Gentlemen Prefer Blondes -and- But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes: The Illuminating Diary of a Professional Lady
by Anita Loos
published
September 1st 1998
(first published 1989)
by Penguin Classics
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binding
Paperback, 288 pages
isbn
0141180692
(isbn13: 9780141180694)
description
The incomparable adventures of Lorelei Lee, a little girl from Little Rock who takes the world by storm. Anita Loos first published the diaries of the...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 180)
Read in January, 1999
Hilarious. Especially with all the incorrectly spelled words. I read this in college - a humanities course about travel because of course, Lorelei and Dorothy travel across Europe breaking hearts. Lorelei is a complete ditz but ... she's also quite crafty.
Hard to explain, but Anita Loos apparently got the idea after watching a hot blonde turn her very intelligent intellectual male friends into complete slobbering idiots.
I started off thinking it was sort of like a 1928 Bridget Jone...more
Hard to explain, but Anita Loos apparently got the idea after watching a hot blonde turn her very intelligent intellectual male friends into complete slobbering idiots.
I started off thinking it was sort of like a 1928 Bridget Jone...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Courtney by:
Johnrecommends it for: girls who hate "girls"
The "heroine" is so soulless that at times this actually made me sad - the phenomenon of extreme consumerism that we feel is exclusive to the 21st century is certainly alive and well in Loo's satire of the 20s woman, who is eerily reminiscent of our current crop of Paris Hilton-etcs. Perhaps the early-20th century equivalent to Lindsay Lohan's sidekick diary - the worst womankind has to offer. While the language is certainly more refined (in the sense that it isn't fuck-this or fuck-th...more
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Read in July, 2008
The introduction dragged on for what seemed like a very long time (if you don't care about the history of the author or book, I recommend skipping it). When I got to the actual book, the writing style required some getting used to, but once I did, it was a really quick and easy read. The book was definitely entertaining, very amusing (though not so much in a laugh-out-loud kind of way), and in general an enjoyable experience. You don't get too emotionally invested, though. Perfect vacation/b...more
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Read in December, 2007
While Lorelei's innocently carefree and insouciant take on life, love, and gentlemen was a lot of fun, for me it was Dorothy (the Brunette) who really stole the show. She's catty, bitchy, uncouth, and naughty as hell. Like the time when a gentlemen points out a dancer at the Folies Bergère to Dorothy and informs her that said dancer is all of 19 and very pure--and Dorothy tells him that it's impossible for a girl that young to have knees that dirty. Zing and meeow. Sex, jewelry, drunken debauch...more
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Read in September, 2005
This is an excellent antidote for too much Hemingway! One of the funniest stories I have ever read. I especially love the part where Lorelei meets Freud (Dr. Froyd) and they discuss the topic of inhibitions and dreams. I think this book captures the American spirit quite nicely. Not a bad movie either by the way!
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A window into the 'flapper' days of the 1920s and decadent but strangely innocent lifestyles. Quirky, lively and funny, especially the element of satire/gentle mockery in the diary of the 'flapper'.
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Read in July, 2007
Wickedly funny. Anita Loos attacks all manner of high society and artistic pretentiousness with her satirical two-volume diary of a flapper. Crisp, smart writing. Also, this edition reprints Ralph Barton's gorgeous line drawings from the original printings of the books.
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Read in February, 2008
As Always - do not just judge this book by the movie that was based on it
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Read in January, 1999
I remember starting this book while I was in college, but I cannot remember a THING about it. So, yeah, I probably wouldn't recommend a thoroughly unmemorable book.
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Read in August, 2008
This was originally a serial published in Harper's Bazaar in 1925. It was funny but I feel like I need to reread it to get more the of nuances of the book.
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Read in June, 2008
Fanwood Library's edition is from the sixth or seventh printing in 1926. It was a silly fun read with great illustrations.
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You have no excuse for not having read _Gentlemen Prefer Blondes_. It is one of the funniest books you'll ever read.
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Read in August, 2008
Amazing, considering this started as a column in Harper's back in the '20's...still applicable today.
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Read in January, 2005
This is just a really really fun read. Inspired the Marilyn Monroe film.
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Read in January, 1995
A funny book about what men want out of women and vice versa.
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Read in July, 2000
This book is my I Ching.
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