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kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A look behind the scenes of Hollywood, but not contemporary Hollywood, old Hollywood! The days of Clark Gable and Loretta Young and the times of Hollywood when actors were almost assets of a studio and the business of Hollywood was very different then what it is today. Even though the book definitely focuses on the "relationship" between Loretta and Clark, I enjoyed reading about the directors, scene painters, costume and make up and the other characters involved in the movie business.
Although the book had some absolute ups and downs, if you know me at all, you know that I love any behind the scenes look, whether that be Hollywood or the middle of nowhere, I like the opportunity to take a peak behind closed doors - even if it is in fiction! This book made me want to go watch the movies that are made during this book.
A look behind the scenes of Hollywood, but not contemporary Hollywood, old Hollywood! The days of Clark Gable and Loretta Young and the times of Hollywood when actors were almost assets of a studio and the business of Hollywood was very different then what it is today. Even though the book definitely focuses on the "relationship" between Loretta and Clark, I enjoyed reading about the directors, scene painters, costume and make up and the other characters involved in the movie business.
Although the book had some absolute ups and downs, if you know me at all, you know that I love any behind the scenes look, whether that be Hollywood or the middle of nowhere, I like the opportunity to take a peak behind closed doors - even if it is in fiction! This book made me want to go watch the movies that are made during this book.
ajreader's review against another edition
3.0
Read my full thoughts on this and other books over at Read.Write.Repeat.
If you can suspend reality and think of Trigiani's movie stars as entirely fictionalized characters (she does have a disclaimer at the start of the book that the novel is merely her imaginative perspective on a framework of fact), then the book could be delightful. The characters, despite remaining mostly stagnant in their development, are bright lights and big personalities. It's easy to see them as magnetic box-office hits. They have an appeal, both historically and fictionally, that cannot be denied. Trigiani has seen and understood the extraordinary people who built the foundation for the movie and celebrity industry of today. I just wish she had been more willing to look deeper into the potential dark sides of their history as well.
If you can suspend reality and think of Trigiani's movie stars as entirely fictionalized characters (she does have a disclaimer at the start of the book that the novel is merely her imaginative perspective on a framework of fact), then the book could be delightful. The characters, despite remaining mostly stagnant in their development, are bright lights and big personalities. It's easy to see them as magnetic box-office hits. They have an appeal, both historically and fictionally, that cannot be denied. Trigiani has seen and understood the extraordinary people who built the foundation for the movie and celebrity industry of today. I just wish she had been more willing to look deeper into the potential dark sides of their history as well.
irishlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I found myself wondering how much of the story actually happened in real life. The Golden Age of Hollywood has never been so fascinating.
gabbeebe's review against another edition
4.0
I was not a huge fan of The Shoemakers Wife, so I was apprehensive to try this novel, but All the Stars in the Heavens kept popping up in my recommendations. If you love the Golden Age of cinema and classic movies, you will eat this book up like i did! This book had me googling all things Loretta Young and Clark Gable and looking at pictures of old movies sets and Hollywood mansions, cross checking moments in the book to see what had actually happened in real life and what was the authors interpretation of events. I will now be going on a classic movie binge. I'm a woman obsessed.
smitchy's review against another edition
1.0
This is the first Trigiani I have read and I am not inclined to pick up another. Having looked at some of the other reviews (by people who have read a lot of her work) I can't help but feel that this book is not up to her usual standard.
I'll keep this simple - here are a few reasons why you should read this book:
1. You are a Trigiani fan
2. You want to read about how Golden Age movies were made.
3. You have difficulty understanding emotional reactions and would like a book to over explain every one of them.
4. You enjoy characters reflecting on all the things you just read about (it's just a bit repetitive)
5. You like stories that are heavy-handedly and unashamedly overwrought.
Reasons you should not read this book:
1. See reasons 1, 3, 4, & 5 above.
2. You should also not read this book expecting an accurate representation of Loretta Young's life - there are a couple of glaring errors which really annoyed me (I know this is fiction and the writer can take liberties but I feel when you are dealing with real people and events you have some responsibility to the truth). The first issue I have is the timeline: Trigiani has Loretta shooting Man's Castle (and falling in love with Spencer Tracy) in 1934 when this movie was released in 1933. She also has Loretta moving straight to shooting Call of the Wild (and falling in love with Clark Gable) after Man's Castle when she in fact made at least 6 movies between the two and there was at least an 18 month gap. The other issue I have is Loretta supposedly never really gets over Gable - It's like Trigiani really wanted them to be in love and has forced it into her novel (Completely ignoring the claims Young made to family members in the 1990's that she had been date raped by Gable).
4.The constant use of full names Clark Gable, David Niven, etc. every time. It's like Trigiani is worried that if she just uses first names we might forget that these people are MOVIE STARS! and not just people.
I'll keep this simple - here are a few reasons why you should read this book:
1. You are a Trigiani fan
2. You want to read about how Golden Age movies were made.
3. You have difficulty understanding emotional reactions and would like a book to over explain every one of them.
4. You enjoy characters reflecting on all the things you just read about (it's just a bit repetitive)
5. You like stories that are heavy-handedly and unashamedly overwrought.
Reasons you should not read this book:
1. See reasons 1, 3, 4, & 5 above.
2. You should also not read this book expecting an accurate representation of Loretta Young's life - there are a couple of glaring errors which really annoyed me (I know this is fiction and the writer can take liberties but I feel when you are dealing with real people and events you have some responsibility to the truth). The first issue I have is the timeline: Trigiani has Loretta shooting Man's Castle (and falling in love with Spencer Tracy) in 1934 when this movie was released in 1933. She also has Loretta moving straight to shooting Call of the Wild (and falling in love with Clark Gable) after Man's Castle when she in fact made at least 6 movies between the two and there was at least an 18 month gap. The other issue I have is Loretta supposedly never really gets over Gable - It's like Trigiani really wanted them to be in love and has forced it into her novel (Completely ignoring the claims Young made to family members in the 1990's that she had been date raped by Gable).
4.The constant use of full names Clark Gable, David Niven, etc. every time. It's like Trigiani is worried that if she just uses first names we might forget that these people are MOVIE STARS! and not just people.
tyaneka's review against another edition
4.0
Although it took me a while...longer than usual...to get through this book, I was intrigued by the story. I constantly googled the characters to see if they were real. Overall this was a good story
crystalvaughan0603's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't want to give this book the rating I did. I love old Hollywood- not just Golden Era, but the silent era, too. Early Hollywood history fascinates me. So why did I give this book 3 Stars (which feels like a betrayal. I think I rate books too leniently.)
Anyway, I felt this book was too topical, giving me facts, but not emotions or connections. I didn't feel, in the end, there was a connection between the characters & me. I didn't care about them, because it felt rushed. I think the author should have focused on one situation in Loretta Young's life. Instead, it was an overview that skimmed the surface without delving into the heart of the situation. There were few intimate scenes between Clark Gable & Loretta.
Also, she didn't really delve into Alda. She didn't show us her fiery Italian disposition, although Trigiani is Italian & no doubt knows a lot of big bold Italian women. There was no inner life to any of the characters.
I do have one minor quibble that didn't take away from the book, it just irritated me: Trigiani's switching back & forth between Young's given name of Gretchen & her stage name of Loretta. This switch sometimes happened in the same sentence.
On another personal note, I didn't like how Spencer Tracy's relationship with Katherine Hepburn was rather sidelined by his relationship with Young. I feel like Tracy loved Hepburn truly & didn't spend his life pining for Young.
I would have loved for this book to make me feel like I was actually in Golden Era Hollywood with the actors who were name dropped, but I didn't. I wanted to close the book feeling closer to Young & Clark Gable, a man I have adored since I first watched 'Gone With the Wind' I don't know how many years ago.
When she concentrated on Young & Gable's relationship during the filming of 'The Call of the Wild', this book soared. After that, it rather dragged.
Anyway, I felt this book was too topical, giving me facts, but not emotions or connections. I didn't feel, in the end, there was a connection between the characters & me. I didn't care about them, because it felt rushed. I think the author should have focused on one situation in Loretta Young's life. Instead, it was an overview that skimmed the surface without delving into the heart of the situation. There were few intimate scenes between Clark Gable & Loretta.
Also, she didn't really delve into Alda. She didn't show us her fiery Italian disposition, although Trigiani is Italian & no doubt knows a lot of big bold Italian women. There was no inner life to any of the characters.
I do have one minor quibble that didn't take away from the book, it just irritated me: Trigiani's switching back & forth between Young's given name of Gretchen & her stage name of Loretta. This switch sometimes happened in the same sentence.
On another personal note, I didn't like how Spencer Tracy's relationship with Katherine Hepburn was rather sidelined by his relationship with Young. I feel like Tracy loved Hepburn truly & didn't spend his life pining for Young.
I would have loved for this book to make me feel like I was actually in Golden Era Hollywood with the actors who were name dropped, but I didn't. I wanted to close the book feeling closer to Young & Clark Gable, a man I have adored since I first watched 'Gone With the Wind' I don't know how many years ago.
When she concentrated on Young & Gable's relationship during the filming of 'The Call of the Wild', this book soared. After that, it rather dragged.
marbooks88's review against another edition
4.0
The glamor and intrigue of Old Hollywood told through the eyes of a young Italian girl who is assistant to Loretta Young. Family, love, and loyalty mingles with gossip, secrets and heartbreak.
bethanymplanton's review against another edition
4.0
Adriana Trigiani is one of my favorite novelists, so I was excited that the library had her newest novel. Set in the golden age of Hollywood, All the Stars in the Heavens is an entertaining tale of Clark Gable and Loretta Young's affair while filming The Call of the Wild. All the Stars in the Heavens is filled with Trigiani's signature elements: family ties, artistry, romance, adventure, and Italian food. It is not my favorite Trigiani novel, but excellent nonetheless.