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An Inconvenient Woman
Jules Mendelson is wealthy. Astronomically so. He and his wife lead the kind of charity-giving, art-filled, high-society life for which each has been carefully groomed. Until Jules falls in love with Flo March, a beautiful actress/waitress. What Flo discovers about the superrich is not a pretty sight. And in the end, she wants no more than what she was promised. But when Flo begins to share the true story of her life among the Mendelsons, not everyone is in a listening mood. And some cold shoulders have very sharp edges...
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
617 people are currently reading
2046 people want to read
About the author
Dominick Dunne
49 books343 followersDominick Dunne was an American writer and investigative journalist whose subjects frequently hinged on the ways high society interacts with the judiciary system. He was a producer in Hollywood and is also known from his frequent appearances on television.
After his studies at Williams College and service in World War II, Dunne moved to New York, then to Hollywood, where he directed Playhouse 90 and became vice president of Four Star Pictures. He hobnobbed with the rich and the famous of those days. In 1979, he left Hollywood, moved to Oregon, and wrote his first book, The Winners. In November 1982, his actress daughter, Dominique Dunne, was murdered. Dunne attended the trial of her murderer (John Thomas Sweeney) and subsequently wrote Justice: A Father's Account of the Trial of his Daughter's Killer.
After his studies at Williams College and service in World War II, Dunne moved to New York, then to Hollywood, where he directed Playhouse 90 and became vice president of Four Star Pictures. He hobnobbed with the rich and the famous of those days. In 1979, he left Hollywood, moved to Oregon, and wrote his first book, The Winners. In November 1982, his actress daughter, Dominique Dunne, was murdered. Dunne attended the trial of her murderer (John Thomas Sweeney) and subsequently wrote Justice: A Father's Account of the Trial of his Daughter's Killer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
September 19, 2007
Now this is a freakin' masterpiece. Imagine, if you will, an aging billionaire with a high society wife that grows orchids. Oh, that's boring? WAIT. Now, also imagine that billionaire having an affair with a coffee shop waitress. Still lame? Throw in a male prostitute, pot smoking, revised wills, and a gossip columnist! How about that? Oh, you're still bored. I'm not. Whatever. I GUESS WE KNOW WHO HAS GOOD TASTE IN BOOKS, MR. GENIUS.
May 4, 2018
I read a reviewer that said Dominick Dunne's books were like reading a rag mag and I really agree!!! His books are like reading something juicy about rich people. He always shows the injustice of the justice system. I like how his stories, bc he moved in rich inner circles when he was alive, show how the 1% can get away with murder (literally) and have so many secrets lurking while the 99% of us would likely get arrested and made to look crazy and forgotten about, like it happens to his characters. This is the third book I read by D.D and I enjoy his entertaining stories. Two thumbs and toes up.
Editing this real quick: Upon reading other reviews and using the handy dandy Wikipedia, I saw that the story was loosely based on the billionaire Alfred Bloomingdale, of the department store Bloomingdale's, (YES!!! This actually happened!!) and his mistress Vicki. Interesting....
Editing this real quick: Upon reading other reviews and using the handy dandy Wikipedia, I saw that the story was loosely based on the billionaire Alfred Bloomingdale, of the department store Bloomingdale's, (YES!!! This actually happened!!) and his mistress Vicki. Interesting....
December 15, 2010
Like eating a box of chocolates, guilty but delicious. Love Dominick Dunne's gossipy style - with a few rapier-like observations he wickedly brings to life his characters. A social satire on how the rich live, and live above the law. Even more jaw-dropping to read it is based on a real-life set of events.
February 22, 2020
"But before the disgrace and the vilification Jules Mendelson was, seemingly at least, on top of the world: awesome in appearance, brilliantly married, and revered in the manner that the very rich are
revered in America".
An Inconvenient Woman by Dominick Dunne
Poor Flo!
This book is really a downer. Yet it is written very well. The way it is written one cannot help but love Flo, the waitress with the heart of gold.
So the story is about the wealthy and powerful. Some have called it light or raunchy or very Hollywood. I call it a tragedy. There is nothing..I repeat..nothing..light about this book. It is actually up there on my list of most depressing reads.
The outside plot is about a business tycoon who is married and has his life neatly settled but then shicks himself by falling head over heels with a tough and sassy waitress. That is what the stor y appears to be about.
What I took from it though is it is more about class in America. Money..who has it, what they do with it. Power..how the wealthy people in this novel choose to use it..and tragedy. The tragedy being a woman who is used and discarded by literally almost everyone she comes in contact with.
I took off a point for a scene of animal brutality.
The story itself is based on a true story and was also a movie. I have reread this and it brings me down every time. Don't read this if you are seeking Justice or a happy and romantic book. Read it for Flo's story.
revered in America".
An Inconvenient Woman by Dominick Dunne
Poor Flo!
This book is really a downer. Yet it is written very well. The way it is written one cannot help but love Flo, the waitress with the heart of gold.
So the story is about the wealthy and powerful. Some have called it light or raunchy or very Hollywood. I call it a tragedy. There is nothing..I repeat..nothing..light about this book. It is actually up there on my list of most depressing reads.
The outside plot is about a business tycoon who is married and has his life neatly settled but then shicks himself by falling head over heels with a tough and sassy waitress. That is what the stor y appears to be about.
What I took from it though is it is more about class in America. Money..who has it, what they do with it. Power..how the wealthy people in this novel choose to use it..and tragedy. The tragedy being a woman who is used and discarded by literally almost everyone she comes in contact with.
I took off a point for a scene of animal brutality.
The story itself is based on a true story and was also a movie. I have reread this and it brings me down every time. Don't read this if you are seeking Justice or a happy and romantic book. Read it for Flo's story.
June 11, 2025
This one has everything, sex, drugs, society ladies, power, politics. It is loosely based on the Albert Bloomingdale / Vicki Morgan affair. I love Dominick Dunne's writing style.
August 27, 2008
What happens when a woman becomes "inconvenient"? Flo March is about to find out.
Her wealthy married lover has provided her with many of the material things in life---clothes, jewelry, a home---and has promised to always take care of her. When he becomes ill, however, and the end seems near, he even arranges to buy the home for her and provide a monthly allowance...
So what happens to this dream? Suddenly her world is topsy-turvy. She is persona non grata everywhere she goes. And frightening things are happening...Could it be that the secrets she knows and the inconvenience of her continued presence herald unseen and unknown tragedies?
Her wealthy married lover has provided her with many of the material things in life---clothes, jewelry, a home---and has promised to always take care of her. When he becomes ill, however, and the end seems near, he even arranges to buy the home for her and provide a monthly allowance...
So what happens to this dream? Suddenly her world is topsy-turvy. She is persona non grata everywhere she goes. And frightening things are happening...Could it be that the secrets she knows and the inconvenience of her continued presence herald unseen and unknown tragedies?
June 11, 2025
Enjoyed immensely.
July 5, 2016
Oh gee...lifestyles of the rich navel gazers!! I read this as a part of a book group reading challenge. I'm trying not to be bitter about never getting the wasted days of reading back.
June 19, 2019
La puntuación sería más bien un 2,75: es decir, no es un absoluto desastre, pero sin llegar a las 3 estrellas.
La verdad es que esta novela, al menos para mí, ha sido una gran decepción, y desde luego no estoy de acuerdo con lo que se decía en la publicidad de la obra, a saber, que es el mejor libro de Dominick Dunne. Antes al contrario, creo que es bastante inferior a "Las dos señores Grenville" (a la que calificaría con algo más de un 3, posiblemente un 3,5) y, sobre todo, a "Una temporada en el purgatorio" (a la que calificaría con un 3,75), siendo esta última, al menos para mí, su mejor libro.
A ver, me explico un poco: las novelas de Dominck Dunne son SALSEO máximo, eso es lo que las hace interesantes realmente. Son un max mix entre un programa del corazón y estos docu dramas de crímenes que tanto se han popularizado (de hecho, el autor presentaba un programa de esos, centrado en los crímenes de la alta sociedad, y fue un reportero que siguió todo el caso de O.J. Simpson).
Además, Dunne escribe como un periodista, lo que hace que sus obras sean ágiles y, en general, bastante fáciles de leer.
La marca de la casa se este autor consiste en novelar crímenes reales sucedidos en la alta sociedad, contando "todo lo vivo" con pelos y señales (no sólo de lo que sucedió "realmente" con el crimen, sino de cómo eran esas personas, sus relaciones, el poder, etc), y disfrazando un poco los hechos, cambiando nombres y poco más. Vamos, una mezcla de thriller, chismes máximos, y secretos, que en la alta sociedad eran secretos a voces... vamos, que si alguna vez ha existido un exponente máximo de lo que es un "Gossip Boy", desde luego ese fue Dominick Dunne.
Así lo hizo, y aprobando con nota además, con "Las dos señoras Grenville", en el que abordaba la muerte “accidental” en 1955 del heredero William “Billy” Woodward, Jr. a manos de su esposa Ann Woodward, y con "Una temporada en el purgatorio", que se centraba en el caso real del asesinato de Martha Moxley, ocurrido en 1975, y que salpicó al clan Kennedy (a los que les da hasta en el cielo del paladar, por cierto, tal vez por eso es la que más me gusta, y porque como novela es la más redonda a la hora de construir los personajes y la historia ficticia paralela).
En cambio, con esta novela ha pinchado en hueso: hubo muchísimos momentos en que "se me hizo bola", ni el salseo justificaba seguir leyendo, porque era muy reiterativo (francamente, de las 590 páginas que tiene, le sobran 200), acabé hasta la peineta de la cantidad de veces que nos quería hacer saber lo elegantísima y bella que era Pauline Mendelson (entendiendo por elegante ser una urraca estirada con un palo clavado en el culo, claro), se me hicieron pesadas sus constantes referencias a las personas " de la vieja alta sociedad, de las familias con dinero de las de toda la vida", lo que además siendo europea y republicana, hacen que me parta de risa, con esas pretensiones de los estadounidenses por tener su "propia nobleza".
Pero sobre todo, ya estoy cansada: me he cansado de leer tres veces la misma novela, las mismas historias de lo elegantísimos que son los ricos de toda la vida, lo vulgares y faltos de "auténtica clase" que son los nuevos ricos o los pobres venidos a más, siempre con las mismas menciones a lo poderosísimos que son, y a cómo siempre pueden salirse con la suya y encubrirlo todo... que no digo yo que no. Es que, sencillamente, leer tres veces lo mismo llegar a cansar.
Y más si, como es el caso de esta última novela, la trama está mucho peor hilada, tiene demasiadas digresiones y reiteraciones y, lo peor de todo, RESULTA INVEROSÍMIL y recurriendo demasiado al recurso de las "fatales coincidencias".
¿Y cómo es posible, diréis, que siendo una novela basada una vez más en hechos reales resulte inverosímil?
Pues porque por primera vez el autor, en lugar de contarlo todo con pelos y señales y hurgar en la herida, no sólo no saca el suficiente partido a la historia, sino que la endulza y suaviza al máximo, y para ello, para evitar la historia real, tiene que recurrir a la fabular... y le sale el tiro por la culata.
Realmente la historia trata de el escándalo que protagonizaron el multimillonario Alfred Bloomingdale, su mujer Betty Bloomingdale (por cierto: id a ver las fotos... y veréis que vestir con ropa buena, no es ser elegante, como pretende el autor, y como llevar joyones no la conviertió en guapa... más bien era un cayo malayo, la señora) y la amante del primero, Vicki Morgan (la cual sí era preciosa).
Dunne, en este caso, no sólo cambia los nombres, como otras veces, sino que cambia muchísimos de los hechos más "escandalosos" y cambia la época de la acción: de la Administración Reagan de los años 80, que es cuando sucedió todo realmente (siendo los Bloomingdale además intimísimos con los Reagan), a los Bush de los 90. Y, sobre todo, evita cualquier mención a todo el escándolo político en las más altas esferas, y, por el contrario, mete por en medio a un pretendido mafioso con acciones del todo inverosímiles.
No sé si es que Dunne adoraba a Reagan, o si es que era íntimo de alguno de los poderosos que aparecían en las cintas... pero realmente esta novela, en su afán por matizar y disimular, le ha resultado fallida.
Algo que ni el mejor salseo, aunque hubiera estado mejor abordado, habría podido salvar
La verdad es que esta novela, al menos para mí, ha sido una gran decepción, y desde luego no estoy de acuerdo con lo que se decía en la publicidad de la obra, a saber, que es el mejor libro de Dominick Dunne. Antes al contrario, creo que es bastante inferior a "Las dos señores Grenville" (a la que calificaría con algo más de un 3, posiblemente un 3,5) y, sobre todo, a "Una temporada en el purgatorio" (a la que calificaría con un 3,75), siendo esta última, al menos para mí, su mejor libro.
A ver, me explico un poco: las novelas de Dominck Dunne son SALSEO máximo, eso es lo que las hace interesantes realmente. Son un max mix entre un programa del corazón y estos docu dramas de crímenes que tanto se han popularizado (de hecho, el autor presentaba un programa de esos, centrado en los crímenes de la alta sociedad, y fue un reportero que siguió todo el caso de O.J. Simpson).
Además, Dunne escribe como un periodista, lo que hace que sus obras sean ágiles y, en general, bastante fáciles de leer.
La marca de la casa se este autor consiste en novelar crímenes reales sucedidos en la alta sociedad, contando "todo lo vivo" con pelos y señales (no sólo de lo que sucedió "realmente" con el crimen, sino de cómo eran esas personas, sus relaciones, el poder, etc), y disfrazando un poco los hechos, cambiando nombres y poco más. Vamos, una mezcla de thriller, chismes máximos, y secretos, que en la alta sociedad eran secretos a voces... vamos, que si alguna vez ha existido un exponente máximo de lo que es un "Gossip Boy", desde luego ese fue Dominick Dunne.
Así lo hizo, y aprobando con nota además, con "Las dos señoras Grenville", en el que abordaba la muerte “accidental” en 1955 del heredero William “Billy” Woodward, Jr. a manos de su esposa Ann Woodward, y con "Una temporada en el purgatorio", que se centraba en el caso real del asesinato de Martha Moxley, ocurrido en 1975, y que salpicó al clan Kennedy (a los que les da hasta en el cielo del paladar, por cierto, tal vez por eso es la que más me gusta, y porque como novela es la más redonda a la hora de construir los personajes y la historia ficticia paralela).
En cambio, con esta novela ha pinchado en hueso: hubo muchísimos momentos en que "se me hizo bola", ni el salseo justificaba seguir leyendo, porque era muy reiterativo (francamente, de las 590 páginas que tiene, le sobran 200), acabé hasta la peineta de la cantidad de veces que nos quería hacer saber lo elegantísima y bella que era Pauline Mendelson (entendiendo por elegante ser una urraca estirada con un palo clavado en el culo, claro), se me hicieron pesadas sus constantes referencias a las personas " de la vieja alta sociedad, de las familias con dinero de las de toda la vida", lo que además siendo europea y republicana, hacen que me parta de risa, con esas pretensiones de los estadounidenses por tener su "propia nobleza".
Pero sobre todo, ya estoy cansada: me he cansado de leer tres veces la misma novela, las mismas historias de lo elegantísimos que son los ricos de toda la vida, lo vulgares y faltos de "auténtica clase" que son los nuevos ricos o los pobres venidos a más, siempre con las mismas menciones a lo poderosísimos que son, y a cómo siempre pueden salirse con la suya y encubrirlo todo... que no digo yo que no. Es que, sencillamente, leer tres veces lo mismo llegar a cansar.
Y más si, como es el caso de esta última novela, la trama está mucho peor hilada, tiene demasiadas digresiones y reiteraciones y, lo peor de todo, RESULTA INVEROSÍMIL y recurriendo demasiado al recurso de las "fatales coincidencias".
¿Y cómo es posible, diréis, que siendo una novela basada una vez más en hechos reales resulte inverosímil?
Pues porque por primera vez el autor, en lugar de contarlo todo con pelos y señales y hurgar en la herida, no sólo no saca el suficiente partido a la historia, sino que la endulza y suaviza al máximo, y para ello, para evitar la historia real, tiene que recurrir a la fabular... y le sale el tiro por la culata.
Realmente la historia trata de el escándalo que protagonizaron el multimillonario Alfred Bloomingdale, su mujer Betty Bloomingdale (por cierto: id a ver las fotos... y veréis que vestir con ropa buena, no es ser elegante, como pretende el autor, y como llevar joyones no la conviertió en guapa... más bien era un cayo malayo, la señora) y la amante del primero, Vicki Morgan (la cual sí era preciosa).
Dunne, en este caso, no sólo cambia los nombres, como otras veces, sino que cambia muchísimos de los hechos más "escandalosos" y cambia la época de la acción: de la Administración Reagan de los años 80, que es cuando sucedió todo realmente (siendo los Bloomingdale además intimísimos con los Reagan), a los Bush de los 90. Y, sobre todo, evita cualquier mención a todo el escándolo político en las más altas esferas, y, por el contrario, mete por en medio a un pretendido mafioso con acciones del todo inverosímiles.
No sé si es que Dunne adoraba a Reagan, o si es que era íntimo de alguno de los poderosos que aparecían en las cintas... pero realmente esta novela, en su afán por matizar y disimular, le ha resultado fallida.
Algo que ni el mejor salseo, aunque hubiera estado mejor abordado, habría podido salvar
December 31, 2024
Me ha chiflado. La perfecta mezcla de personajes complejos e interesantes y una historia con profundidad. Los Angeles en los 90 para la clase alta mezclado con el mundo del cine. Muy entretenido.
May 16, 2014
Didn't expect that I'd like this book but I did! This is 1000000 pages long and I finished reading in 1.5 days. Plot was so well executed. There were so many supporting which normally turns me off but their connection to the main plot all made sense. They all added something necessary to the plot. I also like the choice of adjective in the title.. mostly because I'd never heard of inconvenient as a description of a person before and I think that this is pretty clever. Loved the writing and I actually didn't skip long narrative parts (which tends to bore). Ending was sad for the characters I liked but very satisfying overall.
July 5, 2019
Desde luego, Dunne no defrauda. Sabe dibujar a la sociedad norteamericana a la perfección. Esa de mucho dinero, con la nariz bien alta, que cree (y al parecer es capaz) que se pueden salir con la suya sin problema y hacer que todos los poderes fácticos giren a su alrededor. La mezcla de esta alta sociedad con la de Hollywood no es siempre fácil. La historia es muy buena, como todo Dunne, aunque me gustaron más las anteriores novelas.
June 16, 2010
Dominick Dunne is a must read. I will be seeking out more of his novels!
February 24, 2020
Fun fact: I got to interview Dominick Dunne once. He was participating as a storyteller in The Moth for a local event that I covered for our regional newspaper.
To the novel: Rumor has it that this is very loosely based on the real-life story of Alfred Bloomingdale and Vicky Morgan. Dunne does gossip in this one with such a nasty turn of the screw. He likes to tell his tales from a morale high horse, with a zealot-like demand for justice. It makes sense given what happened to his real-life daughter. However it's a running theme throughout his work and fascinating that of all the injustices in this country Dunne was most obsessed with the ones surrounding celebrities. In his novels at least, one can't help if that's a rather decadent and morally convenient cover for being admitted access to the upper echelon, but only (at best) as a confidant and observer rather than a full participant. He has such a disdain for the glitterati he seems so obsessed with.
The characters in the novel were fascinating but the coincidences grew tiresome and unbelievable quickly. Maybe there are large towns that feel like small towns for the 1%, with everyone visiting the same coffee shop, using the same florist, the same hairdresser, making their 2am grocery runs at the same corner store, going to the one and only gay bar in town, going to the one and only AA meeting at 7am in town, but it just seems beyond implausible. And frankly in the last third of the book the characters acted so out of form that it was too incredible even given the scandalous circumstances and incredible amount of pressure they were under. There were certain alliances formed that made zero sense. Few likable characters, and rather unsatisfying conclusion, but I shouldn't have been surprised given the title. Dunne's previous novels were fierce with just enough compassion and relatable members of the ensemble to keep them entertaining without being vulgar. This one was a bit too salacious and ruthless for me.
To the novel: Rumor has it that this is very loosely based on the real-life story of Alfred Bloomingdale and Vicky Morgan. Dunne does gossip in this one with such a nasty turn of the screw. He likes to tell his tales from a morale high horse, with a zealot-like demand for justice. It makes sense given what happened to his real-life daughter. However it's a running theme throughout his work and fascinating that of all the injustices in this country Dunne was most obsessed with the ones surrounding celebrities. In his novels at least, one can't help if that's a rather decadent and morally convenient cover for being admitted access to the upper echelon, but only (at best) as a confidant and observer rather than a full participant. He has such a disdain for the glitterati he seems so obsessed with.
The characters in the novel were fascinating but the coincidences grew tiresome and unbelievable quickly. Maybe there are large towns that feel like small towns for the 1%, with everyone visiting the same coffee shop, using the same florist, the same hairdresser, making their 2am grocery runs at the same corner store, going to the one and only gay bar in town, going to the one and only AA meeting at 7am in town, but it just seems beyond implausible. And frankly in the last third of the book the characters acted so out of form that it was too incredible even given the scandalous circumstances and incredible amount of pressure they were under. There were certain alliances formed that made zero sense. Few likable characters, and rather unsatisfying conclusion, but I shouldn't have been surprised given the title. Dunne's previous novels were fierce with just enough compassion and relatable members of the ensemble to keep them entertaining without being vulgar. This one was a bit too salacious and ruthless for me.
September 23, 2021
“Una mujer inoportuna” de Dominick Dunne. Es el tercer libro que me leo de Dunne y es, sencillamente, genial. Su capacidad para engancharte desde la primera página, cómo enlaza las historias de los personajes que van apareciendo y esos finales inesperados. Absolutamente recomendable. #Libros #Lectura #Objetivo2021 #LeerMás #Septiembre #2021 Leído en #Papel @librosdelasteroide
August 16, 2022
Although this book was written some time ago, it still is poignant today. The main character is so rich, that if he were Russian, the ‘western’ media would describe him as an ‘oligarch’.
‘An Inconvenient Woman’ is a wonderful and entertaining critique on the way too powerful, way too privileged elite and their inner circles - go nepotism!
I don’t really have a fragment to quote for this one.
‘An Inconvenient Woman’ is a wonderful and entertaining critique on the way too powerful, way too privileged elite and their inner circles - go nepotism!
I don’t really have a fragment to quote for this one.
July 21, 2018
Thoroughly entertaining. Colorful characters. Not the type of book I typically read, but a fun change. Got this book at an estate sale for fifty cents, and
I’d have to say it is the best fifty cents I’ve ever spent. Can’t wait to get my hands on more books by Mr. Dunne!
I’d have to say it is the best fifty cents I’ve ever spent. Can’t wait to get my hands on more books by Mr. Dunne!
December 18, 2009
Based on the true story of Vicky Morgan and Alfred Bloomingdale's affair - and the former's murder- this is Dominick Dunne at his best!
June 22, 2011
Trashy people doing trashy things and almost everyone is dead by the end.
January 26, 2023
"No me gusta la gente como tú qué puede llamar a un periódico y ordenar que no publiquen una historia que el público tiene derecho a saber, o qué puede decirle a la policía que no resuelva un crimen [...] El dinero les hace estar por encima del bien y del mal. Pero tarde o temprano alguien sacará su mierda a la luz".
Y ese alguien es Dominick Dunne, que demostró tener una capacidad fascinante para introducirnos en las altas esferas norteamericanas y mostrarnos cómo su alto nivel económico es inversamente proporcional a su bajo nivel de catadura moral. Cuanto más dinero, menos principios.
Esta historia de ficción puede parecer frívola, a saber: un matrimonio multimillonario afincado en Los Ángeles y que se codea con las élites económicas, políticas y sociales del país, se tambalea por una infidelidad. Un poco anodino y manido, no?
Pero las historias del autor siempre encierran algo más. Porque con sus dardos mortíferos cargados de verdad, Dunne va sacando a relucir las miserias de una casta que se enriquece a costa de la explotación, que baila en los límites de lo legal, y que se sirve de todo su poder para tapar su mierda.
Una mierda que el autor destripa y expone a través de un relato casi cinematográfico en el que maneja con maestría los tiempos y los diálogos, consiguiendo que caigas rendida a un libro de casi 600 páginas en apenas un par de ratitos. Una historia envolvente, un ritmo ágil, pero minucioso, unos personajes que acaban entrelazados por esos secretos que sólo el dinero y el poder pueden tapar. Gente sin escrúpulos cuya única prioridad es mantener sus vidas de escaparate, cueste lo que cueste y caiga quien caiga.
Si te interesan las sombras y miserias de la élite social, política y económica de EEUU definitivamente tienes que leer este libro.
Puede que no sea una obra maestra pero es que me ha encantado!!!!
Y ese alguien es Dominick Dunne, que demostró tener una capacidad fascinante para introducirnos en las altas esferas norteamericanas y mostrarnos cómo su alto nivel económico es inversamente proporcional a su bajo nivel de catadura moral. Cuanto más dinero, menos principios.
Esta historia de ficción puede parecer frívola, a saber: un matrimonio multimillonario afincado en Los Ángeles y que se codea con las élites económicas, políticas y sociales del país, se tambalea por una infidelidad. Un poco anodino y manido, no?
Pero las historias del autor siempre encierran algo más. Porque con sus dardos mortíferos cargados de verdad, Dunne va sacando a relucir las miserias de una casta que se enriquece a costa de la explotación, que baila en los límites de lo legal, y que se sirve de todo su poder para tapar su mierda.
Una mierda que el autor destripa y expone a través de un relato casi cinematográfico en el que maneja con maestría los tiempos y los diálogos, consiguiendo que caigas rendida a un libro de casi 600 páginas en apenas un par de ratitos. Una historia envolvente, un ritmo ágil, pero minucioso, unos personajes que acaban entrelazados por esos secretos que sólo el dinero y el poder pueden tapar. Gente sin escrúpulos cuya única prioridad es mantener sus vidas de escaparate, cueste lo que cueste y caiga quien caiga.
Si te interesan las sombras y miserias de la élite social, política y económica de EEUU definitivamente tienes que leer este libro.
Puede que no sea una obra maestra pero es que me ha encantado!!!!
February 18, 2024
Dominick Dunne was one of those writers and journalists who did a lot of name-dropping because he was affiliated with knowing famous people. I remember reading his articles in Vanity Fair magazine. I saw the miniseries that was based on this book and decided almost thirty years later to read the book. It reads like a salacious soap opera. Flo March is a dreamer and meets Jules Mendelson at the restaurant where she works. Jules is a billionaire with a trophy society wife, Pauline, and when she isn't enough for him in the bedroom he embarks on an affair with the naive Flo.
From that point on we see the many twists and turns and people with crazy names like Arnie Zwillman, Cyril Rathbone, and Lonny Edge (just to name a few) become a part of a plot that keeps getting better. Things begin to unravel down the line when Pauline finds out about the affair in the most embarrassing way. When Flo wants to keep getting what she feels she's entitled to, we see her become an inconvenient woman because of all the secrets she knows about Jules.
From that point on we see the many twists and turns and people with crazy names like Arnie Zwillman, Cyril Rathbone, and Lonny Edge (just to name a few) become a part of a plot that keeps getting better. Things begin to unravel down the line when Pauline finds out about the affair in the most embarrassing way. When Flo wants to keep getting what she feels she's entitled to, we see her become an inconvenient woman because of all the secrets she knows about Jules.
March 16, 2019
It was fun to read, but after a while I could no longer suspend disbelief. Coincidence after coincidence moved the fun read down to poor writing and plotting. There were some issues with timing I believe but I just don’t care enough to go back and try to see if I’m right about that or not. It just felt sort of comical after a while.
Oh, and the ending. Why? I suspect that Dunne was trying to make some point about wealth and power but he blew it and, for me, just destroyed the fun part of the book, and fun was my only reason for sticking with it until the end. There wasn’t much in the way of surprises or suspense. Some characters did develop and were likeable and worth caring about. And I did have some fun up until the end.
Oh, and the ending. Why? I suspect that Dunne was trying to make some point about wealth and power but he blew it and, for me, just destroyed the fun part of the book, and fun was my only reason for sticking with it until the end. There wasn’t much in the way of surprises or suspense. Some characters did develop and were likeable and worth caring about. And I did have some fun up until the end.
September 13, 2024
Wow. First of all, I picked up this classic after being blown away by Griffin Dunne's recent memoir. As soon as I finished discovering the crazy and impressive life of his father, I had to read one of his reknown novels. Oddly enough, this particular book was one of my mother's favorites and she was reading it while she was sick. Last week marked 31 years since she passed and I felt close to her reading one of her last reads.
Emotions aside, this is how books used to be written. What might seem lengthy and wordy by today's standards, Dunne wrote with a flourish that brings everything-characters, setting, motivations-to light so vividly that I didn't pay attention to the page number.
I enjoyed every word and will be coming back for more Dominick Dunne, thanks to Griffin Dunne.
Emotions aside, this is how books used to be written. What might seem lengthy and wordy by today's standards, Dunne wrote with a flourish that brings everything-characters, setting, motivations-to light so vividly that I didn't pay attention to the page number.
I enjoyed every word and will be coming back for more Dominick Dunne, thanks to Griffin Dunne.
September 19, 2024
No es mi estilo de libro, pero tengo que reconocer que me ha enganchado.
Básicamente es un culebrón, con todos los ingredientes: infidelidades, estrellas de cine, fiestas elegantes, secretos, mentiras… aunque como buena telenovela no te deja parar.
Es cierto que en bastantes momentos me pareció denso y repetitivo (casi 600 páginas), además de algunos personajes inverosímiles y una trama propia de una serie turca. No obstante, insisto: engancha.
Básicamente es un culebrón, con todos los ingredientes: infidelidades, estrellas de cine, fiestas elegantes, secretos, mentiras… aunque como buena telenovela no te deja parar.
Es cierto que en bastantes momentos me pareció denso y repetitivo (casi 600 páginas), además de algunos personajes inverosímiles y una trama propia de una serie turca. No obstante, insisto: engancha.
August 27, 2020
I don't know how this book hasn't been turned into a movie yet! It has the perfect film noir setting ala LA Confidential, with incredible plot twists and characters. This book is a murder mystery with a twist, and it just gets more exciting as the story progresses. A must-read for anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers.
March 10, 2020
Novelas para airear la cabeza. Atractiva y adictiva como pocas y como todas las demás obras del autor, ligeras, entretenidas y muy recomendables.
August 8, 2021
Versión rosa de novela negra, al estilo de Gatsby.
July 18, 2022
4,5.
Me flipa este autor, ojalá Libros del Asteroide nos siga trayendo todas sus obras.
Me flipa este autor, ojalá Libros del Asteroide nos siga trayendo todas sus obras.
June 16, 2011
As you may or may not have noticed I don't even put books up on this site that I don't really, really, like for one reason or another. I don't know if I have even put all of Dominick Dunne's books on my list or not, but I have read each and every one of them; well, I lie, I didn't read his very first book, and the name of it escapes me at the moment. I also admit whenever he published a new book, I bought it immediately and read it as soon as it was in my hands.
But he was always a quick, juicy, dare I say guilty pleasure for me, and yet I do in fact believe he was a really good writer. Besides that, what with my being partial to mostly memoirs now-a-days, but not as much so back then, his books are almost all roman a clefs, which gets one to reading the trying to figure out exactly which characters in his books are the actual people he's writing about in real life.
When you read them you most likely will be trying to figure out exactly who his characters are in real life, just as I did. Some are very obvious, whereas others are amalgams.
I do so hope some of you will deign to read some of his books. I found them to be most entertaining and quite enjoyable.
Ta for Now,
Susan
P. S. This comment of mine stands of each of his books I've listed on my list. I may, or may not put it on each book comment section, yet it does stand for my thoughts on all of his books.
But he was always a quick, juicy, dare I say guilty pleasure for me, and yet I do in fact believe he was a really good writer. Besides that, what with my being partial to mostly memoirs now-a-days, but not as much so back then, his books are almost all roman a clefs, which gets one to reading the trying to figure out exactly which characters in his books are the actual people he's writing about in real life.
When you read them you most likely will be trying to figure out exactly who his characters are in real life, just as I did. Some are very obvious, whereas others are amalgams.
I do so hope some of you will deign to read some of his books. I found them to be most entertaining and quite enjoyable.
Ta for Now,
Susan
P. S. This comment of mine stands of each of his books I've listed on my list. I may, or may not put it on each book comment section, yet it does stand for my thoughts on all of his books.
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