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Whisper of the Moon Moth
From the author of The Color of Secrets and The Woman on the Orient Express comes a poignant novel inspired by the Hollywood legend—and the secrets of—actress Merle Oberon, famous for playing Cathy to Laurence Olivier’s Heathcliff in the film Wuthering Heights.
For nineteen-year-old Estelle Thompson, going to the cinema is more than a way to pass the time…it’s a way out. In 1931 in Calcutta, Anglo-Indian girls like Estelle are considered half-breeds, shunned by both English and Indian society. Her only escape is through the silver screen, where she can forget the world around her.
When Estelle catches the eye of a dashing American heir with connections to a major motion-picture studio, he also captures her heart. Soon, Estelle has a one-way ticket to London and a recommendation for a screen test.
To get to the top, she must keep her Indian heritage concealed—and so begins her new identity as movie goddess Merle Oberon. But just as her dreams are poised to come true, she discovers that her own family is keeping a much more shocking secret from her—one that changes everything she’s believed about her past.
For nineteen-year-old Estelle Thompson, going to the cinema is more than a way to pass the time…it’s a way out. In 1931 in Calcutta, Anglo-Indian girls like Estelle are considered half-breeds, shunned by both English and Indian society. Her only escape is through the silver screen, where she can forget the world around her.
When Estelle catches the eye of a dashing American heir with connections to a major motion-picture studio, he also captures her heart. Soon, Estelle has a one-way ticket to London and a recommendation for a screen test.
To get to the top, she must keep her Indian heritage concealed—and so begins her new identity as movie goddess Merle Oberon. But just as her dreams are poised to come true, she discovers that her own family is keeping a much more shocking secret from her—one that changes everything she’s believed about her past.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
August 21, 2023
Why I chose to read this book:
1. when I read GR friend, Jan's review that this book was inspired by actress, Merle Oberon's life, I had to add it to my WTR list! Although I have never seen any of her films, I recall reading about her in connection with Prince Phillip in the biographies ELIZABETH AND PHILLIP :The Untold Story of the Queen of England and Her PRince/with b/w photo's by Charles & Moseley, Roy Higham and The Royals by Kitty Kelley; and,
2. it's a nice fit to read during my "Biographical Fiction Month" of June 2022.
Praises:
1. this story focuses on Estelle Thompson's (aka Merle Oberon) rise to stardom, but like the moon moth whose camouflage coloring keeps it hidden, author Lindsay Jayne Ashford skillfully depicts Oberon, a biracial woman of British/Indian descent, hiding her true identity. She, and several other actors during the early 20th century, lived in great fear of being found out of their heritage because the prejudices of the American movie industry at the time strictly prohibited multiracial performers from acting opposite Caucasian actors. I sympathized with Oberon's predicament and felt her constant fear that her identity might be revealed;
2. I enjoyed reading about Oberon's interactions with film greats such as Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, David Niven, Clark Gable and Leslie Howard, among others;
3. Ashford's "Epilogue" describes what is close to actual fact in this story and what she took artistic license with, especially in regards to timing and relationships; and,
4. descriptive settings, strong characterization, both good and flawed, and the occasional use of Hindi words in context - all added to this story's authenticity.
Niggle:
Oops! It is mentioned that in 1932, Merle's friend, Flora, was sucking a drink through a plastic straw. Nope! Plastic straws weren't in use until the 1960s!
Overall Thoughts:
Although I would have enjoyed a longer story about Oberon's life, I understand that Ashford intended this story to focus on Merle Oberon's hidden identity, a secret that she took to her grave. I suppose I can always read Charles Higham's biography Princess Merle: The Romantic Life of Merle Oberon for more information.
A fascinating look into this woman's hidden life!
1. when I read GR friend, Jan's review that this book was inspired by actress, Merle Oberon's life, I had to add it to my WTR list! Although I have never seen any of her films, I recall reading about her in connection with Prince Phillip in the biographies ELIZABETH AND PHILLIP :The Untold Story of the Queen of England and Her PRince/with b/w photo's by Charles & Moseley, Roy Higham and The Royals by Kitty Kelley; and,
2. it's a nice fit to read during my "Biographical Fiction Month" of June 2022.
Praises:
1. this story focuses on Estelle Thompson's (aka Merle Oberon) rise to stardom, but like the moon moth whose camouflage coloring keeps it hidden, author Lindsay Jayne Ashford skillfully depicts Oberon, a biracial woman of British/Indian descent, hiding her true identity. She, and several other actors during the early 20th century, lived in great fear of being found out of their heritage because the prejudices of the American movie industry at the time strictly prohibited multiracial performers from acting opposite Caucasian actors. I sympathized with Oberon's predicament and felt her constant fear that her identity might be revealed;
2. I enjoyed reading about Oberon's interactions with film greats such as Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, David Niven, Clark Gable and Leslie Howard, among others;
3. Ashford's "Epilogue" describes what is close to actual fact in this story and what she took artistic license with, especially in regards to timing and relationships; and,
4. descriptive settings, strong characterization, both good and flawed, and the occasional use of Hindi words in context - all added to this story's authenticity.
Niggle:
Oops! It is mentioned that in 1932, Merle's friend, Flora, was sucking a drink through a plastic straw. Nope! Plastic straws weren't in use until the 1960s!
Overall Thoughts:
Although I would have enjoyed a longer story about Oberon's life, I understand that Ashford intended this story to focus on Merle Oberon's hidden identity, a secret that she took to her grave. I suppose I can always read Charles Higham's biography Princess Merle: The Romantic Life of Merle Oberon for more information.
A fascinating look into this woman's hidden life!
October 5, 2017
Merle Oberon's life before (and after) fame is one that is so fascinating that I was thrilled to learn that a book was going to be published. However, my expectations of the book turned out to be too high. As a close friend of my (who is also reading this book, will link to her review when it's done) wrote about the book "categorizing this one as a freely adapted biographic fiction that is significantly heavy on the fiction." I personally called it fantasy since the author decided to take leaps in the story that had no anchoring in real life. But, that's me...
Anyway, the writing isn't bad. I enjoyed reading The Woman on the Orient Express by the author and if this had been a historical fiction with made-up characters would I have enjoyed the book more. But, alas there are so many omissions and added events that I felt that this is like taking a real person's life, erasing parts that don't fit with the story and adding events to make it more thrilling. For instance, the whole Vivien Leigh feud is just laughable. And, the ending is saccharine and definitely felt like the author decided to change the truth to a suitable lie instead. And, the part I was looking forward to, the love affair with a fellow actor was totally omitted. Glossed over. But, he was married so of course that is taboo and we can't have Merle having an affair with a married man. Instead, make it believe that she had a fling with David Niven before finding true love...
Would I recommend this book? Not if you are looking for a biographical fiction, this is so far away from Merle's life that you will probably enjoy it if you know nothing about her and/or don't mind the author taking liberation with Merle's life.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
Anyway, the writing isn't bad. I enjoyed reading The Woman on the Orient Express by the author and if this had been a historical fiction with made-up characters would I have enjoyed the book more. But, alas there are so many omissions and added events that I felt that this is like taking a real person's life, erasing parts that don't fit with the story and adding events to make it more thrilling. For instance, the whole Vivien Leigh feud is just laughable. And, the ending is saccharine and definitely felt like the author decided to change the truth to a suitable lie instead. And, the part I was looking forward to, the love affair with a fellow actor was totally omitted. Glossed over. But, he was married so of course that is taboo and we can't have Merle having an affair with a married man. Instead, make it believe that she had a fling with David Niven before finding true love...
Would I recommend this book? Not if you are looking for a biographical fiction, this is so far away from Merle's life that you will probably enjoy it if you know nothing about her and/or don't mind the author taking liberation with Merle's life.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
July 22, 2018
3.8. This one was great as a pairing to The Girls in the Picture, which I read earlier this year. It is historical fiction based on our earliest movie stars, this one featuring Merle O'Brien, who featured in over 50 movies, including playing Cathy in Withering Heights. I enjoyed it. Felt it was another 3.8.
Its true that I have had a focus on reading historical fiction in the Jazz Age. (Listopia, #4). This one also pairs nicely with the Girl from the Savoy, set in London around the same time, only in that one, our title character Dolly and the co-stars in the book revolve around the stage. Musical theater. That one, was my favorite of the three.
Its true that I have had a focus on reading historical fiction in the Jazz Age. (Listopia, #4). This one also pairs nicely with the Girl from the Savoy, set in London around the same time, only in that one, our title character Dolly and the co-stars in the book revolve around the stage. Musical theater. That one, was my favorite of the three.
November 25, 2017
Considering that I enjoyed "The Woman on the Orient Express", there was no question that I wanted to read the latest from Lindsay Jayne Ashford. Of course, I had to wait until I was in the mood to read it. Last evening turned out to be the right time and it didn't take me too long to become immersed in the world of Hollywood movies and the silver screen lifestyle.
The central character for the book happens to be Anglo-Indian Estelle Thompson, who will become the actress known as Merle Oberon. Estelle and her mother, Charlotte are living life in Bombay. Before too long, Estelle captures the eye of a Virginian man that breaks her heart, but does make sure Estelle is on her way to London and the motion picture industry. Sure enough, Estelle soon captures the attention of director Samuel Korda and her film career as Merle Oberon is launched. However, Hollywood comes with a price and Merle must ensure that no one ever discovers her true parentage and so she promised herself that she will commit to the white world and bury her Indian heritage. But even in Hollywood no secret can go unpunished.
I must say that this was a quick read, the characters are standard, and the epilogue reveals many elements that hook the reader are completely fictionalized. Defintely take this book on vacation because it is a pretty familiar story of the Hollywood starlet. If you love Hitchcock, Leslie Howard, Douglas Fairbanks, Vivien Leigh, William Wyler, and Clark Gable- well they all make an appearance. On the other hand, I felt the characters all seemed to fit into some type of stereotype, especially Estelle/Merle. I am still unsure after finishing the story if she really came to any type of self -realization. Like the children in "The Chronicles of Narnia," Merle always appears to need someone to figure out her problems. I felt her hard to relate to because I wanted to shake her and scream "Get some common sense." Lastly, I really loved the relationship between Merle and Flora, but it was completely fictionalized. As was the feud between Merle and Vivien Leigh. I know that this is a book of fiction, but when the fictional parts are more believable than the real parts of the story, it has an effect on my leanings as a reader.
May 3, 2018
This is not the sort of book I usually pick up. As a historian my interest wanes in the 20th century onwards, and I normally go out of my way to avoid fiction in the setting, for the same reason I tend to avoid contemporary novels: I’m so familiar with it I simply find nothing new or exciting to tempt me, especially when I could be using that book reading time to read about far distant eras and places. Indeed, the setting here did not really surprise or delight me in any particular way. Rather, it was Merle Oberon’s unique experience that drew me in.
Of course, she was a tremendous success, her life as we look back on it seems as glamourous as any Hollywood starlet. And yet, alongside this astonishing sensation, her early life was incredibly hard, and after her death it was discovered that she had been forced to conceal her Anglo-Indian ancestry because bigotry would have kicked her out of the movie industry. I think this is the most fascinating aspect of the 20th century, for me: despite the incredible rush of modern technology, some of the attitudes that people held are beyond belief. Heck, the attitudes some people are still desperately clinging onto today frankly make me question their intelligence and sanity, as well as serving as a reminder that progress and modernity is an ongoing process.
The author discloses in the author’s note at the end what changes she made; they’re mostly either on the small side or else filling in the gaps in what I think is a plausible way – although Vivien Leigh fans may not be pleased.
6 out of 10
Of course, she was a tremendous success, her life as we look back on it seems as glamourous as any Hollywood starlet. And yet, alongside this astonishing sensation, her early life was incredibly hard, and after her death it was discovered that she had been forced to conceal her Anglo-Indian ancestry because bigotry would have kicked her out of the movie industry. I think this is the most fascinating aspect of the 20th century, for me: despite the incredible rush of modern technology, some of the attitudes that people held are beyond belief. Heck, the attitudes some people are still desperately clinging onto today frankly make me question their intelligence and sanity, as well as serving as a reminder that progress and modernity is an ongoing process.
The author discloses in the author’s note at the end what changes she made; they’re mostly either on the small side or else filling in the gaps in what I think is a plausible way – although Vivien Leigh fans may not be pleased.
6 out of 10
October 14, 2017
3.5 stars
I found this book to be an entertaining story. It is about an era in the British and American movie industry that I find fascinating. It delves into the life of Merle Oberon at the beginning of her movie career in the 1930's as she struggled to hide her Anglo-Indian heritage.
The author has been criticized by other readers for the lack of historical accuracy in the book. However, in her epilogue the author discusses some of the historical background and the creative license she has taken in the story. While I personally would prefer a story that adheres closer to the historical facts, I found this to be a good story. I did not necessarily look for it to be a biography.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from goodreads and the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I found this book to be an entertaining story. It is about an era in the British and American movie industry that I find fascinating. It delves into the life of Merle Oberon at the beginning of her movie career in the 1930's as she struggled to hide her Anglo-Indian heritage.
The author has been criticized by other readers for the lack of historical accuracy in the book. However, in her epilogue the author discusses some of the historical background and the creative license she has taken in the story. While I personally would prefer a story that adheres closer to the historical facts, I found this to be a good story. I did not necessarily look for it to be a biography.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from goodreads and the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 18, 2017
Won this Kindle e-book in a Goodreads giveaway. Although this highly fictionalized account of Merle Oberon's early career admittedly strays from known facts and speculates and fictionalizes unknowable aspects of her personal interactions, I found it well-written and entertaining.
September 29, 2017
Dreadful. Story was poorly written and the epilogue made me feel very uncomfortable about the people mentioned in the book. It also seemed to have been poorly researched. It is set in 1931 yet refers to plastic cups on a tea vending stall in India! There is also a later reference to drinking using a plastic straw. I cannot believe such details got past an editor. If they are getting points such as this wrong, what else is wrong in the book?
September 16, 2017
Free from Amazon Prime but not my cup of tea! Purports to be based on the early life of actress Merle Oberon, forced to deny her Anglo Indian heritage, the epilogue at the ends displays just how much poetic licence has been taken, with a lot of fictional content added.
January 21, 2021
This novel is historical fiction about the life of Merle Oberon. Her most famous movie role was as Cathy in Wuthering Heights opposite Laurence Olivier. Oberon was biracial (British/Sri Lankan) and spent her life hiding it. This fiction chronicles her successes and her struggles.
June 4, 2023
When I was a teenager, I loved watching old Hollywood movies. In those days, local TV stations would run old Hollywood films at odd times, often with commentary by a movie history expert. I still have a
big book about stars from Hollywood's Golden Age.
So, when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. It's a relatively entertaining read, and there are enough Hollywood and British stars from that period to give the reader a glimpse of studio and home life. It's interesting, too, to learn about how films got made back in the day.
But the more important story is that Merle Oberon, the star of the book and of many films, was a biracial woman who was "passing" as white. She certainly demonstrated acting talent on screen, but she also had to live a made-up a story: Her mother was her "servant." She was from a white English family, but her parents were dead. She used makeup and powder to lighten her skin. All this because she would not have been hired and been successful if she had been more brown. Moreover, the vast American market would not have supported her at all.
I found the writing kind of cyclical: Merle has a big audition...or she has to lie about her background...or she's torn as to whether she wants to spend the night with a handsome actor...she goes back and forth...annnnnnd repeat. She perseverates over so many things. Yes, she was young when she started her career, but she seems awfully innocent and unaware of so many things, like consequences of her actions, or the fact that other people may have points of view that are different from hers. And she relied so heavily on her friend, Flora, who comes across as little more than a crutch.
There's also the Constance subplot the pops up quite a ways into the book, disappears, and reappears and resolves in a very unsatisfying way, as if the author was scrambling to finish the story. (No spoilers here.)
Finally, while most of the action takes place in London and Hollywood, I'm a bit frustrated by the dialogue. British characters don't always sound British. American characters don't always sound American. And a number of characters use terms and phrases that weren't common in the 1930s, such as "that would be amazing." Really? Did no one edit this book for authentic dialogue? Update: I had forgotten the plastic cups in one part and the plastic straws in another. Really? In the 1930s?
So, I liked the book pretty well, but didn't love it. It was a pleasant distraction, but I was hoping for more.
big book about stars from Hollywood's Golden Age.
So, when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. It's a relatively entertaining read, and there are enough Hollywood and British stars from that period to give the reader a glimpse of studio and home life. It's interesting, too, to learn about how films got made back in the day.
But the more important story is that Merle Oberon, the star of the book and of many films, was a biracial woman who was "passing" as white. She certainly demonstrated acting talent on screen, but she also had to live a made-up a story: Her mother was her "servant." She was from a white English family, but her parents were dead. She used makeup and powder to lighten her skin. All this because she would not have been hired and been successful if she had been more brown. Moreover, the vast American market would not have supported her at all.
I found the writing kind of cyclical: Merle has a big audition...or she has to lie about her background...or she's torn as to whether she wants to spend the night with a handsome actor...she goes back and forth...annnnnnd repeat. She perseverates over so many things. Yes, she was young when she started her career, but she seems awfully innocent and unaware of so many things, like consequences of her actions, or the fact that other people may have points of view that are different from hers. And she relied so heavily on her friend, Flora, who comes across as little more than a crutch.
There's also the Constance subplot the pops up quite a ways into the book, disappears, and reappears and resolves in a very unsatisfying way, as if the author was scrambling to finish the story. (No spoilers here.)
Finally, while most of the action takes place in London and Hollywood, I'm a bit frustrated by the dialogue. British characters don't always sound British. American characters don't always sound American. And a number of characters use terms and phrases that weren't common in the 1930s, such as "that would be amazing." Really? Did no one edit this book for authentic dialogue? Update: I had forgotten the plastic cups in one part and the plastic straws in another. Really? In the 1930s?
So, I liked the book pretty well, but didn't love it. It was a pleasant distraction, but I was hoping for more.
May 22, 2022
This follows a young half-English/Indian teen in 1920-30’s India who is betrayed by an English gentleman but then goes on to become a famous Hollywood movie star as she learns life’s lessons. Her story is heartaching and crazy. It was a riveting historical book about actress Merle Oberon.
June 8, 2021
Fusion of Fact and Fiction
Upon first reading this book I thought it was a complete work of fiction until I checked it out and realised that it was a mixture of fact and fiction. I found it fascinating and how things have moved on. The lengths that Merle (Estelle) went through to hide her Indian background to get into the movie business, even denying her Mum who had to pose as her housekeeper. There are a few shocks and discoveries for Merle and the way the story is weaved it all sounded believable.
Upon first reading this book I thought it was a complete work of fiction until I checked it out and realised that it was a mixture of fact and fiction. I found it fascinating and how things have moved on. The lengths that Merle (Estelle) went through to hide her Indian background to get into the movie business, even denying her Mum who had to pose as her housekeeper. There are a few shocks and discoveries for Merle and the way the story is weaved it all sounded believable.
May 18, 2018
Dieses Buch erzählt die fiktive Lebensgeschichte der Schauspielerin Merle Oberon, wie die Autorin selbst im Epilog erklärt, basiert die Geschichte auf den wenigen Fakten, die über Oberon bekant sind und wurde von der Autorin ausgeschmückt.
Erzählt wird also die Geschichte der jungen Frau Estelle Thompson, die als halb-Inderin/halb-Engländerin in Indien aufwächst. Als "Halbblut" gehört sie weder zur indischen Kastengesellschaft, noch zur Kolonialmacht England.
Hier nimmt die Aschenputtelgeschichte ihren Lauf. Estelle ist bildhübsch, aber unerfahren. Sie verliebt sich, wird abgewiesen und beschließt schließlich mit ihrer Mutter nach England zu gehen, um dort ihre Schauspielkarriere voran zu treiben. Sie muss ihre wahre Identität verstecken und ihre Mutter als ihre Angestellte ausgeben, aber Stück für Stück kommt ihre Karriere in Fahrt.
Die Geschichte ist spannend genug, daß ich sie bis zum Ende gelesen habe. In den letzten Jahren kamen aber ähnliche Geschichten auf den Markt (Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Memoirs of a Geisha,...) die mir besser gefallen.
Diese Rezension basiert auf einer ARC, die mir der Verlag über NetGalley zugeschickt hat.
#NetGalleyDEChallenge
Erzählt wird also die Geschichte der jungen Frau Estelle Thompson, die als halb-Inderin/halb-Engländerin in Indien aufwächst. Als "Halbblut" gehört sie weder zur indischen Kastengesellschaft, noch zur Kolonialmacht England.
Hier nimmt die Aschenputtelgeschichte ihren Lauf. Estelle ist bildhübsch, aber unerfahren. Sie verliebt sich, wird abgewiesen und beschließt schließlich mit ihrer Mutter nach England zu gehen, um dort ihre Schauspielkarriere voran zu treiben. Sie muss ihre wahre Identität verstecken und ihre Mutter als ihre Angestellte ausgeben, aber Stück für Stück kommt ihre Karriere in Fahrt.
Die Geschichte ist spannend genug, daß ich sie bis zum Ende gelesen habe. In den letzten Jahren kamen aber ähnliche Geschichten auf den Markt (Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Memoirs of a Geisha,...) die mir besser gefallen.
Diese Rezension basiert auf einer ARC, die mir der Verlag über NetGalley zugeschickt hat.
#NetGalleyDEChallenge
February 8, 2020
as always love books based in fact, tho I didn't care for the (factious ending) that was a personal preference but other than that it was a pretty interesting book and I rally liked the characters!
April 23, 2018
I was a little hesitant reading this novel at first as a fictionalised reimagining of a reallife feels so many shades of wrong. However, I decided to give it a fair crack of the whip and decided to treat it as though the people within the covers had never really existed and it was all fiction. This is surprisingly easy to do, especially if you know absolutely nothing about Merle Oberon. To me she was merely a name from the end of the Golden Era in filmmaking and I'm not even sure that I have seen her in a film - I know her most famous film was perhaps Wuthering Heights but as I don't particularly like the novel I haven't been in any rush to see an adaptation of it.
The tale itself is gloriously wrought. The early section, in India, where the young Estelle lives with her mataji, Charlotte, is particularly evocative. You can feel the heat and smell the spice laden air wafting from the pages. The character of Estelle is particularly empathetic and her naivety from her rather cloistered upbringing in the Anglo-Indian quarter is at eternal odds with both her ambition and her underlying sensuous nature. Whether Merle Oberon was really like this I have no idea but I kind of hope she was; there is a feisty fearlessness to her that makes you immediately warm to her and accept her character flaws without them diminishing your affection for the character.
Whilst only just "pale enough to pass" this doesn't stop her from following her dreams and travelling to England with a letter of recommendation in her pocket and love in her heart. Sadly the love was misplaced and the intended recipient of the letter away but by a string of fortuitous meetings she still manages to make the right connections by meeting with Sandor Korda who sees her potential and so a star is born.
I found this to be a real page turner and was quite sad when it finishes early in Merle's life after her marriage to Korda. Whilst the events are fictionalised the inspiration behind the author's imaginings is explained in the Afterword and the known biography of Ms Oberon is synopsied there for the reader. All of the characters in the book live and breathe and this isn't because there is a "name" attached to them; indeed many of them behave in ways that you wouldn't expect (although Vivien Leigh's overvaulting ambition and spite are well recorded) and feel all the more real for it.
If you can seperate the real person from the fictional account then you will enjoy this novel. The settings, both glamorous and mundane, are richly evoked and the populace of the pages live and breathe on their own. There are some twists and turns in the plot that you genuinely don't see coming but when all mixed together they just make it feel like a genuine life.
The tale itself is gloriously wrought. The early section, in India, where the young Estelle lives with her mataji, Charlotte, is particularly evocative. You can feel the heat and smell the spice laden air wafting from the pages. The character of Estelle is particularly empathetic and her naivety from her rather cloistered upbringing in the Anglo-Indian quarter is at eternal odds with both her ambition and her underlying sensuous nature. Whether Merle Oberon was really like this I have no idea but I kind of hope she was; there is a feisty fearlessness to her that makes you immediately warm to her and accept her character flaws without them diminishing your affection for the character.
Whilst only just "pale enough to pass" this doesn't stop her from following her dreams and travelling to England with a letter of recommendation in her pocket and love in her heart. Sadly the love was misplaced and the intended recipient of the letter away but by a string of fortuitous meetings she still manages to make the right connections by meeting with Sandor Korda who sees her potential and so a star is born.
I found this to be a real page turner and was quite sad when it finishes early in Merle's life after her marriage to Korda. Whilst the events are fictionalised the inspiration behind the author's imaginings is explained in the Afterword and the known biography of Ms Oberon is synopsied there for the reader. All of the characters in the book live and breathe and this isn't because there is a "name" attached to them; indeed many of them behave in ways that you wouldn't expect (although Vivien Leigh's overvaulting ambition and spite are well recorded) and feel all the more real for it.
If you can seperate the real person from the fictional account then you will enjoy this novel. The settings, both glamorous and mundane, are richly evoked and the populace of the pages live and breathe on their own. There are some twists and turns in the plot that you genuinely don't see coming but when all mixed together they just make it feel like a genuine life.
March 28, 2018
Oh what an horrible idea this book is. The idea of taking a real persons life and then writing about them as fiction is ridiculous!!
Upfront the author lets you know that there will be fiction interwoven in the story, but what she doesn't tell you is that the most important relationships and moments in the book are pure fiction!!!
It was really awful to read this whole book then find out that Merle Oberon's great enduring friendship with Flora Robson did not exist, that there is absolutely no proof that Ms Oberon had an STD ending in surgical sterility and that Vivien Leigh absolutely did not blackmail her over her heritage.
What a horrible ridiculous book, the author should apologize to everyone who has ever mistakenly read her misguided work and she should stop writing immediately.
This is not a work of fiction! It is a work of character assassination and flagrant lies!!
I am utterly disgusted by this writer!!!
Upfront the author lets you know that there will be fiction interwoven in the story, but what she doesn't tell you is that the most important relationships and moments in the book are pure fiction!!!
It was really awful to read this whole book then find out that Merle Oberon's great enduring friendship with Flora Robson did not exist, that there is absolutely no proof that Ms Oberon had an STD ending in surgical sterility and that Vivien Leigh absolutely did not blackmail her over her heritage.
What a horrible ridiculous book, the author should apologize to everyone who has ever mistakenly read her misguided work and she should stop writing immediately.
This is not a work of fiction! It is a work of character assassination and flagrant lies!!
I am utterly disgusted by this writer!!!
September 27, 2020
I am a huge fan of old movies and the golden age of Hollywood, so I was excited to read this fictionalized version of the life/love story of Merle Oberon, but unfortunately it just didn't work for me. For a majority of the book, I felt like I was being held hostage rather than enjoying the ride. It's over-the-top and melodramatic at certain points and dull and contrived at others.
With the exception of Merle and her immediate circle (her mother, her best friends), the characters felt caricature-ish and underdeveloped (Leslie Howard is a horndog with a wife, Lawrence Olivier is tortured artist who's difficult to work with until he has a sudden, unearned change of heart, etc). The emotional heart of the story is a compelling one, but unfortunately it doesn't come spilling out until the last few pages.
In general, I'd recommend skipping this one.
With the exception of Merle and her immediate circle (her mother, her best friends), the characters felt caricature-ish and underdeveloped (Leslie Howard is a horndog with a wife, Lawrence Olivier is tortured artist who's difficult to work with until he has a sudden, unearned change of heart, etc). The emotional heart of the story is a compelling one, but unfortunately it doesn't come spilling out until the last few pages.
In general, I'd recommend skipping this one.
October 8, 2017
I won the Kindle version of this novel from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
This book reminds me of all the bad miniseries from the 80's: overflowing with melodrama and lacking in originality. Whispers of the Moon Moth reads like a copycat of Michael Korda's Queenie. The entire story is overwrought with what feels like phony emotion. And I don't understand the point of fictionalizing certain actions by Vivien Leigh, especially something that seems potentially malicious. I don't recommend the book. I don't see the point in rehashing Merle Oberon's story or the outdated style of the book.
This book reminds me of all the bad miniseries from the 80's: overflowing with melodrama and lacking in originality. Whispers of the Moon Moth reads like a copycat of Michael Korda's Queenie. The entire story is overwrought with what feels like phony emotion. And I don't understand the point of fictionalizing certain actions by Vivien Leigh, especially something that seems potentially malicious. I don't recommend the book. I don't see the point in rehashing Merle Oberon's story or the outdated style of the book.
October 17, 2017
absolutely awful... writing ... story... characters... etc... not worth you time ... it was free on kindle unlimited but really this should not have been printed... supposedly a fictionalized version of Merle Oberon's life it was so far from reality that it was basically a book that plagiarized her life in order to have a story to write... definitely don't bother with this one...
September 10, 2017
I Enjoyed the Story and then all the Thoughts I Had Been Having about All the BIG Stars was Mostly Made up .. It has Made me think that LJA Should have just used Made up names like most of the Story .. I am now off to find A Real Story of this Magical Time
January 4, 2019
Captivating
i loved this book so much it was brilliant from start to finish. A great insight into another bygone world
i loved this book so much it was brilliant from start to finish. A great insight into another bygone world
February 18, 2020
I am usually too lazy to leave reviews, particularly because I feel like much of what I might say has already been said in other reviews. Having said that, I thought I'd throw my ideas out there that I haven't seen in the other reviews posted. There were a few things I quite liked and one major thing that I didn't like at all.
I found it to be a fast and easy read that was interesting. I particularly enjoyed the earlier sections where we learn about Estelle's life in India and the challenges she faced. Her relationship with Charlotte was very interesting to me and I wish we would have had more analysis of that later in the book.
I was also interested to learn more about the characters experiences with passing and the challenges and loneliness that can come with making that life choice. I've read other pieces of fiction and non-fiction that explore this in the context of the United States. I read a lot of literature dealing with India, British India, and Indians in Britain, and this is the only book I've seen that explores this from an Anglo Indian perspective. Having read this book, I'm curious to find other books that look at this and investigate other aspects of Anglo Indian lives and experiences. One theme I constantly see in passing literature is the sense of isolation that people experience when they embark on this path, which many feel that they have to do to have a chance at success. I think we see that in this story and it is quite moving.
One thing I did not like in this book was the way Estelle/Merle's sexuality is expressed/explored(?). The character makes some bad bad choices that cause her pain and frustration. That is fine. Many women can look back on their lives and admit that they've made bad choices. I think the pacing of the book makes it seem that the main character is constantly making bad choices, which can be a little tiring and annoying. I had to remind myself that the story takes place over a number of years, not weeks. But...while that was annoying, that's not my major issue. My issue is that Estelle seems to attribute these bad choices to her native blood. Every time she starts getting pants feelings for another character, she refers to the snake in her belly taking control or uncoiling. Earlier in the novel, she wonders if this is due to her native blood and it is sporadically referenced throughout the book. I found this pretty gross and I don't think it makes sense for the character to feel that way, even if she did have some internalized racism kind of thing going on (and I didn't really see evidence of this outside of her feelings about her sexuality). I think are other ways the author could have dealt with the character's confusion over her desire for sex with her fear of the eventual consequences that could come from it. Hormones and confusion happen. Assuming that this is because you come from a highly sexed people does not need to be the character's go to excuse for her behavior. This didn't ruin the book for me, but it was enough for me to bring it down one star. (I'd make put this closer to 3.5 stars if we were able to choose that type of rating.)
As a side note, multiple reviewers have commented that they were frustrated that the author deviates from known facts so much in this book of historical fiction. Having read a lot of historical fiction over the years, I find that to be a surprising criticism, but to each their own. I will say that whenever I'm reading historical fiction about real people, I usually spend hours googling the different people I encounter to find out what the true story is. That is half of the fun for me when I'm reading these types of books. I found it very interesting to look up the different Hollywood folks in this book to learn more about them. It was also kind of nostalgic for me as I grew up watching movies from this era with my great grandmother. I will probably read one of the biographies on Merle Oberon if I'm able to locate one. About the "not really true" historical fiction relating to Ms. Oberon - from what I have read, much of her early history is unknown and will likely remain that way as so much was obscured by Ms. Oberon and her handlers. The author would have to imagine much of the story in order to write a novel-length piece about her.
I found it to be a fast and easy read that was interesting. I particularly enjoyed the earlier sections where we learn about Estelle's life in India and the challenges she faced. Her relationship with Charlotte was very interesting to me and I wish we would have had more analysis of that later in the book.
I was also interested to learn more about the characters experiences with passing and the challenges and loneliness that can come with making that life choice. I've read other pieces of fiction and non-fiction that explore this in the context of the United States. I read a lot of literature dealing with India, British India, and Indians in Britain, and this is the only book I've seen that explores this from an Anglo Indian perspective. Having read this book, I'm curious to find other books that look at this and investigate other aspects of Anglo Indian lives and experiences. One theme I constantly see in passing literature is the sense of isolation that people experience when they embark on this path, which many feel that they have to do to have a chance at success. I think we see that in this story and it is quite moving.
One thing I did not like in this book was the way Estelle/Merle's sexuality is expressed/explored(?). The character makes some bad bad choices that cause her pain and frustration. That is fine. Many women can look back on their lives and admit that they've made bad choices. I think the pacing of the book makes it seem that the main character is constantly making bad choices, which can be a little tiring and annoying. I had to remind myself that the story takes place over a number of years, not weeks. But...while that was annoying, that's not my major issue. My issue is that Estelle seems to attribute these bad choices to her native blood. Every time she starts getting pants feelings for another character, she refers to the snake in her belly taking control or uncoiling. Earlier in the novel, she wonders if this is due to her native blood and it is sporadically referenced throughout the book. I found this pretty gross and I don't think it makes sense for the character to feel that way, even if she did have some internalized racism kind of thing going on (and I didn't really see evidence of this outside of her feelings about her sexuality). I think are other ways the author could have dealt with the character's confusion over her desire for sex with her fear of the eventual consequences that could come from it. Hormones and confusion happen. Assuming that this is because you come from a highly sexed people does not need to be the character's go to excuse for her behavior. This didn't ruin the book for me, but it was enough for me to bring it down one star. (I'd make put this closer to 3.5 stars if we were able to choose that type of rating.)
As a side note, multiple reviewers have commented that they were frustrated that the author deviates from known facts so much in this book of historical fiction. Having read a lot of historical fiction over the years, I find that to be a surprising criticism, but to each their own. I will say that whenever I'm reading historical fiction about real people, I usually spend hours googling the different people I encounter to find out what the true story is. That is half of the fun for me when I'm reading these types of books. I found it very interesting to look up the different Hollywood folks in this book to learn more about them. It was also kind of nostalgic for me as I grew up watching movies from this era with my great grandmother. I will probably read one of the biographies on Merle Oberon if I'm able to locate one. About the "not really true" historical fiction relating to Ms. Oberon - from what I have read, much of her early history is unknown and will likely remain that way as so much was obscured by Ms. Oberon and her handlers. The author would have to imagine much of the story in order to write a novel-length piece about her.
May 29, 2018
Ich mag Bücher über das Showbiz. Sie versprechen immer eine ordendliche Portion Drama und das goldene Zeitalter des Films ist dafür ja perfekt geeignet.
Ich gebe auch zu, dass ich dem Buch erst seine drei Sterne gegeben habe.
Der Schreibstil ist für diese Art Roman in Ordnung, die Protagonistin folgt den gängigen Standards des Genres, von der jungen Naiven, die versucht ihren Weg zu gehen, über einige sexuelle Eskapaden, hin zum Star. Das Flair der Zeit, wurde gut eingefangen. Das Thema "Rassismus" zieht sich durch das ganze Buch, denn die Protagonistin schwebt immer in der "Gefahr", dass jemand ihre indische Herkunft aufdeckt und ihre Karriere damit beendet.
Was mich beim Lesen gestört hat war, dass die Geschichte eine sehr lange Vorlaufzeit hat. Über die Hälfte des Buches vergeht und die Protagonistin hat noch keinen Fuß in der Tür eines Filmstudios. So nimmt der Klappentext sozusagen das ganze Buch vorweg und wenn man ihn kennt, dann kennt man halt auch 98% der Geschichte.
Dann kam der Epilog (und ja, ich hab nicht gewusst, dass Merle Oberon eine ECHTE Person war, weil ich am Anfang nicht das Vorwort der Autorin gelesen habe (mache ich nie)). Doch dann im Epilog erkärt die Autorin, dass sie eine Menge in das Leben der Hollywood-Diva hineininterpretiert oder sagen wir schlicht ... erfunden hat. Natürlich könnte man argumentieren, dass jede "Romanbiographie" eine gewisse Portion von künstlerrischer Freiheit beinhaltet und da sage ich ... ja natürlich. Aber hier passiert es halt auf einem Level der mich stört. Der Gipfel war ja, dass behauptet wird, dass Vivien Leigh Merle Oberon droht ihre indische Herkunft zu verraten und ihr so nachhaltig zu schaden. Ja, okay, ich hab verstanden, die zwei Ladys mochten sich nicht, aber das war mir dann doch etwas künstlerische Freiheit zu viel.
Das Buch als solches war ein typischer historischer Frauenroman, den ich auch Fans des Genres empfehlen würde. Mich stören allerdings die vielen Dinge, die die Autorin einfach "erfunden" hat.
Ich gebe auch zu, dass ich dem Buch erst seine drei Sterne gegeben habe.
Der Schreibstil ist für diese Art Roman in Ordnung, die Protagonistin folgt den gängigen Standards des Genres, von der jungen Naiven, die versucht ihren Weg zu gehen, über einige sexuelle Eskapaden, hin zum Star. Das Flair der Zeit, wurde gut eingefangen. Das Thema "Rassismus" zieht sich durch das ganze Buch, denn die Protagonistin schwebt immer in der "Gefahr", dass jemand ihre indische Herkunft aufdeckt und ihre Karriere damit beendet.
Was mich beim Lesen gestört hat war, dass die Geschichte eine sehr lange Vorlaufzeit hat. Über die Hälfte des Buches vergeht und die Protagonistin hat noch keinen Fuß in der Tür eines Filmstudios. So nimmt der Klappentext sozusagen das ganze Buch vorweg und wenn man ihn kennt, dann kennt man halt auch 98% der Geschichte.
Dann kam der Epilog (und ja, ich hab nicht gewusst, dass Merle Oberon eine ECHTE Person war, weil ich am Anfang nicht das Vorwort der Autorin gelesen habe (mache ich nie)). Doch dann im Epilog erkärt die Autorin, dass sie eine Menge in das Leben der Hollywood-Diva hineininterpretiert oder sagen wir schlicht ... erfunden hat. Natürlich könnte man argumentieren, dass jede "Romanbiographie" eine gewisse Portion von künstlerrischer Freiheit beinhaltet und da sage ich ... ja natürlich. Aber hier passiert es halt auf einem Level der mich stört. Der Gipfel war ja, dass behauptet wird, dass Vivien Leigh Merle Oberon droht ihre indische Herkunft zu verraten und ihr so nachhaltig zu schaden. Ja, okay, ich hab verstanden, die zwei Ladys mochten sich nicht, aber das war mir dann doch etwas künstlerische Freiheit zu viel.
Das Buch als solches war ein typischer historischer Frauenroman, den ich auch Fans des Genres empfehlen würde. Mich stören allerdings die vielen Dinge, die die Autorin einfach "erfunden" hat.
May 4, 2020
"Whisper of the Moon Moth" begins with a young woman in India, carrying a baby, being abandoned by her new husband as she boards a ship. Needless to say, this sets the tone for the novel.
When next we see this baby, she's 18 years old. Estelle Thompson loves nothing so much as dancing or going to the movies, and nurses secret dreams of becoming a film star. Mostly, though, she worries that people will discover that she is of mixed English and Indian heritage; there are anti-miscegenation laws and simple prejudice to boot.
Through a variety of circumstances, Estelle winds up in England with a letter of introduction for a screen test. She's cast in a couple of minor roles, and then lands the part of Anne Boleyn in "The Private Life of Henry VIII." It is at this point that her name is changed to Merle Oberon.
I looked up Oberon's biography and found that, in the main, this book sticks to the facts of her life (there are some fictionalized incidents, of course). The author has clearly done her homework. The book is peopled with theatre and film folk from the 1930s, all of whose names are immediately recognizable to classic movie fans. We get a good look at both the London and Hollywood film business, as well as a compelling story.
Highly recommended.
When next we see this baby, she's 18 years old. Estelle Thompson loves nothing so much as dancing or going to the movies, and nurses secret dreams of becoming a film star. Mostly, though, she worries that people will discover that she is of mixed English and Indian heritage; there are anti-miscegenation laws and simple prejudice to boot.
Through a variety of circumstances, Estelle winds up in England with a letter of introduction for a screen test. She's cast in a couple of minor roles, and then lands the part of Anne Boleyn in "The Private Life of Henry VIII." It is at this point that her name is changed to Merle Oberon.
I looked up Oberon's biography and found that, in the main, this book sticks to the facts of her life (there are some fictionalized incidents, of course). The author has clearly done her homework. The book is peopled with theatre and film folk from the 1930s, all of whose names are immediately recognizable to classic movie fans. We get a good look at both the London and Hollywood film business, as well as a compelling story.
Highly recommended.
September 14, 2022
The book follows Estelle Thompson, an Anglo-Indian young woman aspiring to become an actress.
After some unforeseen heartbreak, she lands up in London hoping to find any acting job. She luckily finds a small part in a production, impresses the director so much that she gets the part to play the famous literary heroine Cathy in Wuthering Heights.
She also finally finds the love that she has always been looking for even though the reveal of her family secrets are devastating. And then – the book was over. I was surprised when I reached the last line because I didn’t expect it be over so soon. Not because I was engrossed in it but because the book just didn’t feel complete yet.
The writing is good and I was not completely bored. The story was a little simplistic but still enjoyable. The aspect I really found interesting was the plight of Anglo-Indians in India before our independence. I wasn’t aware that they were treated with such apathy by both the communities and it was fascinating to get to know something different about India’s history. It is a good read but the pace was very slow.
Review: https://clife.blog/2022/09/24/book-re...
After some unforeseen heartbreak, she lands up in London hoping to find any acting job. She luckily finds a small part in a production, impresses the director so much that she gets the part to play the famous literary heroine Cathy in Wuthering Heights.
She also finally finds the love that she has always been looking for even though the reveal of her family secrets are devastating. And then – the book was over. I was surprised when I reached the last line because I didn’t expect it be over so soon. Not because I was engrossed in it but because the book just didn’t feel complete yet.
The writing is good and I was not completely bored. The story was a little simplistic but still enjoyable. The aspect I really found interesting was the plight of Anglo-Indians in India before our independence. I wasn’t aware that they were treated with such apathy by both the communities and it was fascinating to get to know something different about India’s history. It is a good read but the pace was very slow.
Review: https://clife.blog/2022/09/24/book-re...
August 17, 2021
Fascinating (mostly?) (partially?) true story of a classic Hollywood star who wasn't what she seemed. If you didn't know Merle Oberon was Asian, raise your hand. The woman endured years of psychological agony trying to hide who she really was from an industry and a world that would have cast her aside had they known. Ms. Ashford has done a masterful job telling this story, which is a work of fiction based on fact. Several of the scenes in the book are retellings of events that I have read about in books that purported to be non-fiction, so I think this might easily be considered narrative non-fiction. In any case, it's a very interesting read, and I think you'll want to go back and watch some of Ms. Oberon's performances after reading it. I know I do. Highly recommended, especially for classic film fans.
November 9, 2018
I picked up this one because I keenly enjoyed another book by the same author, “The Woman on the Orient Express,” which was about Agatha Christie. Alas, this novel wasn’t up to the same standard. I would have thought that the life of Merle Oberon would have made for a sufficiently interesting narrative on its own but unfortunately, Ashford chose to veer away from the truth. She added friendships that didn’t exist and subplot intrigues that never happened. Biographical historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I understand that some embroidering is necessary to boost an overarching storyline. However, with this book, there was too much of it for me to wholeheartedly recommend it. Still, it kept my interest and I stuck with it, but in the end I found it only a mediocre read.
May 15, 2019
I selected this book based on the life of actress Merle Oberon, because it opens in 1931 Calcutta. Ashford deftly creates a believable atmosphere as she opens her story about Estelle Merle Thompson, a young Anglo-Indian girl who loves movies, amateur dramatics, and nightclubs where she gains entry passing as white. One night she meets one-time actor Ben Finney who takes her along on a very interesting safari. As he says farewell, Finney gives Estelle the name of a producer in London.
Estelle discovers the London of her dreams is not the one she’s living in. She takes a job as a club hostess, takes a screen test, and eventually comes to the notice of producer/director Alexander Korda who mentors Estelle’s film career, beginning with her name change to Merle Oberon, and a new identity unconnected to India.
Whisper of the Moon Moth is an engaging story of secrets and self-termination.
Estelle discovers the London of her dreams is not the one she’s living in. She takes a job as a club hostess, takes a screen test, and eventually comes to the notice of producer/director Alexander Korda who mentors Estelle’s film career, beginning with her name change to Merle Oberon, and a new identity unconnected to India.
Whisper of the Moon Moth is an engaging story of secrets and self-termination.
September 13, 2020
A surprising gem
I began reading this book thinking it would fall into the category of “guilty pleasure” reads, and was surprised by how fascinating the subject matter came to be. Though it was made clear it’s an imagined story of what Oberon’s rise to stardom could have looked like, it played out very believably.
I found myself going back and forth between the novel and IMDB.com to reference the actors, directors and films peppering the story.
Fan’s of 1930’s cinema will be particularly rewarded with the intimacy of the processes behind the film production that are realistically rendered here. The backdrop of Bombay, Calcutta, London and Hollywood make for a rich and colorful setting.
I began reading this book thinking it would fall into the category of “guilty pleasure” reads, and was surprised by how fascinating the subject matter came to be. Though it was made clear it’s an imagined story of what Oberon’s rise to stardom could have looked like, it played out very believably.
I found myself going back and forth between the novel and IMDB.com to reference the actors, directors and films peppering the story.
Fan’s of 1930’s cinema will be particularly rewarded with the intimacy of the processes behind the film production that are realistically rendered here. The backdrop of Bombay, Calcutta, London and Hollywood make for a rich and colorful setting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews