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Catwalk
Book by Wittenborn, Dirk
- GenresFiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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55 people want to read
About the author
Dirk Wittenborn
16 books63 followersDIRK WITTENBORN is a novelist (Fierce People, Pharmakon), screenwriter and the Emmy-nominated producer of the HBO documentary, Born Rich. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter and summers on the wrong side of the tracks in East Hampton, NY.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 8, 2021
A trashy, Cosmo-style beach read for young adults. It's the early 70s--a gawky Texas girl falls in love with a small time criminal who gets busted, and he has to join the army. She gets discovered, goes to New York, becomes a high fashion model, and pines away for her lost lover. All the while, the man who pines away for her is the photographer who put her in front of the world, but he is unable to consummate his love for her.
It's occasionally imaginative, and it certainly tries hard to be relevant, but it's horribly written at times, with a number of implausible scenes and awkward, childish dialogue. Going into the home stretch, it looked as though Zoe might be a casualty of a drug-fueled downward spiral, but thankfully the climax was not the tragedy I anticipated.
I read this novel because many years ago, I knew a woman who loved it so much she named herself Zoe after the main character. I always wondered what made this story so special that a young woman would want to remake herself like that. So I resolved to someday read it, and now that I have, I may be a little closer to understanding, but it does not give me the answer I was looking for. Sorry, Zoe. You were better than this.
It's occasionally imaginative, and it certainly tries hard to be relevant, but it's horribly written at times, with a number of implausible scenes and awkward, childish dialogue. Going into the home stretch, it looked as though Zoe might be a casualty of a drug-fueled downward spiral, but thankfully the climax was not the tragedy I anticipated.
I read this novel because many years ago, I knew a woman who loved it so much she named herself Zoe after the main character. I always wondered what made this story so special that a young woman would want to remake herself like that. So I resolved to someday read it, and now that I have, I may be a little closer to understanding, but it does not give me the answer I was looking for. Sorry, Zoe. You were better than this.
December 5, 2023
An interesting book to reread- I first read it as a teenager and it made a lasting impression on me. One detail in particular leapt out on this 35 years later reread.
Is it any good though? Well it’s okay. A Harold Robbins style rags to riches tale that thinks it’s cooler and smarter than it is. What is does do quite well is tell the story of a romance from the perspective of a third party.
Is it any good though? Well it’s okay. A Harold Robbins style rags to riches tale that thinks it’s cooler and smarter than it is. What is does do quite well is tell the story of a romance from the perspective of a third party.
August 2, 2016
I will not lie, the main reason I read this in the first place is because of the name. My co-worker lent me a copy because of my name being the same. So I said what they hell, and gave it a shot.
The beginning of this book interested me. I'd say the first half had me going. I was interested in how Zoe would get from Texas to New York. Would she become successful, and where exactly would she end up? Most importantly, would all her work lead her back into the arms of the love of her life, who was so quickly taken from her? There was a lot of heat, borderline erotica but enough of a serious plot to counteract that. Eventually though the plot line hit a a lull, just as it was getting good! Immediately after that lull followed a weird and a bit of a rushed ending.
Not a completely disappointing ending or story, but also not a well executed one. I wouldn't mind reading more from this author though!
The beginning of this book interested me. I'd say the first half had me going. I was interested in how Zoe would get from Texas to New York. Would she become successful, and where exactly would she end up? Most importantly, would all her work lead her back into the arms of the love of her life, who was so quickly taken from her? There was a lot of heat, borderline erotica but enough of a serious plot to counteract that. Eventually though the plot line hit a a lull, just as it was getting good! Immediately after that lull followed a weird and a bit of a rushed ending.
Not a completely disappointing ending or story, but also not a well executed one. I wouldn't mind reading more from this author though!
January 22, 2020
Dated, but a cute romantic story. This is from the old days when someone could disappear in the world and not get caught.
July 19, 2008
I bought an old 80's copy of this book of ebay and it is one of those lost treasures. I suspect it got republished after Fierce People got a film option.
However, Zoe is a great read. Taking a white-trash, lanky no-body and making her a star has lots of trials and tribulations. I would say she steps on quite a few feet along the way, but ultimately, she teaches us all a few things about loyalty and love. Great beach read, if you can find it.
However, Zoe is a great read. Taking a white-trash, lanky no-body and making her a star has lots of trials and tribulations. I would say she steps on quite a few feet along the way, but ultimately, she teaches us all a few things about loyalty and love. Great beach read, if you can find it.
April 19, 2010
A wonderful story about a young girl who almost by accident becomes a model.
The model job changes her life radically and she has trouble being her self, keeping her health and staying true to her ideals.
A book I have re-read and will read again.
The model job changes her life radically and she has trouble being her self, keeping her health and staying true to her ideals.
A book I have re-read and will read again.
August 9, 2008
every single character in this book was completely unlikable. i had high hopes after reading fierce people, but this book was kind of awful.
December 20, 2009
Interesting
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews