Star Quality

by Joan Collins

When gutsy Irish redhead Millie McClancey defies her humble beginnings to pursue a life on the stage, she becomes the first of four generations of unforgettable women to taste success in the exciting yet precarious world of show business. Taking readers on a breathtaking journey from the music halls of World War I London to the glitz of Broadway and from Hollywood in its heyday right up to the present, Star Quality is a gripping tale of ambition, betrayal, sex, and survival. Joan Collins is a legendary woman with stardom in her genes, and with Star Quality she'll enchant readers nationwide with this engrossing and thrilling page-turner.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Novels

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2001

About the author

Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE is a Golden Globe Award-winning English actress and bestselling author.

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

What? Don't judge me, you haters, I couldn't sleep last night, so . . .

Anyway, I had purchased this tome at a thrift store with the intention of keeping it in eye sight for the next year. I am committed to writing a play, and it struck me that the picture of Joan Collins, authoress (best-selling authoress!) would serve as a suitable goad. I had no intention of reading Star Quality. But as I said, insomnia + grabbing the first thing to hand on my desk, and . . .

Joan Collins is about as good an author as she is an actor, which is to say not very good. Judging by the back cover picture (see above), Joan has decided to remain Forever Alexis, a character she seems to think occupies a major role in American fiction.

Anyway . . . I know, I keep starting paragraphs with that word. The book is the "story" of four generations of women who become stars. None of them are remotely credible characters, but they pale next to the villainous Patsy (I kid you not), who spends the entire 20th century stalking each woman in turn (I truly kid you not), wreaking terrible revenge upon them for something or other through her illegitimate son, the rightful Duke of Newburgh (I swear to God), and his son, the next rightful Duke of Newburgh . . . . because . . . something.

Every page contains a howler, although if you know a lot about theatre/movie history (it's my job), you can have some fun spotting where Joan has clepped from. For instance, the torrid love affair between Vickie and film star Cooper is a direct lift from the Spencer and Louise Tracy marriage, even though Joan has the hubris to insert a totally unconvincing Katharine Hepburn into her wretched novel, talking to Vickie in words that will make the attentive reader blink in astonishment.

Anyway, in short order: Millie, the first of the girls, is a composite of Gertrude Lawrence and Clara Bow (in case the drowsing reader doesn't get it, Joan helpfully has Millie remark upon her physical similarities with Clara). Vickie, the child of Millie and the rightful Duke of Newburgh (I kid you not) is a composite of Lawrence's daughter --- but her daughter as portrayed in the 1968 movie Star --- and Rita Hayworth (I kid you not). The next in line, Lucinda, is conceived with Cooper secretly after Vickie's child with her half-brother Sabastian, the Duke of Newburgh (eeuw) meets an early death so Vickie can grieve and the reader can stop wondering exactly where Joan was going with that plot bunny. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah, Lucinda. Lucinda runs away to New York at 17 after she kind of accidentally-on-purpose kills Cooper in a raging argument by disagreeing with him and telling him she likes girls, damnit! Lest you assume that Joan has developed sympathy for the gays in her steadfastly-resisted old age, she attributes Lucinda's gayness to her having witnessed Cooper and Vickie having sex, and finding it . . . icky. So girls it is, until there is a huuuuuuuge drug scandal that spoils Lucinda's career as a Top International Super Model (can you imagine any other kind in Joan's world? I guess the book would have suffered if Lucinda had run off and become the face of the spring J.C. Penney Sportswear Catalog for 1981.)

Anyway . . . damn it, I have to stop doing that, but there is no other way to tell this story --- you just have to keep taking my word for it. There is a plot twist that even a semi-comatose reader (that would be me at 3 a.m.) could see coming like the Sixth Avenue bus. And Patsy, still evil after all these years, makes one more desperate attempt to kill them all because . . .

Honest to God. From now on, I am keeping better books in easy reach.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Star quality" is extremely easy read, you can finish it in two days - no wonder somebody left it around here, because its a perfect escapism and vacation read. Its actually much better than I expected. Nothing deep or serious, in fact, the novel is deliciously fluffy and superficial - concerned more with description of protagonist's costumes, hair and make up than psychological analysis or motivations - but Collins seems to know what people expect from her and she also know the world she describes: its a century of showbiz, from vaudeville to Broadway, Hollywood and beyond, naturally we end up in 1980s big time TV series. Since it covers the four generations of women in one family, Collins treats the readers with walk trough the century - the novel starts in 1917 and as it progresses, it describes fashions, stars, celebrities and ever-changing morals (at one point, ladies agree that each of them was considered very scandalous for their times). It's not the greatest novel ever written, nor it tries to be - both Collins sisters understood that fame itself sells products and cleverly used theirs for launching successful careers. There is always a huge audience soaking in everything about lives of "rich and famous" - obviously even myself I couldn't resist to have a peek and enjoyed it as escapism. But can she write? Yes, she surely can - there is something about her vitality that I always found very endearing and even the fact that novel feels touchingly earnest at times don't diminish the fact that I gulped it instantly, while celebrated classics usually demand far more attention and headache. I have one of them at the back-burner for months now, because it bothered me so much, while this frou-frou I finished without noticing.

[Arto Mutka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this novel. I read it about 12 years ago and still remember it as a good read... Interesting generational story of four generations of women in the entertainment industry over the course of 100 years. It has sex it has revenge it has drama. Not a classic novel by any means but think it is one of Joan's better ones. All her novels cover ground she knows well as she also came from a multi generational showbiz family and has had a very long successful career touching on many mediums so she is definitely writing what she knows about. Give it a go if you are after a couple of days escapism! I am actually planning on reading it again soon.

[Nascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real tour of the entertainment business from the pre-Hollywood days through the golden age of television and finally to the present. Also a wonderful history of mothers and daughters with glimpses of real life Hollywood legends thrown in. Fantastic ride with very interesting characters and a magnificent plot. Joan has done it again!

[Shanna, Clearing the Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was running out of time to read while in the Outer Banks by the time I picked up this book. I knew I wanted to read this one and another novel before I left, but with only two or three days (plus an entire house to pack up) free time was limited. I snagged Star Quality because the synopsis said it followed multiple generations of one family through the entertainment industry, and with a career in theatre that seemed right up my alley. I borrowed this book from a Little Free Library and ended up leaving it on the bookshelf in the house for the next renters to enjoy.
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If I am being honest, I could have skipped this novel, or at least the final third of it. It took me way longer to finish than anything I had been reading in recent history and just wasn’t holding my attention beyond the first two generations. Millie is interesting and her turn from poor Irish maid to Broadway starlet is fascinating and eye catching. Beyond that the characters are barely more than loose outlines. The author has a large career in the arts and clearly lifted some plot points from reality and then twisted them around. The writing reads like a biography despite being a fictional piece that never quite finds its footing. There is the added element of a character outside the primary family that spends the better part of 100 years trying to murder them all. Patsy is fun. Read the book for Patsy.

[Laura Beasley · Rating 3 out of 5]

first book by Joan Collins I have read and I enjoyed it. Was full of twist and surprises and was a good story. Millie McClancey had a poor upbringing and after seeing Marie Lloyd on stage she vowed to one day be a star. This did not seem very likely but it did happen. The story deals with 4 generations of women that were beautify, talented and ended up very successful in their careers. They did not have easy lives but were determined to succeed. Millie, her daughter Vickie, her grand daughter Lulu and her great grand daughter Millie. The book deals with their relationships and the lives of each one. They each follow their passion for acting and music. The story takes place in London and then all the way to Hollywood. The author did a great job of developing the characters and the story moed along quickly and left the reader wanting to know more. A good summer read.

[Connlou Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

(c)2002 An interesting read that draws you in from the beginning to the end. A young female survives huge obstacles and survives making a life for herself. This is one of Collins books that had adventure, suspense, powerful people, jealousy, and heartbreak. You will not be able to put this down.

[Kristine Tymusz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it

[Robyn Chatfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

it is a hard read.

[Jessica Tousignant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Healyf · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my first forays into romantic fantasy fiction, star Quality gave me a healthy does of ambition, glamour, and opulence that leaves me hungry for more. Compared to sister Jackie, Joan's writing style is more elegant and sleek but still has that delectable over the top ingredient. Her characters have as much depth as a Daisy Buchanan, but that's not what we read it for , is it? They are sexy temptresses hungry for love and power. They are perfect goddesses, but at the same time Collins makes them out to be " real women with real problems." No matter, if you are looking for pure, lush escapism into the glittering, bitchy world of the entertainment industry, look no further.

[Ai]

I didn't create any tracking record of what I have read, so this one falls roughly around early year 2007 I guess.

Definitely, definitely not recommended to all of my friends that I have met in reality. I like this book, particularly because of the elements included in the story itself. Since most of the elements originate from the west, so you would pretty much figure they are not suitable for the East (as me). However, I like the idea of venturing into a total new environment, challenge, unknown vicinity... whatever you call it.

Definitely not for my usual friends! Seriously.

[Fatima Jumaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my opinion this story was wonderful and it was like the Hollywood stories action. Although, instance of recognition on the characterization and dialogue and they cover the famous names and when they published.
All over this was an enjoyable book to read it and had a popular fiction. Also, they discover all details about star quality such as cultures changes, relationship grow and fascinate historical.
In general, they had to development of treatment and that lead in the generation actress.

[Coral Lindupp]

Crime and mystery is my preferred genre, so I was looking for a break from murder and mayhem. This filled the bill - not great literature but soooo easy to read that I finished it in one afternoon. Fun - a bit of an insight into the gap between generations in show business. What was so shocking in the 1920s is positively tame in the 2000s.

[Savannah Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 I liked this book way more than I expected to. She's definitely a talented writer. I liked the writing, though the whole murder story being tied in was a bit far fetched and didn't have the shock aspect that was perhaps intended. Overall I liked the evolution of it.

[Sue Lauzon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good but not great. Joan will never quite make the caliber of writer that her sister was. Story of four generations of women in the entertainment industry and the intrigues surrounding them.

[Fuzz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt the most interesting way to tell a familys story. Amazing characters, amazing plotlines!

[Jaana]

Pure entertainment, didn't get sleepy while reading this. It's been a month or two since I read it and already forgotten quite well.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 12/02

[Sherry Rasberry- · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually liked this more than I thought I would. Four generations of women with "star quality" and no really GOOD men?? hmmmm...

[Marsha Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Joan Collins, always an entertaining read

Fast and enjoyable reading. As usual a typical Joan Collins book full of sexy characters. I love her plot twist and turns.

[Teshai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Joan Collins book, what can you say, they are good reads, always fun.