gave this novel a miss first time round. I would have loved it then as my appetite for bonk busting novels were those then written by Rosemary Rogers. Jackie Collins, Judith Krantz et al swiftly followed. I recently read Valley of the Dolls for the first time and I loved every page of the book - even though the sex scenes are quite tame now compared to other novels later published. The story of 3 young starlets as they climb to the top of the show biz ladder only to find that true happiness still eludes them, and their descent into drug dependency - the dolls of the title, uppers and downers, capsules or tablets, red or black washed down with alcohol, is wonderfully told. We can certainly relate to these female characters. There is a Jen, Anne and Neely in all of us. Or we know of women like them. This novel has now peaked my interest to read Jacqueline Susann's other books.

This story is light years ahead of its time talking about the highs and lows of showbusiness and the stresses that come with the obsession to stay relevant. Neely's story around her "doll" addiction makes you think about the tragic young lives taken by accidental overdoses which are still prevalent today.I thought Helen was one of the funniest characters I've ever come across and I found myself unable to put this book down in places as I was so curious to see what happened next to her. The scene with the wig was hysterical!I didn't care much for Lyon's character but he also highlights again the fact that fame and fortune doesn't always bring a perfect life.A highly enjoyable read and I think it should definitely make a come back! I mentioned I was reading it to my mum and her eyes widened with delight as she remembered it! She's borrowing it now that I've finished :)

As a feminist I don't know why I like this book so much. I shouldn't. Yet it's a good read for all that. The story moves on at a good pace and the characters' stories are interchanged often enough not to become boring. The insight into musical theatre's interesting, although not so true today... imagine fitting a song-and-dance number into Les Miserables to give a rising star a reason for being part of the show, or a pretty starlet given a walk-on part in Phantom of the Opera because her looks and stunning figure will bring in the punters. Yet the legal wrangles over performers' rights are some of the most enjoyable sections to read about. Pure hokum... but such entertaining hokum!

One of those books I'd always been curious about never - until now - got round to reading, I completely loved Valley Of The Dolls. Yes it's trashy at times, but all the more glorious for that. Gripping, funny, absorbing and at times gasp-out-loud moving, it would be a perfect holiday read, or indeed anytime read. It's interesting to see how closely the character and story-arc of Mary-Ann in Armistead Maupin's Tales of The City resembles Anne, the central character of this novel.One detail I struggled with, as other readers might, is the liberal use of the 'f-word' to refer to gay characters. While in context and clearly done to illustrate the spite of the characters saying it, it feels discordant with the overall liberal tone of the story (and especially given that a lesbian relationship in the book is described with tenderness and emotion!)