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A Glimpse of Stocking
Corgi Book Date of 1989 paperback Fair 0552132667 Foxing on some of the pages and outer leaves. Introducing three unforgettable women, capable of unforgiveable acts........................
755 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 30, 2014
Oh yeah, I read all of this monster (700 pages) Hollywood soap opera! It took about a month because it's long and I let myself get sidelined by other books along the way. While it's a soap opera of sorts, there are plenty of erotic/kinky passages and violent events going on to ever let it get boring. There is even a seedy detective who is something of a catalyst pulling all the characters together into a final climax. The main character, Annie, is a little too nice/boring to hold a novel of this size by herself. Thankfully she's balanced by Christine, an awesome razor-wielding femme fatale, leaving a trail of well-deserved victims behind her. There was a bit of a lull toward the final third of the novel, but the last 100 pages kicked it back into gear. Yep, hifalutin trash with lots o' kink and melodrama-rama to go round.
May 11, 2024
Found this book in a box tucked away in the garage today. I totally forgot about it but I remember reading this behemoth back in college and enjoyed it.
November 4, 2015
I've no clue why Goodreads is convinced this is 592 pages when in actuality it's a whopping 708. And what a 708 pages it is. This is another of those "forbidden reads" my mother kept on her bookshelf when I was too young to read it. I can see why. Elizabeth Gage is one helluva writer! Admittedly, some scenes got bogged down in extensive detail, but at the same time it all felt necessary in order to understand the complexity of the characters. Because of the cover I was expecting a flashy trashy read, but A Glimpse of Stocking was so much more than that. It really dug deep into the motivations and psychology behind the two central figures at the heart of the novel: Annie and Christine. Oh sure, there's the scandalous moments and they're as delicious as you'd expect them to be. But the characters really struck a chord and for that I'll be highly anticipating the next book I decide to read by Ms. Gage.
November 5, 2018
A strange thing happened on the way to our well-deserved vacation. After...
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July 23, 2023
Ненадмината авторка. Няма да се уморя да препрочитам книгата.
September 5, 2010
I must have read this book over 50 times. It's one of my favorites and always will be. Elizabeth Gage explores sexuality and human dynamics in a gritty way that leaves you breathless. Like another reviewer I read this when I was very young but thankfully I was mature enough to handle it. There is strong subject matter but it's handled masterfully. If you love the movie business, psychological thrilling situations and riveting plot twists you will love this book! It's a classic.
December 20, 2012
This book has eluded me for several years, since our first encounter in the late 80's. I have never forgotten it and have searched for it often. This is a classic 80's- Girl finds fame story! If you like(d) Scruples, Chances, Lace or Gypsy,this is for YOU! I cannot wait to revisits this!
September 30, 2021
‘A GLIMPSE OF STOCKING’ OR WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED, ELIZABETH GAGE?!—PART 2
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January 24, 2024
Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: Sexist and other slurs, physical injury and assault, blood, grief and loss depiction, murder, death of people, dismemberment
Score: Six and a half points out of ten.
I own this book. Find this review on The StoryGraph.
So this one is the last ever novel I read in 2023, and simultaneously, I finished it in the early days of 2024. All the libraries closed temporarily and I burned through all the other fictional works I owned, except this one. Now I had to pick it up and read it because this story is the only one left I haven't read. Did I mention I had it for years, but I left it untouched until now? It's also lengthy. When I finished it, I thought it was enjoyable, but it has flaws. A Glimpse of Stocking starts with a prologue set in the 1970s with a message from Christine explaining why she had to kill some people to protect Annie, but then it cuts to the late 1940s where Annie is unknowingly about to start her career as an actor, but in the opening pages, Annie lived through her childhood life. 200 pages in, Annie began her adult life and began her career as an actor for a seatbelt ad out of everything. Afterwards, another significant person, Damon Rhys, offered her an opportunity to act his movie, A Midnight Hour, leading to Annie's success. People even said she is the new Marilyn Monroe, which was surprising.
I liked the stars of the narrative, like Annie and Damon, but I don't understand the need for other POVs from insignificant players in the fictional work. The pacing was A Glimpse of Stocking's biggest drawback, as it was an unnecessary drag, clocking in at over 600 pages. I understand that the page count allows for deeper character development, but the piece of literature would be better without any filler. Also, splitting A Glimpse of Stocking into two would be a much needed improvement, as combining them would bloat it. After an incident, Annie spends time recovering from it; following that, Damon hires Annie to act in his last movie, The Fertile Crescent. Her character dynamic with Christine is intriguing, but the spotlight is mostly on Annie. That ending was dramatic.
Trigger warnings: Sexist and other slurs, physical injury and assault, blood, grief and loss depiction, murder, death of people, dismemberment
Score: Six and a half points out of ten.
I own this book. Find this review on The StoryGraph.
So this one is the last ever novel I read in 2023, and simultaneously, I finished it in the early days of 2024. All the libraries closed temporarily and I burned through all the other fictional works I owned, except this one. Now I had to pick it up and read it because this story is the only one left I haven't read. Did I mention I had it for years, but I left it untouched until now? It's also lengthy. When I finished it, I thought it was enjoyable, but it has flaws. A Glimpse of Stocking starts with a prologue set in the 1970s with a message from Christine explaining why she had to kill some people to protect Annie, but then it cuts to the late 1940s where Annie is unknowingly about to start her career as an actor, but in the opening pages, Annie lived through her childhood life. 200 pages in, Annie began her adult life and began her career as an actor for a seatbelt ad out of everything. Afterwards, another significant person, Damon Rhys, offered her an opportunity to act his movie, A Midnight Hour, leading to Annie's success. People even said she is the new Marilyn Monroe, which was surprising.
I liked the stars of the narrative, like Annie and Damon, but I don't understand the need for other POVs from insignificant players in the fictional work. The pacing was A Glimpse of Stocking's biggest drawback, as it was an unnecessary drag, clocking in at over 600 pages. I understand that the page count allows for deeper character development, but the piece of literature would be better without any filler. Also, splitting A Glimpse of Stocking into two would be a much needed improvement, as combining them would bloat it. After an incident, Annie spends time recovering from it; following that, Damon hires Annie to act in his last movie, The Fertile Crescent. Her character dynamic with Christine is intriguing, but the spotlight is mostly on Annie. That ending was dramatic.
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June 28, 2008I read this book during high school. The material is probably a little too mature for someone that age - there are scenes of rape, violence, prostitution and drug use. Although parts of the book were a bit disturbing, it is a very good story and the characters are well-written. Most of the book takes place in two very iconic cities - New York and Los Angeles. The scenery is very descriptive - enough to make me want to drive along Mulholland Drive when I was in L.A. - it was neat actually seeing the places that the book described.
September 17, 2023
🌟🌟🌟½ | Un Ensayo Sutil en la Narrativa, un Tintineo de Profundidades Inexploradas
En "El Brillo de la Seda", nos encontramos frente a una obra que, aunque considerablemente bien concebida, titubea en su camino hacia la verdadera grandiosidad literaria. Elizabeth Gage, con una habilidad notable para la construcción del mundo y una pluma que danza grácilmente a través de las páginas, se propone abrazar las complexidades de la condición humana, pero a menudo se detiene en el umbral de la verdadera profundidad analítica que caracteriza a las grandes obras de la literatura.
La estructura narrativa de la obra, si bien armónicamente compuesta, carece de ese grado de complejidad intrincada que hubiera permitido a los personajes y a la trama alcanzar una resonancia más profunda con el lector perspicaz. Gage, aunque evidencia una capacidad tangible para tejer una tapestría rica y colorida de relaciones humanas y dilemas morales, no logra del todo trascender las limitaciones del género para ofrecer una obra que se sostenga en la crítica literaria más profunda.
No obstante, "El Brillo de la Seda" no debe ser descartado como una simple obra menor. La prosa de Gage resplandece con momentos de belleza lírica, donde las descripciones vívidas y el detallado desarrollo del ambiente capturan la imaginación y transportan al lector a un mundo de elegancia sutil y relaciones humanas complejas. Aunque uno podría desear una mayor inmersión en las profundidades psicológicas de los personajes, la novela ofrece un vistazo perspicaz a las pasiones y tribulaciones humanas, aunque este vistazo se sienta en momentos como una exploración superficial.
En última instancia, "El Brillo de la Seda" se encuentra en una encrucijada literaria, mostrándose como una obra que balbucea en los bordes de la grandiosidad pero no logra, del todo, cruzar el umbral hacia una verdadera epopeya literaria que resuena a través de las edades. A pesar de sus limitaciones, la novela ofrece una ventana, aunque parcialmente velada, a las complejidades de la condición humana, prometiendo un potencial aún no completamente realizado.
En "El Brillo de la Seda", nos encontramos frente a una obra que, aunque considerablemente bien concebida, titubea en su camino hacia la verdadera grandiosidad literaria. Elizabeth Gage, con una habilidad notable para la construcción del mundo y una pluma que danza grácilmente a través de las páginas, se propone abrazar las complexidades de la condición humana, pero a menudo se detiene en el umbral de la verdadera profundidad analítica que caracteriza a las grandes obras de la literatura.
La estructura narrativa de la obra, si bien armónicamente compuesta, carece de ese grado de complejidad intrincada que hubiera permitido a los personajes y a la trama alcanzar una resonancia más profunda con el lector perspicaz. Gage, aunque evidencia una capacidad tangible para tejer una tapestría rica y colorida de relaciones humanas y dilemas morales, no logra del todo trascender las limitaciones del género para ofrecer una obra que se sostenga en la crítica literaria más profunda.
No obstante, "El Brillo de la Seda" no debe ser descartado como una simple obra menor. La prosa de Gage resplandece con momentos de belleza lírica, donde las descripciones vívidas y el detallado desarrollo del ambiente capturan la imaginación y transportan al lector a un mundo de elegancia sutil y relaciones humanas complejas. Aunque uno podría desear una mayor inmersión en las profundidades psicológicas de los personajes, la novela ofrece un vistazo perspicaz a las pasiones y tribulaciones humanas, aunque este vistazo se sienta en momentos como una exploración superficial.
En última instancia, "El Brillo de la Seda" se encuentra en una encrucijada literaria, mostrándose como una obra que balbucea en los bordes de la grandiosidad pero no logra, del todo, cruzar el umbral hacia una verdadera epopeya literaria que resuena a través de las edades. A pesar de sus limitaciones, la novela ofrece una ventana, aunque parcialmente velada, a las complejidades de la condición humana, prometiendo un potencial aún no completamente realizado.
October 17, 2025
This wasn't a bad read, but I think a lot of it could've been trimmed down. Annie was interesting, but at times came off as a Mary Sue. I got a little tired of hearing about her gorgeous sable hair and silver eyes. Same with Christine's character.
Still, there were some twists and turns that made the book interesting to read and if anyone's in the mood for a good potboiler about Hollywood, this is a good read.
Still, there were some twists and turns that made the book interesting to read and if anyone's in the mood for a good potboiler about Hollywood, this is a good read.
August 24, 2019
Интересен сюжет, но повествованието ми идва прекалено тромаво.
Отделно твърде много "случайности" , никакъв елемент на изненада, по 100 пъти се говори за предстоящите несгоди...
Трудно я докарах до финала.
Отделно твърде много "случайности" , никакъв елемент на изненада, по 100 пъти се говори за предстоящите несгоди...
Трудно я докарах до финала.
August 22, 2017
Läst på svenska: Glittrande fasader del 1 och 2
January 8, 2018
I could not finish this book.
August 11, 2020
Read this about 30 yrs ago, still remember Christine, their mother was absolutely heinous, loved this book, might reread when i have spare time. 4 stars
April 18, 2022
I read this book years ago and I was happy to find it and read it again. Highly recommended!
July 11, 2022
Love the way Elizabeth Gage writes!!
Wish there were more to read!!
Wish there were more to read!!
October 23, 2009
I picked this book up when I was rained in during a holiday to Spain. The cover certainly was noticeable.
Surprisingly I enjoyed this book and it did keep me entertained from start to finish. There were a few shocking moments and the subject matter was very gritty in places, but the characters were well-developed and the book avoided being too 2-dimensional.
Not a book I'd recommend to people but a good read when you want a break from your 'usual' type of novel!
Surprisingly I enjoyed this book and it did keep me entertained from start to finish. There were a few shocking moments and the subject matter was very gritty in places, but the characters were well-developed and the book avoided being too 2-dimensional.
Not a book I'd recommend to people but a good read when you want a break from your 'usual' type of novel!
April 19, 2020
LOVED it!!! There were at least 150 collective pages of filler that could easily have been omitted, but I was so engrossed in the story and eager to know what happened next that I was able to skim right through them without too much difficulty. If you like Sidney Sheldon and especially Jackie Collins, you’ll definitely enjoy this!
August 26, 2012
Had forgotten about this gem. I'm currently re-reading it because I wasn't sure if I had in fact read this. Once I read the first page, I was flooded by memories of this book, and as characters get introduced, more dots are connected. If I had to choose one word to describe this book...salacious.
January 28, 2012
Read and loved this book a long time ago. I would love to get my hands on it and read it again.
July 26, 2012
Such un amazing book.Touching,shocking and cried so much for the main characters.
October 24, 2012
Elizabeth Gage books are a poorly written guilty pleasure of mine.
April 4, 2013
A nice break from my usual type of book. Some parts are definitely too wordy, but story is good. Subject matter is not for everyone as descibed.
April 13, 2013
I think this book is way better than the shady grey books. Almost feel like some material may have been twisted to form. This is one that I would read over.....over.
July 22, 2013
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IVE EVER READ
Read
August 18, 2013Read 12/94
May 7, 2014
Glittrande fasader.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews