Filthy Rich: A Wise and Funny Novel About Celebrity, Love, and One Woman's Public Journey

by Dorothy Samuels

Marcy Mallowitz has just been dumped -- big time! When she incorrectly answers her orthodontist boyfriend's $1.75 million Lifeline question on the top-rated television quiz show So You Want to Be Filthy Rich! , he ends their preengagement in front of twenty million people. Thrust reluctantly into the national spotlight, America's newest sweetheart is now being courted by Oprah and hounded by the paparazzi. And soon everyone -- everyone -- knows her name, if only as the punch line to a Letterman Top Ten list. Wise, sparkling, and funny, Filthy Rich is a hilarious exploration of instant celebrity, as well as a delightful romp through one woman's startlingly and unexpectedly public life.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Humor

227 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Alicia Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the book was boring. There was more telling you what was happening then having you involved. it also felt the author was telling a lot of inside jokes and I was definitely on the outside. I thought the second half of the book was a lot better. I really liked how each chapter started with a trivia question. I also really liked Marcy. Being of this era I really liked all the pop references but sadly I am not sure they will survive the test of time. Overall a fun light read.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Super quick read. Very lighthearted /dark comedy about a breakup and ensuing fame. This was published in 2001, though, and has a lot of references to things you'd only recognize if you were old enough in 2001: the fame of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, original Survivor, some celebs, no cell phones, Regis Philbin, etc

[Tonya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as exciting as I thought it would be. The big "twist" at the end was something that I figured out very early in the book. But it was a good quick read for a busy week.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frothy, funny, quick read.

[neeka]

just the kind of passable and random thing a little free library paperback ought to be

[Kourtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

The problem with writing a book that is topical is that things change and so when people pick the book up years after it was written there are references that just seem ill-advised.

There were references in this book to Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck being a couple (wow! We all know how that turned out), references about Survivor, Temptation Island-esque shows, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, and lots of digs about Bill Clinton (what? We're still making fun of him?!) The author also kept referencing Darva Conger but never explained about her - I had to go to Wikipedia because who can remember the people who were "famous" for 2 minutes.

I don't recommend this book because it is too outdated and the story wasn't strong enough, in my opinion, to fight through the past. There were a lot of liberties taken (such as the episode appearing on the same day they taped, the news media being SO nice to her, and everything coming together so nicely without ANYONE trying to take advantage of her situation which just doesn't happen in LA) and to me it just didn't hold water.

[Anakin Paez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over all I think that this was a good book. Although this wasn't my taste in books I figured to try something out for once and it wasn't bad at all. This book was about a famous star(Marcy Mallowitz) who suddenly gets all of her money, relationship, and family away. All she has is her fame, but it's just about how her sweetheart dumped her. This bad attention gets other celebrities attention like Rosie O'Donnel, Oprah Winfrey, and Diane Sawyer. When Marcy looks for comfort with her family her mother doesn't care about her true feelings, but rather about her break up with her ex-boyfriend and is always pissed off at her. This book shows a true interest in a falling movie star and how they have to deal with reality. Although this book is not for everybody it shows that nothing is impossible without help, it shows the true meaning of being a "lone wolf."

[Christy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I really like the cover.

See! I'm not all negative!

Besides that, the book was just terrible. The characters were silly, the dialogue was horribly cheesy, and everything was just oh so convenient.

And, please, the half a million dollar question on a rip-off Who Wants to Be a Millionaire would be 'What is the state capital of Alaska'?! And, a girl smart enough to get on the show had to use her lifelines to answer it?!

Oh, yeah, and then Oprah sent her a personal letter in the mail and wanted to be her best friend.

RIGHT.

[Leslie Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice quick read. If you're looking for something deeply profound, don't bother. But if you're looking for an easy mental break, it's a slightly entertaining feel good book. And yes, most references are very dated since it was written in 2001 I think. however, most references were also very old even in 2001- it mostly references the classics like The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, I Love Lucy, etc. I wasn't born when those shows aired but I still watched them as a kid and thoroughly enjoyed the walk down memory lane.

[Sarie Robertson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The book was interesting but it literally put me to sleep. It registered to me as being one big paragraph and was a bit on the unrealistic side of things. I understand that this book was written near the turn of the century and so is a bit dated but I don't imagine that Oprah or Diane Sawyer would have wanted to get interviews from Marcy just because she was humiliated on a game show...or maybe they would have...

[M0rfeus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny "fluff" book that satirizes "Who Wants to be a Millionaire", "Survivor" and reality TV in genereal and the cult of pseudo-celebrity that has grown up around it (and how seriously the mainstream news media take these "pseudo-celebrities").

Anyway I highly enjoyed it and breezed through it in two days, almost unheard of for me!

[Victoria Grusing · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought Samuels was quick to use what was before her and make it into a story line. It had some funny parts. A few places it drug, but it is a short book, so picked up again. Can't imagine it being a book many men would enjoy. As a Jeopardy fan, I enjoy questions to answer so had fun with the chapter starts.

[Becky Straub · Rating 2 out of 5]

Total junk food book. Pretty stupid, but enough entertainment to keep me occupied for a couple hours. It got really annoying with all the slightly-changed pop culture references. This was not meant to be a classic as it is already very dated. Very lame ending with everything all neatly tied up in bows. I think it will end up in the Goodwill box instead of on my bookshelf.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

hahaha! This is such a farce - it makes fun of the show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and all reality shows actually. The book has cameos of Regis, Oprah, Rosie, and Larry King. I laughed at the outrageous storyline!

[Tori]

2008- A sort of ""eh"" book about a woman who loses her fiance after answering a question incorrectly as his lifeline on a ""Who Wants to Be a Millionaire""-type program. I get what the author is trying to say about fame, but it just wasn't that enjoyable.

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just ok. It was a very quick read. The story was very cute and parts were very funny, but it wasn't the greatest book I've read this summer. I wouldn't pay to read this one but it may be worth a look if you can borrow it.

[Emily Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is not worth reading. Very predictable. I only read it, because it was free. Dont waste your time.

[Mycala · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute story if you're in need of a quick, mindless read. Nothing spectacular.

[Sarah Mae · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Marcy's boyfriend dumps her on national tv after she fails as his lifeline, she is thrown into fame and winds up with more than she ever hoped for.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, not the best book I've read as of late. I felt like it was kinda hard to get into and it didn't really keep my attention. Somewhat tedious.

[Jill Tallman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very light read, great for summer.

[Sara Beresford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was total fluff, and I highly recommend it it you're looking for fluff. Great for the beach, the airplane, or vacation. This is not literature, it's just fun.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story, easy reading.

[Cindy Kirkland · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I had to read it again, I would not. It was an easy read but very repetitious. Terrible story line with too many references to pop culture garbage.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book