Valley of the Dolls

Some consider it a trash, while others think it’s a treasure, whatever the reaction people are being intrigued by this phenomenon once again, in fact I should say once again all over.

Sex, drugs and unexpected discoveries, this book by Jacqueline has it all. To the uninitiated it is the classic story about three showbiz girls who go to New York starting just after World War II and who use their beautiful bodies to skyrocket to fame and fortune. They realize that the high life isn’t they had thought it be as they begin to use drugs, booze and sex to maintain their perfect dream world. Without saying you’d realise where that lead to. Yes Disaster.

The book was an instant success when it was first published in 1966, later on they made a movie of the same film. I think it was also made into a sitcom. If you are interested in knowing more about the VALLEY, here is a small review which you’ll find interesting:

When the story begins in 1946, the main characters are all young and at different stages of innocence. You have Anne, a sweet 20 yr old Massachusetts girl who dreams of passionate love and family, after she has a career for herself. She’s happy being a secretary. You have Neely, a sweet 17 year old vaudeville dancer / singer who works with her family and wants to be a showbiz girl while she finds a guy to marry and have kids with. And finally you have Jenny, who is 25 and whose mom pushes her to marry rich. She’s the only non-virgin - she married a European noble in hopes of cash, but divorced him quickly when she found out he was actually poor.

Anne is incredibly innocent, with parents who want her to simply marry a local boy and settle down. Neely is a young sparker, who leaps to every new challenge with energy and enthusiasm. Jenny is resolute in her aim to make money, keeping her body well oiled and cared for to reach her goals. The three become roommates as they each persue their goals. All three want to marry well, that is their end goal.

Ironically of course, when they draw close to their goals they find they want more. Neely does in fact marry the guy she chases after - but when she drags him out to Hollywood with her, she bores of him quickly and wants a divorce. Jenny marries a rich singer despite the objections of the singer’s sister - but divorces him when he sleeps around and she realizes he has a genetic mental problem that would affect their kids. Anne turns down a millionare to stay with a writer she loves passionately - but he abandons her to focus on his writing efforts. She keeps pining after him even while she moves on to other affairs.

And so it goes. Anne becomes a cosmetics girl cover-girl, and of the three is the sanest. She sleeps with the boss and plans on marrying him in a while. She’s not hooked on drugs. But Jenny and Neely are both addicted to uppers and downers by now. Neely has destroyed her career several times over by being a prima-donna. Her second husband divorces her and she never spends any time with her kids. Jenny finally finds a rich senator to love - and dreams of marrying him and having kids. But breast cancer and uterine issues hit, and she doesn’t trust the senator to stay with her with these problems. Life unravels.