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Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as the original
Review: but "Shadow of the Dolls" is quite entertaining. When I saw that a sequel had been written, I new I had to read it to see what had happened to the crazy Neely and the way to nice Anne."Valley of the Dolls" is one of my favorite books of all time, and this sequel certainly isn't a personal fave but it isn't entirely terrible. They do tell us right in the front of the book that the dates and times have been changed..why? I have no idea. That part takes away one star for me. Why did they have to do that? I guess that was the writer's decision. By the way, Rae Lawrence is a decent writer. While she doesn't write in the exact same way Susann did(who ever could?), she does have a knack for dialogue. She did a great job writing Neely's choice words. Nothing beats the original.."I AM NEEEEEELY OHARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Technically, Anne and Neely should have been at least 15 years older than they say in the book. Anyway, that all aside. As long as you remember that this wasn't really written by Susann, even though you see her name on the cover of the book, and you just enjoy "seeing" those "old Friends"..as a lot of reviewers have put, this book is a decent take. I wasn't thrilled with the ending of the book.
I just hoped for something better. But this isn't better. VALLEY OF THE DOLLS is the better of the two. For those die hard fans, of the first, you may be disappointed. Yet, this book is good. It kept me interested.
I really hope a movie is never made. The movie of the first book is such outrageously trashy fun -- That could never be duplicated, so it should be best left alone!
As far as this book is concerned, I didn't love it, but it was good enough to keep me reading.
I won't give away too much, but if you want revisit Neely O'Hara, Anne Welles, and Lyon Burke, you just may enjoy this homage to Susann.
Rating: 
Summary: Keep This In The Shadows
Review: If you haven't already read Valley Of The Dolls, this supposed sequel will make no sense at all. The author relies too heavily on reader's past knowledge of the novel. That said, I found it incredibly hard to wrap my head around "Shadow" and I've read the original "Valley" about a dozen times. The characters have not been properly aged. I disagree that this is a conceit Jacqueline Susann would have approved of. The women of "Valley" dealt head on with issues ranging from infidelity to breast cancer to suicide. Surely they could have easily taken on aging ten years later. Not only do these characters not age, they still speak as if they were in the sixties, using expressions like "in the kip". While some would argue that "Valley Of The Dolls" is trashy fun, "Shadow Of The Dolls" is simply garbage. It's inane and silly. Ms. Susann's book was full of substance, through the trash one could sense that she was trying to communicate something. At the very least, she captured the imaginations of a generation. Rae Lawrence has captured nothing. Poor Jacqueline is rolling in her grave.
Rating: 
Summary: SPARKLE, NEELY, SPARKLE: Petition FOX for a DVD release!
Review: If you're reading this review, then you're ovbviously a fan of the book "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS". Chances are, you're also a fan of the film. If you're not in a coma, then I'm sure that you, like me, desperately want this great film to be released on DVD. So let's all band together and take some action! Let's all write FOX STUDIOS and petition to have "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" released as a DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION WIDESCREEN DVD with plenty of extras! Please simply print-out the following open letter on your computer, and mail it to FOX and DEMAND that we get this on DVD as soon as possible!!! Dear Fox Studios: I hereby declare that "Valley of the Dolls" is THE best motion picture of all-time, and I insist and demand that you release it on DVD in a DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION as soon as possible! "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" deserves a DVD presentation that includes: *Original W I D E S C R E E N presentation!
*Deleted scenes and out-takes!
*Restored theatrical release with the unedited love scene with Sharon Tate!
*Interviews with cast members!
*Judy Garland's unused scenes and out-take scenes!
*Judy Garland's soundtrack version of "I'll Plant My Own Tree!"
*Original theatrical trailers from "VOD" and other Jacqueline Susann films!!
*Interviews with Jacqueline Susann!
*Photo galleries!
*Costume tests with Judy Garland and other cast members!
*Stereo 5.1 Surround-Sound!
*Digitally-enhanced and restored film print-transfer to DVD!
*Trivia information, such as how and why Marilyn Monroe's voice was used in the film! (They also used one of Marilyn Monroe's costumes from "There's No Business Like Show Business!)
*Any and all additional extras that you can possibly pack onto the DVD disc! Let's get going on this, it's already been too long for this fabulous film to be released on DVD! Sincerely,
(Your Name Here) I'm serious! The only way to get this FABULOUS movie on DVD at last is to let FOX know how much we want it! I hope you'll all take some action to make it happen.
In the meantime, remember to get up at 5 in the morning and "Sparkle, Neely, sparkle"!!!
Rating: 
Summary: The Ultimate Guilty Pleasure
Review: OK. I confess. I didn't just read this, I bought it. In hardcover. But I bought it used, admit that much in my defense. Reading this makes you feel like the ghosts of your college literature professors are standing over you shaking their bony fingers. But that's the point of it. It's like going to a family gathering and talking to your aunt who's been married five times and is eagerly looking to find number six. You feel your grandmother's eyes burning into the back of your head but you just can't stop listening. This book could have been called TWO WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. Oh, don't worry, Neeley and Anne are still around at the end of the story, ready to go on bedding down and putting up with unworthy men in their neverending quest for Mr. Wrong. The reason this didn't get a fifth star is that I'd like to have seen more characters from the first book return. Helen Lawson is dead, and that wonderful old battleaxe was my favorite character in the first one. Miraculously, although decades have passed the characters haven't aged all that much. And, of course, nobody is wrinkled. Bartender, Botox for everybody. So put on your dark glasses and go get a copy of it. If you're reading it in public, put a dust jacket for SWANN'S WAY on it to fool your artsy friends. And enjoy.
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