Lisa Ireland

The Studio Girls takes the reader to 1950s Hollywood, where the studios own the stars but everyone still wants to be a star. At its heart, this is a story about female friendship, secrets and betrayal behind the glamour.

The story is mainly set in the 1950s, with periodical jumps forward to the end of the century after the four main characters have made their mark on Hollywood. Sadie moves into the Hollywood Studio Club with an unusual dream amongst the young women who board there – she wants to be a writer, not an actress. She shares a room with Vivienne, who has the determination and drive to make it in Hollywood. Rising star Julia arrives soon after when her studio contract stipulates that she must reside at the club to protect her from big, bad Hollywood. They become friends with Peggy, a god-fearing woman who works hard but can’t catch her big break. The women help each other when it comes to work and life, sharing clothes and tips. But things start to get uncomfortable as one woman starts a love affair that would have a large chunk of Hollywood frowning, another realises how rife the sexism is in the system and another seems to try anything to make it on screen. The women begin to question each other and when a secret is spilled, their friendship becomes fractured and retaliation looks like the only option. It’s only when the women meet at the Studio Club reunion decades later that the truth will come to light.

I really enjoyed this story that explores the limitations of women in Hollywood in the 1950s – all about crafting that careful image (and to think, people do that voluntarily on social media these days!). The novel is also a testament to female friendship, something Lisa Ireland always does brilliantly. While I wasn’t a fan of Peggy (her actions didn’t always align with my own values), she is true to what she believes and holds steadfast. Vivienne was a fascinating character, but the reader didn’t get to know her as well as the other women because of plot devices. Julia was a strong woman behind her doubts over her ability and Sadie was much too smart for Hollywood – which made her insights all the more useful to her friends.

I would have liked some more period detail of the time as ‘window dressing’ – I felt I didn’t fully ‘see’ the (alleged) glamour of Hollywood beyond the nightclub the women go to or their residence. However, the reader gets to see a lot of the controlling side of the studio system which wouldn’t be tolerated in modern times – fake dates, choosing someone’s partner, racism and sexism. There is also a strong hint of violence as Hollywood closes ranks against what they see as tarnishing their image. Image is another theme that runs through the novel as some of the women bend to match Hollywood’s standards – meaning that of the men in control. Does that justify some of the characters’ actions at the time, or is it inexcusable?

Overall, The Studio Girls is a fun read. It’s easy to keep track of the characters through the alternating chapters and the pacing is fast enough to keep you interested but not so fast that you can’t remember what’s happened. I enjoyed this novel, which would make an excellent miniseries.

Thank you to Penguin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

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The One and Only Dolly Jamieson is a charming and uplifting novel from Australian author Lisa Ireland.

Once a sought after Broadway/West End performer and television star, seventy-eight year old Dolly Jamieson spends her days in a London library, and her nights in a stranger’s rarely used shed. There’s little danger of her being recognised as no one wishes to look too closely at the homeless, in fact most people choose to ignore her. Dolly tries not to take offence, she knows she doesn’t look, or smell, her best but she misses being seen.

When Jane Leveson stumbles into the library, looking lost and on the verge of tears, Dolly feels compelled to reach out and offer the woman comfort. Jane sees past Dolly’s worn coat and unkempt hair and their conversation sparks a connection that grows as Jane offers to help Dolly turn her scribbled notes into a memoir.

With a dual timeline that shifts smoothly between the past and present, we learn how Dolly, born Margie Ferguson in Geelong, Victoria, overcame hardship and tragedy in her determination to become a star, and the subsequent trajectory of her life. Despite the ills that have befallen her, and the mistakes she has made, Dolly is a delightful character, and admire her optimism.

As she and Jane work together to tell Dolly’s story Ireland reveals more about what is troubling Jane. Dolly’s gentle sympathy and nonjudgmental attitude is a balm to Jane who is struggling under the weight of her own regrets. Ireland stunned me with the reveal of Jane’s whole story, it a was very unexpected and hit hard.

Ireland addresses a number of sensitive issues in the novel including adoption and suicide, but particularly highlights the shocking increase in homelessness amongst women aged 65 and over, and includes a note that outlines the extent of the problem.

Written with warmth, tenderness and humour, The One and Only Dolly Jamieson is a really lovely read.… (altro)

I really enjoy stories with dual timelines, and The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan shines in that respect by putting Shirley at the forefront at both narratives. This is a story of a woman who hasn’t had it easy and isn’t about to give up, even as she ages.

In the present, Shirley is almost 80 years old and lives with her daughter in Sydney. Her husband Frank has dementia and is in a nursing home. Shirley is not happy about being removed from her home town of Geelong and plots over some time an escape plan for her and Frank. She’s going to break Frank out of the home and return to their home. It’s a road trip with a difference as Shirley navigates subterfuge, technology barriers and the police with her willing (but not comprehending accomplice). Luckily, she has a whole secret team on her side, willing them to escape from the confines of their elderly life. The second narrative is the story of Frank and Shirley’s relationship and how they got to this point. That road is just as bumpy as some of the tracks they travel on!

The story of the couple in the 1960s and 1970s is very well rendered, capturing the details of the time period as well as the prevailing thoughts and trends. This means Frank has very traditional beliefs in things like contraception, mothers working and women’s rights and responsibilities. Unfortunately for me, I just can’t view him through anything but a modern lens. To me, he’s a restrictive dinosaur – such as contraception being a woman’s problem and passing judgment on the time Shirley spends with her best friend Rita. I spent quite a lot of the book wondering why Shirley wanted to break Frank out – was he really worth all that effort and trouble? They seemed to be good friends, but never really in love. I felt Frank (and Shirley’s slightly irrational desire to protect him) didn’t really deserve it. Sure, he’s a good bloke but he prevented Shirley from living and loving the way she wanted. I didn’t really share Shirley’s idea that she owed him (is it really an equal relationship if there is a power imbalance?) but again, I’m looking at this from light years away in women’s independence. The good counter balance to this is Rita, who is an independent woman strongly involved in women’s lib and giving women rights. She’s a powerful character with a lot of passion and patience.

The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan is an easy, pleasant read. The timeline changes just as you want to catch up with either elder and younger Shirley and the ‘escape’ plot is a lot of fun. (I loved how Shirley and Frank were aided and abetted by a group that generally older people don’t know about!) There is a lot of emotion in this book and it is all handled sensitively and realistically. If you’re looking for a character that breaks the mould for women’s fiction, you will find it in Shirley Sullivan.

Thank you to Penguin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

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I always look forward to a new Lisa Ireland novel without exception, so perhaps it seems strange that I’ve waited almost a month after release to read and review The Art of Friendship. I was waiting for a less busy time to dedicate myself to reading this wonderful story and I’m glad I did because I didn’t do much else besides read once I’d opened it. The Art of Friendship is a wonderful story that pushes both the characters and the reader to their limits. It makes you question how you see your friendships and ask yourself bluntly, is this working?

The story is about two friends from childhood, Libby and Kit. Kit is the first friend Libby makes when she moves to an outer suburb of Melbourne and the girls are close friends through their teens and into their early twenties. They are separated physically for nearly twenty years after Libby moves to Sydney. Libby and her family then return to Melbourne after her husband Cameron accepts a job offer that’s nearly too good to be true. Libby and Kit will be able to see each other much more frequently and relive the close friendship of their youth.

Well, that’s the way it should have gone but then we wouldn’t have such a great story. Over the years, Kit and Libby have become very different people with differing values, opinions and life paths. Being closer just exemplifies the differences between them and it’s uncomfortable for them both. Is this a friendship that should have run its course a long time ago or is it worth repairing? Lisa Ireland throws up this difficult conundrum that I’m pretty sure most people would have faced over time. What happens when your friends don’t match your life? Because if variety is the spice of life, it sure feels awkward and not-quite-right.

Over the course of the story, the differences between Kit and Libby are highlighted, along with the major struggles in their lives. Libby is a stay at home mum, university dropout and has put all her eggs in the one basket – son Harry. She has put her heart and soul into Harry’s life being just right. Dealing with the stress of living very closely with the wives of her husband’s colleagues only fuels Libby’s need to be liked and perfect. Sure, it’s all a bit Stepford-wife like but Libby knows she has to succeed here. So when Harry turns out not to be her perfect petal, she is beyond devastated. Lashing out at Kit is one way she lets out her frustrations. Kit is the total opposite – part time lecturer, job helping women experiencing domestic violence, single, no kids and comfortable in herself. But when Kit starts a relationship with Libby’s arch-nemesis, the friendship turns to home truths and low blows.

What I really admired about The Art of Friendship is that it wasn’t afraid to show the ugly bits. That Harry might be a bit of a weird kid. That Libby would sell her soul to be perfect and part of the in crowd. That Kit can be too outspoken and passionate. That sometimes, friendship is going through the motions rather than truly caring for each other. It was a bit uncomfortable at times as the truths were laid bare and the characters revealed to be far from perfect. But I just wanted to keep reading. Even though I found Libby a bit lacklustre in ambition beyond Harry and appearance, she was still adequately redeemed at the end of the novel. I must admit to being Team Kit, as I felt she was open to her faults and at ease. Overall, I loved the story. The pacing is tight, the secrets satisfying and pages just turned themselves. Overall, this is Lisa’s best book to date.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

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