We're Trash, You and Me

[dotinthesky]

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The original bonkbuster. The novel guilty of Jackie Collins, Danielle Steel and Sydney Sheldon's existence. Perhaps, even, the original beach holiday read. Valley of the Dolls has it all, including a lot of kitschy one-liners and bitch fights that make Dynasty look positively Shakespearean.

Three beautiful women climb the Mount Everest of fame and success, aided along the way by dolls, colourful little pills that help you sleep or get through the day when your career as the world's greatest singer/model/actress gets too much. Starting at the end of World War II and spanning that period to the end of the sixties (when the novel was written), it has a tone of authority as to the goings on in the show business world, glazed with that veneer now seen on the TV series Mad Men. The characters' barbiturate addiction made me think of Judy Garland and Elvis Presley, and their deaths; the philandering studs, of Warren Beatty; and the closeted gay actor, Rock Hudson. This sort of story would later become Jackie Collins' main selling schtick as she told interviewers that her novels were based on Hollywood's secret underbelly.

What makes this a cult classic that rises above its imitators - aside from the unintentional comedy - is the sour taste it leaves behind after the last page is turned over.

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Comments

[bella1978.livejournal.com]

I read it on holiday this year, funnily enough, and liked it. Did you read the Julie Birchill introduction? I'd agree with her that it's quite ahead of its time and bold. I like the old fashioned language that puts it into context, whilst at the same time they're quite upfront about sex. it must have been quite shocking at the moment.

[bella1978.livejournal.com]

I meant 'at the time' lol

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

My copy came with a promise of Julie Burchill's introduction but it was nowhere in sight! I'm going to see if I can find it online - but I agree with her view that it's ahead of its time and shocking for the period. It must have been a great titilating read back then.

[bella1978.livejournal.com]

Did you notice the anal sex scene? The first in mainstream literature, apparently. In JB's introduction she said she didn't pick up on it for ages and I'm not sure I would have if she hadn't pointed it out.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

No, I don't remember it! Remind me? ;-)

(I did notice the favourable lesbian scene though...)

[bella1978.livejournal.com]

It's very subtle. I just tried to find it but couldn't. Neely is with her first husband and wants to have sex. She says to him (something along the lines of), 'No, not that way, I don't have my diaphram in. Do it the other way.' ;)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Ah! And it makes sense that it would be with him, the "switch hitter".

[doraphilia.livejournal.com]

I think one of the characters was based on Judy Garland? They are all supposed to be based on real people. I enjoyed it in a campy way.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Ah, that makes sense! Neely is the character I thought was so much like her. Anne, the model, was a bit like Jackie Kennedy.

It was VERY campy.