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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
funny
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
“As we move into an era in which there is frank public discussion of the exploitation, subjugation, manipulation, and abuse of women by men in positions of power, it’s time to rethink stories that lionize playboys, that celebrate the idea that women of the twentieth century were lands to be conquered, or collateral damage to a great man’s rise and fall. One way to begin that rethink is by exploring a playboy’s relationship with some of the women in his life from the perspective of those women.”
A great story about Classic Hollywood for the #MeToo era. If you enjoy Karina Longworth’s podcast, you have to check this out!
A great story about Classic Hollywood for the #MeToo era. If you enjoy Karina Longworth’s podcast, you have to check this out!
Fascinating and appalling read about Howard Hughes and old Hollywood. Made me want to learn more about the actresses.
Karina Longworth is the film and old Hollywood historian of our time, her podcast being one of the best and most well-researched out there. Initially, seeing this book on the shelf I was excited and wary because I thought I already knew about most of the starlets on the cover/named in the summary on the back mainly due to Karina Longworth's podcast, "You Must Remember This". Luckily, I was not bored. In fact, Longworth takes the sprinkles of what is given in the podcast and expands them, showing them in an all new context.
Howard Hughes was a piece of work, to say the least, and Longworth's approach to his life through the women in his life and the women whose lives he affected (sometimes in grand spectacular ways as well as really dismal and bad ways) is a genius way to explore this somewhat "mad genius" of his time. Doing so allows you as a new reader and as someone who is approaching this, like I did, with preconceived notions about what they think they know about the famed aviator to see it through a lens of exploitation and misogyny. How being a man (a powerful and wealthy one, at that) in Hollywood allowed Hughes and his controlling/inexcusable behavior (often prompted by his severe OCD and mental illness, nurtured and worsened by his mother in his formative years) was permitted and basically allowed to slide. One can clearly make a connection, drawing a thread, from Hughes to Harvey Weinstein. He went from dating established stars like Katherine Hepburn to controlling and seeking to possess young hopeful starlets with promises of fame and stardom, only to be way too controlling and limiting and ruin their chances at any career in the film industry.
While the book is lengthy (it is exhaustively researched) the writing is great and easy to follow and moves at a smooth pace, allowing you to fall into the writing and be absorbed into the story that the author wishes to disclose. 5/5
Howard Hughes was a piece of work, to say the least, and Longworth's approach to his life through the women in his life and the women whose lives he affected (sometimes in grand spectacular ways as well as really dismal and bad ways) is a genius way to explore this somewhat "mad genius" of his time. Doing so allows you as a new reader and as someone who is approaching this, like I did, with preconceived notions about what they think they know about the famed aviator to see it through a lens of exploitation and misogyny. How being a man (a powerful and wealthy one, at that) in Hollywood allowed Hughes and his controlling/inexcusable behavior (often prompted by his severe OCD and mental illness, nurtured and worsened by his mother in his formative years) was permitted and basically allowed to slide. One can clearly make a connection, drawing a thread, from Hughes to Harvey Weinstein. He went from dating established stars like Katherine Hepburn to controlling and seeking to possess young hopeful starlets with promises of fame and stardom, only to be way too controlling and limiting and ruin their chances at any career in the film industry.
While the book is lengthy (it is exhaustively researched) the writing is great and easy to follow and moves at a smooth pace, allowing you to fall into the writing and be absorbed into the story that the author wishes to disclose. 5/5
As with many topics on her brilliant podcast, Longworth uses sly misdirection to tell the history of Hollywood thru a feminist lens. Tho Howard Hughes is the name on the cover, he, while certainly not taking a back seat to the women orbiting him, has his story told in parallel with them, while having his many deficiencies detailed--deficiencies only available to the whitest and richest. A great companion to You Must Remember This.
Absolutely riveting! Just as on her podcast, Karina Longworth uncovers the truth behind Hollywood lore and shines a light on the real lives of women in the industry.
I've listened to You Must Remember This for years and had been in the mood to read more nonfiction, so I decided to check this out. I've always been fascinated by classic Hollywood (and love old Hollywood movies), so, not surprisingly, I found it very interesting, although at times it was hard to keep track of everyone, and at least some of the info I believe has been discussed on the podcast before. But I really like Karina's narrative voice, and there was a lot I hadn't known before reading this. In any case, it was good!
dark
informative
medium-paced
dark
funny
informative
reflective