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A review by crystalvaughan0603
All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani
3.0
I didn't want to give this book the rating I did. I love old Hollywood- not just Golden Era, but the silent era, too. Early Hollywood history fascinates me. So why did I give this book 3 Stars (which feels like a betrayal. I think I rate books too leniently.)
Anyway, I felt this book was too topical, giving me facts, but not emotions or connections. I didn't feel, in the end, there was a connection between the characters & me. I didn't care about them, because it felt rushed. I think the author should have focused on one situation in Loretta Young's life. Instead, it was an overview that skimmed the surface without delving into the heart of the situation. There were few intimate scenes between Clark Gable & Loretta.
Also, she didn't really delve into Alda. She didn't show us her fiery Italian disposition, although Trigiani is Italian & no doubt knows a lot of big bold Italian women. There was no inner life to any of the characters.
I do have one minor quibble that didn't take away from the book, it just irritated me: Trigiani's switching back & forth between Young's given name of Gretchen & her stage name of Loretta. This switch sometimes happened in the same sentence.
On another personal note, I didn't like how Spencer Tracy's relationship with Katherine Hepburn was rather sidelined by his relationship with Young. I feel like Tracy loved Hepburn truly & didn't spend his life pining for Young.
I would have loved for this book to make me feel like I was actually in Golden Era Hollywood with the actors who were name dropped, but I didn't. I wanted to close the book feeling closer to Young & Clark Gable, a man I have adored since I first watched 'Gone With the Wind' I don't know how many years ago.
When she concentrated on Young & Gable's relationship during the filming of 'The Call of the Wild', this book soared. After that, it rather dragged.
Anyway, I felt this book was too topical, giving me facts, but not emotions or connections. I didn't feel, in the end, there was a connection between the characters & me. I didn't care about them, because it felt rushed. I think the author should have focused on one situation in Loretta Young's life. Instead, it was an overview that skimmed the surface without delving into the heart of the situation. There were few intimate scenes between Clark Gable & Loretta.
Also, she didn't really delve into Alda. She didn't show us her fiery Italian disposition, although Trigiani is Italian & no doubt knows a lot of big bold Italian women. There was no inner life to any of the characters.
I do have one minor quibble that didn't take away from the book, it just irritated me: Trigiani's switching back & forth between Young's given name of Gretchen & her stage name of Loretta. This switch sometimes happened in the same sentence.
On another personal note, I didn't like how Spencer Tracy's relationship with Katherine Hepburn was rather sidelined by his relationship with Young. I feel like Tracy loved Hepburn truly & didn't spend his life pining for Young.
I would have loved for this book to make me feel like I was actually in Golden Era Hollywood with the actors who were name dropped, but I didn't. I wanted to close the book feeling closer to Young & Clark Gable, a man I have adored since I first watched 'Gone With the Wind' I don't know how many years ago.
When she concentrated on Young & Gable's relationship during the filming of 'The Call of the Wild', this book soared. After that, it rather dragged.