Rating: 
Summary: A Bestseller It Ain't!!
Review: I picked this book up in the airport in Detroit in preparation for a 3 hour layover, and it did pass the time. The first part of the book is fascinating as Ms Goldsmith delineates her many characters, and introduces us to the seedy business of book publishing. But I found, as I left the book, then came back to start a new chapter, that I couldn't remember which character was which without a program. Not a good sign. But it got worse. None of her many characters came alive except perhaps the scheming Pam Mantiss. Her "good" characters were too good, and her "bad" characters were ridiculous! As for the ending, so very predictable. All the honest, hardworking writers' books did well and all the tarnished characters got their comeuppance. Just like real life
Rating: 
Summary: Eye-opening amongst other things
Review: I read this book with intense curiosity and it didn't fail to satisfy me. Basically, it tolds the ins and outs of the New York publishing industry: the deals, the mentality of bestselling writers, the scenes behind those seemingly glamorous book tours, the things that go with having a New York Times bestseller, etc. I enjoyed the writer's style as well as her ability to tell it like it is and leaving no stones unturned. There's some delicious dialogue in this funny, fast-paced novel. It was a great read and I recommend the book highly.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Goldsmith, yet again!
Review: I really enjoy reading Olivia Goldsmith's books. I have read "The First Wives Club" and "Young Wives", both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also found "The Bestseller" to be a great read!
"The Bestselle" is the story of many different authors, including the five main characters, who are trying to write a bestselling novels and get them published. Each uses different channels to try and get it published in a world where many publishing houses don't even bother to look at novels sent to them. In general, I found the book very enjoyable. Like many of Goldsmith's novels, there are more than two main characters, so different chapters are devoted to each. Therefore, you might go several chapters before picking up the story line of one particular character. You need to be able to sort out the different characters and remember three times as many secondary characters! The only thing I didn't like was the very beginning. Goldsmith took the painstaking time to introduce each character one-by-one at the beginning. It was reminiscent of " Gone to Soldiers" by Marge Piercy where she introduces all 12 Main Characters at the very beginning of the book and it took almost 50 pages (in Gone to soldiers), though it's not exactly that dreary. Bottom Line: Slow Beginning,But Worth It!
Rating:
Summary: poignant moments
Review: I was hoping this book would be as fuuny as "Marrying Mom", but it was much more serious. I enjoyed reading it although I was offended that the two main "really bad guys" were Jewish. Pam didn't seem believable- she was too obnoxious and evil to be real. I found the story of the mother who lost her daughter especially touching.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing special
Review: I was quite disappointed in Ms Goldsmith's "Bestseller" - although the characters lured a smile from my lips at times, the plot was incredibly predictable and cliche. I would not recommend purchasing this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing special
Review: I was quite disappointed in Ms Goldsmith's "Bestseller" - although the characters lured a smile from my lips at times, the plot was incredibly predictable and cliche. I would not recommend purchasing this novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Goldsmith's Caught Modern Day Publishing Perfectly
Review: I've only been published in textbook form, whereas this novel details the fiction world, but even my limited experiences tell me that Goldsmith is uncannily accurate in conveying the modern day publishing world. She uses an ensemble cast of characters, all connected with one publishing house, to expose the loony tune world which now prevails. The novel opens with the literary star of the bunch killing herself after receiving 23 rejection letters. This unleashes her mother upon the publishing world. The mother literally camps out in person in publisher's foyers, manuscript in hand. The publisher himself, rather than seeking stellar talent, forces his own books to publication but, bad as they are, he needs the company's computer whiz to jiggle the sales' data so that his books look like they are selling whereas others' look like they are not. Then there is Alf, the boyfriend-agent of a Rosmund Pilcher-like author, who ignores her when a boy wonder turns up with a hot manuscript, which he just happened to steal from his wife. There are likable characters too with romantic elements attached to them but the book is really "made" by its bad guys and gals. One of the least likable characters is the chief editor, who is a big, blowsy woman with commercial instincts which have taken her far. She gets all blown apart by her own greed and growing alcoholism. If you've ever wanted a glimpse into the modern day publishing world, you must read "Bestseller."
Rating:
Summary: For the t.v. movie--I vote Jane Seymour for Opal O'Neal
Review: In Olivia Goldsmith's "The Bestseller" all are punished, so there's nothing to worry about. Initially I was repulsed by what appeared to be the skewed values of the characters but kept reading anyway (which I advise anyone to do before trying to write a review of a book) and felt my time was not wasted. Goldsmith tells a good tale. Goldsmith's prose style--does it really matter? She lets the quotes from writers and publishers that set off each chapter do the work for her. Unfortunately, the Lord Alfred Douglas gem to introduce chapter 40 where the action is centered around the gratuitous lesbians, Emma and Alex, was a bit of a stretch especially when the gals seem the thoroughly modern type. By book's end they've done the commitment ceremony thing. Quite frankly something lesbish between Opal and Roberta would have been more original. (Could be Jane's greatest role!) I found it interesting that of the sympathetic male characters one was blind, another had a low sperm count, and yet another was as good and as old as God. All the female characters with the exception of one (who was evil enough for two or three) were relatively sympathetic or in the characters of Susann Baker Edmonds and Alex Simmons eventually shaped up. But can a case be made of sexism? One of the bestsellers ("The Duplicity of Men") in "Bestseller" is about "the emotional failure of American men [and t]heir inability to love, their irresponsibility to themselves and to their families." (p. 439) I get the feeling Goldsmith is not too happy with the male of the species. Did "First Wives Club" (the movie) first give me that impression with "The Bestseller" only reinforcing it? I hope Goldsmith isn't one of those I'm-not-a-feminist-but people. That would make her just too...duplicitous.
Rating:
Summary: Great Characters, romance, revenge....this book has it all!
Review: Just couldn't put it down. Each chapter (conveniently easy to read one per 15 min. coffee break) focuses on a different character's story and they are all get woven together in a facinating way. I had to wonder who they all represent in real life....who is Camilla Clapfish? Who is Judith Gross? I will say, the ending tied everything up a little too quickly and neatly, -- but hey, this isn't supposed to be Toni Morrison and I didn't want it to be.....
Rating:
Summary: Long, but enjoyable!
Review: Nice to get into the publishing world, I enjoy Olivia Goldsmith's style, she takes a lot of time to draw the picture, and to dig deep into the players, it was interesting and enjoyable. I am a big fan of hers, and this is one of her best.
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