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bookswithjk 's review for:
The Seventh Veil of Salome
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A historical fiction that intertwines the lives of three women - Salome, Vera, a new actress swept away from her home, and Nancy, an already established actress desperate to become a star. It’s a story that puts the seedy underbelly of 1950s Hollywood to a Biblical setting, comparing the life of a Biblical figure to those of modern women.
In the end you realize that not much has changed. Salome, Vera and Nancy - no matter what era they are from, they are still subjected to the male gaze, forced to mold themselves to what others want, to (as Vera’s mother says) survive. Salome, forced to dance for her lustful uncle, Vera forced to perform the role of Salome to the point of mental exhaustion, and Nancy struggling to make it big and hold onto a dream that her own father started for her.
In the end you realize that not much has changed. Salome, Vera and Nancy - no matter what era they are from, they are still subjected to the male gaze, forced to mold themselves to what others want, to (as Vera’s mother says) survive. Salome, forced to dance for her lustful uncle, Vera forced to perform the role of Salome to the point of mental exhaustion, and Nancy struggling to make it big and hold onto a dream that her own father started for her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment