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Hollywood's Garden of Allah #2
The Trouble with Scarlett: A Novel of Golden-Era Hollywood
Summer, 1936: "Gone with the Wind," Margaret Mitchell’s first novel, takes the world by storm. Everyone in Hollywood knows Civil War pictures don’t make a dime, but renegade producer David O. Selznick snaps up the movie rights and suddenly America has just one question: Who will play Scarlett O’Hara?
When Gwendolyn Brick gets her hands on the book, the clouds part and the angels sing the Hallelujah Chorus. Only a real Southern belle can play Scarlett—and didn’t her mama raise her on stories of Sherman’s march and those damned Yankees? After years of slinging cigarettes at the Cocoanut Grove, Gwendolyn finds a new calling: to play Scarlett. But she’s not the only gal in town with a deep-fried accent. She’s going to have to stand out bigger than a hoop skirt at a Twelve Oaks barbeque to win that role.
Marcus Adler is the golden boy of Cosmopolitan Pictures, the studio William Randolph Hearst started for his mistress, Marion Davies. When Marcus’ screenplay becomes Davies’ first hit, he’s invited to Hearst Castle for the weekend. The kid who was kicked out of Pennsylvania gets to rub shoulders with Myrna Loy, Winston Churchill, and Katharine Hepburn—but when the trip turns fiasco, he starts sinking fast. He needs a new story, real big and real soon. So when F. Scott Fitzgerald moves into the Garden of Allah with a $1000-a-week MGM contract but no idea how to write a screenplay, Marcus says, “Pleased to meetcha. We need to talk.”
When Selznick asks George Cukor to direct "Gone with the Wind," it’s the scoop of the year for Kathryn Massey, the Hollywood Reporter’s newest columnist. But dare she publish it? Scoops are the exclusive domain of the Hearst papers’ all-powerful, all-knowing, all-bitchy Louella Parsons. Nobody in Hollywood has ever dared to outscoop Louella—until now. When Louella comes back low and dirty, Kathryn’s boss lets her dangle like a scarecrow in a summer storm. Then the telephone rings. It’s Ida Koverman, Louis B. Mayer’s personal secretary, and she has a proposition she’d like to make.
"The Trouble with Scarlett" is the second in Martin Turnbull’s series of historical novels set during Hollywood’s golden age.
When Gwendolyn Brick gets her hands on the book, the clouds part and the angels sing the Hallelujah Chorus. Only a real Southern belle can play Scarlett—and didn’t her mama raise her on stories of Sherman’s march and those damned Yankees? After years of slinging cigarettes at the Cocoanut Grove, Gwendolyn finds a new calling: to play Scarlett. But she’s not the only gal in town with a deep-fried accent. She’s going to have to stand out bigger than a hoop skirt at a Twelve Oaks barbeque to win that role.
Marcus Adler is the golden boy of Cosmopolitan Pictures, the studio William Randolph Hearst started for his mistress, Marion Davies. When Marcus’ screenplay becomes Davies’ first hit, he’s invited to Hearst Castle for the weekend. The kid who was kicked out of Pennsylvania gets to rub shoulders with Myrna Loy, Winston Churchill, and Katharine Hepburn—but when the trip turns fiasco, he starts sinking fast. He needs a new story, real big and real soon. So when F. Scott Fitzgerald moves into the Garden of Allah with a $1000-a-week MGM contract but no idea how to write a screenplay, Marcus says, “Pleased to meetcha. We need to talk.”
When Selznick asks George Cukor to direct "Gone with the Wind," it’s the scoop of the year for Kathryn Massey, the Hollywood Reporter’s newest columnist. But dare she publish it? Scoops are the exclusive domain of the Hearst papers’ all-powerful, all-knowing, all-bitchy Louella Parsons. Nobody in Hollywood has ever dared to outscoop Louella—until now. When Louella comes back low and dirty, Kathryn’s boss lets her dangle like a scarecrow in a summer storm. Then the telephone rings. It’s Ida Koverman, Louis B. Mayer’s personal secretary, and she has a proposition she’d like to make.
"The Trouble with Scarlett" is the second in Martin Turnbull’s series of historical novels set during Hollywood’s golden age.
346 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2012
180 people are currently reading
697 people want to read
About the author
Martin Turnbull
22 books241 followersMartin Turnbull has worked as a private tour guide showing both locals and out-of-towners the movie studios, Beverly Hills mansions, Hollywood hills vistas and where all the bodies are buried. For nine years, he has also volunteered as an historical walking tour docent with the Los Angeles Conservancy. He worked for a summer as a guide at the Warner Bros. movie studios in Burbank showing movie fans through the sound stages where Bogie and Bacall, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, and James Cagney created some of Hollywood’s classic motion pictures.
From an early age, Martin was enchanted with old movies from Hollywood’s golden era–from the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s to the dusk of the studio system in the late 1950s–and has spent many, many a happy hour watching the likes of Garland, Gable, Crawford, Garbo, Grant, Miller, Kelly, Astaire, Rogers, Turner, Welles go through their paces.
When he discovered the wonderful world of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, his love of reading merged with his love of movies and his love of history to produce a three-headed hydra gobbling up everything in his path. Ever since then, he’s been on a mission to learn and share as much as he can about this unique time.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Martin moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s.
From an early age, Martin was enchanted with old movies from Hollywood’s golden era–from the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s to the dusk of the studio system in the late 1950s–and has spent many, many a happy hour watching the likes of Garland, Gable, Crawford, Garbo, Grant, Miller, Kelly, Astaire, Rogers, Turner, Welles go through their paces.
When he discovered the wonderful world of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, his love of reading merged with his love of movies and his love of history to produce a three-headed hydra gobbling up everything in his path. Ever since then, he’s been on a mission to learn and share as much as he can about this unique time.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Martin moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
July 1, 2015
I couldn't put it down! This book had everything good that the previous book had: well-rounded sympathetic main characters, intrigue, the lavish descriptions of life in 1930s Hollywood.
The book was tighter and more coherent than the first one. My main complaint about the first book was the time-jumping, where the author skipped large amounts of time with no clues or warnings. The passage of time was handled much better in this book - partly because it spanned fewer years than the first book did, but also because the author just wrote the transitions more smoothly.
The story ended more suddenly than I was expecting. The overall plot was about the casting and filming of Gone with the Wind, which was concluded nicely at the end of the book. But because the main characters' lives were still in transition, I wasn't expecting the book to end right when it did. It was an ending that pointed obviously to the next book, though, which is fine for a series. It just means that this series should definitely be read in order, starting with the first book.
An excellent read, and I'll be starting in on the next book soon!
The book was tighter and more coherent than the first one. My main complaint about the first book was the time-jumping, where the author skipped large amounts of time with no clues or warnings. The passage of time was handled much better in this book - partly because it spanned fewer years than the first book did, but also because the author just wrote the transitions more smoothly.
The story ended more suddenly than I was expecting. The overall plot was about the casting and filming of Gone with the Wind, which was concluded nicely at the end of the book. But because the main characters' lives were still in transition, I wasn't expecting the book to end right when it did. It was an ending that pointed obviously to the next book, though, which is fine for a series. It just means that this series should definitely be read in order, starting with the first book.
An excellent read, and I'll be starting in on the next book soon!
January 17, 2015
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.
A fun and funny romp through the early days of Hollywood. Turnbull has created a world rich in accurate historical detail for his characters to wander through and populated it with real life stars and studio bigwigs, writers and reporters. His knowledge of the period is impressive. Vivid little touches like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s addiction to sugary soft drinks really show off the author’s ability to turn obscure factoids into compelling insights into character. This humanizes people we otherwise tend to see as a famous name and list of accomplishments.
Turnbull introduces us to this world through the struggles of three aspiring wannabes, as they try to break into acting, writing, and reporting respectively. Each of them is likeable in their own way. Gwendolyn is spunky and bull-headed. Marcus has a softness to him and a craving to prove himself. Kathryn wears the reluctant cynicism of every newshound both before and after her. Classic underdogs all. If you can’t see glimpses of yourself in one of them, then you’ll at least find yourself rooting for them to overcome the staggering odds aligned against them.
The tone of the book resembles a sitcom or screwball comedy with characters leaping from one humorous situation to the next. This keeps the pace lively, but leads to one of the flaws of The Trouble With Scarlett. First, the need to put Kathryn, Marcus, and Gwendolyn into the middle of big events, like the burning of the King Kong set for Gone With The Wind, can lead to odd jumps in time. It’s a bit jarring to realize that several months have gone by since the last chapter.
Second, when you know that some important plot point or funny bit of slapstick or critical encounter is always going to occur whenever the narrative shifts to a different character, it removes any sense of surprise you might enjoy when an unexpected event blindsides you as you read.
Lastly, and most importantly, the lack of down time means that the focus is mostly on “Things Happening” and not on “Characters Being.” To be fair there is the odd bit of introspection from the main three, but for the most part, Marcus, Gwen, and Kathryn are the same people they were at the start of the story. We know how they behave and how they react to situations, but we don’t always get to know who they are on a deeper level. We don’t see them change. And given how much potential these characters have to transform into fully-fledged three dimensional people despite their start as strings of words on a page, this is disappointing.
However, as a comedy the book succeeds, and as a glimpse of a vanished world built on dreams and back-stabbing, The Trouble With Scarlett is exceptional. Whatever flaws it has are structural, and not every book has to be a serious examination of existential man. Enjoy it as a light-hearted frolic through the sets and spotlights of old Hollywood.
A fun and funny romp through the early days of Hollywood. Turnbull has created a world rich in accurate historical detail for his characters to wander through and populated it with real life stars and studio bigwigs, writers and reporters. His knowledge of the period is impressive. Vivid little touches like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s addiction to sugary soft drinks really show off the author’s ability to turn obscure factoids into compelling insights into character. This humanizes people we otherwise tend to see as a famous name and list of accomplishments.
Turnbull introduces us to this world through the struggles of three aspiring wannabes, as they try to break into acting, writing, and reporting respectively. Each of them is likeable in their own way. Gwendolyn is spunky and bull-headed. Marcus has a softness to him and a craving to prove himself. Kathryn wears the reluctant cynicism of every newshound both before and after her. Classic underdogs all. If you can’t see glimpses of yourself in one of them, then you’ll at least find yourself rooting for them to overcome the staggering odds aligned against them.
The tone of the book resembles a sitcom or screwball comedy with characters leaping from one humorous situation to the next. This keeps the pace lively, but leads to one of the flaws of The Trouble With Scarlett. First, the need to put Kathryn, Marcus, and Gwendolyn into the middle of big events, like the burning of the King Kong set for Gone With The Wind, can lead to odd jumps in time. It’s a bit jarring to realize that several months have gone by since the last chapter.
Second, when you know that some important plot point or funny bit of slapstick or critical encounter is always going to occur whenever the narrative shifts to a different character, it removes any sense of surprise you might enjoy when an unexpected event blindsides you as you read.
Lastly, and most importantly, the lack of down time means that the focus is mostly on “Things Happening” and not on “Characters Being.” To be fair there is the odd bit of introspection from the main three, but for the most part, Marcus, Gwen, and Kathryn are the same people they were at the start of the story. We know how they behave and how they react to situations, but we don’t always get to know who they are on a deeper level. We don’t see them change. And given how much potential these characters have to transform into fully-fledged three dimensional people despite their start as strings of words on a page, this is disappointing.
However, as a comedy the book succeeds, and as a glimpse of a vanished world built on dreams and back-stabbing, The Trouble With Scarlett is exceptional. Whatever flaws it has are structural, and not every book has to be a serious examination of existential man. Enjoy it as a light-hearted frolic through the sets and spotlights of old Hollywood.
March 11, 2017
A number of anachronisms, unfortunately, kept me from complete immersion in the book. For instance, a blue Civil War costume that one of the characters dons is referred to as a Confederate uniform...not once, but twice. The first time, I thought it was a joke on the clueless character who was wearing it, but later, the narrator again insists on the accuracy of "Confederate blue.
Additionally, it would be nice to have something of substance in either the primary characters' stories or the film stars they meet (or both). All are very thinly drawn so that they seem like mere apparitions floating around the film capital--the real protagonist of the book.
Additionally, it would be nice to have something of substance in either the primary characters' stories or the film stars they meet (or both). All are very thinly drawn so that they seem like mere apparitions floating around the film capital--the real protagonist of the book.
February 13, 2016
When we last left Marcus, Kathryn, and Gwendolyn, it was with some small measure of hope. Marcus is on the rise at Cosmopolitan Pictures, having just written a hit for Marion Davies. Kathryn was just given the scoop of the century with news that George Cukor is slated to direct the upcoming Gone With the Wind, if she dares print it in the Hollywood Reporter over Louella Parsons' strict "I get all the scoops" rule. Only poor Gwendolyn, still slinging cigarettes at the Cocoanut Grove, is waiting for her big break.
But our hapless heroes have an endearing way of self-sabotaging. One minute Marcus is rubbing elbows with William Randolph Hearst, Katharine Hepburn, and, of all people, Winston Churchill; the next he's back in his basement apartment at the Garden of Allah, unemployed and drunk and angling for a way to get back into the studios' good graces. He might have a way through the scruffy writer who just moved in next door--a Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald--brought out under contract but with no idea how to apply his novel-writing skills to scripts. If Marcus can help Fitzgerald write a winning screenplay, perhaps it could be his way in?
And Kathryn, willing to outscoop Louella Parsons and take on the Hollywood news establishment, finds her perch suddenly shaky. She has the sources and she has the backing of those who wish Louella toppled, but is her position as secure as she thinks?
Gwendolyn is determined to finally move beyond the Cocoanut Grove and thinks that the nationwide search for an actress to play Scarlett O'Hara is her way in. She was born to play this role. She only has to convince David O. Selznick of that; good thing she has her two friends and a whole handful of wild schemes to back her up. Good luck, Gwendolyn.
Another rich addition to this fun series!
Minor complaint: Poor Frances Goodrich had her name spelled with the very masculine "i" instead of an "e" in most of her appearances on the page.
But our hapless heroes have an endearing way of self-sabotaging. One minute Marcus is rubbing elbows with William Randolph Hearst, Katharine Hepburn, and, of all people, Winston Churchill; the next he's back in his basement apartment at the Garden of Allah, unemployed and drunk and angling for a way to get back into the studios' good graces. He might have a way through the scruffy writer who just moved in next door--a Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald--brought out under contract but with no idea how to apply his novel-writing skills to scripts. If Marcus can help Fitzgerald write a winning screenplay, perhaps it could be his way in?
And Kathryn, willing to outscoop Louella Parsons and take on the Hollywood news establishment, finds her perch suddenly shaky. She has the sources and she has the backing of those who wish Louella toppled, but is her position as secure as she thinks?
Gwendolyn is determined to finally move beyond the Cocoanut Grove and thinks that the nationwide search for an actress to play Scarlett O'Hara is her way in. She was born to play this role. She only has to convince David O. Selznick of that; good thing she has her two friends and a whole handful of wild schemes to back her up. Good luck, Gwendolyn.
Another rich addition to this fun series!
Minor complaint: Poor Frances Goodrich had her name spelled with the very masculine "i" instead of an "e" in most of her appearances on the page.
December 28, 2016
4.5*~~The second excursion into the lives of Marcus, Kathryn, and Gwendolyn as they maneuver among the Hollywood elite had less of a rushed tone than the first novel. In fact, it felt a tad slower in the beginning, but rapidly gained steam a quarter of the way into the story. The plot basically centers around which actress will be crowned with the role to end all roles, Scarlet O'Hara in the 1939 production of Gone With the Wind. However, this didn't overshadow any of the other elements, including a few catty scenes involving Joan Crawford that left claw marks on my cheeks. Rowr!!! Martin Turnbull knows his stuff: historic locations, the history of how Gone With the Wind evolved from novel to epic, Oscar-winning film. Plus, the characters navigated through all their hurdles without the events coming across in a rapid machine-gun-fire type of way as in the The Garden at Sunset. Book 3, here I come.
June 6, 2022
GREAT SERIES!. i started reading the series out of boredom and different genre now i'm hooked on the series and author. cant wait to start book 3
December 31, 2024
Enjoy reading about the golden era in Hollywood. Part of the Garden of Allah series
June 4, 2019
This is book 2 in a series featuring three main characters, Kathryn, Gwendolyn and Marcus. For two of the three if it wasn't for bad luck they'd have no luck at all. Kathryn seems to be on the cusp of making it as a journalist.
What makes the story so fun is the supporting characters of historic Hollywood movers and shakers.
What makes the story so fun is the supporting characters of historic Hollywood movers and shakers.
August 11, 2020
I’m a sucker for tales of old Hollywood. Although most of what I’ve read does also include a murder - a la James Ellroy and Megan Abbot.
Even though there’s no death involved here, I might just fall in love with Martin Turnbull’s Garden of Allah series. Three characters at the edge of the community - a would be actress, a screenwriter and a gossip columnist - circle around the making of GONE WITH THE WIND trying to find love and their proper place in Hollywood.
It’s funny, touching, the characters now feel like old friends and the sense of time and place are beautifully invoked. The next instalment is around CITIZEN KANE and I can’t wait to read it.
Even though there’s no death involved here, I might just fall in love with Martin Turnbull’s Garden of Allah series. Three characters at the edge of the community - a would be actress, a screenwriter and a gossip columnist - circle around the making of GONE WITH THE WIND trying to find love and their proper place in Hollywood.
It’s funny, touching, the characters now feel like old friends and the sense of time and place are beautifully invoked. The next instalment is around CITIZEN KANE and I can’t wait to read it.
October 30, 2017
Book two about three young and hopefuls during the golden age of holiwood. The book revolves around the casting of Scarlett O'Hara as well as the making of "Gone With The Wind" with a side note on "The Wizard of Oz". Combining the story of real life Hollywood with fictional characters plays out like the movies from the 30s and 40s. An easy read,me specially if you are an old movie buff.
July 1, 2015
"Have you ever wanted to climb into a time machine and visit Hollywood during its heyday?" Yes! Yes, I have! For as long as I can remember!
That's the quote that drew me to this book, along with a life-long fascination about "Gone with the Wind" and the making of the movie. It's the stuff of legend.
Martin Turnbull has succeeded in doing what would seem to be the impossible - transporting readers to the Golden Age of Hollywood with a story that has it's main characters mixing and mingling with the people and at the places all classic movie-aholics have heard about for so many years.
The story of the search for Scarlett, once it was announced a movie would be made from the bestselling book, ate up yards of print in publications as the speculation of who would be cast in the iconic role started immediately. In what was -- intentionally or unintentionally -- the biggest public relations campaigns in Hollywood history, every actress in town wanted the part and everyone who read the book had their own opinion of who would make the best Scarlett. It's a legendary story known by all movie buffs.
It provides a fascinating backdrop for Turnbull's second novel in his Garden of Allah series. Events and people surrounding that story are skilfully interwoven with the lives of the book's three main characters. These three - Marcus, Gwendolyn, and Kathryn - a struggling scriptwriter, an aspiring actress, and a budding columnist respectively - are all residents at the Garden of Allah. Their placement there affords them encounters with figures ranging from Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, and F. Scott Fitzgerald to Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and all the way up to Louis B. Mayer and George Cukor.
As their stories unfold concurrently with the search for Scarlett, the reader is taken on a pure joyride through the homes, the haunts, and the watering places of Hollywood. It's the ultimate fly-on-the wall experience for any classic movie buff who has ever wished to climb in that time machine.
Well done, Mr. Turnbull! I am a fan for life. Thanks for the pure pleasure! Long may the Garden of Allah series continue!
That's the quote that drew me to this book, along with a life-long fascination about "Gone with the Wind" and the making of the movie. It's the stuff of legend.
Martin Turnbull has succeeded in doing what would seem to be the impossible - transporting readers to the Golden Age of Hollywood with a story that has it's main characters mixing and mingling with the people and at the places all classic movie-aholics have heard about for so many years.
The story of the search for Scarlett, once it was announced a movie would be made from the bestselling book, ate up yards of print in publications as the speculation of who would be cast in the iconic role started immediately. In what was -- intentionally or unintentionally -- the biggest public relations campaigns in Hollywood history, every actress in town wanted the part and everyone who read the book had their own opinion of who would make the best Scarlett. It's a legendary story known by all movie buffs.
It provides a fascinating backdrop for Turnbull's second novel in his Garden of Allah series. Events and people surrounding that story are skilfully interwoven with the lives of the book's three main characters. These three - Marcus, Gwendolyn, and Kathryn - a struggling scriptwriter, an aspiring actress, and a budding columnist respectively - are all residents at the Garden of Allah. Their placement there affords them encounters with figures ranging from Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, and F. Scott Fitzgerald to Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and all the way up to Louis B. Mayer and George Cukor.
As their stories unfold concurrently with the search for Scarlett, the reader is taken on a pure joyride through the homes, the haunts, and the watering places of Hollywood. It's the ultimate fly-on-the wall experience for any classic movie buff who has ever wished to climb in that time machine.
Well done, Mr. Turnbull! I am a fan for life. Thanks for the pure pleasure! Long may the Garden of Allah series continue!
October 18, 2012
What a vivid and engrossing book this is - once again Mr Turnbull transported me to a different time, a different place and a different reality. I couldn't put this book down (obviously, it only came out a few days ago). More adventures with Marcus, Kathryn and the lovable Gwendolyn. With the backdrop of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and of course the Garden of Allah hotel, his world comes alive with details and conversations that make you feel like you are there trying to get a screen test for a part in Gone With The Wind, having lunch at Bullocks Wilshire or cocktails with Dorothy Parker and F. Scott Fitzgerald. I love this series so far and look with great anticipation for the next installment.
March 16, 2017
Another good story in this series
I am loving the behind-the-scenes aspect of this book. It's hard to imagine the strength of people's dreams that would have them putting up with the stuff described in this series. Love the characters despite some of the decisions they make. A nice peek at an interesting time in history.
I am loving the behind-the-scenes aspect of this book. It's hard to imagine the strength of people's dreams that would have them putting up with the stuff described in this series. Love the characters despite some of the decisions they make. A nice peek at an interesting time in history.
December 30, 2012
Loved loved loved reading this book! And when it got to the end I was still wanting more more more!!!! Can't wait for the 3rd book!!
February 3, 2020
This book had some good moments, but it just doesn't compare to the previous book in the series.
The author continued with the habit of telling instead of showing while skipping the timeline a bit awkwardly, and telling the readers about things after the fact through narration instead of letting us experience it with the characters (especially frustrating toward the end when a character makes an observation about missing someone she's been spending time for the last few months after meeting up with him during a trip that wasn't included in the story).
Unlike the first book, there weren't any really exciting moments. It was just the three main characters hanging out with celebrities while trying to make their way in Hollywood. I even started to find Gwendolyn tiresome as she seemed to forget that she swore to herself in the first book that she would make it into show business on talent. It was disappointing, to say the least.
I do have to say that I love Marcus. If I continue to read the series, it will be primarily because he's a wonderful character, and I want to see where the books take him. I'm also curious to see how Kathryn's story continues and I'm hopeful that Gwendolyn comes to her senses and turns back into the character I loved so much in the first book.
I don't know for certain if I'll pick up book 3. Maybe in the future, but I think I need to take a break from this one for a bit. I'll have to try to remember them this summer when I need something light and quick.
The author continued with the habit of telling instead of showing while skipping the timeline a bit awkwardly, and telling the readers about things after the fact through narration instead of letting us experience it with the characters (especially frustrating toward the end when a character makes an observation about missing someone she's been spending time for the last few months after meeting up with him during a trip that wasn't included in the story).
Unlike the first book, there weren't any really exciting moments. It was just the three main characters hanging out with celebrities while trying to make their way in Hollywood. I even started to find Gwendolyn tiresome as she seemed to forget that she swore to herself in the first book that she would make it into show business on talent. It was disappointing, to say the least.
I do have to say that I love Marcus. If I continue to read the series, it will be primarily because he's a wonderful character, and I want to see where the books take him. I'm also curious to see how Kathryn's story continues and I'm hopeful that Gwendolyn comes to her senses and turns back into the character I loved so much in the first book.
I don't know for certain if I'll pick up book 3. Maybe in the future, but I think I need to take a break from this one for a bit. I'll have to try to remember them this summer when I need something light and quick.
May 5, 2017
A great continuation of the Garden of Allah series. Now we know the three main characters, the story romps through an era of them searching for their career (or at least search for job stability, even if careers aren't bedded down, or achieved yet).
This book is funnier than the first, with some set-pieces and prat-falls. I loved the scenes with Marcus at Hearst Castle, and Gwendolyn's screen quest in her quest to be cast as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind. That moment has some longer-term consequences, but is just plain funny in the moment!
The book romps through the nightclubs of Hollywood, populated with a walk-on cast of Greats, as well as the gossip columnists, the underground gay scene, the sleazy and al-powerful casting agents - the metaphorical gate-keepers for access to the studios for aspiring stars (there is a literal gate-keeper at MGM as well, who plays an ongoing role in the series). All this while the "who will be Scarlett O'Hara?" question and speculation reaches fever pitch.
Some of the real-life characters who play a substantial role in this volume include George Cukor, the tragic F Scott Fitzgerald and Greta Garbo. There's great cameos by Joan Crawford and Spencer Tracy.
This volume is still light and frothy, though as Orson Wells makes his appearance at volume's close, you know the atmosphere is about to intensify.
This book is funnier than the first, with some set-pieces and prat-falls. I loved the scenes with Marcus at Hearst Castle, and Gwendolyn's screen quest in her quest to be cast as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind. That moment has some longer-term consequences, but is just plain funny in the moment!
The book romps through the nightclubs of Hollywood, populated with a walk-on cast of Greats, as well as the gossip columnists, the underground gay scene, the sleazy and al-powerful casting agents - the metaphorical gate-keepers for access to the studios for aspiring stars (there is a literal gate-keeper at MGM as well, who plays an ongoing role in the series). All this while the "who will be Scarlett O'Hara?" question and speculation reaches fever pitch.
Some of the real-life characters who play a substantial role in this volume include George Cukor, the tragic F Scott Fitzgerald and Greta Garbo. There's great cameos by Joan Crawford and Spencer Tracy.
This volume is still light and frothy, though as Orson Wells makes his appearance at volume's close, you know the atmosphere is about to intensify.
November 2, 2019
Enjoyable!
There is an old saying that holds true not matter what business you’re in. And that saying is “never violate the expectations of your customers”.
Turnbull is an author that has learned this in spades. His writing is consistent, along with his characters. The rest of the world may go crazy but your characters must not violate the readers expectations. Even in their moments of weakness, they must see their way back. Rarely do I see this accomplished by so-called super-authors… I commend Turnbull on this.
In an earlier review, I praised Turnbull‘s writing for being true to itself. It reads like a young adult book with adult themes. This sounds like an oxymoron but when you read the book you’ll understand. It’s an easy and fun read that gets most of the history correct and for that I’m appreciative.
This is a fun little series to curl up with in front of the fire, as I have for the last couple of days as the weather turns cold. I have enjoyed it immensely! Taking a break from heavy literature is a necessity and I thank Turnbull for producing this lighthearted fare. I’m a fan!
There is an old saying that holds true not matter what business you’re in. And that saying is “never violate the expectations of your customers”.
Turnbull is an author that has learned this in spades. His writing is consistent, along with his characters. The rest of the world may go crazy but your characters must not violate the readers expectations. Even in their moments of weakness, they must see their way back. Rarely do I see this accomplished by so-called super-authors… I commend Turnbull on this.
In an earlier review, I praised Turnbull‘s writing for being true to itself. It reads like a young adult book with adult themes. This sounds like an oxymoron but when you read the book you’ll understand. It’s an easy and fun read that gets most of the history correct and for that I’m appreciative.
This is a fun little series to curl up with in front of the fire, as I have for the last couple of days as the weather turns cold. I have enjoyed it immensely! Taking a break from heavy literature is a necessity and I thank Turnbull for producing this lighthearted fare. I’m a fan!
August 20, 2023
I suppose 3.75 stars.
This hits the sweet spot for me -- fiction about golden-age Hollywood that isn't essentially an AU filled with invented stars and studios. The three protagonists of the series are fictional but interact with real Hollywood personalities. The author's knowledge of his subject is impressive; I noticed only a couple of factual errors (again, where are the editors?).
Points off b/c the author repeatedly humiliates his likeable MCs, especially Gwen. Why? I'm not reading this lightweight series b/c I'm into cruelty. Also the audiobook narrator does the bare minimum to distinguish the MCs and that's it. With so many colorful and engaging audiobook narrators working today, listeners expect more.
This hits the sweet spot for me -- fiction about golden-age Hollywood that isn't essentially an AU filled with invented stars and studios. The three protagonists of the series are fictional but interact with real Hollywood personalities. The author's knowledge of his subject is impressive; I noticed only a couple of factual errors (again, where are the editors?).
Points off b/c the author repeatedly humiliates his likeable MCs, especially Gwen. Why? I'm not reading this lightweight series b/c I'm into cruelty. Also the audiobook narrator does the bare minimum to distinguish the MCs and that's it. With so many colorful and engaging audiobook narrators working today, listeners expect more.
April 27, 2025
Martin Turnbull delivers another winner with "The Trouble with Scarlett," the second installment in his Garden of Allah series. Set once again against the vibrant backdrop of the legendary Garden of Allah, the story follows three unforgettable characters as they chase their dreams in the dazzling yet cutthroat world of 1930s Hollywood. It was so much fun to encounter real-life legends like Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, and William Randolph Hearst woven seamlessly into the narrative - it truly feels like stepping into the Golden Age. I’m loving this series so far, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Classic Hollywood, especially if you're fascinated by the behind-the-scenes drama of "Gone with the Wind."
July 30, 2017
What a blast!
Definitely a book to slam right through. Totally in tears over Gwennie's bad luck, and definitely leery over the whole rape vs. consent issues rife throughout her liaisons and attempts to make it big. But I suppose the ambiguity and her acceptance thereof is very period-accurate, although the alistair sequence was terribly triggering.
Overall, an addictive series and I'm happy for Hattie Mcdaniels finally getting an appearance. It was interesting to read this book after "a touch of stardust," since that definitely painted George Kukor in a very different light.
Definitely a book to slam right through. Totally in tears over Gwennie's bad luck, and definitely leery over the whole rape vs. consent issues rife throughout her liaisons and attempts to make it big. But I suppose the ambiguity and her acceptance thereof is very period-accurate, although the alistair sequence was terribly triggering.
Overall, an addictive series and I'm happy for Hattie Mcdaniels finally getting an appearance. It was interesting to read this book after "a touch of stardust," since that definitely painted George Kukor in a very different light.
February 18, 2021
This second in a series is an interesting story that combines old Hollywood fact with just the right amount of intrigue and fiction. I enjoyed reading about the making of Gone with the Wind and the world wide search for Scarlet O'Hara. Much of the story I already knew but the battle for a scoop was believable and made me wanting to know all the behind the scenes reasons each actress was considered and rejected. If you like reading about the glamour and people of the guilded age of Hollywood, this series of books in the Garden of Allah is for you.
August 1, 2022
This series is a perfect Pot-Boiler: This Happens, then This Happens, then This Happens.
The protagonists' fortunes wax and wane at very regular intervals and in such a way that they encounter every Mover-and-Shaker in Hollywood, at least in passing.
Reminds me of the Michener books; history lite that goes down easy. Dorothy Dunnett comes to mind too; both were wildly popular in their day.
That said, I love the characters, keep rooting for them, and am enjoying the glimpses into a lost world. On to the next.
The protagonists' fortunes wax and wane at very regular intervals and in such a way that they encounter every Mover-and-Shaker in Hollywood, at least in passing.
Reminds me of the Michener books; history lite that goes down easy. Dorothy Dunnett comes to mind too; both were wildly popular in their day.
That said, I love the characters, keep rooting for them, and am enjoying the glimpses into a lost world. On to the next.
August 22, 2022
Blew through this book as well because I’ve been loving this series! This second installment in the series definitely reads more clearly and cohesively than the first; the timeline was shorter and more structured, and there was more of a plot point for the characters to follow and navigate. I’m slightly disappointed with how quickly they’ve aged; in the first two books alone, the characters have aged almost ten or so years, so I’m curious to see where the rest of the series takes them. The ending does kind of fall off out of nowhere, but I already have the third book ready to begin :)
August 30, 2017
THE TROUBLE WITH SCARLETT: ALLAH 2
BOOK TWO IN THIS SERIES DEALS WITH ? YES, YOU'VE GOT IT, "GONE WITH THE WIND!" I BET YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED THAT ONE BY IT'S TITLE EH? FUN BOOK, EACH CHARACTER HAS THEIR OWN UPS AND DOWNS COINCIDING WITH THAT GREAT MOVIE. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I LIKE THE WAY THE AUTHOR THROWS IN LITTLE FACTUAL TIDBITS OF INFORMATION ON THE SIDE. TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT...
BOOK TWO IN THIS SERIES DEALS WITH ? YES, YOU'VE GOT IT, "GONE WITH THE WIND!" I BET YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED THAT ONE BY IT'S TITLE EH? FUN BOOK, EACH CHARACTER HAS THEIR OWN UPS AND DOWNS COINCIDING WITH THAT GREAT MOVIE. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I LIKE THE WAY THE AUTHOR THROWS IN LITTLE FACTUAL TIDBITS OF INFORMATION ON THE SIDE. TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT...
November 26, 2018
This is the second book in the series that follows friends Kathryn, Gwendolyn and Marcus as they try to make it in their chosen fields of reporting, acting and writing. Kathryn has more success in this novel overall, but there are certainly issues that she has to deal with. Marcus spirals into a pretty alcoholic existence in between successes. Gwendolyn makes a fool of herself time and time again, desperately trying to land the role of Scarlet O'Hara.
Looking forward to the next book.
Looking forward to the next book.
February 24, 2019
Another great read in this series
It's so nice to find a series of books as well-written, researched, and as fun as this! I read this book quickly after finishing the first in this series, and my timing to do that seems to be perfect: GONE WITH THE WIND is actually going to be showing in a movie theater nearby this week! After that, you can be sure I'll be devouring the next book in this series.
It's so nice to find a series of books as well-written, researched, and as fun as this! I read this book quickly after finishing the first in this series, and my timing to do that seems to be perfect: GONE WITH THE WIND is actually going to be showing in a movie theater nearby this week! After that, you can be sure I'll be devouring the next book in this series.
July 1, 2019
These keep being fun books. I enjoy the stars and other famous people that come in and out of the main characters' lives. The making of GWTW was an interesting plot to the story and one I've always read about with fascination. So much work, so much criticism, so many different opinions and points of view on how it should be made and who should be involved. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
June 7, 2020
Second in the series, and as this noverl only covers one year roughly, 1938 into 1939, and centers on the ballyhoo over the creation of Gone with the Wind, I find the character depth and growth much improved from the last novel, my one complaint. The interactions with so many real stars, directors, movie moguls, and other historical figures of the period continue to be a delight to me. Very entertaining. Recommend this series to friends w2ho enjoy TCM!
November 6, 2019
Getting there (4.4 stars)
The characters got better treatment and development in this book as compared to the first. However, there is something dissatisfying about the main three characters never quite getting the brass ring. Everything is happening around them, which is probably realistic for Hollywood at the time, but you still want them to hit it big.
The characters got better treatment and development in this book as compared to the first. However, there is something dissatisfying about the main three characters never quite getting the brass ring. Everything is happening around them, which is probably realistic for Hollywood at the time, but you still want them to hit it big.
January 7, 2025
If you like the golden age of Hollywood and are a Gone with the Wind fan, you will enjoy this novel where the likes of Joan Crawford, Vivien Leigh, and Clark Gable float in and out among the fictional characters that carry the story to fruition. It might have been a bit longer than needed but still well done.
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