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riseclare's review
4.0
Gortner wows again. Chanel is still his best, but he brought Marlene to life- a woman, like Chanel, way ahead of her time. I love the man's writing! Keep it up please, Sir! I can't imagine what he'd do with Jackie or Marilyn. Or BOTH.
moirwyn's review
5.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2016/06/01/marlene-by-c-w-gortner-blog-tour-giveaway/
Marlene by C.W. Gortner is a biographical novel about Hollywood icon Marlene Dietrich. Marlene grew up in an aristocratic family that had fallen upon hard times, and her mother pressured her into nurturing her musical talent to become a concert violinist. That was never to happen, and instead Marlene rebelled and used her talent to become part of Germany’s cabaret culture, struggling to be a successful actress. At the time, Germany’s nightlife was wild and free, unchained from both gender and sexual norms.
Marlene’s love life was fascinating, and progressive even by modern standards. She was bi long before it was something people talked about, having a multitude of affairs with men and women alike. And although Marlene Dietrich did marry and have a child, her marriage is much more in line with today’s poly movement. Marlene wanted to love freely and without constraint, and didn’t see her involvement with one person as taking away from her relationship with another. Marlene never felt drawn to the domestic life, and instead chose to focus on her career. As Marlene and her husband Rudi drifted apart over time, he had a mistress as well, and Tamara and Marlene were good friends.
Marlene’s film career began in Germany, but soon she accepted a contract in Hollywood. America and Germany were very different, but Marlene quickly took to her new home. Marlene became increasingly famous both in America and overseas, but in the meantime, Hitler rose to power in Germany, and Marlene found herself doing everything she could to protect her family. And as her career came to a lull, she joined the USO and performed for America’s servicemen and women.
When I began reading Marlene, I didn’t know much about Marlene Dietrich’s life. I had seen pictures, of course, and knew of her fame, but never really understood her outside of that. As in Mademoiselle Chanel, Gortner once again succeeded in capturing a vivid glimpse into the life of a remarkable woman who defied the odds and the social norms of her time in order to become a star. I was inspired by Marlene Dietrich’s story, and would highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in old Hollywood, cross-dressing heroines, and women who don’t take no for an answer.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2016/06/01/marlene-by-c-w-gortner-blog-tour-giveaway/
Marlene by C.W. Gortner is a biographical novel about Hollywood icon Marlene Dietrich. Marlene grew up in an aristocratic family that had fallen upon hard times, and her mother pressured her into nurturing her musical talent to become a concert violinist. That was never to happen, and instead Marlene rebelled and used her talent to become part of Germany’s cabaret culture, struggling to be a successful actress. At the time, Germany’s nightlife was wild and free, unchained from both gender and sexual norms.
Marlene’s love life was fascinating, and progressive even by modern standards. She was bi long before it was something people talked about, having a multitude of affairs with men and women alike. And although Marlene Dietrich did marry and have a child, her marriage is much more in line with today’s poly movement. Marlene wanted to love freely and without constraint, and didn’t see her involvement with one person as taking away from her relationship with another. Marlene never felt drawn to the domestic life, and instead chose to focus on her career. As Marlene and her husband Rudi drifted apart over time, he had a mistress as well, and Tamara and Marlene were good friends.
Marlene’s film career began in Germany, but soon she accepted a contract in Hollywood. America and Germany were very different, but Marlene quickly took to her new home. Marlene became increasingly famous both in America and overseas, but in the meantime, Hitler rose to power in Germany, and Marlene found herself doing everything she could to protect her family. And as her career came to a lull, she joined the USO and performed for America’s servicemen and women.
When I began reading Marlene, I didn’t know much about Marlene Dietrich’s life. I had seen pictures, of course, and knew of her fame, but never really understood her outside of that. As in Mademoiselle Chanel, Gortner once again succeeded in capturing a vivid glimpse into the life of a remarkable woman who defied the odds and the social norms of her time in order to become a star. I was inspired by Marlene Dietrich’s story, and would highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in old Hollywood, cross-dressing heroines, and women who don’t take no for an answer.
acrosstheskyinstars's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a great read for those of us who love Weimar Germany and the cabaret scenes of the past. Marlene Dietrich exudes a sense of old Hollywood glamor that everyone finds captivating, which really shined through in this book. The author was able to write a compelling (although fictionalized) account of her life. I must also admit that I'm a sucker for anything involving Berlin. In this case, I loved the symbolism that Berlin provided in Marlene's life. Beyond those who love Germany's decadent past, I'd recommend this to anyone who loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. While not 100% identical, this gave me Evelyn Hugo vibes in the best way possible.
emdowd's review
4.0
I can’t believe I never visited Marlene Dietrich’s grave. In my defense, I had always assumed she was buried in Hollywood.
Marlene Dietrich has always been and will always be my personal queer icon.
This book also includes some really deft, subtle discussion on biphobia within intimate relationships which, honestly, I was not expecting.
Marlene Dietrich has always been and will always be my personal queer icon.
This book also includes some really deft, subtle discussion on biphobia within intimate relationships which, honestly, I was not expecting.
amberrc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
carolynf's review
3.0
This is a fictionalized biography of Marlene Dietrich, concentrating mostly on the first half of her life although there is an epilogue that takes the reader all the way to her death in the 1990s. There are gorgeously decadent descriptions of Weimar Berlin, which are tragically contrasted with her experiences of the city during her USO tours. I know very little about Marlene Dietrich's life, so I can't say how accurately this portrays her character or her relationships. She does feel a bit like a caricature of herself at times, and it isn't always clear whether that is a fault in the writing or the studio system at work. This author also does not shy away from the sex scenes - be prepared to hear a lot about the endowments and skills of various Hollywood celebrities, male and female.
srm401's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katejeminhizer's review
5.0
A woman that time has forgotten. Madonna's song, Vogue is one of her lasting legacies for those who didn't live in her era. Gortner portrays a person that you'll want to loath because of her choices, you'll want to judge her because of her promiscuity but you'll also be mesmerized by her. It was a spellbinding read about someone who we can relate to if only for the fact that everything she did was to discover what made her happy. She redefined what it meant to be a woman. She challenged society as much as her challenged her. Gortner does an exquisite job of bringing this forgotten diva to life for us to remember.
speelingmistake's review
3.0
The first half of the book absolutely glows. The characters are clear, the world they live in of Weimar times and the cabarets is compelling. But once Marlene heads for Hollywood it feels a lot more like a catalogue of names and movies completed without much insight into them and they have little impact on the story other than things for Marlene to do for a page or two.
The story of her USO time is much more exciting and her reunion with her sister was interesting. I would have preferred the book to have ended at Mutti's death. That was a much more powerful ending than the one we actually got.
I would have liked this to be more about the relationships between mothers and daughters. The adversarial relationship between Marlene and her mother and then the fractured relationship of Marlene and her daughter would have been a much more interesting aspect of Marlene's life to explore in the second half of the book.
The story of her USO time is much more exciting and her reunion with her sister was interesting. I would have preferred the book to have ended at Mutti's death. That was a much more powerful ending than the one we actually got.
I would have liked this to be more about the relationships between mothers and daughters. The adversarial relationship between Marlene and her mother and then the fractured relationship of Marlene and her daughter would have been a much more interesting aspect of Marlene's life to explore in the second half of the book.
bookhero6's review
4.0
I admit I wasn't sure about this book at first. The chapters on Marlene as a child didn't really grab me. Told in the first person, and maybe young Marlene was harder to inhabit than adult Marlene. But adult Marlene was very compelling, and passionate, and where the young Marlene chapters felt like an author writing about her, the adult Marlene chapters felt like the author becoming her.
I grew up watching AMC and TCM when all they played pretty much was movies from the 30's and 40's. And those are still some of my favorite movies. I was more bedazzled by Ginger Rogers and Betty Grable than by Marlene Dietrich, so my understanding of her going into reading this book was of an acting great from Hollywood's golden age. With this book I really feel like I got to know her as a person.
She certainly had a colorful life. I had no idea how active she was in the USO during World War II, or how close she was to the Nazi horrors. In this book Marlene comes across as so human and normal despite her extraordinary life. Passionate and hard-working, aware of her flaws but not hindered by them. I ended up enjoying this book very much. And now I want to go watch as many Marlene Dietrich movies as I possibly can.
Included in the back are various non-fiction works about Marlene the author used for reference. I think I might have to check them out too. Sometimes a novelization of a real historical figure makes me wish I'd just read a biography. But this book feels like it belongs on a shelf with her memoirs and biographies.
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. I'm ashamed to say it took me over a year to get around to reading it. What was I thinking?! This book is so good! Can't wait to read more by C.W. Gortner.
I grew up watching AMC and TCM when all they played pretty much was movies from the 30's and 40's. And those are still some of my favorite movies. I was more bedazzled by Ginger Rogers and Betty Grable than by Marlene Dietrich, so my understanding of her going into reading this book was of an acting great from Hollywood's golden age. With this book I really feel like I got to know her as a person.
She certainly had a colorful life. I had no idea how active she was in the USO during World War II, or how close she was to the Nazi horrors. In this book Marlene comes across as so human and normal despite her extraordinary life. Passionate and hard-working, aware of her flaws but not hindered by them. I ended up enjoying this book very much. And now I want to go watch as many Marlene Dietrich movies as I possibly can.
Included in the back are various non-fiction works about Marlene the author used for reference. I think I might have to check them out too. Sometimes a novelization of a real historical figure makes me wish I'd just read a biography. But this book feels like it belongs on a shelf with her memoirs and biographies.
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. I'm ashamed to say it took me over a year to get around to reading it. What was I thinking?! This book is so good! Can't wait to read more by C.W. Gortner.