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revoli's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
luizf1's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
pswords72's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! Marie Benedict is on my Authors to read list now. I thought this book a little far-fetched at times.. Until I Googled Hedy Lamarr. What an incredible woman. I could not stop reading or Googling throughout this book. A worthy read.
sharic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
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
3.75
emilyjeanne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
bookishpsychologist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
I love Marie Benedict as an author, so I've been working my way through her novels. This one was on my TBR list for awhile and I vowed to read it this year as one of my 12 reads in 2024. I'm so glad I chose it!
I'll be honest and say I've never heard of the actress Hedy Lamarr, a famous Hollywood starlet of the 1930s and 40s. I was fascinated by her story, which Benedict expertly crafted of this brave and brilliant woman.
Hedy was a Jew born in Austria. She defied her parents wishes, becoming a stage and movie actress as a teenager, where she caught the eye of Mandl, the wealthiest man in the country. She married him young and became trapped in an abusive marriage the coincided with Hitler's rise to power. Mandl was an arms manufacturer who aided both Hitler and Mussolini. Hedy, who had been taught about science by her father, learned a great deal about the weapons systems of the Axis powers through her husband's associations. She devised a plot to escape her husband and war-torn Europe, fleeing to London. There, she met the head of an American movie studio, and the rest is history. Hedy moved to Hollywood and became one of the most glamorous and sought-after actresses of the time.
Behind her beauty, Hedy was also a genius inventor. Using her knowledge of those European weapons systems and their weaknesses, she devised a more sophisticated and accurate torpedo. The story highlights how despite her talents, unfortunately, the misogyny of the time prevented her from being recognized as anything other than a bombshell. Nonetheless, her invention led to the development of the Bluetooth and cell phone technology that we all use today. I am so impressed by her remarkable story!
I'll be honest and say I've never heard of the actress Hedy Lamarr, a famous Hollywood starlet of the 1930s and 40s. I was fascinated by her story, which Benedict expertly crafted of this brave and brilliant woman.
Hedy was a Jew born in Austria. She defied her parents wishes, becoming a stage and movie actress as a teenager, where she caught the eye of Mandl, the wealthiest man in the country. She married him young and became trapped in an abusive marriage the coincided with Hitler's rise to power. Mandl was an arms manufacturer who aided both Hitler and Mussolini. Hedy, who had been taught about science by her father, learned a great deal about the weapons systems of the Axis powers through her husband's associations. She devised a plot to escape her husband and war-torn Europe, fleeing to London. There, she met the head of an American movie studio, and the rest is history. Hedy moved to Hollywood and became one of the most glamorous and sought-after actresses of the time.
Behind her beauty, Hedy was also a genius inventor. Using her knowledge of those European weapons systems and their weaknesses, she devised a more sophisticated and accurate torpedo. The story highlights how despite her talents, unfortunately, the misogyny of the time prevented her from being recognized as anything other than a bombshell. Nonetheless, her invention led to the development of the Bluetooth and cell phone technology that we all use today. I am so impressed by her remarkable story!
poetkoala's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a long time since I read a historical fiction. Some flavors of The Imitation Game in here.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape
alleymartin's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0