Susann, in all her amazingness, sure didn’t forget. When God in her almighty strength crafted the female, she (that’s right, I said “she”) bestowed upon us a fabulous organ designed solely for sexual pleasure, yet men pretended it didn’t exist for years. OMG! Women Actually Orgasm In This Book (And There’s A Lesbian Side Plot) Though she carries a torch for an emotionally unavailable man for most of the story, Anne refuses to give into his immature whims.Ģ. Other love interests later try to persuade her to leave New York or marry, and Anne still isn’t interested. When he proposes to her (with a diamond ring the size of her entire apartment), Anne refuses. He drags her all across New York to glamorous clubs and introduces her to what must have been the Kardashians of the time. A few weeks in, a wealthy man named Allen comes to sweep her off her feet. Instead, she runs away to live in New York, where she takes a crummy job as a secretary for a law firm that specializes in handling actors (meaning: She gets paid very little, and never has free time). The woman could have bought a home, popped out a few kids with her man, and called it a day. Unlike approximately 63% of her lady peers, Anne is also college educated. The Main Character (Mostly) Shuns MarriageĪnne Wells (the character based on the author) really has it made in her hometown, Lawrenceville. Let’s dish on its finer points, shall we?ġ. (Fun fact: The Guinness Book of World Records itself surpassed Valley Of The Dolls sales in the '70s.)ĭespite its campy reputation, Valley Of The Dolls is surprisingly feminist for the era.

Its juiciness was so delectable that Valley Of The Dolls spent considerable time in The Guinness Book Of World Records as the best-selling novel of all time. In fact, it’s packed with enough sex, drugs, gossip, and tantrums to make even Perez Hilton raise an eyebrow. (“Dolls” is code for drugs, aren’t they soooo clever?) The women are (loosely) based on Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, and Jacqueline Susann herself, so you know there’s gonna be some scandal. Why not step outside your literary comfort zone this season with a throwback novel: Valley Of The Dolls, by Jacqueline Susann? The novel, written in 1966, follows the drug-addled lives and careers of three women in showbiz from 1945 to 1965. Reading tends to be one of the best because - unlike, say, doing a puzzle - everyone will leave you alone while you do it (which is what you’ll need when you’re stuck inside with the same people day in and out). With the very real threat of El Niño on the horizon, a lady’s got to get savvy on indoor activities, like, now. And it’s safe for us to be outside without SPF 80 zillion. Jennifer (the character based on Marilyn Monroe) has a steamy, three-year affair with a woman who makes her wild.Īh, fall (aka the season of pumpkin-flavored everything) is upon us! Leaves are changing colors. Don’t worry, it’s not just the heterosexuals having fun.

Valley of the dolls novel