Reviews

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra

slampie's review

emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such a phenomenal book. It looks at world war two through the lens of an expat community in Hollywood with some time in an Italian confino colony and Utah army site. The characters are really rich diverse and well drawn.The book does such a beautiful job capturing critically the contradictory politics and racism of the WW2 home front. It's also funny and I cried a lot.

rainbowbookworm's review

4.0

I knew nothing of this book when I picked it up and I was captivated by a WWII story set in Hollywood.

cat_book_lady's review

2.0

Marra's writing style is so engaging, and the concept of bringing European history into Hollywood is utterly unique. Still, I just couldn't get myself to actually care about the story or the characters, and so I had a hard time finishing it. Perhaps another story that grabs the reader's attention would be better served? I really dislike giving reviews like this because I thoroughly did enjoy Marra's prose, just not the subject of the prose. Hopefully his next novel will be just as rich but with a story that I can be invested in.

ktaylorhurley's review

4.0

This book is so different from what you might imagine looking at the title. It is incredibly well-researched historical fiction about WWII, the role Hollywood played in questionable propaganda practices, racism in Hollywood during WWII (particularly aimed at Asian and Italian emigrants), and much more. It’s also a story of resilience and creativity and love and sacrifice. The characters are so well written—all the way down to people who aren’t in the book for more than a couple pages. Ultimately, I found myself wishing for just a little more clarity in some of the ways the stores get wrapped up. But overall, I really loved spending time in this world.

leafingthroughlife's review

dark hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

waynediane's review

4.0

The underlying story is very good. Takes place primarily in Hollywood with some Italian/immigrant and Japanese racial tensions during WWII. The government comes through again putting innocent individuals in internment camps, racial profiling, and of course using them when they can be used as pawns. Unfortunately, there were times in the book where following along was a bit confusing. Overall, an enjoyable read.

sydneyricard's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

indoorswoman's review

adventurous emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

candacesiegle_greedyreader's review

5.0

It's Hollywood in the late 1930s, 40s. Mercury Pictures is studio that makes B-minus movies, run by Artie Feldman, a man of many toupees and little taste. But he has a big heart, and as an immigrant himself, he hires refugees from the European horror and puts them in whatever job he can squeeze them into, suitable or not.

Maria Lagana is one of those who is in the right job. She and her mother fled Italy a decade earlier after her father, an anti-Mussolini lawyer was arrested. She's Artie's right hand and the crux of her job is to get tawdry scripts by the Production Code Administration and her goal is to be a producer. Besides pushing the boundaries of good taste, some of these scripts also push scenarios that the US government is not currently embracing. That will change after December 7, 1941.

Anthony Marra is a beautiful writer, and it's a treat to see him put his talents in service of this story, another one of those World War Two tales that seem so fresh after eighty years. Maria's lover is a Chinese American classical actor now offered lots of roles as a dastardly Japanese. Pretty soon, she will be registered as an enemy alien and unable to visit her great aunts who run an Italian restaurant in another part of town, outside her seven mile travel limit. German refugees on Artie's payroll vanish to possibly become American spies. Filmmakers learn that real battle scenes never look right so it's better to stage them.

Engaging and readable, this story of reinvention and resilience was worth waiting for. Anthony Marra reveals a new side of his talent and I hope we don't have to wait another six years for another new novel. You have to love a writer who can make a B movie studio a place of courage and discovery.

bridgetbridgetbridget's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0