This was so good and yet so bad. I don't know how else to say it. This was very entertaining and said a lot about the entertainment industry during the 20th century. The prose is readable, but also nothing to write home about. There was so much in this novel, you can tell Susann put so much into the characters and the plot. Every man in this book was horrible, Lyon being the worst!

The only likable characters were Anne and Sharon Tate... I mean Jennifer! These are real people and real situations, no one can tell me otherwise, and it is terrifying! Someone, please tell me this isn't what real life is, what humanity is. Please tell me that we've progressed as a society since this was written. ( )

It was better than I expected. ( )

A gossipy favorite. I needed to read something historical from various POV's, and this didn't disappoint. Drama on high, lol ( )

fabulously depressing, valley of the dolls is the perfect showbusiness corruption story. it highlights the decadence and alienation of the entertainment industry, whilst also commenting on the social restrictions placed on women in this era - all in a very camp manner (probably not intended, but a highlight nonetheless). i loved jennifer and anne (and had a love-hate relationship with neely), and found their stories fascinating. an intimately camp portrait of a descent into, well, the valley of the dolls. ( )

I read this in high school... goodness knows why. I didn't particularly enjoy it, though it does keep moving along and kind of holds you in town hoping that eventually things will go right for the characters or that they will have some insight into their lives and take a little responsibility or face up and change eventually... but it never happens. This has got to be one of the most depressing books I've ever read. Unfortunately I can't even really say it presents women in a bad light or unfairly, because I still know women like this. I think this novel is a kind of anti-feminist classic; a kind of cautionary tale that maybe all teen girls should read so they don't ever grow up to be mindless bimbos who - despite their brains and talent and success and friendships with other women - STILL define themselves and their happiness entirely through the eyes and desires of men.