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Rating:  Summary: Lorelei- Where are you? Review: Anita Loos was not just putting a fictional spin onto Lorelei Lee in the comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes- she was writing highly creative fiction. All that was sensational if forgiveable in the character was sordid and criminal in her real life inspiration. Peggy Hopkins Joyce could not, like the immortal temptress, sustain our interest or our tolerance for gold digging as the rightful occupation for goddesses and consumate sirens. Marilyn/Lorelei was the allure that drew me to this book, and as a marketing technique, it was brilliant The author, Constance Rosenbaum, deserves credit for her attempt to broaden her study as the archetype for celebrity as a parasitic self-invention sucking media ink and human longing. Flapper, eternally ambitious and selfish, Peggy Joyce had no 'skills' as the kids would say, other than in the sexual arena and in her absolute indifference, it seemed, to vows and sufferings of her admirers. By far the most interesting section of PJH's life was her successful swim upstream from the poor south to her celebrated spawning grounds, old Georgetown to the shores of DC Manhatten. That she was the archetype of the media gliterrati and though in all ways dull- manipulated the media as part of her universal manipulation as life- was again insufficient to the task of vitalizing her. The author was given the contents of her subject's newsclippings and coasters with a few notes, kept wisely for someone who could put together a study. Though Constance Rosenbaum did a worthy job- she perhaps lacked a similar penchant for extravaganza of myth and stardom. We wanted to experience Lorelei- and that, we learn, is a part of the movies- Peggy's stardom evaded the silver screen- and sadly- this bio.
Rating:  Summary: Material girl does it her way Review: Apparently Peggy Hopkins Joyce was a wild babe in her day with alot of juicy stories surroundng her escapades, however this book reads rather flat. The facts of Joyce's life may be there but the author has chosen a writing style that really does not bring her subject to full life. I found the book a page turner only because I was anticipating "dishy" descripton somewhere only to reach the last page thinking "is that it?" It may be that after all Constance Rosenblum didn't find much about Joyce to admire and saw her ultimately as a manufactured media phenomenon of her day. So be it, the book is worth reading if you have had any curiosity about Peggy Hopkins Joyce, the original "material girl."
Rating:  Summary: Constance Rosenblum's Gold Digger is mesmerizing. Review: Ever since the mail man delivered Constance Rosanblum's Gold Digger to us, I was unable to put the book down. Gold Digger is about the life of one of America's self-made, female millionaires at the turn of the 20th century. Lacking class, pedigree, education or talents, the heroine, Peggy Hopkins Joyce, turned herself into a millionaire by marrying millionaires. She was almost 100 years ahead of our times-and succeeded again and again when many of our contemporaries have failed to do so on television. Peggy Joyce was a fascinating character. According to the author, she skillfully manipulated the budding but increasingly powerful media empire to follow her every outrageous moves and whims. Rosanblum's writing brings Peggy Joyce, her spirit, and the spirit of her times alive. Commenting on the rise of newspapers and the psyche of their readers in the 1910's and 20s, Connie writes (page 81): "The swelling audiences for these new papers included both Americans who had not gone past grade school and millions of immigrants struggling with the complexities of English; in recognition, the papers offered news that was simple, dramatic, and most of all fun to read. They did not dwell on the subtleties of foreign policy or the intricacies of political debate. Instead, they concentrated on the verities of human existence-love, hate, life, and death, the gorier the better. They cared not about abstractions but about the grit and glitter of real life-the sexy blonde, the pool of blood, the staccato of the gunman's bullets." I was mesmerized. The book reads like an extended, captivating obituary by a passionate writer who tells us what determination can do to anyone who has it, the fluidity of human morals, the triumphs of a woman in a world dominated by men, and the rise of the ever dominating America media. Rosenblum's Gold Digger made me feel like I was viewing an episode of "American Masters" on TV. The book is a welcome distraction from a neurotic daily life. I learned a little more about modern American history; and I understand a little more about how hard it is to pass judgment on people and events.
Rating:  Summary: Holes in the Pants Pocket of "Golddigger" Review: I honestly could not finish this book. I tried. Even though it is simple reading, I couldn't stay interested. I like factual books, and I got tired of Rosenblum continually saying "according to Peggy's memoirs", and writing that an event or supposed act may or may not have happened. That's not a good biography to me. I want facts. I just couldn't get half way through.
Rating:  Summary: Diamonds Are A Gold Digger's Best Friend Review: I was delighted to find this book on the original jazz baby, Peggy Hopkins Joyce. I thought I would be reading a delicious romp through the decadent 20's. Instead, I found myself repelled by the subject of this book. Peggy must have surely been one of the most avaricious women of the era. She was seemingly talentless, except in the art of seducing rather boring millionaires. She was a flop on Broadway and in Hollywood. I was astounded at her lack of intellect! Supposedly, Anita Loos based the Lorelei Lee character of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" on Peggy. Anita always denied it. I don't blame her, Peggy makes a dull, mean-spirited, repulsive protagonist. The author remains sympathetic to Peggy, but I was only relieved when her lost youth led to her pathetic end. Constance Rosenblum's writing is fine, but the book ultimately disappointed me.
Rating:  Summary: Holes in the Pants Pocket of "Golddigger" Review: I was utterly shocked to read the mediocre reviews of this book. From the minute I picked it up, I was unable to put it down until I had read every single page. Although Peggy was not the most profound character in history, her story is exciting and captivating, as well as entertaining, showing how a "nothing" girl can rise to be a somebody. The writer portrays Peggy's story beautifully, with incredibly meticulous research, even though there was obviously little to start with. This is a delicious book, which readers will simply devour.
Rating:  Summary: Good story of celebrity Review: It's amazing that someone could be so famous and really not very interesting. This books gives you a great idea of celebrity in the twenties and thirties, but the author really didn't seem to have alot to work with. Joyce seems very shallow and frankly, not very interesting. After reading other books about the times I got the impression that it was otherwise. I guess she was kind of like a rainbow-it looks dazzling, but if you look closely there is really nothing there.
Rating:  Summary: Tedious Review: Peggy Hopkins Joyce was one of the first tabloid darlings. Her life consisted mainly of meeting ,entertaining and occasionally marrying rich men. There wasn't enough depth to really make this character or book interesting. It does give a tiny insight of the birth of the celebrity culture, but is just as shallow and vapid as the title character.
Rating:  Summary: "Gold Digger" delivers the goods - but that's all! Review: The first book about a woman whose name is often mentioned in histories of the 1920's and 1930's, GOLD DIGGER chronicles the glitzy life of Peggy Hopkins Joyce (born Marguerite Upton), a woman who lived her life balancing on the fine line between the lower levels of show business and the upper levels of prostitution. Author Constance Rosenblum clearly adores and admires her subject. Copious quotes from Peggy's memoirs and private papers succeed in bringing the racy, iconoclastic Peggy Joyce off the page and into our hearts. Indeed, it is very difficult not to like the "Peggy Hopkins Joyce" recreated in this book. However selfish, thoughtless and greedy she may have been, she was also charismatic, free-spirited and non-judgmental. Ms. Rosenblum's adoration of Joyce is the book's greatest strength and also its greatest weakness. Rosenblum's style, although engaging and witty, never rises above the level of "Entertainment Tonight" celebrity gloss. She deftly twists the sad facts of Joyce's empty life around in an attempt to claim her as some sort of feminist heroine, striking a blow for female self-determination everywhere by bilking yet another rich husband out of his time and money. Perhaps there is some truth in this, yet I noticed that Rosenblum spent the bulk of the book chronicling Joyce's years at the top, throwing together in a short chapter or two the last 20 years of Joyce's life, when the loss of her beauty and celebrity resulted in increasing alcoholism and mental instability. The book reads like some of Joyce's own publicity, which is entertaining, but ultimately we learn very little about who Peggy Hopkins Joyce really was, what propelled her into the spotlight, or what kept her there for years except a fast reputation and extravagant consumption habits. Ms. Rosenblum's attempts to connect Peggy's career to the meteoric rise of the tabloid press in the 1910's are promising, but under-researched. A few quotes from media critics Daniel Bell and Neil Postman suggest that Rosenblum has tried to do some thinking about the actual meaning of her subject's life in a broader historical perspective, but Rosenblum's literary and conceptual skills are not up to this task, and her use of these sources seems like an afterthought. Instead of being an intelligent look at the life of one unusual woman and what her fame meant in our "celebrity"-driven culture, GOLD DIGGER remains an amusing and often titillating bit of delicious fluff. It is very enjoyable on that level, but the book could have used another year's research and rewriting. A sadly wasted opportunity, but a fitting book for an historical figure whose most significant legacy is a box of old clippings from now-defunct newspapers.
Rating:  Summary: Peggy is Fabulous Review: The front cover alone and and title of the book caught my attention and made me want to read the book about a person I'd never even heard of before, which is unusual for me as I tend to only ready bios of mainstream movie stars. From the minute I started reading the book, I fell in love with Peggy and her life, the book is amazingly well written and includes small parts from Peggy's own memoirs which made me feel like I was getting to know Peggy as a person and not just reading about her. I loved the book, it inspired me enormously and I would now buy anything I could find on Peggy, although sadly I have been able to find no other books on her. I have no hesitation in recommending this book and am amazed to read the negative comments from other readers. I love you Peggy!!!
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