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Queenie
The seductive and beguiling story of Dawn Avalon, who when wrongfully accused of a crime she didn't commit, flees her homeland to London where she becomes 'Queenie', a star of both the stage and screen.
773 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
20 people are currently reading
1411 people want to read
About the author
Michael Korda
75 books186 followersis an English-born writer and novelist who was editor-in-Chief of Simon & Schuster in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 17, 2013
QUEENIE
Michael Korda
Goodreads has given me another reason why I love their site so much. When reading reviews and comments by my friends, I'm constantly reminded of books I've read and loved before there was a goodreads. This is one of those books.
Beautiful, seductive, Anglo Indian Dawn Avalon flees the street of Calcutta for London when she is wrongfully accused of murder. She uses her intelligence and beauty to become a bona fide movie star mainly by marrying a charismatic director and their union is as enchanting and riveting as any movie. This novel is full of colorful characters and intrigue.
The fascinating thing about this book is that it is a roman a clef about the famous movie star Merle Oberon. She managed to marry Alexander Korda, one of England's greatest producers and directors. The author, Michael Korda is the nephew of Alexander Korda and had a front row seat in the making of Ms. Oberon's career. Michael Korda is an author of books I have always enjoyed. He was also a publisher and editor who guided Jackie Kennedy in her career at Doubleday.
Michael Korda
Goodreads has given me another reason why I love their site so much. When reading reviews and comments by my friends, I'm constantly reminded of books I've read and loved before there was a goodreads. This is one of those books.
Beautiful, seductive, Anglo Indian Dawn Avalon flees the street of Calcutta for London when she is wrongfully accused of murder. She uses her intelligence and beauty to become a bona fide movie star mainly by marrying a charismatic director and their union is as enchanting and riveting as any movie. This novel is full of colorful characters and intrigue.
The fascinating thing about this book is that it is a roman a clef about the famous movie star Merle Oberon. She managed to marry Alexander Korda, one of England's greatest producers and directors. The author, Michael Korda is the nephew of Alexander Korda and had a front row seat in the making of Ms. Oberon's career. Michael Korda is an author of books I have always enjoyed. He was also a publisher and editor who guided Jackie Kennedy in her career at Doubleday.
April 29, 2017
When I was young my mom kept telling me I remind her of a miniseries she watched years ago before the war but couldn't find again called Queenie starring the enchanting Mia Sara.
Years later, I told a friend of mine who was obsessed with books and movies about it and he got me the book, first edition, I kept on searching until I got two copies one on VCR and another on DVD as a surprise to my mother, I was 16 at the time, we only had half of the miniseries before and to me watching the whole thing was breathtaking.
We had a ritual for a while of watching it over and over again, reciting the best scenes like "Who am I mama?".
Years later I discovered that this story is actually real about a beautiful actress called Merle Oberon. To tell you the truth, I haven't finished reading this book, but I'm planning on it.
My older review:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book, the story is very rare and amazing, I have seen the movie zillion of times with mom, starring Kirk Douglas and Mia Sara, it is a story about Merle Oberon, a spectacularly beautiful half-caste, rose from the slums of Calcutta hoping to the heights of Hollywood/London stardom in the 1930's.
Wrongly accused of murder, she fled Calcutta hoping to start over in London. There she worked as a stripper until a club owner and photographer, Lucien, turned her into a famous model.
Now, Queenie is to star in a film which is to film in Calcutta. She's terrified to return there. but her powerful producer vanquish her old enemies and clears her name. Grateful, she marries him even though it is Lucien whom she loves. When the producer dies the day of the film premier, she and Lucien are reunited. It is only then that Queenie, or Dawn Avelon proudly reveals the truth about her mixed heritage.
Years later, I told a friend of mine who was obsessed with books and movies about it and he got me the book, first edition, I kept on searching until I got two copies one on VCR and another on DVD as a surprise to my mother, I was 16 at the time, we only had half of the miniseries before and to me watching the whole thing was breathtaking.
We had a ritual for a while of watching it over and over again, reciting the best scenes like "Who am I mama?".
Years later I discovered that this story is actually real about a beautiful actress called Merle Oberon. To tell you the truth, I haven't finished reading this book, but I'm planning on it.
My older review:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book, the story is very rare and amazing, I have seen the movie zillion of times with mom, starring Kirk Douglas and Mia Sara, it is a story about Merle Oberon, a spectacularly beautiful half-caste, rose from the slums of Calcutta hoping to the heights of Hollywood/London stardom in the 1930's.
Wrongly accused of murder, she fled Calcutta hoping to start over in London. There she worked as a stripper until a club owner and photographer, Lucien, turned her into a famous model.
Now, Queenie is to star in a film which is to film in Calcutta. She's terrified to return there. but her powerful producer vanquish her old enemies and clears her name. Grateful, she marries him even though it is Lucien whom she loves. When the producer dies the day of the film premier, she and Lucien are reunited. It is only then that Queenie, or Dawn Avelon proudly reveals the truth about her mixed heritage.
September 18, 2013
This was another book that I loved when i was younger. I still have the Dutch copy. Might tell my daughter to give it a try. She loved Lace by Shirley Conran. (I did too)
Back in the days I loved reading books like this. Judith Kranz,Jacqueline Susann, Jackie Collins and Harold Robbins come to mind. That is what is great about goodreads. You click one book and then you see other books which reminds you you have read those as well.
Well if you are not easily offended by sex scenes and you want to read something light, this is the book.
Not sure when I read this.
Back in the days I loved reading books like this. Judith Kranz,Jacqueline Susann, Jackie Collins and Harold Robbins come to mind. That is what is great about goodreads. You click one book and then you see other books which reminds you you have read those as well.
Well if you are not easily offended by sex scenes and you want to read something light, this is the book.
Not sure when I read this.
July 1, 2014
First a disclaimer: my husband bought this for me as a joke because of its title alone. Once a few years ago in a moment of contention my husband blurted out that I was "such a princess" to which I replied, "No, Queen."
Anyhow, as these things go with married couples some things that were once angry become funny and reappear from time to time. Thus his nickname of me as Queenie has stuck. And so this year on our anniversary when he was out of ideas this book became one of my gifts.
We shared a good laugh. Then I opened it, thinking I'd donate to the library and began a completely immersed read. After ten pages, I knew I would finish it, despite my distaste for 600 page books.
Imagine a setting of pre WWI and India, rich with cultural clashes, rich/poor, ambition, the threat of the British pulling out. What will happen? A handsome Irish man has fathered a child with an Indian and he bolts, leaving them poor and without means to support themselves. But the mother is enterprising, resourceful, and proud. She will survive. The child, Queenie, is gorgeous. Exotic, light-skinned, and also determined. Her mother's brother, Morgan, is devoted. Mad about as a child but in love with her as she enters teenage years. Surely Morgan can find a way to get them "home", as in England where Queenie thinks all of her problems will be solved. His golden touch on the saxophone has allowed him to walk the line of where his "race" will be accepted. Queenie insists that Morgan steal from a wealthy English woman whom he beds on occasion so that they will have the required funds to bolt.
This tale is twists and turns with all that happens in England and then to America. Queenie turns heads and uses her beauty in a variety to get ahead. The success keeps soaring but she's never happy, turning one good opportunity into another. You'd think you would hate her but in a way there was no way I couldn't root for her. Her many secrets pull her down, time and time again.
Brilliant, really and left me panting to the last sentence. Well done. Must see what else this author wrote since he was unknown to me.
Anyhow, as these things go with married couples some things that were once angry become funny and reappear from time to time. Thus his nickname of me as Queenie has stuck. And so this year on our anniversary when he was out of ideas this book became one of my gifts.
We shared a good laugh. Then I opened it, thinking I'd donate to the library and began a completely immersed read. After ten pages, I knew I would finish it, despite my distaste for 600 page books.
Imagine a setting of pre WWI and India, rich with cultural clashes, rich/poor, ambition, the threat of the British pulling out. What will happen? A handsome Irish man has fathered a child with an Indian and he bolts, leaving them poor and without means to support themselves. But the mother is enterprising, resourceful, and proud. She will survive. The child, Queenie, is gorgeous. Exotic, light-skinned, and also determined. Her mother's brother, Morgan, is devoted. Mad about as a child but in love with her as she enters teenage years. Surely Morgan can find a way to get them "home", as in England where Queenie thinks all of her problems will be solved. His golden touch on the saxophone has allowed him to walk the line of where his "race" will be accepted. Queenie insists that Morgan steal from a wealthy English woman whom he beds on occasion so that they will have the required funds to bolt.
This tale is twists and turns with all that happens in England and then to America. Queenie turns heads and uses her beauty in a variety to get ahead. The success keeps soaring but she's never happy, turning one good opportunity into another. You'd think you would hate her but in a way there was no way I couldn't root for her. Her many secrets pull her down, time and time again.
Brilliant, really and left me panting to the last sentence. Well done. Must see what else this author wrote since he was unknown to me.
October 16, 2016
During the heydays of the ‘80s soaps, publishing firms... http://sleaze-factor.blogspot.ca/2016...
December 14, 2012
I first read QUEENIE when it was published in 1985, and remember it as a juicy, hard-to-put-down roman a clef about Hollywood's legendary Merle Oberon. All the author did was change the names!
Michael Korda knew his subjet well - by virtue of her marriage to his uncle, film producer Sir Alexander Korda, Oberon was for a time the author's aunt.
And with its pedigree, why shouldn't it be a juicy, hard-to-put-down book? The author, after all, was at the time Editor-in-Chief of Simon & Schuster, and among the authors he edited were Larry McMurtry, Harold Robbins, Susan Howatch, Irving Wallace, Mary Higgins Clark and many other popular writers - he helped them tell their stories well, and was pretty good at it himself!
12/14: It was, as I remembered, a really good read, almost - well, almost like Harold Robbins in his prime!
Michael Korda knew his subjet well - by virtue of her marriage to his uncle, film producer Sir Alexander Korda, Oberon was for a time the author's aunt.
And with its pedigree, why shouldn't it be a juicy, hard-to-put-down book? The author, after all, was at the time Editor-in-Chief of Simon & Schuster, and among the authors he edited were Larry McMurtry, Harold Robbins, Susan Howatch, Irving Wallace, Mary Higgins Clark and many other popular writers - he helped them tell their stories well, and was pretty good at it himself!
12/14: It was, as I remembered, a really good read, almost - well, almost like Harold Robbins in his prime!
August 10, 2015
tried reading this book years ago and didn't like it. got a copy recently and decided to give it another go. loved it this time around!! Queenie Kelly leaves the slums of Calcutta to become Dawn Avalon a film star in hollywood just before the war. loved this so much and liked Queenie who was prepared to do anything to become famous.
October 24, 2012
I read this book a long time ago, but the story has stuck with me and I keep looking for it so I can re-read it. It is both tragic and joyous and paints a very realistic picture of the "dark side" of fame.
January 14, 2013
Read this book when I was about 12 (not many books available where I grew up) and found it fascinating and inspiring. It made an impression on me that has stayed with me throughout my teenage and adulthood.
August 10, 2016
Michael Korda doesn't know how to write for a woman. Queenie is a hollow shell of a character that fails to impress throughout the entire book. It's a droll journey through mediocrity that fails to live up to the stories potential.
February 21, 2011
What I think? sheesh this took foevaaaaa. Left it aside after I got about 1/3 through the book. Picked it up about a year later and finally finished it one summer.
Read
May 13, 2011love this book very nice and well written , i cud not stop reading till the end once i began
November 27, 2013
Did not like this book, too long and to hard to get into.
July 21, 2015
The book cover has "all time favourite" theme to the historical romance novel. I give this book 5 stars.
June 29, 2018
Η ζωή της μικρής, όμορφης, υπολογίστριας Κουίνι ξεκινάει στην Ινδία, κάνει μια στάση στην Αγγλία και τελειώνει στην Αμερική, μέσα στα διαμάντια και στα μπριλάντια.
Εξωτική σαπουνόπερα, η οποία εν μέρει αποδίδει τη ζωή της ηθοποιού Merle Oberon και αυτό είναι ένα ενδιαφέρον σημείο στο βιβλίο.
Προικισμένη με μια σπάνια ομορφιά, ανατρέφεται από τη μαμά της ως Αγγλίδα, με στόχο να μεγαλουργήσει. Και τα κατάφερε. Έγινε ηθοποιός του σινεμά και στροβιλίστηκε στα φώτα, απολαμβάνοντας θαυμαστές, έρωτες, γούνες, μετάξια, διαμάντια και λεφτά. Η έλλειψη ταλέντου της καλύφθηκε εύκολα από ταλαντούχους σκηνοθέτες και φωτογράφους που πρόβαλαν την εξωτική ομορφιά της και τις φωτοσκιάσεις του προσώπου της.
Παντελώς αναίσθητη μπρος στον σκοπό της, χρησιμοποίησε ανθρώπους και αδιαφόρησε πλήρως για τη μητέρα της, ρίχνοντας πού και πού μερικά κροκοδείλια δάκρυα.
Δεν ξέρουμε αν αγάπησε κάποιον από τους φουκαράδες που χρησιμοποίησε κατά καιρούς. Μάλλον απίθανο, μιας και όπως φαίνεται, αγαπούσε περισσότερο από κάθε τι, το είδωλο της το οποίο φρόντιζε αφειδώς.
Εκείνο που θα θυμάμαι από το βιβλίο (διότι όλα τα άλλα σύντομα θα καλυφθούν από τη λήθη) είναι το εξής.
Η Κουίνι έχει πλέον μεγαλώσει, έχει πρακτικά αποσυρθεί στη βίλα της με τον κατά πολύ νεώτερο άντρα της (νούμερο 3 νομίζω) αλλά αναγκάζεται να ξεμυτίσει για μια δημόσια εμφάνιση προκειμένου να παραλάβει ένα βραβείο. Εμφανίζεται λοιπόν, με μια μακριά τουαλέτα με μανίκια και ψηλό λαιμό, γιατί είχε την εξυπνάδα, λέει ο συγγραφέας, να μη συγκριθεί με τις κατά πολύ νεώτερες και ομορφότερες ηθοποιούς (στα πεδία λαιμός και μπράτσα). Κάτι μάθαμε δηλαδή από τη σαπουνόπερα.
Εξωτική σαπουνόπερα, η οποία εν μέρει αποδίδει τη ζωή της ηθοποιού Merle Oberon και αυτό είναι ένα ενδιαφέρον σημείο στο βιβλίο.
Προικισμένη με μια σπάνια ομορφιά, ανατρέφεται από τη μαμά της ως Αγγλίδα, με στόχο να μεγαλουργήσει. Και τα κατάφερε. Έγινε ηθοποιός του σινεμά και στροβιλίστηκε στα φώτα, απολαμβάνοντας θαυμαστές, έρωτες, γούνες, μετάξια, διαμάντια και λεφτά. Η έλλειψη ταλέντου της καλύφθηκε εύκολα από ταλαντούχους σκηνοθέτες και φωτογράφους που πρόβαλαν την εξωτική ομορφιά της και τις φωτοσκιάσεις του προσώπου της.
Παντελώς αναίσθητη μπρος στον σκοπό της, χρησιμοποίησε ανθρώπους και αδιαφόρησε πλήρως για τη μητέρα της, ρίχνοντας πού και πού μερικά κροκοδείλια δάκρυα.
Δεν ξέρουμε αν αγάπησε κάποιον από τους φουκαράδες που χρησιμοποίησε κατά καιρούς. Μάλλον απίθανο, μιας και όπως φαίνεται, αγαπούσε περισσότερο από κάθε τι, το είδωλο της το οποίο φρόντιζε αφειδώς.
Εκείνο που θα θυμάμαι από το βιβλίο (διότι όλα τα άλλα σύντομα θα καλυφθούν από τη λήθη) είναι το εξής.
Η Κουίνι έχει πλέον μεγαλώσει, έχει πρακτικά αποσυρθεί στη βίλα της με τον κατά πολύ νεώτερο άντρα της (νούμερο 3 νομίζω) αλλά αναγκάζεται να ξεμυτίσει για μια δημόσια εμφάνιση προκειμένου να παραλάβει ένα βραβείο. Εμφανίζεται λοιπόν, με μια μακριά τουαλέτα με μανίκια και ψηλό λαιμό, γιατί είχε την εξυπνάδα, λέει ο συγγραφέας, να μη συγκριθεί με τις κατά πολύ νεώτερες και ομορφότερες ηθοποιούς (στα πεδία λαιμός και μπράτσα). Κάτι μάθαμε δηλαδή από τη σαπουνόπερα.
January 23, 2023
Accidentally came my way --years ago --in a cardboard box of discarded paperbacks. I read it for the sake of the author's name. Michael Korda: I figured, must be related to famous Hollywood film director Alexander Korda. Whether or not that is so, the book was of the "Sidney Sheldon" caliber. Just a 'beach read'; an 'airport read'. Something you snatch off a spinning wire rack in the corner of a drugstore, for convenience. It had no 'Korda magic'. No breath at all of "The Four Feathers", "The Thief of Baghdad", or "The Charge of the Light Brigade". I was hoping for something really thumpin' and lusty and masculine that the Korda name is known for. But in this, I was very much mistaken. This is a tawdry, puny, soap-opera page-turner, with overmuch focus on women's wardrobes, hair, and cosmetics. Endless hand-wringing over the 'extraordinarily beautiful' and 'she was determined-to-succeed-at-all-costs' main character. Tizzies of anxiety over who-she'll-finally-spread-her-legs-for. Yawn. I'm surprised I even recall it.
December 28, 2009
I enjoyed this, though it certainly had a bit of 80s camp about it--even though it was about colonial India, 30s London, and 40s Hollywood! I got interested in this after reading Korda's memoir about being an editor, and it is based on his aunt Merle Oberman, who I saw in part of a movie once. Anyway, not great literature, but a fast and entertaining, if not a little guilt-inducing, read, especially for 632 pages!
December 2, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, from the start to the finish. I was drawn in right from the start and even though there were many characters, which I do not like in books, I did not have a hard time keeping them all straight. If you are looking for a happy go lucky book, than this is not the book for you.
December 3, 2010
A mysterious childhood in India, career of fame and fortune, and hints of story links to a real movie star's life combined to make this a very satisfying read. I saw the TV movie years ago and, naturally, the book was better.
June 11, 2015
I absolutely LOVED this book ... this was one that I couldn't put down!!! I just recently came across another Michael Korda book that I'm going to read ... I hope it is written as well as Queenie was!!!
October 21, 2008
Great escapism!
July 23, 2011
I had absolutely no idea that the author had based this book on his aunt, Merle Oberon. You learn something everyday!
August 3, 2011
Loved this book!! I have read it over and over and even own the VHS mini-series starring Mia Sara and Kirk Douglas.
November 16, 2011
I read Queenie in the late 80's, and then again in the late 90's, and found it fascinating, both times...
February 28, 2012
One of my favs!
August 15, 2012
The story moves slowly like an old movie.
March 4, 2016
pending review
November 23, 2013
Even though the story line has been done a million times this one was a good read & kept me interested
May 5, 2014
Huh, sainpas vihdoin luettua. Tuntui, ettei tämä lopu koskaan. Aikamoista jaarittelua ja kiinnostavia tapahtumia vain harvakseltaan. Ei nyt oikein uponnut, vaikka sinnikkäästi loppuun asti luin.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews