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lola425's review against another edition
3.0
Thoroughly enjoyable fictionalization of Loretta Young's life. Captures that Old Hollywood glamour. Used the book in a book discussion with a senior citizen book group and it was a big hit as everyone got to reminisce about the movies and actors and actresses and also opened up great discussions about chemistry in love, Holly wood today vs. now, motherhood. Recommend for book groups and people who like fictionalized biography.
betho23's review against another edition
It was boring book. It had lots of explanation and not a good story. I couldn’t get into it. My book club didn’t like it either.
tomaind's review against another edition
5.0
Another wonderful story from Adriana Trigiani! Although this was not her usual Italian family drama, there were still a few Italian characters and a trip to Italy. Based somewhat on the lives of Loretta Young and Clark Gable, much of the story was fiction. As Adriana does so well in all her books, she pulls you into the story and makes you feel like you are a part of everything. I loved feeling like I was a part of old time Hollywood. I have only ever seen Clark Gable in "Gone With the Wind" and Loretta Young in "The Bishop's Wife". I've always enjoyed classic movies and this book has gotten me in the mood to watch more of these actors movies. I especially want to watch "Call of the Wild". My favorite quote in the book: "You know, Sister, we think we have the luxury of time. We figure that there will always be a moment to have the conversation that we meant to have, and then the moment passes and it's too late." This is so true. It makes you think about making sure to do this in your own life and also how things may have been different if Loretta & Clark would have handled the issue of their illegitimate daughter differently. If that would have happened in the Hollywood of today, they would never had to keep it a secret.
sheloves_toread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
julsmarshall's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
So interesting, so good. All about the movies during the silver screen heyday. Loretta Young, Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, and more! Trigiani does a great job of weaving the true story lines we know with the movie making stories we don’t. I really enjoyed the set painting, artistic and religious elements too.
gr8reader's review against another edition
5.0
Adriana Trigiani never disappoints!!! Reading this brought me back to when I first discovered AT when I read "Big Stone Gap" for I was laughing out loud, or I found myself thinking how perfect and true a particular sentence was - how meaningful (and I wished it wasn't Shabbos so I could write it down to remember it), I was heartsick at times and tearful sometimes but smiling though a good part of the book. AT is master - she is able to sweep you away wherever the story goes - in this case it was back to the early days of Hollywood - black and white films, grand epics, the glorious times and the realities 'behind the scenes' in the lives of the stars. I learned about the lives of the stars featured in the story, but I never felt as thought it was a biography - it was a wonderfully written story that swept me off my feet and took me on a glorious ride!
aussiebookwitch's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Vivid storytelling but began to lose steam toward the end, especially if you're a movie buff who knows how things turn out
bookwormerica's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. I love me some clark gable. I enjoyed his work of fiction and nonfiction. The daughter Judy bothered me at the end tho. Good Lord lady
hhuckestein's review against another edition
2.0
This novel primarily focused on the relationship between Clark Gable and Loretta Young, co-starring in The Call of the Wild. As a fan of the golden age of Hollywood, the underdeveloped characters and jumpy timeline left me disappointed. The lengthy, dragged out account of the affair between Gable and Young left me bored and wanting more. What I did like? The inclusion of secondary characters, including Spencer Tracy, Jean Harlow, Hattie McDonald, to name a few, showing brief glimpses during various points of their careers. The story is told from various points of view, which can lead the read confused on what happened and where exactly they are at in the story. It'd be hard for me to ever pick this up again or recommend.