Review: The Blue Butterfly

Title: The Blue Butterfly

Author: Leslie Johansen Nack

Publisher: 3rd May 2022 by She Writes Press

Pages: 250 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, Hollywood

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

New York 1915, Marion Davies is a shy eighteen-year-old beauty dancing on the Broadway stage when she meets William Randolph Hearst and finds herself captivated by his riches, passion and desire to make her a movie star. Following a whirlwind courtship, she learns through trial and error to live as Hearst’s mistress when a divorce from his wife proves impossible. A baby girl is born in secret in 1919 and they agree to never acknowledge her publicly as their own. In a burgeoning Hollywood scene, she works hard making movies while living a lavish partying life that includes a secret love affair with Charlie Chaplin. In late 1937, at the height of the depression, Hearst wrestles with his debtors and failing health, when Marion loans him $1M when nobody else will. Together, they must confront the movie that threatens to invalidate all of Marion’s successes in the movie industry: Citizen Kane.

My Thoughts

I have always loved the old Hollywood movies thanks to my mother - my youth was all about Saturday nights and Bill Collins, Golden Years of Hollywood. The Blue Butterfly tells the story of Marion Davies, an actress from both the silent and talking films and long time mistress of publishing magnate, William Randolph Hearst. It makes for compelling reading if stories of this era interest you. 

“Remember this day. Your life is about to change.” I whirled around as she studied me for a few minutes. “You’re like a blue butterfly with dew on its wings.”

Growing up I knew the names of Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Joan Crawford, and many others but I had never heard of Marion Davies. I knew of the film Citizen Kane, yet still nothing associated with her. This book shed amazing light on all these connections (I have to watch Mank now which I believe is on Netflix). The Blue Butterfly has taught me so much about Marion and more. The author does an incredible job of weaving fact and fiction in telling Marion’s amazing story, so much so that I felt like a guest at one of her lavish parties. 

“I’ve never heard so much fuss about a twenty-five-year-old who’s never made a movie,” WR said. “Why is it called Citizen Kane?”

This really is engaging historical fiction. The amount of research the author has done is impressive (although at times a little too much with the info dump and thus missing half a star for me). There are so many characters to appreciate eg. Charlie Chaplin, along with information about Hollywood, movie making and lifestyles of the then rich and famous. It is also about relationships - family, friends and partners. This book will have you racing to Google to see and learn more which, to my mind, is always a good sign.

“Please drop the quest for a Best Actress award for me. It isn’t possible with the caliber of films I’m offered.”

If you love stories of the original golden years of Hollywood, look no further. I feel embarrassed not to know of Marion and her incredible life. Thankfully this book rectifies all that and takes you on an incredible journey from Marion’s early days through to her sad end. It leaves you wondering what her life and career may have been if not for her involvement with Hearst. If you love this era then I definitely recommend reading this book.

‘I was William Randolph Hearst’s girlfriend, and I had everything a girl could ever dream of - except for an authentic life.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: All the Stars in the Heavens

Title: All the Stars in the Heavens

Author: Adriana Trigiani

Publisher: 1 January 2016 by Simon and Schuster Australia

Pages: 464 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, romance, Hollywood, drama

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Spencer Tracy, David Niven, Carole Lombard lead a magnificent cast of characters, real and imagined, in Adriana Trigiani's new novel set in the rich landscape of 1930s' Los Angeles. 
In this spectacular saga as radiant, thrilling and beguiling as Hollywood itself, Trigiani takes us back to the golden age of movie-making and into the complex and glamorous world of a young actress hungry for fame, success - and love. With meticulous, beautiful detail, she paints a rich landscape, where European and American artisans flocked to pursue the ultimate dream: to tell stories on the silver screen. 

My Thoughts

Get comfy .... this review may take awhile. 

"All the Stars in the Heavens" is about the Golden Years of Hollywood: Clark Gable, David Niven, Spencer Tracy, and Loretta Young just to name a few. Reading it felt like being transported back to that time in history, or at the very least, sitting enthralled as if I were watching a riveting black and white movie of the time. And what a perfect title for this book, for it reads just like a movie. 

Now, the details. 

Firstly, you have to appreciate the Golden Years of Hollywood. I love this period in history (thanks to my Mother) and to see the more private side of such unforgettable characters was fascinating. For example: the scene on set with Clark Gable and Hattie McDaniel on the set of the 1937 Saratoga movie (where Jean Harlow died - Googled that - one of many that you will upon reading this book) was most memorable. And that is just one of many factual episodes that Trigiani details. It's poignant at this stage to pause and think about the amount of research that Trigiani must have gone into and, that then begs the question, how much of the story is fiction versus fact? More of that in a moment. 

Although the focus is on Hollywood 1930s, it does jump around a bit (especially towards the end - large jumps along the timeline) but I found it all just so engrossing, that I was prepared to overlook these shortcomings. Trigiani introduces you to the leading actors, their glamourous lifestyles but, also, the double edged sword of just how controlling the studios were and the hypocrisy that existed. This was a reflection of the tragic side of movie making - it's not all bells and whistles. 

"The studio controlled the actors' public and private life. Their personal time was not their own."

Now to the controversy (have a look at the Goodreads reviews!). Let me state from the outset, this is a work of fiction. Yes, factual people and events, but just one persons interpretation. Take that for what it is - and I found it fascinating, for Trigiani can write. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be enchanted. 

"She knew that when the bubble burst, the snow globe would shatter like blown glass, and there would be no putting the picture inside back together."

Reviewers have made Trigiani's tale a battle between 'true love' versus 'date rape' (story bought to light a couple of months ago, a recalled conversation with Young who died over 15 years ago) I don't want to get into that discussion, for those answers, we will never know. I am here to discuss what I found to be a really interesting book. Any book that has you running to Google to check places and faces is good. I was hooked. The novel takes real people and imagines what might have gone on behind closed doors. Creating dialogue for characters who were real people fascinates me. You would have to be naive to not appreciate that artistic liberties were taken with the storyline and of course, things may have been very different. However, I can tell you I enjoyed my time researching all of these characters and movies just as much as reading the story. 

"Powerless to change the circumstances, she plowed ahead, believing that someday the entire situation would change for the better."

I grabbed this book having read Trigiani before, and with the added attraction of Clark Gable and Loretta Young's tumultuous love affair, which I knew nothing about. I loved reading about them and many others - Spencer Tracy (his family situation), Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, David Niven and even Young's delightful sisters -  all who are long gone. Their lives, their loves, their flaws, their joys, their hopes, their sorrows - became mine. I felt angry at Young, felt sorry for Gable, then felt empathy for Young. 

"Loretta would explain why she had to hide the truth on paper. She was protecting her baby, Clark Gable's career, her own livelihood, and the reputation of her family."

A fascinating read that had me thinking long after I turned the last page. I highly recommended it and congratulate Adriana Trigiani on another winning book. I couldn't put this down and suffered badly from withdrawals upon completion, that's how involved I had become. 

"You know, Sister, we think we have the luxury of time. We figure that there will always be a moment to have the conversation that we meant to have, and then the moment passes and it's too late."

ps. this is similar to 'A Touch of Stardust' (click on title to go to our review of that book) that involved some of the above mentioned actors also.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.