Valley of the Dolls: A Novel

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Summary: An inspiration...
Review: Definitely one of the greatest novels of all time. It convinces readers why a life of drugs, bad dates, deceit, treachery, lesbianism and death is preferable to staying in Lawrenceville. As a microcosm of the 1960's, it's hard to beat--especially with its "insider" knowledge on cultural tidbits such as what side to sit on at El Morocco. Try finding THAT in a sociology text.

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Summary: 49 Million copies sold - and still selling after 15 yrs!
Review: With the publication of this novel - American Literature will never be the same. Passing beyond 'Moby Dick' or 'Huck Finn' this has become the classic American Novel - but with a lot more fun! It has been said Jackie was crying while typing out on pink paper this story of having to give up our humanity to make it in an inhuman world. The original manuscript was a mess - but her publisher's wife (not the male publisher himself) saw in this novel FOR THE FIRST TIME - a story written from a woman's heart. When 'Valley' finally was published, it has been said you couldn't step into a NYC subway without seeing the entire carfull of riders captivated in reading this single book. Now a new generation of readers have the opportunity to meet Anne and Neely and Jennifer and all the Mr. Rights out there. To try to climb the hights but try not to descend into the Valley of the Dolls.

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Summary: An honest-to-God classic.
Review: Jacqueline Susann wrote about life as she knew it to be, and Valley of the Dolls is a classic work. More autobiographical than some would realize, the book is truly riveting.

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Summary: the best book i ever read
Review: valley of the dolls was a great story showing just how life can get sometimes. even if your famous and have lots ofmoney. very realistic. i laughed, i cried. a damn good book.

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Summary: Pure escapism!
Review: I read Valley of the Dolls when I was roughly 12 years old, finished it, picked it up and read it again. And then I read Once is Not Enough and The Love Machine and Every Night Josephine. For this bored, small town kid, Jacqueline Susann spelled the promise of excitement and romance and glamour. Nobody's calling it great literature but for an afternoon in another world, it's hard to beat.

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Summary: A Groovy, Campy Blast From The Past
Review: OK, I knew going in that this was not going to be great literature, but who would pick this up thinking it was? I remember seeing this on my aunt's bookshelf when I was little and being told "that's not for little girls..." -- no kidding! The matter of fact depictions of sex, drugs, booze, abortion, adultery, gold-digging and betrayal are rather tame by today's standards, but I can imagine this was pretty provocative stuff in it's day. Still, even as I laughed at the melodramatic, stilted writing (the dialogue is unbelievable) I was hooked and finished the book in about 3 days. If you have a taste for a soapy, trashy, slightly dated "classic", I recommend this highly.

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Summary: Incredibly bad (but not bad enough to be good)
Review: A huge disappointment!! I have loved the movie version of "Valley of the Dolls" for a long time. Admittedly, it is a BAD movie, but its camp sensibility and generally over-the-top style make it a classic of the "bad movie" genre. In writing the novel, however, Ms. Susann took herself quite seriously, although she has nothing to say, and she has thus given us nothing more than a piece of self-indulgent crap.

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Summary: This Book Saved My Life!
Review: Valley of the Dolls is the greatest piece of fiction ever written. Buy it. Love it. Eat it.

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Summary: Valley of the Dolls---An Absolute Showstopper!
Review: Valley of the Dolls is the story of three young women trying to make it in Showbiz and the troubles they encounter on the way. The pages will turn like never before as you read about their battles with drug addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, rehab, adultery, lesbianism, unwanted pregnancy, and Helen Lawson, the biggest star on Broadway, a man eating barracuda who lets no starlet stand in her way

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Summary: One of my all-time favorite books
Review: I have three books that are my all-time favorites, reading them over and over. They are Dunne's "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles," McCrae's "The Bark of the Dogwood," and this one, "Valley of the Dolls." The emotions that Susann draws upon so exquisitly pulled me through the ups and downs of each character. Neely, Anne, and Jennifer each have traits that anyone could relate to and seem so real that it's almost shocking that they are fictional. The trust, lust, love and betrayal keep the reader enthralled as very important underlying themes run rampant through this novel. I initially saw the movie first and was captivated. Then, years later, decided to read the book. The book is even better if you can believe that!!!

Would also recommend: "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" and "Bark of the Dogwood."