Scan barcode
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
Marlene by C.W. Gortner is a 2016 William Morrow publication.
I will admit up front that I did not realize this was a work of fiction, at first. I was a little disappointed since I was hoping for a traditional biography, but it was my own fault for not reading the synopsis carefully.
I had not experienced this type of biographical fiction until recently, but I found it to be an intriguing way of telling a person’s life story.
This one, though, was not a factual as I would have liked, with some suggestions being so incredible, I had to do a Google search to see if it was true. The information wasn’t necessarily outright false, since there is no way to disprove or validate it, so I suppose it’s up to the reader to decide what they want to believe… or not. I do understand this is a novel, and liberties were taken, I just wish I knew what was fact and what was fiction.
Yet, it is obvious the author did his research, and not only does he know his subject, but he obviously admired her, and was true to her legacy.
Despite my misunderstanding of the book’s format, I still found myself mesmerized by the story. Marlene was quite the character, and certainly lived life on her own terms, as much as she could.
Her first -person narrative is often amusing, and I think it did capture the woman’s essence in some ways. She was bold, promiscuous, forthright, yet manipulative at times, loved to shock and offend, play games with people, and live large. But, she lived for herself, it seems, and only herself, even though she had a husband and daughter, she rarely saw or had much of a relationship with. Her feelings never seemed to run too deeply, in my opinion.
Yet, she was refreshing in that ‘what you see, is what you get’ way, and of course she absolutely defined glamour. She was a trendsetter, and 'gender bender', and was well ahead of her time. She was adored by male and female fans, alike.
Marlene Dietrich is a legend and her willingness to push the envelope puts her in a class all by herself… well almost…
No biographical accounting of Marlene’s life would be complete without mentioning the famed rivalry between Marlene and Greta Garbo, which was explained, and played up here, just as the press did at the height of their popularity and fame.
I think both actresses deserved credit, both were special and ahead of their time, but to me, Marlene was much edgier, and seemed to enjoy being that way. Her teasing and daring literally jumps out at you from the screen, and leaves a lasting impression.
The novel ends without exploring the latter years of her life, where she experienced very hard times as well as enjoying many bright spots before she became totally reclusive, struggling with addiction and ill health.
While the book just stops, in a jarringly abrupt and awkward way, I felt the author’s focus on her early life was probably a good idea, especially since it captures the atmosphere surrounding the second world war, so well, and Marlene’s staunch stand against the Nazi’s and Hitler. While she was often untouched by what was going on, due to her work schedule, she did become more attune and shunned Berlin most of her life.
Another pivitol part of her life, were her years with director von Sternberg, and it was only fitting, that some time was spent examining this relationship and the obvious impact it had on Marlene’s rise to superstar status, as well as examining the ultimate downfall of the collaboration, which also sent Marlene onto a different path career wise, so it was all very fascinating.
There were many critical insights into Marlene’s life and how she chose to live it. She is, even now, a controversial figure, but one that is remembered as one of the best actresses of all time.
I would like to find a more comprehensive biography, which will tell the whole of Marlene’s life and is written in the traditional biographical format. If anyone has a suggestion, feel free to recommend one.
It’s been years since I’ve watched one of Dietrich’s films, and I will admit, a little sheepishly, that the movies I remember her by the most are the ones she made later in her life, such as ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, and not her groundbreaking roles, like ‘Blue Angel- Lola Lola’, probably because they were more readily assessable, but this book has me thinking of doing some binge watching one day soon.
I have on occasion lamented the bygone era of such beautiful glamour, of the risk takers, and the trailblazers, and the multi-talented performers, with wide ranging depth and acting range. Marlene was all of those things, and more. All you had to do was look into those soulful eyes just once and you were under her spell.
This is certainly an interesting spin on Marlene’s life, ‘through her own words’, which was both interesting and occasionally shocking, even now.
Although, this was not the type of book I went looking for, I am glad I happened across it. It’s different, for sure, but was well done, overall.
4 stars
I will admit up front that I did not realize this was a work of fiction, at first. I was a little disappointed since I was hoping for a traditional biography, but it was my own fault for not reading the synopsis carefully.
I had not experienced this type of biographical fiction until recently, but I found it to be an intriguing way of telling a person’s life story.
This one, though, was not a factual as I would have liked, with some suggestions being so incredible, I had to do a Google search to see if it was true. The information wasn’t necessarily outright false, since there is no way to disprove or validate it, so I suppose it’s up to the reader to decide what they want to believe… or not. I do understand this is a novel, and liberties were taken, I just wish I knew what was fact and what was fiction.
Yet, it is obvious the author did his research, and not only does he know his subject, but he obviously admired her, and was true to her legacy.
Despite my misunderstanding of the book’s format, I still found myself mesmerized by the story. Marlene was quite the character, and certainly lived life on her own terms, as much as she could.
Her first -person narrative is often amusing, and I think it did capture the woman’s essence in some ways. She was bold, promiscuous, forthright, yet manipulative at times, loved to shock and offend, play games with people, and live large. But, she lived for herself, it seems, and only herself, even though she had a husband and daughter, she rarely saw or had much of a relationship with. Her feelings never seemed to run too deeply, in my opinion.
Yet, she was refreshing in that ‘what you see, is what you get’ way, and of course she absolutely defined glamour. She was a trendsetter, and 'gender bender', and was well ahead of her time. She was adored by male and female fans, alike.
Marlene Dietrich is a legend and her willingness to push the envelope puts her in a class all by herself… well almost…
No biographical accounting of Marlene’s life would be complete without mentioning the famed rivalry between Marlene and Greta Garbo, which was explained, and played up here, just as the press did at the height of their popularity and fame.
I think both actresses deserved credit, both were special and ahead of their time, but to me, Marlene was much edgier, and seemed to enjoy being that way. Her teasing and daring literally jumps out at you from the screen, and leaves a lasting impression.
The novel ends without exploring the latter years of her life, where she experienced very hard times as well as enjoying many bright spots before she became totally reclusive, struggling with addiction and ill health.
While the book just stops, in a jarringly abrupt and awkward way, I felt the author’s focus on her early life was probably a good idea, especially since it captures the atmosphere surrounding the second world war, so well, and Marlene’s staunch stand against the Nazi’s and Hitler. While she was often untouched by what was going on, due to her work schedule, she did become more attune and shunned Berlin most of her life.
Another pivitol part of her life, were her years with director von Sternberg, and it was only fitting, that some time was spent examining this relationship and the obvious impact it had on Marlene’s rise to superstar status, as well as examining the ultimate downfall of the collaboration, which also sent Marlene onto a different path career wise, so it was all very fascinating.
There were many critical insights into Marlene’s life and how she chose to live it. She is, even now, a controversial figure, but one that is remembered as one of the best actresses of all time.
I would like to find a more comprehensive biography, which will tell the whole of Marlene’s life and is written in the traditional biographical format. If anyone has a suggestion, feel free to recommend one.
It’s been years since I’ve watched one of Dietrich’s films, and I will admit, a little sheepishly, that the movies I remember her by the most are the ones she made later in her life, such as ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, and not her groundbreaking roles, like ‘Blue Angel- Lola Lola’, probably because they were more readily assessable, but this book has me thinking of doing some binge watching one day soon.
I have on occasion lamented the bygone era of such beautiful glamour, of the risk takers, and the trailblazers, and the multi-talented performers, with wide ranging depth and acting range. Marlene was all of those things, and more. All you had to do was look into those soulful eyes just once and you were under her spell.
This is certainly an interesting spin on Marlene’s life, ‘through her own words’, which was both interesting and occasionally shocking, even now.
Although, this was not the type of book I went looking for, I am glad I happened across it. It’s different, for sure, but was well done, overall.
4 stars
td3's review against another edition
3.0
Marlene Dietrich is a name I'm familiar with, but I never really knew much about her, except that she was a former movie star.
After reading C.C. Gortner's novel, I am curious to see some of her films. Even though Gortner's novel is historical fiction, it is based on facts, and a look at wikipedia and a few other sources were pretty much in line with the Marlene that Gortner presents.
I can't say that I really cared much for her. She seemed to be born before her time in many ways, leading an unconventional lifestyle and not caring too much what others thought of her.
However, I was very impressed with her response to World War II and her participation with the USO. I thought this was the most interesting part of the novel. If I could, I would give this 3.5 stars. Now off to see where I can watch a Dietrich flick!
Also, thanks to goodreads for the opportunity to read this novel that I won in a goodreads give-away!
After reading C.C. Gortner's novel, I am curious to see some of her films. Even though Gortner's novel is historical fiction, it is based on facts, and a look at wikipedia and a few other sources were pretty much in line with the Marlene that Gortner presents.
I can't say that I really cared much for her. She seemed to be born before her time in many ways, leading an unconventional lifestyle and not caring too much what others thought of her.
However, I was very impressed with her response to World War II and her participation with the USO. I thought this was the most interesting part of the novel. If I could, I would give this 3.5 stars. Now off to see where I can watch a Dietrich flick!
Also, thanks to goodreads for the opportunity to read this novel that I won in a goodreads give-away!
colleenlovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
Find my full review at www.luxuryreading.com.
The Golden Age of Hollywood has always held a unique fascination for me, with so much glamour and mystery surrounding the lives of the various players that just begs to be explored. Given this I had a vague idea of who Marlene Dietrich was even if I didn’t know much about her personal life. After reading and enjoying a number of books by author C.W. Gortner I did know, however, that I was in for a treat and was bound to learn a great deal in the process. What I didn’t expect was to discover such a rare and remarkable woman that is truly beyond compare.
Divided up into “scenes” or blocks of years of Marlene’s life, the reader learns her story through her own words, feelings, and actions in a manner as vibrant as if the reader was experiencing it along with her. Starting in her childhood during WWI and progressing through WWII, the reader gets a true sense of who this woman was (a determined tiger of a woman with a surprisingly big heart) and who she definitely wasn’t (someone who would sell her morals or friends for anything, even more money or celebrity status). Growing up in Germany and raised by a rigid and rule-governing mother, Marlene nevertheless broke every rule and regulation placed before her to blaze her own path into the limelight. She loved and lusted with abandon and the wild. The changeable world of Germany after WWI was the perfect backdrop for Marlene to be able to spread her wings and discover her immense talent as an entertainer.
While Marlene’s early life is fascinating, my favorites parts of the novel deal with her many years in Hollywood and her surprising (for me) turn as a USO entertainer on the front lines of WWII. There is an endless list of supporting players from the crème de la crème of Hollywood and it was an eye opener to see how many of these people entered her life – and her bed – during her lifetime. While there were aspects of Marlene at this time that were selfish, (leaving her daughter in Berlin while she started her career and then, when she was more established, making her daughter move to America even though she didn’t want to go) she also gave so much to friends and family in need, from paying all of her husband’s bills to sheltering friends who were escaping the terrors in Europe. Beyond all of that, she put her own life on the line as a USO entertainer, going to the boys that needed her special brand of entertaining most even if that meant performing next to a ditch and suffering through lice and dysentery. She did everything in her power to stay in the USO for as long as possible and had to literally be dragged away to a hospital for an infection in her jaw and severe dehydration. I have never heard of a celebrity doing something like this before, and I am now a lifelong fan of this incredible woman.
Now, being the huge history buff I am, it was also a pleasant surprise for the author to incorporate so much of the politics and gritty history happening in the greater world around the actress during this time. It truly is a singular time and place she lived in and C.W. Gortner is at his best when immersing the reader in history. His descriptions of the devastation brought about by the war and the aftermath witnessed through Marlene’s eyes are so vivid that you get a great sense of just how unbelievable it would have been, especially for this particular woman, now an American citizen returning to the home of her birth and seeing the horrors her countryman had unleashed on the world.
Marlene is an exceptional story about an unbelievable woman. She lived through two World Wars and experienced life at its highest and lowest points. If you like history or Hollywood you definitely want to read this story.
The Golden Age of Hollywood has always held a unique fascination for me, with so much glamour and mystery surrounding the lives of the various players that just begs to be explored. Given this I had a vague idea of who Marlene Dietrich was even if I didn’t know much about her personal life. After reading and enjoying a number of books by author C.W. Gortner I did know, however, that I was in for a treat and was bound to learn a great deal in the process. What I didn’t expect was to discover such a rare and remarkable woman that is truly beyond compare.
Divided up into “scenes” or blocks of years of Marlene’s life, the reader learns her story through her own words, feelings, and actions in a manner as vibrant as if the reader was experiencing it along with her. Starting in her childhood during WWI and progressing through WWII, the reader gets a true sense of who this woman was (a determined tiger of a woman with a surprisingly big heart) and who she definitely wasn’t (someone who would sell her morals or friends for anything, even more money or celebrity status). Growing up in Germany and raised by a rigid and rule-governing mother, Marlene nevertheless broke every rule and regulation placed before her to blaze her own path into the limelight. She loved and lusted with abandon and the wild. The changeable world of Germany after WWI was the perfect backdrop for Marlene to be able to spread her wings and discover her immense talent as an entertainer.
While Marlene’s early life is fascinating, my favorites parts of the novel deal with her many years in Hollywood and her surprising (for me) turn as a USO entertainer on the front lines of WWII. There is an endless list of supporting players from the crème de la crème of Hollywood and it was an eye opener to see how many of these people entered her life – and her bed – during her lifetime. While there were aspects of Marlene at this time that were selfish, (leaving her daughter in Berlin while she started her career and then, when she was more established, making her daughter move to America even though she didn’t want to go) she also gave so much to friends and family in need, from paying all of her husband’s bills to sheltering friends who were escaping the terrors in Europe. Beyond all of that, she put her own life on the line as a USO entertainer, going to the boys that needed her special brand of entertaining most even if that meant performing next to a ditch and suffering through lice and dysentery. She did everything in her power to stay in the USO for as long as possible and had to literally be dragged away to a hospital for an infection in her jaw and severe dehydration. I have never heard of a celebrity doing something like this before, and I am now a lifelong fan of this incredible woman.
Now, being the huge history buff I am, it was also a pleasant surprise for the author to incorporate so much of the politics and gritty history happening in the greater world around the actress during this time. It truly is a singular time and place she lived in and C.W. Gortner is at his best when immersing the reader in history. His descriptions of the devastation brought about by the war and the aftermath witnessed through Marlene’s eyes are so vivid that you get a great sense of just how unbelievable it would have been, especially for this particular woman, now an American citizen returning to the home of her birth and seeing the horrors her countryman had unleashed on the world.
Marlene is an exceptional story about an unbelievable woman. She lived through two World Wars and experienced life at its highest and lowest points. If you like history or Hollywood you definitely want to read this story.
theymakehistory's review against another edition
3.0
*I won an advanced reader copy through a Goodreads Giveaway*
------
-3 Stars
-Enjoyable to read from a fictional version of Marlene's point of view, rather than the usual third person perspective used in historical fiction novels.
-The lack of avoiding the topic of homosexuality and bisexuality was fantastic, and I applaud the author for it. It also wasn't any more sexualized than heterosexual relationships were.
*I will be focusing on the negative parts*
-The fact the author is male was evident at times, such as when lovers were described. It was clear that it was a male attempting to write a female perspective. It wasn't terribly done though.
-The descriptions were sporadic, if not lacking at times. An example is one of Marlene's lovers, who I have no mental image of due to a lack of her being described.
-The description of the book mentions Marlene's involvement in the USO, but it was barely in the book and only toward the end which is not what I expected.
- Sometimes the passing of time was choppy or unclear. The book had sections with a set range of years, but it wasn't always clear which year it was in.
-The use of pronouns instead of proper names became confusing at times, when referring to multiple people within one setting.
-Nicknames were frequently used, and it was not always clear who the nickname was referencing. Ernest Hemingway was called "Papa" once when meeting him, then a fair amount later in the book, he was only referred to that way without and reminder of the fact it was Hemingway.
- As the book came toward its end, there was a lack of describing new characters or any clarification regarding who they were.
-The end of the book seemed choppy and rushes, compared to the nicely explained and somewhat drawn out beginning.
-Marlene's involvement in the drag scene wasn't as focused on as the description implied.
-The non-explicit sex scenes were lacking, and at times comical in how they were written. In one scene, a man's penis was compared to a "skyscraper," which does not come off as sexy.
------
-3 Stars
-Enjoyable to read from a fictional version of Marlene's point of view, rather than the usual third person perspective used in historical fiction novels.
-The lack of avoiding the topic of homosexuality and bisexuality was fantastic, and I applaud the author for it. It also wasn't any more sexualized than heterosexual relationships were.
*I will be focusing on the negative parts*
-The fact the author is male was evident at times, such as when lovers were described. It was clear that it was a male attempting to write a female perspective. It wasn't terribly done though.
-The descriptions were sporadic, if not lacking at times. An example is one of Marlene's lovers, who I have no mental image of due to a lack of her being described.
-The description of the book mentions Marlene's involvement in the USO, but it was barely in the book and only toward the end which is not what I expected.
- Sometimes the passing of time was choppy or unclear. The book had sections with a set range of years, but it wasn't always clear which year it was in.
-The use of pronouns instead of proper names became confusing at times, when referring to multiple people within one setting.
-Nicknames were frequently used, and it was not always clear who the nickname was referencing. Ernest Hemingway was called "Papa" once when meeting him, then a fair amount later in the book, he was only referred to that way without and reminder of the fact it was Hemingway.
- As the book came toward its end, there was a lack of describing new characters or any clarification regarding who they were.
-The end of the book seemed choppy and rushes, compared to the nicely explained and somewhat drawn out beginning.
-Marlene's involvement in the drag scene wasn't as focused on as the description implied.
-The non-explicit sex scenes were lacking, and at times comical in how they were written. In one scene, a man's penis was compared to a "skyscraper," which does not come off as sexy.
evawondergem's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jennbairos's review against another edition
4.0
I have always loved history told through stories. I gravitate often towards historical fiction when reading because I throughly enjoy learning about people, places, and events that I didn't know of before. I sincerely believe that the more we know about other people, their challenges, and their resolve, the more empathetic we become ourselves. For me, historical fiction allows me to walk in the shoes of others in a very accessible way. This has certainly been the case with C. W. Gortner's new novel, Marlene.
From cabarets in Germany to Academy Award nominations in Hollywood to actively serving during World War II, the life of Marlene Dietrich was nothing short of fascinating.
This book is told from Marlene's perspective, and I found it very easy to connect with her. I felt as though Marlene herself was telling me about her life, or that I was reading her personal journals where she had been documenting her extraordinary life's journey. I found the writing style very captivating, and Gortner authentically brought to life many people, each with their distinct traits and characteristics. This novel is incredibly well-researched and very enjoyable to read. In the notes at the end of the book, Gortner says that every single person in the novel was real, and I sincerely appreciate that attention to detail.
I haven't yet seen any of Marlene Dietrich's movies, and to be honest, I didn't have more than a vague idea of who she was before I read this book; however, with her independence and determination, Marlene is certainly a woman I will not soon forget. I'm so happy to have learned her story, and I look forward to seeing some of Marlene's movies that Gortner describes in the book.
While Marlene is not technically a memoir, anyone who enjoys reading memoirs will enjoy reading Gortner's book.
From cabarets in Germany to Academy Award nominations in Hollywood to actively serving during World War II, the life of Marlene Dietrich was nothing short of fascinating.
This book is told from Marlene's perspective, and I found it very easy to connect with her. I felt as though Marlene herself was telling me about her life, or that I was reading her personal journals where she had been documenting her extraordinary life's journey. I found the writing style very captivating, and Gortner authentically brought to life many people, each with their distinct traits and characteristics. This novel is incredibly well-researched and very enjoyable to read. In the notes at the end of the book, Gortner says that every single person in the novel was real, and I sincerely appreciate that attention to detail.
I haven't yet seen any of Marlene Dietrich's movies, and to be honest, I didn't have more than a vague idea of who she was before I read this book; however, with her independence and determination, Marlene is certainly a woman I will not soon forget. I'm so happy to have learned her story, and I look forward to seeing some of Marlene's movies that Gortner describes in the book.
While Marlene is not technically a memoir, anyone who enjoys reading memoirs will enjoy reading Gortner's book.
faithtrustozdust's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I read this book as someone who is a fan of Dietrich and knew the broad basics of her life, but wanted something more in depth without being a straight up biography. This book fit that to a T, covering her life from a very young age to after WWII. The main flaw here being that because there is not one central event or relationship explored in depth, to me if felt some extremely fast paced, never stopping anywhere I wanted long enough, and extremely slow. I also felt there lacked a central arc, and though there is a sense of growth as you follow Dietrich, it doesn't feel satisfying.
The best part of the book is the section on WWII which is unfortunately, towards the end. One of the scenes in particular, a meeting with her sister, who, along with her husband, worked for the Nazis was absolutely gut wrenching to read.
Overall I would recommend the book for fans about Dietrich or those curious to get a little more perspective on any of the fascinating time periods she lived through. You do benefit a lot from being directly inside her head. The version I consumed was the audiobook, and the woman who read it did a fantastic job.
The best part of the book is the section on WWII which is unfortunately, towards the end. One of the scenes in particular,
Overall I would recommend the book for fans about Dietrich or those curious to get a little more perspective on any of the fascinating time periods she lived through. You do benefit a lot from being directly inside her head. The version I consumed was the audiobook, and the woman who read it did a fantastic job.
allisonthurman's review against another edition
5.0
As ever with my book reviews, words fail me. I started this book review not knowing much about Marlene Dietrich and finished it wanting to know more!
I always have a deep interest in people who did it their own way, and Dietrich was a true original. From her dogged work ethic to her unusual management of her personal life to her dedication to her USO tour during the WWII, she knew who she was and what she wanted. The times when she was at a loss didn't ground her but motivated her to "tu etwas" (do something).
Thrilling (her early years in Weimar Germany) to sobering (her coming to terms with Germany at the end of WWII) in turns, this is a cracking read, and Gortner was smart enough not to try to include her whole life - just her teen years through her forties. Recommended
I always have a deep interest in people who did it their own way, and Dietrich was a true original. From her dogged work ethic to her unusual management of her personal life to her dedication to her USO tour during the WWII, she knew who she was and what she wanted. The times when she was at a loss didn't ground her but motivated her to "tu etwas" (do something).
Thrilling (her early years in Weimar Germany) to sobering (her coming to terms with Germany at the end of WWII) in turns, this is a cracking read, and Gortner was smart enough not to try to include her whole life - just her teen years through her forties. Recommended