A review by melissasbookshelf
A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott

3.0

I am totally an old movie buff! Gone With the Wind is a classic and I was excited to read a historical fictional account of the making of the movie. This book is told from the POV of Julie Crawford, a fictional writer from Indiana. She wants to go to Hollywood to write movies. She happens to begin working in the studio that is producing GWTW. When she initially is fired by David O. Selznick, a handsome man she meets named Andy Weinstein helps her to become an assistant to famed actress Carole Lombard. Carole has been having an affair with Clark Gable for years. What follows is a fictional account based on facts which gives insight into the lives of several famous people along with the long dramatic making of GWTW. Also included as part of this epic story are the studio system, how women and minorities were treated in the early 1940's Hollywood, and WWII.

Warning, this book has quite a bit of swearing. I'm not sure if Carole Lombard used the "F-word" in real life, but she sure does use it in this book. She has a flamboyant, no holds bar personality that is unabashedly outspoken. She is completely open about her body, sex, and drinking. She's one of those quirky characters whose behavior you sort of excuse because she's likeable. Also, there are a few sex scenes though not too graphic. (I skipped over most of those.) All in all, an enjoyable read with interesting facts about Hollywood and the making of GWTW.