Summary: Dolls: red or black; capsules or tablets; washed down with vodka or swallowed straight-for Anne, Neely, and Jennifer, it doesn’t matter, as long as the pill bottle is within easy reach. These three women become best friends when they are young and struggling in New York City and then climb to the top of the entertainment industry-only to find that there is no place left to go but down-into the Valley of the Dolls.
My Thoughts: Y’all. THIS. BOOK. I can’t get over it. It was completely and utterly addicting. As a musical theatre actress, I can’t get enough of Old Hollywood and this book was everything I wanted. I loved this view into the entertainment industry of the 1940’s-1960’s, and what I loved most was that it didn’t shy away from the darker side of the industry. This book caused a huge stir when it was published in 1966, and I can see why. It was still pretty explicit today, so I can’t imagine the scandal it would have caused upon its release. The thing that I found so revolutionary about it, was the way it explored the female psyche and sexuality. Looking back on it from today’s perspective, it really highlights the misogyny and what women were brainwashed to accept as reality, especially in terms of relationships. This gave us a very interesting perspective into the three distinct and vibrant main characters, who all handle these situations very differently. I loved all of three of them for so many reasons. Their journeys were thorough and developed, and I understood each of them completely. The plot was as addicting as the pills the girls consumed, and I could not put the book down. This has easily become one of my favorite reads of all time, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Reading In The Wings 
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