Valley of the dolls is the story of three girls in New York in the 1940s; Anne, Neely and Jennifer, and their lives and loves and careers there. Anne from the provinces escapes her future as a housewife by going to the city, but ends up plastered over the newspapers when she gets engaged to a rich man, despite not wishing to. Neely is struggling to become a theatre star, and Jennifer is trading on her beautiful looks. The dolls are capsules, red or black, often washed down with whisky, which the girls take to make life bearable - they assist sleep, enable energy - essentially modern pick-me-ups, tranquilisers and sleeping pills.
Yes it's kitsch and quite cheesy, but it manages to be simultaneously entertaining and hugely depresssing which makes the kitschness bearable and successful.
The introduction by Julie Burchill suggests that Valley of the Dolls was to the 1960s what Peyton Place had been in the 1950s; i.e. a shocking book that many teenage girls read surreptitiously. That got me wondering as to what the 1990s (when I was a teenager) equivalent was; I don't think there was one in the same way because society had changed a great deal and was a lot more open about sex. The only books I can recall reading surreptitiously were Judy Blume and Sweet Valley High which I felt that my Mum would probably object to on the grounds of their subject matter and lack of literary merit.
It's been published twice by Virago, once in later paperback style and once in 30th anniversary hardback style which is the one that I own. It's a gorgeous cover design and makes me want the other five hardbacks to complete my set of six.
Knowing how much I loved this makes me even more eager to read Peyton Place, if that is even possible! (I am saving it for the perfect moment of indulgence). I could not put Valley of the Dolls down.
ReplyDeleteJudy Blume and SVH were definitely my risqué reads, not that I hid them from my mum ... in fact, Flowers in the Attic was another and it was my mum's copy!
I think you'll like Peyton Place Claire. I'm now keen to read its sequel; shame there isn't a Valley of the dolls sequel. I also read Flowers in the Attic; but innocently. I later attempted to re-borrow it from the library but my Mum didn't let me - she'd missed me taking it out the first time.
ReplyDeleteThis does sound interesting. I am interested that Julie Burchill has written the introduction as well - I do not think that she has written many so it must be a personal favourite!
ReplyDeleteHannah - yes I was surprised to see that too, but it was a good one!
ReplyDeleteI read this years ago and enjoyed it, too, though it is sort of kitschy. At the time there was a lady I was working with who read it when it came out and chuckled when she saw me reading it, and joked about dolls not being the type little girls play with. That is certainly true! Did you know this was made into a movie? I saw it after I read the book though don't recall it too much--very soap opera-ish, but entertaining (very much a product of its times).
ReplyDeleteI could do with a bit of kitsch - and I love reading "shocking" books from different decades. Though Forever Amber, which was published in the 40s, was legitimately shocking; I wouldn't want my kid reading that.
ReplyDeleteDanielle - I didn't know about the movie - might be fun, even if it is a bit dated!
ReplyDeleteJenny - I've not come across Forever Amber; sounds intriguing.
Dot (Scribbles) recently reviewed Forever Amber and now with Jenny's comment I am taking it as a sign that I need to seek it out.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely intrigued by Valley Of The Dolls -- it's one of those books that I always hear people mention, but never actually read or look into reading. I'm going to change that! :) Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteJudy Blume, no literary merit?! Judy Blume rocks.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to reading VOTD now, although it still strikes me as a bit funny to see it included with the likes of vonArnim and Oliphant on the VMC list!
I know there's a copy of this lying around at my parent's (not published by Virago though). I should definitely seek it out.
ReplyDeletePS: My copy of 84 Charing Cross Road is the gorgeous hardback. Really tempted to get the whole set...
Meg - thanks for stopping by. I'd heard quite a number of people mention it too so was intriguing.
ReplyDeleteBIP - it is funny how there are some books which don't seem to sit so readily with the list; but actually they do because they are very feminist.
Anothercookie - it's so tempting isn't it - argghhh!