Jacqueline Susann's Shadow of the Dolls

Shadow of the Dolls is a fitting sequel to Jacqueline Susann's "Valley of the Dolls". Rae Lawrence certainly did Jaqueline justice with this. Though it is not necessary to have read "Valley...", it does make this book that much better if you do. I couldn't put this book down. I was so interested in the lives of Anne and Neely and Lyon. The characters became part of me for the 3 days it took me to read this book. I wish there was another one. When I was finished reading it I was sad because it was over. I want to read it again.

Shadow defines Pool-side literature this summer! It has all the trashy fun of the original, but in a funny, intelligently written, modern package. I think that most of the reviewers on this page are simply interpreting Shadow incorrectly. ( I write that with the utmost respect.) After reading the book, I do not think that Ms. Lawrence intended this as a true sequel. The reviewer from Toronto writes that, "The characters have not been properly aged."--it's obvious that Lawrence did not intend them to be "properly aged"-and of course they use expressions from the sixties, they lived in that decade! Lawrence is not tring to rewrite Susann's classic, nor is she trying to copy it. Enjoy it for what it is, a smartly written book that enables all of us to venture back to a bygone era-that is worth the 15 dollars alone!

As Jackie Susann's biographer, I was almost afraid to read SHADOW OF THE DOLLS. I wanted to like it-- because I wanted it to be a book that Jackie would like- but I couldn't imagine that ANY sequel would equal VD (the nickname attached to her original manuscript by her editor, Don Preston.) My affection for Jackie is such that for the15 years since publication of LOVELY ME, I have been "taking heat" for comparing Jackie to novelist, Theodore Dreiser . I wrote: - ":Like Jackie he believed he was exposing the corruption of his times. And like Jackie he had that certain something, that one in a million narrative drive....VD...stands as an early storm signal of both the drug culture and the women's movement. Jackie had something to say and she said it, and if she did not say it artfully, she said it compellingly...." These days,- happily,- fewer people laugh at my Dreiser comparison, and many historians and critics acknowledge that (in her own way) Jackie, while larger than life, was a true original, a gutbucket pioneer of women's liberation, a publishing pathfinder, as well as a deeply touching, even heroic human being. Hooray! We needn't read Jackie by flashlight under the covers anymore! College students are required to study VD for their courses on the 1960s. For credit! So, how can you compete with VD, - the most-unlikely best -sellling novel of the 20th century, and, on many levels, a landmark book? The answer is you can't-- but you can be faithful to the style, the intent, the characters the worldview and the delicious page-turning readability .. . Rae Lawrence (aka Ruth Liebmann) has given us a highly intelligent and consistent re-rendering of Jackie's universe. - the emptiness and unreliability of wealth and celebrity, the ubiquity of drugs, the perfidy of the alpha male, the dialogue that captures character, the blackly humorous unexpected twists in the story line. Rae also shares Jackie's gift for establishing the atmosphere of the haunts and hangouts of celebrity high-players, their jealousies , disappointments, nightmares, obsessions... In my opinion Jackie would be tickled with this book, she would be honored that Rae is faithful to her original vision ( with the exception that Jackie had more respect and affection for Anne, while Rae prefers Neely) The Jackie I know would absolutely adore the ironic consumations , contortions, and conclusions of SHADOW . Indeed, she might half- wish she had thought of them herself, and she'd be most appreciative that Rae did. I cannot reveal what these books-end surprises may be ,because I don't want to spoil your fun. But I anticipate that many readers may agree: "Ah yes, of course. This is exactly how it had to turn out.. This is what had to be. This is what would become of Neely and Anne." *Title of the 1944 Broadway play in which Jackie was featured with Carole Landis, on whom Jennifer North was partially based.

Wow. Neely, Lyon, and Anne are back in this summer's ... read. Although many years have passed since the origingal "Valley of the Dolls", Rae Lawrence proves that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Here we find Anne Welles realising that the past she thought she ran away from years ago will always be there to haunt her. Lyon is still the same playboy he always was, (not a good thing to be when you are married), and Neely O'Hara decides being a singer in the theatre isn't all that much--not when you can be a big star in Hollywood. All the vices, bitchery, and deception are there, with a couple of plot twists thrown in for good measure. I stayed up till three a.m., unable to put this book down until it was finished. And when it was finshed....I wanted MORE!! Hard-core "Valley" fans may be disappointed at the lack of shock and scandal in this volume, compared to the original, but it is no less satisfying for it.

In the true style of the original, this sequel is a deliciously wicked read! Ms. Lawrence really took on a challenge by finishing Susann's unfinished manuscript, written just before her death. For readers not familiar with the first or those who forgot, it doesn't matter. Lawrence has updated the characters to fit the times, of course taking some very big liberties with age, etc. No matter, it works! This time, the story revolves around Anne and Neely, both trying to weather turbulent personal matters, age (they make 33-34 out to be ancient) and careers. Money and greed, of course, bring the two together after they split in the first novel. Alas, all is not neat and tidy! The story just oozes with sex, drugs, cat fights, ex-husbands, and skeletons coming out of the closet just to mention a few.Once again, we are reminded that Susann paved the way for today's greats like Jackie Collins. Congrats to Ms. Lawrence for bringing "Shadows" to life.