The character of Laura Lamont is loosely based on golden age film actress, Jennifer Jones. As such, this book has some of the same qualities that Joyce Carol Oates' Blonde did in that there are plenty of entertaining, yet thinly veiled references to the classic movie folks we know and love.
Life in Pictures follows Laura (originally Elsa Emerson) from a life in Wisconsin as the youngest daughter in a Summer Stock family turned young wife of a struggling LA actor turned turned Oscar-winning actress turned has been & more.
While I definitely enjoyed this book, for me there was a cog missing that kept it from being truly spectacular. Something about the character felt very jerked around- like she was created and defined by the people who took control around her rather than creating herself. I realize that more than likely this is exactly how the studio system worked in it's day, but something about the characters lack of self awareness kept this book from being transcendent.
B
**Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers
**NPR Best Books of 2012
**Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers
**NPR Best Books of 2012
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