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daylightgate's review against another edition
3.0
This book is probably better suited to someone who isn’t familiar with the story of Mary Pickford/early Hollywood rather than someone already interested. It tends to read as just a play-by-play of events with some (all too rare) sparkling writing, which alone saves it from being 2 stars.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
2.0
I was so disappointed in this book.
I loved Melanie Benjamin's first two novels, "Alice I have Been" and The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb" but was not as in love with "The Aviator's Wife" and disliked "Swans." Now there's "The Girls in the Picture" which is a crushing disappointment.
Let's start with the cover, which shows two women in 1930s gowns looking vaguely like Norma Shearer and Kay Francis. Since neither of those women are part of the story and it does not take place in the 1930s, what's that about? The cover doesn't invoke Mary Pickford or Frances Marion either except that one's blonde and the other's brunette. Careless and stupid.
So let's look at what "The Girls in the Picture" is about. Mary Pickford and Frances Marion were two trailblazers and innovators of American film. Mary was one of the very first movie stars, an astonishing artist and businesswoman whose first appearance on the screen in 1910 joyfully leaps out at viewers in a way rarely seen before or since. Frances was an artist who became a celebrated screenwriter and wrote many of Mary's most popular pictures. What's fascinating is that these movies grew from their friendship and Frances' concept that because Mary was on the stage at the age of five supporting her family and never had a childhood, the cinema is where she would have that childhood. Mary was tiny even as an adult, and played kids on screen with a freshness and humor that still makes these films charming and funny. Of course, she reached the point where she wanted to play adults but her fans couldn't make the jump and even though she could had a stage trained voice and make the change to talkies, Mary's career was over by 1932.
But Frances's was not. She easily transitioned to the talkies and won Oscars for her fine screenplays written for other actors. But was her idea of giving Mary a childhood on screen inspired or soul destroying for each or both? Doesn't this sound like a fantastic story?
So why doesn't it work? Frances's story is told in first person, which makes her more immediate and alive. Mary's side is told in the third person, and like to many of the books written about her seems to draw heavily from her own autobiography. The result is that she never leaps off the page like she did off the screen. We still don't know her, we only see her through Frances's eyes. Giving Mary her own voice would have made "The Girls in the Picture" more satisfying and true, and we might have seen inside a woman who spent most of her life before the public and yet remains a cypher.
I wish Melanie Benjamin could go back and reconstruct this novel with the same kind of insight she gave to "Alice" and "Mrs. Tom Thumb." And get rid of that cover.
I loved Melanie Benjamin's first two novels, "Alice I have Been" and The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb" but was not as in love with "The Aviator's Wife" and disliked "Swans." Now there's "The Girls in the Picture" which is a crushing disappointment.
Let's start with the cover, which shows two women in 1930s gowns looking vaguely like Norma Shearer and Kay Francis. Since neither of those women are part of the story and it does not take place in the 1930s, what's that about? The cover doesn't invoke Mary Pickford or Frances Marion either except that one's blonde and the other's brunette. Careless and stupid.
So let's look at what "The Girls in the Picture" is about. Mary Pickford and Frances Marion were two trailblazers and innovators of American film. Mary was one of the very first movie stars, an astonishing artist and businesswoman whose first appearance on the screen in 1910 joyfully leaps out at viewers in a way rarely seen before or since. Frances was an artist who became a celebrated screenwriter and wrote many of Mary's most popular pictures. What's fascinating is that these movies grew from their friendship and Frances' concept that because Mary was on the stage at the age of five supporting her family and never had a childhood, the cinema is where she would have that childhood. Mary was tiny even as an adult, and played kids on screen with a freshness and humor that still makes these films charming and funny. Of course, she reached the point where she wanted to play adults but her fans couldn't make the jump and even though she could had a stage trained voice and make the change to talkies, Mary's career was over by 1932.
But Frances's was not. She easily transitioned to the talkies and won Oscars for her fine screenplays written for other actors. But was her idea of giving Mary a childhood on screen inspired or soul destroying for each or both? Doesn't this sound like a fantastic story?
So why doesn't it work? Frances's story is told in first person, which makes her more immediate and alive. Mary's side is told in the third person, and like to many of the books written about her seems to draw heavily from her own autobiography. The result is that she never leaps off the page like she did off the screen. We still don't know her, we only see her through Frances's eyes. Giving Mary her own voice would have made "The Girls in the Picture" more satisfying and true, and we might have seen inside a woman who spent most of her life before the public and yet remains a cypher.
I wish Melanie Benjamin could go back and reconstruct this novel with the same kind of insight she gave to "Alice" and "Mrs. Tom Thumb." And get rid of that cover.
sheilasamuelson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Rating: 3 Stars!!
Review:
This was my first time reading a Historical Fiction Novel by Melanie Benjamin - Author so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say i expect so much more from this book then what i got which was a BIG Disappointment.
The Characters were OK but not very likeable especially since some of them kept arguing with each other which i felt took away from what the storyline was about.
The Setting was OK too with very little discriptiveness about where it was set in.
Overall an OK Historical Fiction but could of been so much better. I will read more by Melanie in the future, but hope her other books are better then this one was.
Review:
This was my first time reading a Historical Fiction Novel by Melanie Benjamin - Author so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say i expect so much more from this book then what i got which was a BIG Disappointment.
The Characters were OK but not very likeable especially since some of them kept arguing with each other which i felt took away from what the storyline was about.
The Setting was OK too with very little discriptiveness about where it was set in.
Overall an OK Historical Fiction but could of been so much better. I will read more by Melanie in the future, but hope her other books are better then this one was.
bethsponz's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed learning about the start of Hollywood with the silent films, then talkies.. This story is centered on the careers of Mary Pickford and Francis Marion. One is an actress, the other is a screenwriter. They are best friends and it goes thru their movies, husbands, adventures and losses. I like this book OK, I found the history of movie making the most interesting.
novelvisits's review against another edition
5.0
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/girls-picture-melanie-benjamin-review/
{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
Melanie Benjamin’s Storytelling – If you’ve never read Melanie Benjamin it’s time to start, and if you have, you’re in for another treat. This woman KNOWS how to build an entire drama around real people, expertly blending facts and well-researched fiction. With The Aviators Wife she gave us Anne Morrow Lindbergh. In The Swans of Fifth Avenue it was Babe Paley and Truman Capote. And now, Benjamin tells the story of young Hollywood through two of its brightest stars, actress Mary Pickford and screenwriter Frances Marion. Throughout The Girls in the Picture, Benjamin stays entirely focused on her characters. With incredible finesse she follows these two women through their struggles and triumphs, through their loves and losses, through their personal and professional relationships without ever straying. This is storytelling at it’s best!
“Mary and I were these women; we were the girls in the picture, still. The girls whose brave and tender hearts were still beating beneath the wrinkled breasts, the old-fashioned nightgowns and sensible grandmother blouses. The girls we’d become the moment we’d said hello in that other dark room, so many years ago.”
Early Hollywood – I’m not a big follower of Hollywood, old or new, but I loved the Hollywood history lesson built into The Girls in the Picture. As the book opens Hollywood as we know it didn’t yet exist. Instead, there were a bunch of people running around the streets of Los Angeles trying to put together one-reel “flickers” for kicks and a little cash. The inside view that Benjamin provided through the lives of “America’s Sweetheart” and one of its first and most successful screenwriters proved to be fascinating. These two women had amazing triumphs in their careers, but the struggles, the chauvinism, and the fight for women’s opinions to matter made it clear that Hollywood still hasn’t strayed far from its roots.
A Hollywood Legend – Of the two women in the book, I actually liked Frances Marion more, but found Mary’s position as “America’s Sweetheart” fascinating. The very roles that made her famous, those of a sweet, funny girl, also trapped her. She grew weary of playing a child, but the public didn’t want to see her in any other roles, making it nearly impossible for Mary to follow her own desires. Hers was a sad story.
What Didn’t
Fiction vs. Nonfiction – Honestly everything about The Girls in the Picture worked for me. My only negative is one I find in all historical fiction based on real people. It’s difficult to stop myself from questioning the “fiction” part of the story is versus what is real. I start Googling events to see if they really happened or not. At times that can feel like a burden, and I found it especially true towards the end of The Girls in the Picture. Still, it’s my problem and not a problem of the book.
{The Final Assessment}
The Girls in the Picture proved to be an absolutely delightful surprise. I can highly recommend it to Hollywood buffs, lovers of historical fiction, and to those like me who might initially be a little skeptical. I can almost guarantee that by 20% you’ll be hooked. Grade: A-
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
Melanie Benjamin’s Storytelling – If you’ve never read Melanie Benjamin it’s time to start, and if you have, you’re in for another treat. This woman KNOWS how to build an entire drama around real people, expertly blending facts and well-researched fiction. With The Aviators Wife she gave us Anne Morrow Lindbergh. In The Swans of Fifth Avenue it was Babe Paley and Truman Capote. And now, Benjamin tells the story of young Hollywood through two of its brightest stars, actress Mary Pickford and screenwriter Frances Marion. Throughout The Girls in the Picture, Benjamin stays entirely focused on her characters. With incredible finesse she follows these two women through their struggles and triumphs, through their loves and losses, through their personal and professional relationships without ever straying. This is storytelling at it’s best!
“Mary and I were these women; we were the girls in the picture, still. The girls whose brave and tender hearts were still beating beneath the wrinkled breasts, the old-fashioned nightgowns and sensible grandmother blouses. The girls we’d become the moment we’d said hello in that other dark room, so many years ago.”
Early Hollywood – I’m not a big follower of Hollywood, old or new, but I loved the Hollywood history lesson built into The Girls in the Picture. As the book opens Hollywood as we know it didn’t yet exist. Instead, there were a bunch of people running around the streets of Los Angeles trying to put together one-reel “flickers” for kicks and a little cash. The inside view that Benjamin provided through the lives of “America’s Sweetheart” and one of its first and most successful screenwriters proved to be fascinating. These two women had amazing triumphs in their careers, but the struggles, the chauvinism, and the fight for women’s opinions to matter made it clear that Hollywood still hasn’t strayed far from its roots.
A Hollywood Legend – Of the two women in the book, I actually liked Frances Marion more, but found Mary’s position as “America’s Sweetheart” fascinating. The very roles that made her famous, those of a sweet, funny girl, also trapped her. She grew weary of playing a child, but the public didn’t want to see her in any other roles, making it nearly impossible for Mary to follow her own desires. Hers was a sad story.
What Didn’t
Fiction vs. Nonfiction – Honestly everything about The Girls in the Picture worked for me. My only negative is one I find in all historical fiction based on real people. It’s difficult to stop myself from questioning the “fiction” part of the story is versus what is real. I start Googling events to see if they really happened or not. At times that can feel like a burden, and I found it especially true towards the end of The Girls in the Picture. Still, it’s my problem and not a problem of the book.
{The Final Assessment}
The Girls in the Picture proved to be an absolutely delightful surprise. I can highly recommend it to Hollywood buffs, lovers of historical fiction, and to those like me who might initially be a little skeptical. I can almost guarantee that by 20% you’ll be hooked. Grade: A-
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
ckreads28's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 out of 5 Stars: Although I loved the bts of movie making of this era and the period. The tension of the friendship and the bumps it hit was rough to read. As well as the pace of this one did kill me a bit.
reillywilmit's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
michellehenriereads's review against another edition
3.0
The Girls in the Picture is a timely book that many will be drawn to because of the current scandals in Hollywood, with Weinstein and others men. As in life and literature, there is nothing new under the sun.
My two favorite chapters were the first and the last. They were gripping! To see the degeneration of a friendship and the feelings the old women experienced in their own viewpoint. I found the first third of the book riveting. I liked learning about both Mary Pickford and Frances Marion. It was interesting to see how women could make their place in a new industry, when they couldn't have got a toe in the door in the established avenues of business. Both of these women fought hard for what they got. It was heartbreaking to see how the men with the money tried to break Mary and Fran by rejecting their female produced movie, Poor Little Rich Girl. What is even more heartbreaking is that too many women today play into the same role of allowing those with power (both men and women) define their business relationships.
It was also interesting to see how Fran decided she needed to go and film women during WWI, compared to Mary who sold bonds with her fellow actors. Fran's relationship with her husband was refreshing, contrasting with the regular sleaze associated with Hollywood. Even in those first years of movie making, it has been a morally bankrupt industry - not holding any values sacred.
There appear to be two reasons for the flavor of Hollywood examined in this novel. One of the flaws associated with theater is ...
To read the full review go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
My two favorite chapters were the first and the last. They were gripping! To see the degeneration of a friendship and the feelings the old women experienced in their own viewpoint. I found the first third of the book riveting. I liked learning about both Mary Pickford and Frances Marion. It was interesting to see how women could make their place in a new industry, when they couldn't have got a toe in the door in the established avenues of business. Both of these women fought hard for what they got. It was heartbreaking to see how the men with the money tried to break Mary and Fran by rejecting their female produced movie, Poor Little Rich Girl. What is even more heartbreaking is that too many women today play into the same role of allowing those with power (both men and women) define their business relationships.
It was also interesting to see how Fran decided she needed to go and film women during WWI, compared to Mary who sold bonds with her fellow actors. Fran's relationship with her husband was refreshing, contrasting with the regular sleaze associated with Hollywood. Even in those first years of movie making, it has been a morally bankrupt industry - not holding any values sacred.
There appear to be two reasons for the flavor of Hollywood examined in this novel. One of the flaws associated with theater is ...
To read the full review go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
erincataldi's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this book. For some unknown reasons I didn't have high expectations, maybe it was the cover? Who knows, but despite my initial misgivings, I am happy to say that I was instantly hooked. The story was wonderfully crafted and the chapters alternated between Mary Pickford, America's Sweetheart, first "celebrity," and silent movie star and Frances Marion, the famed screenwriter. I had heard of Mary Pickford but I didn't really know about her or the silent film era either. Readers get a wonderful glimpse of what life was like for women in early Hollywood through the unique lens of two women who actually existed (although their narratives are in this book are fiction). The history of silent film and the birth of Hollywood is fascinating and this book offers an in depth look at not only these two women, but the men surrounding them, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, studio heads and more. One of the best historical fiction reads I've read in a long while and a must read!