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There are currently 20 member reviews
for Do Tell
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Katherine P. (Post Mills, VT)
Not Sure To What Audience the Author Intends This Book
The book rehashes old Hollywood scandals that have been thrown together and mixed up and written into a mishmash in which no actual scandal is left clearly. Even the purported author of the book, Edie O'Dare is a conglomeration of Louella Parsons ( Poppy?, although LP was the most feared woman in Hollywood at the time ) and Hedda Hopper--known for her extravagant hats, less than stellar movie career and being the mother of Perry Mason's assistant in the old TV show. A touch of Sheila Graham, another though lesser gossip columnist of the era, has been added to O'Dare's character. Graham's drunken screenwriter was her lover, F.Scott Fitzgerald not her brother, however.
It is to the point, that I, an 80 year old, would even be able to make these connections. And because these and other similarities to the real Hollywood characters of the pre-War and post-War era that it would seem the book is aimed to me and my generation. But, it is all old hat, old news and just boring--not even worth stopping to try to ID the real cast. As to the relationship between Charles and Hal, in today's world it would not even cause a second look. And, in today's world, I doubt the generations younger than mine would care about a book that really just reads like ancient gossip columns.
The characters are superficial and don't elicit any feelings in the reader at all--but then, Hollywood is and always was superficial and the public's real knowledge of any personal life of the members of the Biz has never changed. We know what will induce us to pay money to see the stars and anyone who doesn't toe the line finds that the publicity is less than career enhancing.
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Sarah M. (Lancaster, PA)
Golden Age of Hollywood
Overall, I enjoyed this story, but I was not as engaged as I wish I could have been. I admire the author's attention to detail in describing the costumes, the sets, the scandals, and power dynamics of Hollywood in the 1930's and 40's. There are so many characters interacting with each other; it was sometimes hard to keep things straight, but it was helpful to have the cast of characters at the beginning of the book. The storyline of this book is certainly relevant to today's current societal issues, particularly the #metoo movement and workplace abuse. I enjoyed the main character, Edie O'Dare, and her evolution from actress to gossip columnist. If you appreciate the glitz and charm of old Hollywood, I believe you would like this book.
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Eileen F. (Media, PA)
Movie madness
The studio system was hard on everyone involved but especially women. It was profits over people. The actions of the studios and the moviemakers are vividly described in Do Tell. I felt overwhelmed by the number of characters and would have liked to learn more about some and less about others. The writing is moving and well done. 3 1/2 stars
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Gunta K. (Saratoga Springs, NY)
"Do Tell" by Lindsay Lynch
Am sorry to say this is a very boring book. Does not refer to any of the goings on during the golden years of Hollywood. None of the hijinks of the stars, male or female of that time. Rather sedate gossip is the content of this novel. No reference of the really talented people who wrote, directed and photographed the movie work of that time. Some of the greatest fashion designers were employed in Hollywood as well as the most serious and most hilarious drunks gave us their art. Dozens of magazines about Hollywood stars were published and read. My generation read them in study hall in High school and got into trouble for it. This "Do Tell' novel by Lindsay Lynch has no energy, No laughter or tears to remember.
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Marybeth Taranow
Expecting something more
This book was just meh for me. I thought that it being old Hollywood and a gossip columnist that I would love it.
First of all there were too many characters. Some seemed to be totally unnecessary. I wish that those could have been deleted and more depth on the main characters. I was basically bored and didn’t want to pick it up. The second thing that bothered me was the writing was choppy, nothing flowed. It took me out of the reading experience.
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Sandra O. (Alexandria, VA)
Do Tell Does Not Do It
The title is promising and I devoted multiple hours reading this novel only to be anxious to finish. Reading it was like walking into the middle of a movie - wanting to have a beginning to find what the story is about. The characters were indeed interesting and fortunately the author provides a cast list which does help to set the scene. Maybe my popcorn was not salty enough but this was not the novel I hoped it would be.
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