What do you think?
Rate this book
Venus Blue
Comments from a devoted fan and memorabilia collector and the diary of a family member are combined in an attempt to analyze the off-screen life of the mysterious, elusive Hollywood starlet and bush pilot, Molly Lamanna. A first novel.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 2, 2012
Another great library find.
Stefan Hollander, a collector of memorabilia, becomes particularly intrigued by the obscure 1930's starlet and aviator, Molly Lamanna. In his pursuit of all things related to the actress, he happens upon the diary of Millicent Rappaport, a contemporary of Molly's who was utterly obsessed with her. Determined to unravel the mysteries surrounding these two remarkable and enigmatic women, Stefan moves from passive observer to active player in an ever-deepening plot.
From the book jacket:
"In Venus Blue, a novel built of sunlight, secrets, and the scent of women's hair, notions of desire and its intimate relation to absence and loss--always present just beneath Sobin's celebration of the gauzy-lit hues of Hollywood film--rise urgently to the surface. . . [Sobin] deftly blends film noir coloration [with] poetic conceit . . . Dreamlike while conjuring moments of lush actuality." --Albert Mobilio, Village Voice Literary Supplement
Lush? Poetic? Diary? Old Hollywood nostalgia? Obsessive, unrequited love? Sobin, you're speakin' my language!
I'll be honest. It's not the most polished book I've ever read! --but sensuous, captivating, and frequently lovely. Definitely worth the read.
Stefan Hollander, a collector of memorabilia, becomes particularly intrigued by the obscure 1930's starlet and aviator, Molly Lamanna. In his pursuit of all things related to the actress, he happens upon the diary of Millicent Rappaport, a contemporary of Molly's who was utterly obsessed with her. Determined to unravel the mysteries surrounding these two remarkable and enigmatic women, Stefan moves from passive observer to active player in an ever-deepening plot.
From the book jacket:
"In Venus Blue, a novel built of sunlight, secrets, and the scent of women's hair, notions of desire and its intimate relation to absence and loss--always present just beneath Sobin's celebration of the gauzy-lit hues of Hollywood film--rise urgently to the surface. . . [Sobin] deftly blends film noir coloration [with] poetic conceit . . . Dreamlike while conjuring moments of lush actuality." --Albert Mobilio, Village Voice Literary Supplement
Lush? Poetic? Diary? Old Hollywood nostalgia? Obsessive, unrequited love? Sobin, you're speakin' my language!
I'll be honest. It's not the most polished book I've ever read! --but sensuous, captivating, and frequently lovely. Definitely worth the read.
September 9, 2023
I'm glad this book was only 198 pages. It was OK but didn't really hold my interest until about page 160. Sobin's writing is prosaic, poetic and just a tad long-winded. I mostly enjoyed the style but was easily bored by the content and had no sympathy with any of the characters.
November 5, 2010
I'm glad this book was only 198 pages. It was OK but didn't really hold my interest until about page 160. Sobin's writing is prosaic, poetic and just a tad long-winded. I mostly enjoyed the style but was easily bored by the content and had no sympathy with any of the characters.
May 9, 2016
I love anything written by Gustaf Sobin. I had the opportunity to study with him and he was extraordinary, as a teacher, as a writer, as a person.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews