A review by mcomer
Delayed Rays of a Star by Amanda Lee Koe

5.0

This amazing book follows the intertwined lives of three cinematic women: Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong, and Leni Riefenstahl. Photographed together at a party in Berlin before they become famous, Amanda Lee Koe uses the facts of their lives to imagine their journeys towards stardom. Along the way, other characters are drawn into their improbable orbits, as the book proves repeatedly that truth is often stranger than fiction (or film). Each of the main characters makes different sacrifices and compromises in the pursuit of their art and fame, and the novel provides an unstinting look at the costs of their successes as ambitious women in a world tipped against them. This is most notable with Leni's portions, which deal with her notorious Nazi associations, but Marlene and Anna May don't escape unscathed. The book is incredibly well-researched and seems to transport you into places as diverse as Berlin, North Africa, Shanghai, and Los Angeles across distinct time periods and settings. The author also provides a peek into the film industry of the time, which I enjoyed. Highly recommend for a painstakingly assembled, beautiful look into three turbulent lives and the span of the twentieth century.