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A review by jennbairos
Marlene by C.W. Gortner
4.0
I have always loved history told through stories. I gravitate often towards historical fiction when reading because I throughly enjoy learning about people, places, and events that I didn't know of before. I sincerely believe that the more we know about other people, their challenges, and their resolve, the more empathetic we become ourselves. For me, historical fiction allows me to walk in the shoes of others in a very accessible way. This has certainly been the case with C. W. Gortner's new novel, Marlene.
From cabarets in Germany to Academy Award nominations in Hollywood to actively serving during World War II, the life of Marlene Dietrich was nothing short of fascinating.
This book is told from Marlene's perspective, and I found it very easy to connect with her. I felt as though Marlene herself was telling me about her life, or that I was reading her personal journals where she had been documenting her extraordinary life's journey. I found the writing style very captivating, and Gortner authentically brought to life many people, each with their distinct traits and characteristics. This novel is incredibly well-researched and very enjoyable to read. In the notes at the end of the book, Gortner says that every single person in the novel was real, and I sincerely appreciate that attention to detail.
I haven't yet seen any of Marlene Dietrich's movies, and to be honest, I didn't have more than a vague idea of who she was before I read this book; however, with her independence and determination, Marlene is certainly a woman I will not soon forget. I'm so happy to have learned her story, and I look forward to seeing some of Marlene's movies that Gortner describes in the book.
While Marlene is not technically a memoir, anyone who enjoys reading memoirs will enjoy reading Gortner's book.
From cabarets in Germany to Academy Award nominations in Hollywood to actively serving during World War II, the life of Marlene Dietrich was nothing short of fascinating.
This book is told from Marlene's perspective, and I found it very easy to connect with her. I felt as though Marlene herself was telling me about her life, or that I was reading her personal journals where she had been documenting her extraordinary life's journey. I found the writing style very captivating, and Gortner authentically brought to life many people, each with their distinct traits and characteristics. This novel is incredibly well-researched and very enjoyable to read. In the notes at the end of the book, Gortner says that every single person in the novel was real, and I sincerely appreciate that attention to detail.
I haven't yet seen any of Marlene Dietrich's movies, and to be honest, I didn't have more than a vague idea of who she was before I read this book; however, with her independence and determination, Marlene is certainly a woman I will not soon forget. I'm so happy to have learned her story, and I look forward to seeing some of Marlene's movies that Gortner describes in the book.
While Marlene is not technically a memoir, anyone who enjoys reading memoirs will enjoy reading Gortner's book.