Playland

Screenwriter Jack Broderick is working on a project in Detroit when he accidently comes across Blue Tyler, a 1930's child star idolized by millions who dropped out of sight in the 1940's. She now lives in a seedy trailer park, eccentric, perhaps even insane, and just a step above a bag-lady. Jack is intrigued, and wants to track down the story of her missing years.

This book vividly recreates life in glamorous Hollywood at its peak. It is grand in scope, and we see the stark differences between the public facades (and how they are maintained) and the private realities. The plot also encompasses the lives of the gangsters and mobsters who dominated Hollywood at that time, and who were squabbling for territory at the birth of Las show more Vegas.

Dunne is a great writer, and has perfect control of his plotting and voice in this fascinating novel. I highly recommend it.

As an aside, Dunne was the husband of Joan Didion. It was his death that was the subject of her best-selling The Year of Magical Thinking. show less