Juliette FayAnmeldelser

Easy to read and very enjoyable historical fiction. Slightly predictable and most, but not all, loose ends wrapped up neatly. Included some real life historical events and the characters were likable without being too saccharine. I also learned more about vaudeville than I knew previously. So, all in all, a good read!

One Hundred years ago in Hollywood, silent films were king. Three friends running away from an a crooked burlesque show owner. The trio of Irene, Missy and Henry run towards the new promise land, Hollywood. The story of this novel is not the rag to riches but the restrictions that Hollywood studios put upon their stars. Jews, homosexuals, people of color should not become stars. The white stars should not be immoral, take drugs and date out side their race.

Fans of old Hollywood will enjoy this story.

Irene Van Beck has had enough of working for a traveling burlesque show. She has a plan, and together with fellow dancer Millie Martin, she is ready to start a new life. Tagging along with them is comedian Henry Weiss, and soon they are off to Hollywood on the next train. However, there it is one thing to dream about finding fame in Hollywood; it's a different thing in real life. Just finding a paying job is hard enough, but Irene, Millie, and Henry won't give up, and they have each other to rely on.

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The glamor and relentless nature of vaudeville theaters provide the setting for this novel about a group of sisters who become the family breadwinners through their acrobatic routine. The Turner sisters find their way into vaudeville through their mother's encouragement and financial necessity. As the sisters travel, they meet other vaudeville players, friendly and not, and find both adventure and disaster on the road. This novel was both fun at times and uncomfortable at others - I appreciated the author's frank descriptions of vaudeville acts which included blackface and racist language, which highlight the dark side of this world. An interesting read, especially for those interested in vaudeville in the post-WWI era.

Could not relate to the main character enough. Dana seemed like a helicopter mom thinking she is the perfect mother and not seeing beyond her own needs. Good explanation of daughter with her eating disorder and glad to have Dana actually try to do it to understand. Really like the dentist and his outlooks on life and glad to see Dana find the answers she needed from him. Definitely a mom who was living like a teenager wanting to be liked by friends.

It all starts in 1921 when Irene Van Beck and her two friends, Millie and Henry, jump from a moving train. They were tired of life with a travelling burlesque show...low pay, abuse, constant moving around. The three friends find their way to Hollywood, dreaming of a new life acting in "flickers.'' Turns out, Hollywood glamour is an illusion hiding a seedy underside. The friends experience hunger, disappointment, and loss while trying to make it big in tinseltown.

I love tales of Old Hollywood, so jumped on the chance to read an early copy of this book by Juliette Fay. So many hopefuls have gone to Hollywood in the past 100 years....only to learn that competition is killer and the lifestyle is a soul-sucking experience. Many seek the glamour and fame...but few ever find it. These three friends experience so much together after jumping off that train...and the story is mesmerizing. It's like a peek behind the curtain into the dark shadows behind the glamour of Old Hollywood. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down!!

This is the first book by Juliette Fay that I've read. I've added her book about the Vaudeville era, The Tumbling Turner Sisters, to my TBR stack!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Gallery Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Three friends—serious Irene, ditzy Millie, and stalwart Henry—escape an oppressive burlesque show to try their luck in silent-film era Hollywood. This book starts out well, but drags in the middle, and the ending seems rushed. I was also hoping for more of a 1920s atmosphere beyond a few slang words and references to Prohibition. I was particularly unconvinced by the characters, whose attitudes seemed surprisingly modern for their time period. Not a bad book, but it could have been better.

Shelter Me was a realistic look at a mother with young children dealing with the sudden death of her husbad. Although the premise was incredibly sad and heartbreaking it was still clever and witty.The plot was predictable but it was a quick and enjoyable read with well-developed and likeable characters.

4.5 stars.

City of Flickering Light by Juliette Fay is an engrossing novel that takes place in Hollywood during the early 1920s.

Irene Van Beck, Millie Martin and Henry Weiss creatively leave behind their life in burlesque for the bright lights of Hollywood. All three have heartache in their pasts so none of them are in touch with their families. Silent pictures are all the rage so this group of friends heads to Hollywood in hopes of hitting it big. Their close-knit friendship bolsters them as they each endure highs and lows as they fight for their big breaks.

Irene is a former Vaudevillian who is the mastermind of their escape from the burlesque show. She is rather serious, incredibly independent and extremely practical. Irene gives little away about herself, but she is fiercely loyal to her friend, Millie.

Millie is perpetually sunny, charming and a bit scatterbrained. She lives in the moment and gives little thought to the consequences of her decisions. In the aftermath of one of her choices, Millie turns to very unhealthy means to try to escape her feelings. Luckily for her, she has Irene and Henry to make she does not end up like some of the other women they meet in Hollywood.

Henry has the looks to be a star but initially, he relies on skills he learned at his beloved grandfather's side. He is very responsible and he shares his good fortune with Irene and Millie. It is not until he begins working as an actor that Henry is willing to admit and accept the undeniable truth about himself.

City of Flickering Light is a truly captivating novel with a cast of endearing and lovable characters. Irene, Millie and Henry are vibrantly developed with fascinating backstories. All three are courageous and determined as they work hard to turn their dreams into reality. Juliette Fay's impeccable research and uncanny ability to weave fact with fiction bring this entrancing novel vividly to life. An absolutely brilliant story that takes readers behind the scenes of the Roaring Twenties and the Golden Age of Hollywood.

This book was on a book exchange shelf and sounded interesting. When I first picked it up, I thought it was non-fiction, but instead it is a fictional act based in a historical time. So many of the details are true, but some timelines have been altered to fit those of the author (events happening sooner than they did in real life etc.) Overall, I felt it was an interesting look into the time when vaudeville was THE entertainment to see and into life at that time.

The book has a little of everything: heartbreak, romance, success, failure.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW--READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

The book follows the Turner family--a father who works at a shoe factor, a mother who starts out as a housewife who wanted a career in showbiz and turns into a stagemother, and their four daughters. Nell, the oldest, is widowed and has a baby. Gert is headstrong. Winnie is the shy, studious one. Kit is the youngest, but the biggest/sturdiest. The story is told from the points of view of Gert and Winnie.

When their father's hand is injured in a fight and his job (along with their livelihood) is in question, Mrs. Turner decides her girls (3 at first) will enter a talent show with cash prizes. They decide on an acrobatics act. Nell joins the act after learning that her husband has died. Though they perform well, they don't win (as it seems the show is rigged to give the prize to a member's wife) but they do pick up an "agent" who starts getting them bookings in vaudeville theaters.

They discover a different type of family among the groups that make up the vaudeville circuit. Many are helpful to younger acts (a comedy duo helps the Turners inject comedy into their routines, an acrobat helps them perfect a few new stunts), many offer friendship, and a few are out and out selfish (robbing other acts to increase their own coffers).

One of the acts they meet is Delorme and Delorme (based on one of the author's relatives who actually performed in vaudeville) who perform a ballroom dance routine with some comedy bits. When the female half of the duo leaves due to what seems to be alcohol abuse, Nell steps in to take her part due to her friendship with Fred Delorme. This proves fortuitous as eventually she is the only one still performing in vaudeville because of this duo act. Vaudeville helps Nell to get away from her grief at losing her husband and helps her to see she can live and love again.

Another act they meet is Tippety Tap Jones, a tap dancer. He also seems to be the only African American on their circuit. The whole family is friendly with him, and for the most part, he is cognizant of what he needs to do to keep his place in the society and time in which he lives. For whatever reason, Gert is drawn to him, despite the impropriety it creates for the time period in which it is set. For example, Tap introduces the girls to a springboard and while practicing, Gert tumbles into him and they both end up tangled on the floor. One of the other acts, probably jealous because Tap got promoted to their spot, tells the theater manager that Tap has been acting indecently and Tap is dismissed immediately. Gert and Tap fall in love--a love they need to hide even from the other vaudevillians--but they are separated when Tap's life is threatened by racism. We never find out what happened to Tap. Gert ends up doing burlesque for a time, but there is the idea that their former agent is heading to California and might represent her for work in the film industry there. I was a bit surprised that Gert didn't want to get her high school degree and was glad Winnie pushed her to complete it. I do realize this was a different time and that completing high school wasn't always required to find a job in the 1910-1920 time range.

A third act they meet is comprised of Joe and his sister Lucy. Joe plays the piano and Lucy sings. Lucy becomes a friend to Kit and the two girls spend time together. Joe and Winnie also spend time together and it develops into a romantic relationship.

A tragic event ends the run of the Tumbling Turner Sisters. Winnie ends up going to college. We're not really told what Kit does long-term, though it seems she does go back to high school.

I laughed, I cried, I loved this book - only the second book I've ever read on my phone and I didn't really notice because it was so good! The characters are believable, as is the story, and even though the book is thoroughly researched for accuracy of the time period (clothes, food, entertainment, and everything to do with vaudeville in the early 1900's, etc.) the plot is so engrossing it seemed much more like fiction than dry facts. Ironically, I had also read Juliette Fay's most recent book City of Flickering Lights before beginning this one and now I can't wait to read the other two earlier books that she's written.

Thanks to Book Club Cookbook and publisher Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster for a copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved this! Telling the fascinating story of the early days of Hollywood through the various experiences of three friends was an excellent way to transport readers back to the early 1920's. The glamorous and gritty accounts of the budding film industry form the backdrop for author Juliette Fay to write a memorable, realistic, and touching story of the bonds of friendship. Each chapter begins with a quote from an actual person of that time period, and is related to the events that happen in that chapter. I admired Fay's ability to skillfully weave the Hollywood facts of events and people with the fictional story to create a novel I couldn't stop reading.

"The City of Flickering Light" was intriguing to me because I have not read many books that focus on this setting or era in history. The characters are interesting, and story moves along well. The three individuals form real friendships as they seek to make it in big films. I learned about film making from this book, which is an area that I know nothing about. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter also added to the charm of this book. Very entertaining book about Hollywood.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This novel reminded me a lot of The Girls in the Picture, which I read last year. While I liked The Girls in the Picture a little better, City of Flickering Light has its own merit as a novel about the early film industry. Set in post-WWI Hollywood, the novel is centered around three characters - Irene, Millie, and Henry - who arrive in California with hopes of making it big in films. They each experience ups and downs as they learn the film industry and the people who work in it. Romance plays its part, but a deep friendship binds the characters of Irene, Millie, and Henry and they seek to help each other weather the challenges they all face. Good reading and fun to learn a little about early Hollywood.

Irene, Millie, and Henry jump from a moving train to escape their life in a traveling burlesque show. The friends make their way to Hollywood, where they are determined to break into the pictures. Henry immediately finds work at the movies as a tailor. Irene eventually finds work in the typing pool, and Millie waits on the benches, hoping to be picked as an extra. Together, the three friends navigate the exciting, and often treacherous, world of Hollywood.

This was a dynamic, fun, and entertaining book. The characters were well developed and interesting. They story moved at a nice pace, and showed a depth of emotion and range. I look forward to reading more from this author.

“The future can seem like a shadow, nothing but a trick of the light, when you’re caught in a situation with virtually no escape.” OK, the next logical thing to do is jump from a moving train and that is exactly what Irene, Millie and Henry do. Escaping from Chandler’s Follies, a miserable burlesque revue which was so rigged that the performers could never make enough money to break free they are heading for Hollywood. They have no money, no contacts, no place to stay and it quickly becomes clear that they have jumped into an equally difficult life.

Irene Van Beck has the brains, organization and drive to make the tough decisions. Millie Martin is a carefree beauty who is impulsive and needs to be kept on a leash. Henry Weiss is perhaps the most complex and interesting of the trio. This is the story of the early days of the movie companies and the young people who tried to find a life in the world of flickers. It highlights the inequities, the prejudices and the carelessness of a a fast life.

I liked this book, but I really loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for a copy.

This was just an all-around enjoyable read. The main characters were very likable people and even though it may have been a bit predictable, it was still a very engaging story.

Irene, Millie and Henry each have a background that they feel the need to run away from. They form a make-shift family after making a daring escape from a traveling burlesque show. When they get to Hollywood, they help each other until they each find jobs.

Even after they each begin to experience some success with their careers, they still face some trying times and come together to support one another. As they make friends with others, they form a larger group of “family” in the Hollywood community.

I loved the references to actors and actresses from the 1920’s and the descriptions of the Hollywood topography at that time. It was an interesting inside look at what it took to get a foot in the door of Hollywood during the 1920’s.

A fun read and one that I think most readers will enjoy, especially those with an interest in Hollywood and historical fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and offer my honest review.

In my quest to discover more Historical Fiction, I've been seeking out stories that deal with concepts that I'm intrigued by. When The Tumbling Turner Sisters was offered to me for review, with its family spotlight and its glimpse into the life of Vaudeville, I knew this was something that I would want to read. Kit, Gert, Nell and Winnie beckoned to me from behind the stage. As I started to dive in, it was obvious that Juliette Faye has done her research on the lives of Vaudeville entertainers. The fierce competition, the dismal accommodations, and the sincere relationships that were struck between these travelers, all come to life on the page. If this era interests you, you're in for a treat.

One of the things I most enjoyed about The Tumbling Turner Sisters were the fascinating people that this family met on their journeys. Juliette Fay manages to create a menagerie of people for the girls to learn from. Some are good, some bad, but all are important to moving forward the lives of our featured sisters. Most of the characters I ended up enjoying the most were these secondary characters. They really brought a richness to the story that would have otherwise been missing. What's really interesting about this aspect of the book, is that it allows Fay to touch on subjects that were in the limelight at this point in time. The sisters encounter racism aplenty, discussions of prohibition, and even women's suffrage.

The problem was that, while the setting is laid out in great detail, our main characters were lacking as narrators. I didn't mind Winnie and Gert for the most part, however I never felt as endeared to them as I ought to have been. They were a little lackluster as narrators, choosing quite often to spend most of their time focused on the travel between spaces rather than the Vaudeville itself. I wanted more of the quirkiness and delight of the Vaudeville stage. Since most of my favorite characters were encountered here, I missed them when the girls were focused on where they were going, and how they would get there. It made things lag a bit.

In fact, a vast majority of this story is focused on the girls and their own individual coming-of-age stories. They love, they lose, and they weather it all by sticking together as a family. It's tough not to fall in love with a family story, especially once where sisters are so close. I only wish that the girls had been a little more fleshed out. The story tried so hard to include all of them, constantly, that it brushed over a lot of what I would have wanted to know about them. I'd have happily read a much longer book if it meant more insight into their personalities, hopes, and fears.

As a whole, The Tumbling Turner Sisters is a solid story. I think that readers looking for a glimpse into the world of Vaudeville, and into the lives of those who were caught up in its midst, will enjoy this lighter read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of 4 sisters who go on the road as a vaudeville act, along with their mother, after their father has damaged his hand and can no longer work. The girls become the breadwinners in their family, sending money home to pay the rent. They are gone for weeks at a time, honing their craft and meeting many people along the way. Some of the people they meet are extremely kind and helpful in learning the vaudeville way, and others are mean and nasty. The story is told by the 2 middle sisters, Gert and Winnie. Gert is curvaceous and men are constantly after her for her looks. Winnie is interested in her education and wants to go to college. Both tell the story of vaudeville, and the people they meet, in their own way. Kit is the youngest sister, at 13, and Nell is the oldest. Nell is married and has a young son, Harry.
I learned a lot about vaudeville, the different acts, the life on the road, and the conditions of the theatre, hotels, and rooming houses in the late 1910s. There is a bit about prohibition, women's suffrage, and racism in the book as well. All very well told. I also loved the quotes from all of the vaudeville performers at the beginning of each chapter.
This book is about hope, success, failure, sibling rivalry and love, kindness, and enduring relationships.

I received an early reviewer copy through Netgalley.

I've been reading a lot of nonfiction and fiction Hollywood through this period, so I was excited to read this book. The story is a solid one as it follows three escapees from an abusive burlesque show--Irene, Millie, and Henry--as they venture to Hollywood to try and make their dreams come true. Really, this novel is great for readers with only a vague understanding of silent film Hollywood, as it details the brutal process of trying to bust into movies, how movies were written and filmed, the rampant drug availability and abuse of the time, and more, all through the eyes of three easy-to-relate-characters. The book also handles many sensitive issues quite well, such as sex, pregnancy, and homosexuality in Hollywood.

My issues with the book came down to... well, having already read too much on the period. Indeed, the author's note in the back recommended several books I've read in recent months. As soon as I realized that one of the minor characters resembled the real life figure of William Desmond Taylor, that gave away a huge chunk of the plot for me. That jolted me at points where I expected the book to more closely follow actual history. There are several characters blatantly based on real historical figures, and I kind of wish the real people had been able to represent themselves instead. This was particularly true of the character based on Frances Marion--who, I confess, I greatly admire.

I recommend this book to historical fiction readers who would like to read more about early Hollywood. (And if you want another recent book set in the same period, look up Melanie Benjamin's The Girls in the Picture.)

When the dad injures his hand and can no longer work at the shoe factory, mom rises to the occasion to save the family. Garnering her four daughters, she coaxes them into developing an act for vaudeville. The girls realize that they either earn money or become homeless. With money as the initial incentive, they soon discover they like performing. There is much to learn and successes to be savored, but some heartache is part of it, too. Author Juliette Fay has done extensive research into the era and vaudeville, and it is quite evident in the tale that she is drawn to her setting. Historical events are inserted into the story, and through the characters and their endeavors, the reader learns much about the struggles of vaudevillians and of the women of that time. Wonderful characters and a great plot make this an enlightening as well as entertaining tale.

I liked it OK and it was not a book that was hard to get into or anything. There just wasn't much "meat" to the story. In fact, it was pretty predictable. For what ever reason, though, I really liked the main character of the book. I think that the author (Fay) had so many things going on in her own head that she wanted to write about that she seemed to have just thrown in a bunch of stuff she just couldn't seem to develop or she didn't have enough time to finish...Not sure.

Again, with the three stars.... don't let the rating fool you. This is a good book! It was a much-needed break from the usual romance novels I have been reading! This is a heart-warming, charming book! I can't put into words what I think about it. The main characters are so real. The situations are so real. The epiphanies throughout the book jump out at you so hard, you may find yourself rethinking your own personal decisions in life! I gave it three starts just because it wasn't one of those "I just cannot put it down yet" kind of books, but definitely a book you strive to finish!

The Tumbling Turner Sisters is the story of the four Turner sisters whose mother transforms them into a vaudeville act when their father is injured on the job. I don't know how to describe it other than to say that this book is historical fiction at its most fun. I loved getting acquainted with the vaudeville circuit through the Turner girls' eyes. They meet all kinds of people and find success they never expected and some romance along the way. To say that it's "fun" I don't mean to imply a lack of seriousness. As they rise to fame, the Turners encounter poverty, gain new understanding of racism and discrimination, and are touched by tragedy, all of which add enough heft to story for it to be a truly satisfying read.½

I loved Deep Down True just as much as Shelter Me. It was another page turner for me. The writing is clear and poignant. Dana Stellgarten was the main character. She is described by her sister as a cupcaker, she volunteered to help people. She made delicious dinners and delivered them to homes of families who had a people dying of terminal cancer. A lot of people thought that she was a pushover. She had just been divorced and had a daughter, Morgan and son, Grady. Her kids were struggling with just getting used to the divorce.

Morgan wants to be popular and look like the TV ads. Garth really wants some time with his Dad. Alder, her teenage niece, leaves home. She wants to be away from her controlling mother and work out her feelings for her past best friend. Along comes Jet, Alder's new friend who really needs a mother bad but her mother is addict.

To add to stress, Dana is unemployed, she thought that she would be at home for the kids but her ex-husband is dealing with a financial set back. All her ex-husband is living with his girl friend.

How is this going to work out? Will Dana be the same as she was before the divorce? What is the most important in life?

I highly recommend this book to all readers interested in family drama.