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Shadow Child
Madou is the most beautiful woman in the world.Discovered in a Berlin cabaret in the roaring twenties, Madou is brought by a film director to the glamour of Los Angeles. There, she becomes a superstar of the silver screen. She takes important men and women into her bed. Hitler wants her to return to Germany and become the star of the Third Reich, but she loves her life as Hollywoods darling.But the cost of beauty is always high, for those who have it and those who live in its shadow. Madous daughter knows the pain of being ordinary beside her shining, golden mother a woman who has bent and broken her, but whom she cant escape.Evocative and deeply moving, this is a novel of mothers and daughters that tells the terrible story of times war against beauty and the unbearable pain when a star begins to fade.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
Paperback
First published January 23, 2020
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160 people want to read
About the author
Paula Byrne
16 books150 followersPaula Byrne is a British author and biographer. She is married to writer Jonathan Bate, the Shakespeare scholar.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 14, 2019
I have enjoyed some non-fiction reads by Paula Byrne before (‘The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things,’ and, ‘Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead,’ among them). However, I have never read any fiction by her, but I am so glad that I gave this a try.
“Mirror, Mirror,” is a fictional biography, based upon the life of Marlene Dietrich. It encompasses so much within a novel - the difficult relationship between a mother, who is also a famous film star, and her plainer daughter, who is over-shadowed at every step. It is also set in such an interesting period of history, with our actress leaving Berlin and possibly putting her family in danger by doing so. Unlike so many, in that time, she never underestimated the danger of Hitler.
As the title says, this is also about mirrors. It is about beauty, which will, despite every effort, fade. It is about the mirrors that reflect that beauty, with all its flaws. Glass follows our characters, from that in the camera to the smashed glass of Kristallnacht. A fabulous read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
“Mirror, Mirror,” is a fictional biography, based upon the life of Marlene Dietrich. It encompasses so much within a novel - the difficult relationship between a mother, who is also a famous film star, and her plainer daughter, who is over-shadowed at every step. It is also set in such an interesting period of history, with our actress leaving Berlin and possibly putting her family in danger by doing so. Unlike so many, in that time, she never underestimated the danger of Hitler.
As the title says, this is also about mirrors. It is about beauty, which will, despite every effort, fade. It is about the mirrors that reflect that beauty, with all its flaws. Glass follows our characters, from that in the camera to the smashed glass of Kristallnacht. A fabulous read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
February 17, 2020
O.K. You don't need to have a degree from NASA to read this light book but I enjoyed it. Set in Hollywood during the wars it is loosely based on the life of Marlene Deitrich. Joan Madou is a stunningly beautiful actress adored by men and women, and she likes it that way. Her daughter Kater is an ugly overweight duckling and Joan while pretending to be horrified keeps it that way by constantly feeding her daughter and dressing her in childish clothes even as she reaches her teens. As a result Kater has a phobia of mirrors while her mother has a total love affair with them. Can Kater ever escape from her mother's cruelties and begin to live her own life or is she to badly damaged living in her mothers shadow. Told from the perspective of Kater and Joan's waspish mirror who has some of the best lines in the book, this is a story of mothers and daughters and how love and hate can co-exist. Enjoyed this one.
August 12, 2021
2 1/2 really, for a fictionalised biography of one of the world biggest stars this was terribly dull. It never really got interesting until about 3/4 of the way through and her career decline. The conceit of her mirror being the third narrator didn't really work, and was slightly bizarre now that the title has been changed from hardback to paperback. 'Mirror, Mirror' at least alluded to this odd choice...'Blonde Venus' is just rather tired, a repeat of a film, and previous biography title.
May 25, 2021
A light, fun read. I would have rated this book 3 stars but far too much of the content was taken from Maria Riva’s (auto)biography of Dietrich without any creative flair added to them by the author. I would have preferred it if the novel hadn’t been narrated by the daughter, since it read far too much like the already almost perfect biography.
June 4, 2020
Dear Esteemed Paula Byrne , (Author)
I have just finished reading your marvellous through the looking glass biographical novel Mirror Mirror!!
To say that I enjoyed it is an understatement! Actually, when I finally realised, that it was the Mirror who was acting as compère throughout the novel, it helped me appreciate the novel much more.
You see, at one stage I thought it was the daughter, then I thought it was hairdresser, and then I thought it may have been a real friend or other unintroduced devoted confidante ?
Nearing the end of the book, I watched the sky arts program devoted to Marlene Dietrich.....
Where it was lovely to SEE this iconic star in all her magnificent beauty, I think your book revealed, depicted and described her more fascinating and more exquisitely beautiful, through revelations about her generosity, kindnesses and unselfishness.... it was incredible to be informed of how she gave so much of her time, talent and her stunningly,Beautiful self to all those Troops at the very extreme front lines during the war..... whatever else she did with her life, there’s not too many would have put themselves in such perilous situations...... she had no need to......... but Honourable all the same!
I am amazed at how well informed I feel I am now about this Genuine STAR! What a Life!
How clever to have named the chapters in memory of Songs and films!
THANKYOU for a most enjoyable, informative and enlightening read!
You certainly did your homework when you set about delving into every aspect of The Life and Times of Marlene Dietrich!
Effortlessly written, easily read and simply told! A marvellous feat!
I shall be looking up your other books and look forward to immersing myself in them in the future!
DBL
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2024
Novel about a movie star, inspired by the life of Marlene Dietrich. I enjoy Byrne's non-fiction but I couldn't get into this. I don't think there's anything terribly wrong with the book, just not feeling the vibe
April 26, 2022
The book was quite hard to get into, mainly because the point of view (which turned out to the a mirror) was hard to grasp at first.
However after that the book was quite a nice read
However after that the book was quite a nice read
August 17, 2023
actually a stunning, beautiful book that explores vanity, fame and motherhood
evelyn hugo but blunt
also a very easy read — through it in a couple of hours
evelyn hugo but blunt
also a very easy read — through it in a couple of hours
November 2, 2023
‘Mirror Mirror’ is Paula Byrne’s second novel. An acclaimed biographer, she takes the life of Marlene Dietrich and fictionalises it, referring, for the most part, to Dietrich as Madou, and recounting episodes of her life in alternating chapters through the voice of her beloved mirrors and her ugly duckling, overweight daughter, Kater.
As with all really beautiful people, Dietrich is seen by most primarily for her looks rather than for her character. However, Byrne shows her as far more than a screen siren, oscillating between being supremely selfish and egotistical and full of self-doubt. She is also horrified by what Hitler is doing to Germany and finally renounces her citizenship – a brave stand when many are turning a blind eye to the Nazi party’s atrocities.
Nevertheless, whilst this novel could have focused in more detail on the politics of the 30s and 40s, Byrne’s main focus is on the mother-daughter relationship depicted throughout the narrative. Little wonder that it’s complicated; how difficult it must have been as the child of the ‘most beautiful woman in the world’. Especially when that child is a shy, overweight, ill-educated, lonely little girl often left to her own devices.
Whilst Madou professes to love her more than anyone, Kater is ill-served by her mother in nearly every respect. What the novel really leaves us with is that it can take a very long time for an abused child to allow themselves to see a negligent parent for whom they really are. In the Epilogue Kater recognises that ‘you did nothing to protect me. And now I don’t know if I can ever forgive you.’ But it’s too late for her to question her mother adult-to-adult about her decisions.
‘Mirror Mirror’ is a very carefully researched novel and an interesting read but it didn’t move me in the way this story might have. The slightly sneering voice and self-congratulatory perspective of the mirror does not invite the reader to connect emotionally other than to feel anger at some of Madou’s everyday cruelties towards her daughter. There’s no in-depth exploration of why she inflicts such damage. A pity; that story would have been fascinating.
My thanks to NetGalley and William Collins for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
As with all really beautiful people, Dietrich is seen by most primarily for her looks rather than for her character. However, Byrne shows her as far more than a screen siren, oscillating between being supremely selfish and egotistical and full of self-doubt. She is also horrified by what Hitler is doing to Germany and finally renounces her citizenship – a brave stand when many are turning a blind eye to the Nazi party’s atrocities.
Nevertheless, whilst this novel could have focused in more detail on the politics of the 30s and 40s, Byrne’s main focus is on the mother-daughter relationship depicted throughout the narrative. Little wonder that it’s complicated; how difficult it must have been as the child of the ‘most beautiful woman in the world’. Especially when that child is a shy, overweight, ill-educated, lonely little girl often left to her own devices.
Whilst Madou professes to love her more than anyone, Kater is ill-served by her mother in nearly every respect. What the novel really leaves us with is that it can take a very long time for an abused child to allow themselves to see a negligent parent for whom they really are. In the Epilogue Kater recognises that ‘you did nothing to protect me. And now I don’t know if I can ever forgive you.’ But it’s too late for her to question her mother adult-to-adult about her decisions.
‘Mirror Mirror’ is a very carefully researched novel and an interesting read but it didn’t move me in the way this story might have. The slightly sneering voice and self-congratulatory perspective of the mirror does not invite the reader to connect emotionally other than to feel anger at some of Madou’s everyday cruelties towards her daughter. There’s no in-depth exploration of why she inflicts such damage. A pity; that story would have been fascinating.
My thanks to NetGalley and William Collins for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
September 11, 2023
Roman o životu Džoan Madu (Marlen Ditrih) iz ugla dvoje naratora - njene ćerke Kater (Marija Riva) i ogledala od koga se glumica nikada ne odvaja. Roman se više fokusira na glumičine misli i međuljudske odnose.
Marlen, odnosno Džoan, kako je nazvana u ovom romanu, je glumica prosečnog talenta i natprosečne lepote. Svi u njenoj blizini joj se potčinjavaju i u službi su nje, njene lepote i karijere, a zauzvrat od nje svako dobija ono što želi: njen novac, njeno telo i noći u njenom krevetu, razgovore, pažnju koja nikada nije dugo usmerena na jednu osobu. U moru ljubavnika i ljubavnica, saradnika, prijatelja i poznanika i verne publike koji se smenjuju, dolaze joj i napuštaju je, ili pak ona napušta njih, jedina konstanta u njenom životu jeste njena ćerka prema kojoj je ona istovremeno i požrtvovana i sebična majka.
S jedne strane ona je kao majka, sestra, ćerka i supruga veoma požrtvovana i na svoj način brižna prema članovima porodice i malom krugu prijatelja, humanitarac, moralna podrška savezničkoj vojsci i žestoki protivnik nacističkog režima. Sa druge strane sujetni egocentrik, preljubnica, rasipnica, nimfomanka i ženskaroš, nikoga nikada ne hvali osim sebe i uvek ističe i preuveličava mane drugih. Ovo je čini mrskom i ogavnom i nemoguće je saosećati se s njom . Za razliku od Džoan, lik njene ćerke je sušta suprtnost, za nju sam do samog kraja romana navijao da nađe svoju sreću koja joj je od detinjstva uskraćivana.
Inače imena većine likova su promenjena ili je njihovo pominjanje izbegnuto, kao npr. slučaj sa ćerkom glumice čije se ime nigde ne spominje, već je oslovljena sa Kater (mačka) ili sa Dete).
Poglavlja su kratka, mogu poslužiti i kao priče za sebe, poput kockica mozaika koje spojene u celinu daju sliku o jednoj od najvećih holivudskih diva 20. veka.
Što se tiče stila pisanja, poglavlja su kratka i sažeta, ali na nekim mestima čini mi se da spisateljica ostaje nedorečena, a ima i suvišnih poglavlja koja ne doprinose radnji. Ne postoji neki citat koji bih posebno izdvojio da je ostavio utisak na mene. Takođe, nisam oduševljen idejom ogledala kao naratora. Sve u svemu ,,čitko i pitko". Solidna četvorka.
Marlen, odnosno Džoan, kako je nazvana u ovom romanu, je glumica prosečnog talenta i natprosečne lepote. Svi u njenoj blizini joj se potčinjavaju i u službi su nje, njene lepote i karijere, a zauzvrat od nje svako dobija ono što želi: njen novac, njeno telo i noći u njenom krevetu, razgovore, pažnju koja nikada nije dugo usmerena na jednu osobu. U moru ljubavnika i ljubavnica, saradnika, prijatelja i poznanika i verne publike koji se smenjuju, dolaze joj i napuštaju je, ili pak ona napušta njih, jedina konstanta u njenom životu jeste njena ćerka prema kojoj je ona istovremeno i požrtvovana i sebična majka.
S jedne strane ona je kao majka, sestra, ćerka i supruga veoma požrtvovana i na svoj način brižna prema članovima porodice i malom krugu prijatelja, humanitarac, moralna podrška savezničkoj vojsci i žestoki protivnik nacističkog režima. Sa druge strane sujetni egocentrik, preljubnica, rasipnica, nimfomanka i ženskaroš, nikoga nikada ne hvali osim sebe i uvek ističe i preuveličava mane drugih. Ovo je čini mrskom i ogavnom i nemoguće je saosećati se s njom . Za razliku od Džoan, lik njene ćerke je sušta suprtnost, za nju sam do samog kraja romana navijao da nađe svoju sreću koja joj je od detinjstva uskraćivana.
Inače imena većine likova su promenjena ili je njihovo pominjanje izbegnuto, kao npr. slučaj sa ćerkom glumice čije se ime nigde ne spominje, već je oslovljena sa Kater (mačka) ili sa Dete).
Poglavlja su kratka, mogu poslužiti i kao priče za sebe, poput kockica mozaika koje spojene u celinu daju sliku o jednoj od najvećih holivudskih diva 20. veka.
Što se tiče stila pisanja, poglavlja su kratka i sažeta, ali na nekim mestima čini mi se da spisateljica ostaje nedorečena, a ima i suvišnih poglavlja koja ne doprinose radnji. Ne postoji neki citat koji bih posebno izdvojio da je ostavio utisak na mene. Takođe, nisam oduševljen idejom ogledala kao naratora. Sve u svemu ,,čitko i pitko". Solidna četvorka.
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March 15, 2021i was very disappointed with this book. The author portrays the daughter of MARLENE DIETRICH as a person who knows she is fat but cant stop eating. She portrays a film director whom I assume is MAYER because SAME GOLDWYN would not have got involved in the artistic side or is it WARNER?This director made MARLENE do innumerable takes of the same scene. MARLENE is further full ofthe success of GRETA GARBO. MARLENE also entertained the troops in wartime and made a special point of entertaining GERMAN POWs. All this stuff is set out which is in chapters which seems to have written without any regard to continuity. Its neither biography or memorable fiction. The daughter emerges a person who got married and has four kids with a nice husband. BYRNE did not like MARLENE and yet her portrayal of CATHERINE THE GREAT EMPRESS OF RUSSIA sticks in BYRNE's mind as vivid. I have enjoyed the early MARLENE movie where she was LOLA but unfortunately she was miscast as the director decided that the ending should not be the carefree showgirl but the wicked temptress of an old man. I cannot see the point of BYRNE'S book except that she must have done some research with the daughter and the daughter/grandaughter
took the opportunity to throw mud at the memory of DIETRICH.
took the opportunity to throw mud at the memory of DIETRICH.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2023
This is a fictionalised version of Maria Riva's memoirs about life with her mother, the legendary Marlene Dietrich, named here as Joan Madou. Does the world need such a version of a story? Probably not. Is it entertaining? Largely yes. Particularly the early years, featuring high Hollywood Golden Age glamour.
The drive to be a superstar generally doesn't make for an amiable personality and here is no exception, but there is a gleefulness in the ageing and decline of Ms Madou that seems rather gratuitously unpleasant. Old age comes to us all, if we are fortunate to live that long, but few of us have the earlier parts in our life that she did.
The drive to be a superstar generally doesn't make for an amiable personality and here is no exception, but there is a gleefulness in the ageing and decline of Ms Madou that seems rather gratuitously unpleasant. Old age comes to us all, if we are fortunate to live that long, but few of us have the earlier parts in our life that she did.
September 21, 2024
A sweeping story across 1930s Hollywood, WW2 and continents, based on the life of Marlene Dietrich. The description was beautiful, the characters vivid and complex, and I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of the relationship between Madou and the Child. I thought the Mirror narrator was an interesting choice with lots of potential, but I didn’t personally connect with it and thought more could be done there. Sometimes the untagged dialogue in the Mirror sections made it confusing
October 28, 2020
I found the narrative voice of the mirror very grating at first, but once I got used to it I enjoyed this fictional biographical telling of the relationship between Marlene Dietrich and her daughter. For me the main triumph of the novel was Kater’s growth and development as a character.
November 12, 2020
Interesting read through the mirror on Marlene Dietrich. Historical faction with easily identified characters including the Kennedy’s , Ernest Hemingway and Billy Wilder. I enjoyed the interface with those people - a fun look into the life of one of the most iconic movie stars.
May 7, 2022
Really interesting story I just didn't like how she told it.
I found the obsession with Kater being fat and less attractive than her mother really weird, it was a huge plot point for some reason.
Last 100 pages made it a 2 instead of a 1
I found the obsession with Kater being fat and less attractive than her mother really weird, it was a huge plot point for some reason.
Last 100 pages made it a 2 instead of a 1
October 15, 2024
S obzirom da nisam znala mnogo o životu Marlene Dietrich, knjiga mi je bila zanimljiva. Međutim, naracija je čudna, nisu mi se svidjeli odlomci gdje je pisano iz ugla "ogledalca". Naprosto je čudno i nekako mi ne ide.
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October 9, 2021Sjajno biografija, toliko da mi je tao sto nema vise strana. Sokirana sam grandioznoscu i harizmom ove holivudste dive.
October 25, 2021
Couldn’t quite see the point.
November 3, 2021
DNF - very slow and having a mirror as the third narrator was very bizarre!
January 19, 2022
52 book club #5 chapters have titles
October 9, 2023
as a blonde im biased
January 1, 2024
Užasno loša knjiga. Nije biografija, već je istorijska fikcija. I nije zbog toga loša, već zbog stila koji je na ivici da liči na bilo kakav članak u žutoj štampi. Loše, baš loše.
May 29, 2024
DNF, gave up fairly early on .
November 2, 2021
Really enjoyed her writing style. I have an interest in old Hollywood and understood the references, I appreciate not having everything spelt out unnecessarily which I personally don’t enjoy in other books. The point of view from the mirror was fascinating to me, it was so brutal and honest and such a narrative driver. I think main horrific event that happened to Kater was on the one hand was thankfully not explicit considering the situation but I thought it was too glossed over, like it didn’t matter to Kater really at all, I was expecting a bigger fall out considering it’s what the blurb was alluding too.
But I really enjoyed it, I liked the world the author created, I felt the glitz and glamour and it took me out of reality for a while and I couldn’t put it down.
But I really enjoyed it, I liked the world the author created, I felt the glitz and glamour and it took me out of reality for a while and I couldn’t put it down.
March 30, 2022
The start of the book was good it was understandable but later I was like what is this that is she writing about. I like the plot twist but everything else is bad and I read 21 pages. Soooo I am not going to read this book anymore for a while.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews