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Rating: 
Summary: Reconnect With Your Old Dolls Pals in Shadow of the Dolls
Review: ...1966 was a banner year for me, and for avid readers everywhere. I was 10 years old back then, and discovered my first grown-up trashy novel. It was Jacqueline Susann's best seller, Valley of the Dolls. I purchased the book with my allowance money, telling the clerk at the bookstore that it was a gift for my mother. That novel was my prized possession; I kept it hidden in the piano in the living room where I was certain my parents wouldn't find it, and luckily for me, they didn't. My mother had already grounded me for reading Pearl S. Buck; can you imagine what punishment I would have received for reading Jacqueline Susann?
Valley of the Dolls changed my life. By the time I had finished off the last few tawdry pages, I realized that I was sick of being a goody-goody, much to the chagrin of my conservative family. In 1966, I decided that my goal in life was to become reckless and wild, like character Neely O'Hara, and I guess I was pretty unruly for a few years.
Now I'm a middle-aged woman, and I suppose my reckless days are over. But I was tickled to death to discover the sequel to my favorite 1966 coming-of-age novel, Jacqueline Susann's Shadow of the Dolls, on the shelves of the Marco Island Library. Susann died in 1974 and left behind an outline for a screenplay based on the pill-popping characters of her original Valley of the Dolls. Best-selling author, Rae Lawrence, took Susann's notes and recreated an updated version of the racy classic, starring the same legendary substance-abusing women, except for Jennifer North, of course, who expired tragically in the original book.
The concept is great and cult-followers of Dolls will leap upon this new novel just like I did, but there is a huge problem with the timing of this book. In the year 2002, nothing is racy or smutty anymore. (What a disappointment!) I mean, Jerry Springer is mainstream, half the population has been to rehab, and cheating on your spouse is as commonplace as cracking open a bottle of the latest soft drink. So a new chapter to the lives of groundbreaking psychotics Anne Welles, Neely O'Hara and Lyon Burke is about as interesting as watching 30-year-old reruns of General Hospital.
Not to say that the book was a complete letdown; in fact, it was nice to get back together with my old Dolls pals, sort of like going to a high school reunion and discovering that everyone is pretty much the same, except older and fatter. Especially character Neely O'Hara, who, in her newfound sobriety, took up the hobby of eating large portions of food. Anne Welles is still the sweet, down-to-earth-type; she has become a famous television journalist but spends much of her downtime mooning over her ex-husband Lyon Burke. Burke, who has apparently run out of women to sleep with and has gone into some sort of crazed depression, decides that he needs to "find himself" by pursuing some other avenues of self-satisfaction. Burke and Welles have a teenage daughter together and her name is Jennifer, named after the deceased Jennifer North. This new Jennifer is about as emotionally secure as the rest of the characters, so the story line moves along quite fluidly.
I'm not sure what Lawrence had in mind when she decided to refashion the tale 10 years after the original Dolls, because this new story takes place in the late 1980s. No matter what buttons I press on my calculator, the numbers and ages don't add up. But I suspect that Lawrence was eager to introduce new drugs into the mix and if she had kept to the original format, she would have had to use the same old drugs from the Dolls days. Consequently, in Shadow of the Dolls, the characters' medicine bottles are copiously filled with Xanax and Valiums instead of Black Beauties and Seconals. (It's important to change with the times; that's what I always say.)
Sequels are never as good as the original books, and Shadow of the Dolls is no exception. But Lawrence's new novel is lively and raunchy, and definitely the perfect book to read on the beach. And coming soon, in July of this year, is the paperback version. So when any of you Marco Islanders decide to reclaim your beaches this summer after our busy winter season, be sure to bring along a trashy paperback to read. Shadow of the Dolls is sleazy fun and would make any afternoon more enjoyable...
Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: Having read the original VOTD for the first time almost 30 years ago, I was thrilled to learn that a sequal was being released. I have to confesss that I am a VOTD fanatic, and have an autographed first edition of Ms. Susann's classic, as well as all other books she has written. Thus, my expectations were high.When Shadow arrived (pre-ordered and sent to me in Holland by express mail), I immediately stopped all non essential activites and began to devour it, first in large gulps, then slower and slower, with increasing disappointment and bitterness. The author has played fast and loose with the characters, updating the time frame by more than 20 years, but making the characters only a few years older than the original. The situations are predictable, the characters one dimensional, and the writing can most charitably described as plodding. I fail to understand why this travesty of a novel has been so well received by so many readers. Perhaps they were not around to experience the thrill of the original novel--scandalous, controversial, and above all, unputdownable in its acute and acerbic observation of life in the fast lane. Miss Susann must be rolling in her grave. I consider Shadow to be a desecration and insult to one of the cultural pop art triumphs of the mid 20th century. Do not buy this book. Do not read this book. If it is offered to you, follow Nancy Reagan's advice, and JUST SAY NO!
Rating: 
Summary: Neely and Anne are back and better than ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I enjoyed the first novel so much, that of course I really looked forward to the sequel. I don't think the book was very good. It's too much like Scarlett, in which the sequel to the phenomenal original just doesn't cut it. The book may have been better if it was written by Jacqueline Susann, but I think Rae Lawrence should have done what Alexandra Ripley didn't, and just leave a phenomenon the way it is.
Rating: 
Summary: INDEED, A SHADOW OF THE ORIGINAL, YET...
Review: I truly enjoyed this novel, despite the now-known fact that Lawrence didn't follow the chronological years left behind by the original author. Sure, Lawrence is no Susann (but has she ever prentended to be ?), and her characters could have been meatier (just like Susann's), but, hey, this is no Proust work here, it's just a fun and diversionary follow-up to the classic of all time, which, to my opinion, is worthy enough to read for that reason alone.-----Martin Boucher
Rating: 
Summary: Keep This In The Shadows
Review: If you haven't already read Valley Of The Dolls, this supposed sequel will make no sense at all. The author relies too heavily on reader's past knowledge of the novel. That said, I found it incredibly hard to wrap my head around "Shadow" and I've read the original "Valley" about a dozen times. The characters have not been properly aged. I disagree that this is a conceit Jacqueline Susann would have approved of. The women of "Valley" dealt head on with issues ranging from infidelity to breast cancer to suicide. Surely they could have easily taken on aging ten years later. Not only do these characters not age, they still speak as if they were in the sixties, using expressions like "in the kip". While some would argue that "Valley Of The Dolls" is trashy fun, "Shadow Of The Dolls" is simply garbage. It's inane and silly. Ms. Susann's book was full of substance, through the trash one could sense that she was trying to communicate something. At the very least, she captured the imaginations of a generation. Rae Lawrence has captured nothing. Poor Jacqueline is rolling in her grave.
Rating:
Summary: SPARKLE, NEELY, SPARKLE: Petition FOX for a DVD release!
Review: If you're reading this review, then you're ovbviously a fan of the book "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS". Chances are, you're also a fan of the film. If you're not in a coma, then I'm sure that you, like me, desperately want this great film to be released on DVD. So let's all band together and take some action! Let's all write FOX STUDIOS and petition to have "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" released as a DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION WIDESCREEN DVD with plenty of extras! Please simply print-out the following open letter on your computer, and mail it to FOX and DEMAND that we get this on DVD as soon as possible!!! Dear Fox Studios: I hereby declare that "Valley of the Dolls" is THE best motion picture of all-time, and I insist and demand that you release it on DVD in a DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION as soon as possible! "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" deserves a DVD presentation that includes: *Original W I D E S C R E E N presentation!
*Deleted scenes and out-takes!
*Restored theatrical release with the unedited love scene with Sharon Tate!
*Interviews with cast members!
*Judy Garland's unused scenes and out-take scenes!
*Judy Garland's soundtrack version of "I'll Plant My Own Tree!"
*Original theatrical trailers from "VOD" and other Jacqueline Susann films!!
*Interviews with Jacqueline Susann!
*Photo galleries!
*Costume tests with Judy Garland and other cast members!
*Stereo 5.1 Surround-Sound!
*Digitally-enhanced and restored film print-transfer to DVD!
*Trivia information, such as how and why Marilyn Monroe's voice was used in the film! (They also used one of Marilyn Monroe's costumes from "There's No Business Like Show Business!)
*Any and all additional extras that you can possibly pack onto the DVD disc! Let's get going on this, it's already been too long for this fabulous film to be released on DVD! Sincerely,
(Your Name Here) I'm serious! The only way to get this FABULOUS movie on DVD at last is to let FOX know how much we want it! I hope you'll all take some action to make it happen.
In the meantime, remember to get up at 5 in the morning and "Sparkle, Neely, sparkle"!!!
Rating:
Summary: SPARKLE, NEELY, SPARKLE: Petition FOX for a DVD release!
Review: If you're reading this review, then you're ovbviously a fan of the book "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS". Chances are, you're also a fan of the film. If you're not in a coma, then I'm sure that you, like me, desperately want this great film to be released on DVD. So let's all band together and take some action! Let's all write FOX STUDIOS and petition to have "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" released as a DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION WIDESCREEN DVD with plenty of extras! Please simply print-out the following open letter on your computer, and mail it to FOX and DEMAND that we get this on DVD as soon as possible!!! Dear Fox Studios: I hereby declare that "Valley of the Dolls" is THE best motion picture of all-time, and I insist and demand that you release it on DVD in a DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION as soon as possible! "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" deserves a DVD presentation that includes: *Original W I D E S C R E E N presentation!
*Deleted scenes and out-takes!
*Restored theatrical release with the unedited love scene with Sharon Tate!
*Interviews with cast members!
*Judy Garland's unused scenes and out-take scenes!
*Judy Garland's soundtrack version of "I'll Plant My Own Tree!"
*Original theatrical trailers from "VOD" and other Jacqueline Susann films!!
*Interviews with Jacqueline Susann!
*Photo galleries!
*Costume tests with Judy Garland and other cast members!
*Stereo 5.1 Surround-Sound!
*Digitally-enhanced and restored film print-transfer to DVD!
*Trivia information, such as how and why Marilyn Monroe's voice was used in the film! (They also used one of Marilyn Monroe's costumes from "There's No Business Like Show Business!)
*Any and all additional extras that you can possibly pack onto the DVD disc! Let's get going on this, it's already been too long for this fabulous film to be released on DVD! Sincerely,
(Your Name Here) I'm serious! The only way to get this FABULOUS movie on DVD at last is to let FOX know how much we want it! I hope you'll all take some action to make it happen.
In the meantime, remember to get up at 5 in the morning and "Sparkle, Neely, sparkle"!!!
Rating:
Summary: Loved It!
Review: Jacqueline Susann wasn't Milton, but she told a good story. She also set us up at the end of "Valley of the Dolls" (New Year's Eve 1964, If I remember correctly) for a great sequel. Unfortunately, this wasn't it. The prospect of Neely and Anne leaving their marks on the women's movement and the sexual revolution could have been fascinating and fun,(Think Neely in a group therapy session or Anne burning her maidenform in front of Gillian Cosmetics) but Rae Lawrence opts to move our girls to the vapid 90's, where she subsitutes plot and character for boring name-dropping, which makes this book about as exciting as a back issue of Town & Country. There's a whole new cast of inance characters, all of whom I think would make Jackie wince. They are all so similar and one-dimensional that before long you can't tell one Waspy boyfriend of Anne's from another. And loads of bratty children, all of whom are annoying in their own right. The ending is particularly idiotic. I won't give away the plot (such as it is) but suffice to say that where they end up is just about as stupid as where they began. I bought this book as a light read on a cross country rail trip, and it was a strugle to finish. Do yourself a favor and re-read the original. This one just doesn't cut it.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Guilty Pleasure
Review: OK. I confess. I didn't just read this, I bought it. In hardcover. But I bought it used, admit that much in my defense. Reading this makes you feel like the ghosts of your college literature professors are standing over you shaking their bony fingers. But that's the point of it. It's like going to a family gathering and talking to your aunt who's been married five times and is eagerly looking to find number six. You feel your grandmother's eyes burning into the back of your head but you just can't stop listening. This book could have been called TWO WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. Oh, don't worry, Neeley and Anne are still around at the end of the story, ready to go on bedding down and putting up with unworthy men in their neverending quest for Mr. Wrong. The reason this didn't get a fifth star is that I'd like to have seen more characters from the first book return. Helen Lawson is dead, and that wonderful old battleaxe was my favorite character in the first one. Miraculously, although decades have passed the characters haven't aged all that much. And, of course, nobody is wrinkled. Bartender, Botox for everybody. So put on your dark glasses and go get a copy of it. If you're reading it in public, put a dust jacket for SWANN'S WAY on it to fool your artsy friends. And enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Guilty Pleasure
Review: OK. I confess. I didn't just read this, I bought it. In hardcover. But I bought it used, admit that much in my defense. Reading this makes you feel like the ghosts of your college literature professors are standing over you shaking their bony fingers. But that's the point of it. It's like going to a family gathering and talking to your aunt who's been married five times and is eagerly looking to find number six. You feel your grandmother's eyes burning into the back of your head but you just can't stop listening. This book could have been called TWO WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. Oh, don't worry, Neeley and Anne are still around at the end of the story, ready to go on bedding down and putting up with unworthy men in their neverending quest for Mr. Wrong. The reason this didn't get a fifth star is that I'd like to have seen more characters from the first book return. Helen Lawson is dead, and that wonderful old battleaxe was my favorite character in the first one. Miraculously, although decades have passed the characters haven't aged all that much. And, of course, nobody is wrinkled. Bartender, Botox for everybody. So put on your dark glasses and go get a copy of it. If you're reading it in public, put a dust jacket for SWANN'S WAY on it to fool your artsy friends. And enjoy.
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