The Fame Game

by Rona Jaffe

Sam Leo Libra is a fame-maker, living in his own glamorous world of hand-picked celebrities. His carefully selected “Dirty Dozen” are an elite clientele of fame-hungry clients whom he moves and manipulates as he sees fit, and his influence makes them millionaires. Seen through the eyes of Libra’s good-girl assistant, The Fame Game offers a rare glimpse into the world of fashion and Hollywood high-rollers, where those desperate enough can rise to the top, even if it means paying the price through decadence and degradation.

Genres: Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Rona Jaffe established The Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards program in 1995. It is the only national literary awards program of its kind dedicated to supporting women writers exclusively. Since the program began, the Foundation has awarded more than $850,000 to a total of 92 women.

Ms. Jaffe was the author of sixteen books, including Class Reunion, Family Secrets, The Road Taken, and The Room-Mating Season (2003). Her 1958 best-selling first novel, The Best of Everything, was reissued by Penguin in 2005.

Reviews

[Miss Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on a dusty shelf at my family's vacation cabin. Reading the summary, I thought 'this could be an easy beach read'. I was right! (It was written in 1969)

I devoured it in a few hours. The story is delightfully over the top. It is full of late 60's culture, sex, drugs, and fame.

I recommend to anyone wanting a vacation read. I do not know how easy it would be to find.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this years ago...

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story but too dated

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to re-read this book in its first mass-market paperback edition, published in 1970 (not available as an edition on Goodreads, but this was the closest entry I could find). Naturally, having been written in the late 60s, it is full of sex, drugs, rock and roll and language that is so politically incorrect by today's standards that it would make almost anyone cringe.

It is interesting, though, to get a lens on New York life in those days. It primarily follows Gerry, a young woman pursuing a career in publicity. She lands a job as the assistant to a big-time manager who handles a handpicked stable of celebrity clients in film, TV, pop music and more. She learns the ropes, makes a life in the city, falls in love, experiences tragedy and finally triumphs.

The cover blurb offers this enticement: "A Savagely Candid Novel Novel of Today's Super-Celebrities." and a quote from Variety, the entertainment trade magazine, which is still published: "Intriguing, Pungent, Entertaining"

OK, you get the idea. It's totally over-the-top, but author Rona Jaffe was a talented novelist who kept her readers turning the pages and coming back for more. She remains one of my go-to favorites for escapist reading, and we all need a little of that sometimes.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it as a "brain-switch-off" book very quickly. Not only quite entertaining, but very authentic in describing the media world atmospherein the 60s with all its controversies (transvestite models etc.). In fact not so far away from Mad Men... including all the "individual cases" stories and affairs. Up to the point a bit 'soap-opery'.

[portia leuba · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author's book are somewhat dated, understandable since they were written in the 50's 60's era. Good quick reading , plot is loosely based on the management of television and movie stars. One of those I read on the treadmill.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is horrendously dated, full of (I'm sure) hip-at-the-time 1960s references, but I still love it (rather guiltily).