Review: Murder in Hollywood: Solving a Silent Screen Mystery

Murder in Hollywood: Solving a Silent Screen Mystery by Charles Higham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is about the same murder that Tinseltown was written about. I read these two back to back on purpose because I wanted to see what two different writers thought about this unsolved Hollywood murder. This book featured things that were not mentioned in the last book, evidence wise. I was wondering if it was fiction or actual facts? I did not enjoy this one as much. This one was writer with one criminal in mind and didn't much mention what others could have murder William Desmond Taylor. I did like that this author seemed to have actually interviewed some of the "players" or their families...but I question what their memories were given it was so long.

I made up my mind long ago who the murderer was and after reading these two books, I have not changed that....but we will never know the truth.

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Review: The Silver Linings Playbook

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I so very much enjoyed this book. Depression, reinvention and desperation....made for some great entertainment. I had not seen the film so I wasn't sure what was going to happen (or even of the film is like the book).

I hate reviewing books too much for fear of giving away plots....Pat was a bit screwed up, Tiffany was a complete mess but hey aren't we all? Pat is trying hard to start over so he doesn't have to go back to the bad place and so apart time can be over. That is his plan. Tiffany meets him and changes his plan, with him almost kicking and screaming along the way. A friendship is formed and hopefully Tiffany can help him end apart time.

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Review: Someday, Someday, Maybe

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There was not one thing that I didn't love about this book, except that it ended. I loved the characters, the story, the drawings, the setting. ..everything! I you're Lauren is working on a sequel. Simply perfection.

Franny is an in and out of work actor in the mid 90's. She struggles with jobs, agents, and her love life. She has set a goal for herself to make it big or use the backup plan. Will she get the big break? Or use plan B? Or like a good episode of Law and Order, will there be a twist?

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Review: A Touch of Stardust

A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I simply LOVED this book. No ands, ifs or buts about it. It is a fictional story set in the time of 1938 during the filming of Gone With The Wind. The main character works for Carole Lombard, girlfriend and then wife of the famed Clark Gable, AKA Rhett Butler. The characters are perfectly suited to the real-life Carole, Clark, and Selznick. Any GWTW fan should like this as well as fans of film fiction. A wonderful time was had by all.

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Review: Mademoiselle Chanel

Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gortner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have never been a fan of Coco, just of her designs. I thought I would give this a try because it is set in the period that I like to read about. Even though it did not change my mind about Chanel the person, it was a very enjoyable read. It read like a bio even though it was fiction. It did not portray Andre as Coco's child, as I have often read, but as her nephew; which was how he was presented to the world. Only Coco would know the real story there.

If you like the 20's-40's and fashion, you would like this book. If you are reading because you think you like Chanel....well, maybe you should rethink that and read it for some other reason. She is not an easy person to like because of her beliefs and this book does not change them to make her more likeable, and I liked that it stayed true to how CC was.

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Review: The Dressmaker

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was worried that this fictional work might be portrayed as real Titanic history. I'm glad the author explained that at the end. While, I wished there was more time spent on the ship and less on that dreadful trials, this was a fine read. It might get folks interested in the real Titanic. The Duff Gordons did indeed sail on that ship, and the controversy of lifeboat #1 has always intrigued me, so of course I found the authors take interesting. I am interested to know what happens to Tess. Also, Ms.Alcott's writing is making me happy. This is the second book I have read of hers in a couple of months and I am ready for another.

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Review: The Forgotten Flapper: A Novel of Olive Thomas

The Forgotten Flapper: A Novel of Olive Thomas by Laini Giles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my word! I have waited forever to read a book on Olive Thomas. I have been intrigued by her since childhood. This was written as if Olive was telling us the story. Fiction that reads like nonfiction. Written in a style most celeb auto bios are written in...."I make good choices but those around me don't." It was a perfect way to tell a story about a big celebrity that no one now knows because she died in 1920. She was big Before talkies and married a Pickford. A Ziegfeld girl, the most beautifil woman....Olive had it all. She was royalty.

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