Rating: 
Summary: a surprisingly poor novel by an amazingly successful writer
Review: Any American over 40 surely remembers Jacqueline Susann and her novels (esp. Valley of the Dolls). Her books were certainly the hottest sellers during the late 1960s/early 1970s. Ms. Susann, perhaps due to jealousy, was blasted by other novelists (such as Truman Capote) for being, at best, a marginal writer. Recently I had the opportunity to read a Susann novel, The Love Machine, which I found in the basement of a used bookstore in London priced at only 50 pence. In retrospect I was ripped-off.The Love Machine is soap opera, not unlike Dallas, set in 1960s New York. Its main character is Robin Stone, head of a fictional TV network's news department. It seems Mr. Stone, a 40-ish year old hunk, is absolutely adored by every woman fortunate/unfortunate enough to see him. Stone is great in bed, has a great body, yet has "cold eyes" (..all of this is repeatedly mentioned throughout the book). Mr. Stone, for his part, lives on double vodkas, never exercises, and seems to be devoid of any interesting characterics ... but is loaded and, indeed, enjoys a startling sex life. Yet he realizes something is wrong (..after all, he shouts out "mommy, mommy!" in his sleep). Seeing a psychiatrist reveals some startling info about his early childhood which, for anyone else would lead to years of psychotherapy, Robin shrugs off and is "cured" by the next chapter! I found all this to be so bad that it is almost good. Furthermore, Jacqueline Susann portrays women as neurotic hussies with absolutely no self-confidence. Why they would risk destroying marriages, go through cosmetic surgery, etc, just to win over Robin Stone is, well, anyone's guess (power? money?). I also can't understand why women would buy such a book where they are portrayed as such losers. But all is not bad. There are a couple of interesting subplots involving wannabe TV stars who, surprisingly, have little concern for Robin Stone. These mediocre talents fight and claw their way to the top - proving that mediocrity doesn't mean failure (like this novel and Ms. Susann!). It's all very nasty, but deliciously compulsive reading. I really cannot recommend this novel to anyone with perhaps the exception of loyal Susann fans (who probably read this 30 years ago). Younger folks might find the 1960s setting to be rather dated.
Rating: 
Summary: BULL'S -EYE ! by M. Boucher
Review: First there was Neely O'Hara in VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, then there was Robin Stone, another wonderful character in Jacqueline Susann's second novel THE LOVE MACHINE. You'll have a ball in reading about this man's trouble life, as well as the people surrounding him (Ethel Evans, Christie Lane, Judith Austin, just to name a few). Susann dishes up a tasty read with this sizzling, whirlwind pacing saga of the rise and fall of a TV mogul. You won't be able to put it down !
Rating:
Summary: SOOOOOOO GOOD
Review: I became totally engrossed with this book. I liked it better than valley of the dolls. I would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Classic Trash from Susann!
Review: I first read Jacqueline Susann's novels back in the 70's, and I am glad they are re-released today. Susann's women are beautiful, tragic, shallow, greedy, talented, lucky in career, unlucky in love, vapid, immoral, weak, and as a result often unlikable. So why can't you put the book down? Because Susann brings this world right into your lap, and you follow along the paths of these women and their successes or failures. You wind out hoping with them or against them. The men are either horrible, egotistical brutes or wimpy, whiney nobodies. Our leading man, Robin, is a cold blooded woman hater in the guise of a lover-boy. He methodically goes through women like kleenex. And our first leading lady, Amanda, is pathetic. She is a top model, beautiful and rich, and yet whines and simpers over Robin. She is obsessed with him and does everything she can to please him. Maggie is a dark haired beauty, who marries for status and money to a man she finds out is abusive, but still doesn't leave the marriage. Instead, she has a one night stand with Robin, gets pregnant, and then leaves her marriage after her husband beats her to where she looses the baby. She also becomes obsessed with Robin and when meeting him again, even though he doesn't even remember her, she leaps back into his bed and thinks that he is going to be with her forever. Think again. Judith is perhaps the most pathetic of all. She's fifty-ish, still beautiful, married to one of the most powerful men in Television Networking, and yet with everything she has she still feels that she is a poor little girl that deserves more. She also falls for Robin, and uses her power in the industry to try and manipulate him to her side. Not to mention getting a face lift to attract Robin while her husband recuperates from a heart attack. The revelation about Robin's past would be tragic in any other scenario, but with Robin being such a miserable example of a man you just couldn't care less. So why read this book? Just to enjoy yourself. Susann's trashy, campy novel develops full characters (even if they are unlikable) and sucks you into the fast pace and glamour of showbiz. Ethel, a side-line character, keeps the pace moving too with her own sexual entry into the glamour world, winding out as MRS SOMEBODY eventually. Dan, once at the top and barely more likeable than Robin, is interesting to follow through his own career ups and downs. Read it and enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Another look at showbiz, this time the world of TV
Review: If you are considering buyig this book, you are probably looking for the same addictive trashy fun that you found in Valley of the Dolls. Well, it's addictive, though it may not be great literature (come on, it's not supposed to be), but it definitely doesn't supersede its infamous predecessor. First of all, it is NOT a sequel, though it is also about the moguls of show business. The characters in Valley of the Dolls were far more intriguing-- I felt like I really knew them. In The Love Machine, you learn a lot about a certain character, and then all of a sudden they disappear from the book. Nevertheless, I'd recommend this book to anyone who couldn't put down Valley of the Dolls-- it'll keep you coming back for more, just don't expect the same thrill.
Rating:
Summary: A gem!
Review: Robin Stone has become one of my favorite anti-heroes! In this gem Jacqueline Susann novel, we are introduced to the life of a TV mogul's rise to fame. The characters that surround him are equally fabulous. Susann introduces the reader into the world of the rich and the lonely with a bang! She has influenced the work of lots of authors -- Candace Bushnell comes to mind -- but her work remains untouchable. I recommend this great novel!
Rating:
Summary: A great, trashy and perfect summer easy read!!
Review: Robin Stone's story reveals more than a torrid sex life. He is an entrepreneur climbing to the top of the tv business, but it is the way women can't get him out of their hearts and heads, what makes him become the difficult, hedonistic, almost untouchable guy, who even turns into a lovable character for the reader. Jacqueline Susann could get into the thoughts of women and men, and this book has a lot of it. I couldn't put it down! I'll follow with Valley of the Dolls!
Rating:
Summary: Just as good if not better
Review: Thankfully, I bought this at a used bookstore and did not pay full price for it. I read Valley of the Dolls the first time a few months ago and was absolutely thrilled with it. Now upon reading this one, I wasn't expecting Valley of the Dolls revisted, but it really wasn't up to par. Valley of the Dolls is a trashy, compelling romp. I found Robin Stone one dimensional and solipsistic, with a bunch of silly, boring females fawning over him. If you are a die-hard Jacqueline Susann fan, you might want to borrow it from the library before purchasing it. Otherwise, don't bother. I'm half-way through Once is Never Enough, and it is much better.
Rating:
Summary: A great, trashy and perfect summer easy read!!
Review: The book was a fun read - way ahead of its time - I enjoyed the story lines, and the different women that were highlighted in different sections. I liked Valley Of The Dolls more, but this was well worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: How naive are some men
Review: The first two parts of the book are great, the story of Amanda and Maggie, but the last part is boring and boring, everybody who read this book have to know that Robin will never do anything with Judith.
How the husband of Judith never knew anything? If you are the president of any big company the first thing that you have to do is to have your eyes open, with your wife and with anybody, here JS put Judith's husband as a stupid naive, and that kind of persons can't be the president of anything.
I can't tell you that this could be real or not, but how many times a man can deceive a woman and at the end that woman (Maggie)will return to him (Robin), the same end was in the Valley of Dolls and I didn't like it either.
|
