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Anyone reading this? It is absolutely riveting--five separate stories about L.A. families, some famous (Jack Warner), some historic (the Dohenys). But I just finished the most incredible chapter about a woman named Jane Garland, the (very) schizophrenic daughter from a wealthy family. I had never heard of this woman or her case. Unbelievable.
Anyone interested in L.A. history, or just compellingly good stories, get hold of this book. Same author that wrote the Edie Sedgwick biography years ago.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | March 1, 2020 9:36 PM |
Just finished it.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | February 26, 2016 2:58 AM |
did you like it, R1?
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | February 26, 2016 3:00 AM |
Reading it now. I love it. It's the next great HBO or Showtime series.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | February 26, 2016 4:47 AM |
I devoured this book in 4 hours. I read a lot, and this was the most compelling work I have read in years. It's terrific.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | February 26, 2016 2:30 PM |
Total page turner.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | February 26, 2016 2:36 PM |
East of Eden by J Steinbeck just happens to be shelved next to West of Eden by J Stein? What a pathetic attempt at piggybacking. This offering has an odour about it.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | February 26, 2016 2:51 PM |
The Dohenys were the godfathers of today's Brooklyn Real Estate agents.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | February 26, 2016 2:56 PM |
Just started reading it and it's riveting. I loved "Edie" and the stories in "West of Eden" are just as compelling.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | March 12, 2016 9:38 PM |
I'm just about to start it. As soon as I finish watching Season 2 of Bosch, it's up.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | March 12, 2016 9:54 PM |
Come back when you finish it, and let us know what you think. Each chapter is a stand alone gem, but taken together they really pack a punch. The Jane Garland story is just incredible.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | March 12, 2016 10:56 PM |
I'm on the last chapter now - it's such a compelling read. The Jane Garland and Jennifer Jones chapters are my favorite so far. Would love to know what happened to Jane. And the description of Jennifer hosting a dinner party, never sitting down to eat, but floating in and out of the room with a new dress each time, is perfection.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | March 15, 2016 1:59 AM |
Just finished it. I'd put it on my reading list because of this thread and once I got around to it I devoured it. Loved the stories of Doris Stein and Gore Vidal's mother spending their days getting shitfaced at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | March 30, 2016 8:32 PM |
Bump. Reading now, into the Jennifer Jones part. What an interesting if utterly vain, complicated woman she was.
I know the rich couple in Dominick Dunne’s “An Inconvenient Woman was based on the Bloomingdales, but it sounds like he threw in a good dollop of Jennifer and Norton Simon as well.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | February 16, 2020 5:58 PM |
Read it like 2 year ago. Great trashy read. So few entertaining books lately - like an oasis in the desert.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | February 16, 2020 6:32 PM |
Thought the Jane Garland section was boring. What was the point of that?
Just now starting the Steins.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | February 23, 2020 3:29 AM |
Finally finished this. I did enjoy it, though I was struck by all the name dropping, which I suppose is what it’s all about. To paraphrase a typical passage: “We were at the house in Malibu with Dennis Hopper and Frank Gerry and Walter Hopps, when suddenly Norton Simon and Jennifer Jones dropped by, after Joan Didion left.” I guess that was Jean’s life. Other people, whom you knew, all-important.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | March 1, 2020 8:39 PM |
👆🏼Gehry
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | March 1, 2020 8:51 PM |
The Jennifer Jones story haunted when I read it. There were so many examples of bizarre behavior! And then her daughter's death. The girl jumped from the top of a 22 story building and Jennifer really, really wanted to see the remains!
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | March 1, 2020 9:36 PM |
Yes indeed, we too use "cookies." Take a look at our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn site without all this bureaucratic nonsense, click ACCEPT. Otherwise, you'll just have to find some other site for your pointless bitchery needs.
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