Comments on: Into The ‘Valley’

By: Audrie

Audrie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:22:32 +0000

I read that book a few years ago and I couldn’t put it down! Never seen the movie but I don’t think I will.

By: veronica

veronica — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:30:40 +0000

TRENT! Cult classic, yes, but good prose????
C’mon, you gotta do some real reading, so you can discern the difference between literature and pulpy, saccharine, overblown language! You are generally fairly literate on the blog (although you are prone to questionable word choices and improper use of colloquialisms i.e today, KFed story, it’s sad SACK not sad SAP — sorry, I’m a copy editor). But love you anyway — just begging, please broaden your reading horizons!

By: julia

julia — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:22:05 +0000

i love the book, had no idea it was a movie too!! must invite the girls over for some VERY strong martinis to watch… no “dolls” though, thats so not very healthy!

im super happy you are reading it! there is a sequel to it also, not as good, but if you get caught up in the era, there is nothing better!

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:49:31 +0000

you have to watch the movie and let yourself be taken away from the glossy crap that is put out nowadays. its SO damn campy – its priceless….sorry yes its a great movie. So much about it I just cant even list them all. and beyond just as campy too.

course after J. Susann, moved onto S. Sheldon, caught many times w/J. Collins and course anyone remember Judy Blume’s adult series!!?!?!

if you watch the movie…just let yourself get transported back to that era….Tate was / is goddess. You cant say Mommy Dearest is crap either…its about the era (think how far its come…lol) now I would die screaming if anyone tried to re-make it either..just not the same.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:22:04 +0000

Dolores is the one based on Jackie Kennedy marrying Ari Onassis (allegedly). Btw, amazon sellers and I’m sure ebay too, do have a variety of her old books. Not too hard to find. I checked it out.
Trent, you’re making me want to read all these oldies!
After Jacqueline Susann, I moved on to The Insiders by Rosemary Rogers (very racy, lol) and Harold Robbins’ books…Sidney Sheldon…Jackie Collins. Oh yeah, I loved me some trashy books as a child :)

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:17:29 +0000

I read this book when I was a kid (a precocious kid, LOL). It led to my reading ALL of Jacqueline Susann’s books…I think I still have them all in boxes…but they’re mass market paperbacks (the small ones) and in pretty bad shape. Oh yeah, The Love Machine was great…not a happy story. Once is Not Enough was my fav I think. Yargo was odd.. and I think it’s hard to find today. What was the one based on Jaqueline and Ari Onassis? I’ll have to look it up..

By: Adriana

Adriana — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:48:02 +0000

DO NOT see the movie- it is just about terrible. Sharon Tate is beautiful though. Like Kelly, this book is one of my top 3. There’s a sequel to the book, “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.” Apparently Jacqueline Susann started to write it, but it was finished by another author. The book is OK. It’s a shorter read- it’s worth it if you are between reads…

By: Neely

Neely — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:18:28 +0000

I was actually named after Neely O’hara in this movie!! My mom was a total Valley of the Dolls fan!! :)

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:34:57 +0000

Amazing book. I new nothing about it until I read it and it is one of my top 3 favs now. I haven’t seen the movie yet but hope to soon.

By: Tim S

Tim S — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:23:26 +0000

This is quite possibly one of my favorite books ever written! The film is terrible and definitely doesn’t do the book justice! Hope you enjoyed it!

By: meg

meg — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:19:50 +0000

I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you posting these book recommendations. I’m always looking for interesting books to read, and I know from reading this blog that I can trust your taste. So… THANKS, TRENT! Don’t stop updating us on your recent reads!

By: Sasha

Sasha — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:58:01 +0000

Loved the book. Hated the movie. I love all of Jacqueline Suzanne’s books. They’re all somewhat the same concept and the others aren’t nearly as great as this book, but they all give you this glamorous world to get lost in for a while.

By: Geret

Geret — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:46:15 +0000

Hey! Great book, hey? I agree – Once is not Enough and The Love Machine are also great! So is Every Night Josephine (about the exploits of her poodle).
The movie is classic. “Beyond The Valley of the Dolls” is also interesting… but even “campier” than the original!

By: Seth

Seth — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:51:04 +0000

OMG if you love Valley of the Dolls, you should also read “Once Is Not Enough”. They made a move of that one, too, but the book is definitely Susann’s best. “The Love Machine” is also really good.

Love your blog, btw. I’ve read it for years and this is my first comment!

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:01:39 +0000

OMG! Best. Movie. EVER.

It is so terrible and wonderful and melodramatic (“Neely? Neely?! NEELY?!!!!” in the pouring rain). Good God, I love it so much, I cannot even explain. I must read the book.

By: Fan

Fan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:01:08 +0000

It didnt take me long to read this, cos i really loved it!!! great read trent, so glad that i saw this on your blog, its such a good book!!

By: Faith

Faith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:57:44 +0000

I read this book when I was about 14, and I’ve recently started to reread it again and I love it just as much now as I did then! I can’t wait for you to finish reading it! It’s amazing!!

By: liz

liz — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:26:56 +0000

I LOVE the book. Her other ones aren’t bad either. The movie is horribly good, it’s so bad its great. Then roger ebert did ‘beyond the valley of the dolls’ screenplay that was scandalously, if thats a word, good.

By: DirtyDee

DirtyDee — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:21:11 +0000

I remember trying to find the book after catching the movie on TV. I called all over trying to find it and ended up in some used bookstore in a bad part of town just to get it. It’s so fab.

By: Drew

Drew — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:06:15 +0000

It took me months to get through Valley of the Dolls! Its actually a great read, but a slow start. However I do have to disagree with Cynthia, i’ve seen the movie, and in my opinion it is HILARIOUSLY bad!! Patty Duke specifically… i know that seems a little off, but man o man, one of the worst movies ever made!
And the theme song makes random appearances throughout, it’s like every 15 minutes or so someone said “ok, time to put the Dionne Warwick theme song in again!”.

By: anne

anne — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:04:52 +0000

I just re-read this book a few months ago. I loved it more the second time! such a great read. I’m excited to hear about what you think about the rest of the book :)

By: richard s

richard s — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:51:41 +0000

I’m Neely O’Hara bitches believe.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:51:03 +0000

Whoops, I mean Ted CasablancA.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:50:21 +0000

I love this book. Definitely one of my favorites. Also, if you see the re-release of the movie from a couple of years ago, Ted Casablance, who writes The Awful Truth on Eonline, does some commentary. Fabulous.

By: Dana

Dana — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:43:46 +0000

total old school!