Valley of the Dolls

[FlaminGreatGallah]

Found it in a charity shop and have been at the attitudes.

It is entertaining and of course you have to remember that it was written in the ultra-conservative American sixties but still...

The female characters are likeable but they are all so self-destructive and tragic. Successful but putting up with such crap from shite men and thinking that "love" is the only thing that makes their lives worth living.

So glad I read it at almost forty rather than as an impressionable teenager. And I thought my Virginia Andrews / Jackie Collins habit at that age was unhealthy!

I agree...have you read The Women's Room?

I have, yes. Not for a while though. "Our Father" was the last Marilyn French I read, that was interesting.

Funny, I was going to say in the OP that Jacqueline Susann makes Jackie Collins look like Germaine Greer

I'm just reading the bit where Anne, who is only thirty-six, beautiful, educated, fulfilled in her work and is worth over a million dollars is saying that she will go anywhere, live on a pittance because she can't live without Lyon, who won't commit to marriage, children or anything

It's a while since I read it...there's a film I think too. Is Our Father worth reading then? Makes you realise that things have got better for women, although we're not completely there yet!

It does, doesn't it? I can't imagine any of the women in Valley on the Relationships board being told to accept or welcome the status quo!

Our Father is worth reading I think. Harrowing, yes, but satisfying as all the sisters come out fighting and then gaining some peace.

Ooooh I love Valley of the Dolls - tis like the prequel to chick lit.

Judy Garland was cast and then fired from the film because of "drinking and behaviour" apparently

Hi Flame, yes it it entertaining and racy , not saying it isn't!

I did read it as a teenager and found it totally depressing!

OOOh, I read it with great delight at age 15. And Flamin, I always assumed Neely WAS Judy Garland.

Yup, me too

Neely was written as if she was Judy wasn't she?

But Judy was cast as Helen. Too old for Neely presumably.

I can only assume that poor JG hadn't read the book but was just TOLD that she should do it. Watch the interviews. So sad.

Oh, god, flamin. That is sooo sad. I don't think I can bear to read the interviews.

There is a sequel!

Sort of. Virginia Andrews stylee. Will report back

I don't think I can face it. Not after 'Scarlett' and 'Rebecca's Tale'.