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A review by moirwyn
Marlene by C.W. Gortner
5.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2016/06/01/marlene-by-c-w-gortner-blog-tour-giveaway/
Marlene by C.W. Gortner is a biographical novel about Hollywood icon Marlene Dietrich. Marlene grew up in an aristocratic family that had fallen upon hard times, and her mother pressured her into nurturing her musical talent to become a concert violinist. That was never to happen, and instead Marlene rebelled and used her talent to become part of Germany’s cabaret culture, struggling to be a successful actress. At the time, Germany’s nightlife was wild and free, unchained from both gender and sexual norms.
Marlene’s love life was fascinating, and progressive even by modern standards. She was bi long before it was something people talked about, having a multitude of affairs with men and women alike. And although Marlene Dietrich did marry and have a child, her marriage is much more in line with today’s poly movement. Marlene wanted to love freely and without constraint, and didn’t see her involvement with one person as taking away from her relationship with another. Marlene never felt drawn to the domestic life, and instead chose to focus on her career. As Marlene and her husband Rudi drifted apart over time, he had a mistress as well, and Tamara and Marlene were good friends.
Marlene’s film career began in Germany, but soon she accepted a contract in Hollywood. America and Germany were very different, but Marlene quickly took to her new home. Marlene became increasingly famous both in America and overseas, but in the meantime, Hitler rose to power in Germany, and Marlene found herself doing everything she could to protect her family. And as her career came to a lull, she joined the USO and performed for America’s servicemen and women.
When I began reading Marlene, I didn’t know much about Marlene Dietrich’s life. I had seen pictures, of course, and knew of her fame, but never really understood her outside of that. As in Mademoiselle Chanel, Gortner once again succeeded in capturing a vivid glimpse into the life of a remarkable woman who defied the odds and the social norms of her time in order to become a star. I was inspired by Marlene Dietrich’s story, and would highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in old Hollywood, cross-dressing heroines, and women who don’t take no for an answer.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2016/06/01/marlene-by-c-w-gortner-blog-tour-giveaway/
Marlene by C.W. Gortner is a biographical novel about Hollywood icon Marlene Dietrich. Marlene grew up in an aristocratic family that had fallen upon hard times, and her mother pressured her into nurturing her musical talent to become a concert violinist. That was never to happen, and instead Marlene rebelled and used her talent to become part of Germany’s cabaret culture, struggling to be a successful actress. At the time, Germany’s nightlife was wild and free, unchained from both gender and sexual norms.
Marlene’s love life was fascinating, and progressive even by modern standards. She was bi long before it was something people talked about, having a multitude of affairs with men and women alike. And although Marlene Dietrich did marry and have a child, her marriage is much more in line with today’s poly movement. Marlene wanted to love freely and without constraint, and didn’t see her involvement with one person as taking away from her relationship with another. Marlene never felt drawn to the domestic life, and instead chose to focus on her career. As Marlene and her husband Rudi drifted apart over time, he had a mistress as well, and Tamara and Marlene were good friends.
Marlene’s film career began in Germany, but soon she accepted a contract in Hollywood. America and Germany were very different, but Marlene quickly took to her new home. Marlene became increasingly famous both in America and overseas, but in the meantime, Hitler rose to power in Germany, and Marlene found herself doing everything she could to protect her family. And as her career came to a lull, she joined the USO and performed for America’s servicemen and women.
When I began reading Marlene, I didn’t know much about Marlene Dietrich’s life. I had seen pictures, of course, and knew of her fame, but never really understood her outside of that. As in Mademoiselle Chanel, Gortner once again succeeded in capturing a vivid glimpse into the life of a remarkable woman who defied the odds and the social norms of her time in order to become a star. I was inspired by Marlene Dietrich’s story, and would highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in old Hollywood, cross-dressing heroines, and women who don’t take no for an answer.