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Hollywood #1
Hollywood Wives
They lunch at Ma Maison and the Bistro on salads and hot gossip. They cruise Rodeo Drive in their Mercedes and Rolls, turning shopping at Giorgio and Gucci into an art form. They pursue the body beautiful at the Workout and Body Asylum.
Dressed by St. Laurent and Galanos, they dine at the latest restaurants on the rise and fall of one another's fortunes. They are the Hollywood Wives , a privileged breed of women whose ticket to ride is a famous husband.
Hollywood. At its most flamboyant.
Dressed by St. Laurent and Galanos, they dine at the latest restaurants on the rise and fall of one another's fortunes. They are the Hollywood Wives , a privileged breed of women whose ticket to ride is a famous husband.
Hollywood. At its most flamboyant.
490 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1983
About the author
Jackie Collins
170 books2,580 followersThere have been many imitators, but only Jackie Collins can tell you what really goes on in the fastest lane of all. From Beverly Hills bedrooms to a raunchy prowl along the streets of Hollywood; from glittering rock parties and concerts to stretch limos and the mansions of power brokers-Jackie Collins chronicles the real truth from the inside looking out.
Jackie Collins has been called a "raunchy moralist" by the late director Louis Malle and "Hollywood's own Marcel Proust" by Vanity Fair magazine. With over 500 million copies of her books sold in more than forty countries, and with some 30 New York Times bestsellers to her credit, Jackie Collins is one of the world's top-selling novelists. She is known for giving her readers an unrivalled insider's knowledge of Hollywood and the glamorous lives and loves of the rich, famous, and infamous. "I write about real people in disguise," she says. "If anything, my characters are toned down-the truth is much more bizarre."
Jackie Collins died of breast cancer Saturday, September 19, 2015. Jackie Collins, who had kept her illness secret, said recently that she believed in an afterlife, that she had no regrets and that she had emulated Frank Sinatra in that “I did it my way.”
Visit Jackie's website: www.jackiecollins.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/JackieJCollins
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/jackiecollins and Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/jackiejcollins
Jackie Collins has been called a "raunchy moralist" by the late director Louis Malle and "Hollywood's own Marcel Proust" by Vanity Fair magazine. With over 500 million copies of her books sold in more than forty countries, and with some 30 New York Times bestsellers to her credit, Jackie Collins is one of the world's top-selling novelists. She is known for giving her readers an unrivalled insider's knowledge of Hollywood and the glamorous lives and loves of the rich, famous, and infamous. "I write about real people in disguise," she says. "If anything, my characters are toned down-the truth is much more bizarre."
Jackie Collins died of breast cancer Saturday, September 19, 2015. Jackie Collins, who had kept her illness secret, said recently that she believed in an afterlife, that she had no regrets and that she had emulated Frank Sinatra in that “I did it my way.”
Visit Jackie's website: www.jackiecollins.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/JackieJCollins
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/jackiecollins and Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/jackiejcollins
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 368 reviews
March 13, 2008
I actually wrote a book report about this in 10th grade. It didn't seem weird to me at the time and my English teacher didn't say anything about it, but I have to wonder what I was smoking to think this was the sort of book I should write a book report on.
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 19, 2024When I saw this book in the KU library I simply could not resist. I read it way back in the 1980s- and I think I read some of the follow-up books too. But while I remember it being a quintessential trashy novel, I couldn’t recall the details after so many years. So, I thought it would be fun to read now…
Well, not so much. This one did not age well- which I knew it probably wouldn’t- but geez this thing is bad. I’m not remotely interested in these people- the language is just awful- and I’m forcing myself to read it- so… off it goes back to the KU library.
A DNF since I only got to the 30 percent mark. No rating.
Well, not so much. This one did not age well- which I knew it probably wouldn’t- but geez this thing is bad. I’m not remotely interested in these people- the language is just awful- and I’m forcing myself to read it- so… off it goes back to the KU library.
A DNF since I only got to the 30 percent mark. No rating.
July 25, 2008
Even though Jackie Collins is considered a fluff writer, I love her books. She is a good break from the serious drama and mystery type books that I like to read. This book is very entertaining and it delves into the lives of the famous, rich and exotic type of people.
She has a way of writing her story so that you never really know if it is all true or not. The more money made, the more opportunities for people in the spotlight to act crazy and get away with it. You hear it all the time on Entertainment Tonight or Star!
This book is about the lives of the wives behind the famous men in Hollywood. It describes the hidden lovers, secret fantasies and crazy dreams of these women who live in the limelight of their husbands. It was hard to say who was my favorite character because I liked all the women she described. They were glamorous, ambitious and delightedly naughty. What else can I say about this book except the fact that I liked reading about the problems that befall the rich and famous. The drug problems, alcoholic and relationship problems that the couples go through and how they handle it. With all their money and glamour, they seem to go through the same problems as everyone else in the world except it is more extreme because they have more money to blow.
Hollywood Wives is a nice, thick book that goes into detail about each character and what she should not be doing behind her husband's back! This book was like eating cheesecake after dinner. It was light, sweet reading that put a smile on your face when you were done and left you licking your lips for more. Jackie Collins is one of my favorite writers when I want to take a break from more of my serious reading. Hollywood Wives reminded me of the old television series Melrose Place which I loved to watch. For all you Melrose or Dallas fans, this book is for you!
She has a way of writing her story so that you never really know if it is all true or not. The more money made, the more opportunities for people in the spotlight to act crazy and get away with it. You hear it all the time on Entertainment Tonight or Star!
This book is about the lives of the wives behind the famous men in Hollywood. It describes the hidden lovers, secret fantasies and crazy dreams of these women who live in the limelight of their husbands. It was hard to say who was my favorite character because I liked all the women she described. They were glamorous, ambitious and delightedly naughty. What else can I say about this book except the fact that I liked reading about the problems that befall the rich and famous. The drug problems, alcoholic and relationship problems that the couples go through and how they handle it. With all their money and glamour, they seem to go through the same problems as everyone else in the world except it is more extreme because they have more money to blow.
Hollywood Wives is a nice, thick book that goes into detail about each character and what she should not be doing behind her husband's back! This book was like eating cheesecake after dinner. It was light, sweet reading that put a smile on your face when you were done and left you licking your lips for more. Jackie Collins is one of my favorite writers when I want to take a break from more of my serious reading. Hollywood Wives reminded me of the old television series Melrose Place which I loved to watch. For all you Melrose or Dallas fans, this book is for you!
November 18, 2022
Scandalous. Trashy. Fun.
August 16, 2012
Hollywood Wives , written by Jackie Collins, was the sixth book I read in my Summer of Guilty Pleasure reads. Published in 1983, it was the 50 Shades of its day; a dirty, scandalous book that everyone read, but only behind closed doors.
It reminded me of the TV show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous , which aired in the 80s. Robin Leach would tour the world in search of millionaires who allowed camera crews into their mansions. It was hard not to fall under the spell. Wealthy people can seem so much better, so much worthier, especially when you’re watching them while lying on a shag carpet.
Now that I’m older, my infatuation with celebrities has diminished and it’s hard to empathize with wealthy people, which doesn’t always make them good book characters, even when you throw a serial killer into the mix – as Collins does. In the end, genre books like Hollywood Wives – and 50 Shades – seem to be more about filling a void in readers than delivering a story. Maybe there's a piece of shag in all of us.
It reminded me of the TV show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous , which aired in the 80s. Robin Leach would tour the world in search of millionaires who allowed camera crews into their mansions. It was hard not to fall under the spell. Wealthy people can seem so much better, so much worthier, especially when you’re watching them while lying on a shag carpet.
Now that I’m older, my infatuation with celebrities has diminished and it’s hard to empathize with wealthy people, which doesn’t always make them good book characters, even when you throw a serial killer into the mix – as Collins does. In the end, genre books like Hollywood Wives – and 50 Shades – seem to be more about filling a void in readers than delivering a story. Maybe there's a piece of shag in all of us.
June 5, 2022
I loved this!!
50% of this book is scandalous, full of affairs and an interesting situation involving Vaginismus, while the other 50% is like reading an entirely different book that is dark and murderous but when these two stories come together it was magic!
50% of this book is scandalous, full of affairs and an interesting situation involving Vaginismus, while the other 50% is like reading an entirely different book that is dark and murderous but when these two stories come together it was magic!
July 7, 2017
Good series! light and easy storyline (paperback!)
March 7, 2011
For some reason, this book was not really on my radar until it got chosen by my trashy book club. Which is appropriate, because this is the trashiest trash that ever trashed. It's so trashy that, while I wonder how much of it is based in reality, I sort of don't even want to know.
The three stars are almost entirely for the crazy audacity it took just to put the thing together. But it's tough to get into the characters because most of them can't go more than 4-6 hours without sex, which just gets repetitive after a few hundred pages. But most of all, the weird homicidal maniac storyline that supposedly ties everything together is just plain whackadoo. I mean, the characters are already trying to produce a movie together - it's a plot that works. I think Aaron Spelling might have even left CrayCray McGee out of the miniseries, and we all know AS did not mess around. (Pours a Fuzzy Navel on the ground.)
The three stars are almost entirely for the crazy audacity it took just to put the thing together. But it's tough to get into the characters because most of them can't go more than 4-6 hours without sex, which just gets repetitive after a few hundred pages. But most of all, the weird homicidal maniac storyline that supposedly ties everything together is just plain whackadoo. I mean, the characters are already trying to produce a movie together - it's a plot that works. I think Aaron Spelling might have even left CrayCray McGee out of the miniseries, and we all know AS did not mess around. (Pours a Fuzzy Navel on the ground.)
July 23, 2019
Hollywood wives is probably one of the most notable books by Miss Collins. It lacks none of the finesse of Collins writing and I did indulge in this novel like that extra slice of cake you shouldn’t have but can’t help yourself.
There are a variety of characters in this novel and Collins does characterisation so well. I enjoy getting drawn into plot lines as all characters are so strong. Drama. Money. Sex. Drugs. This is Hollywood and these are their Wives. Brilliant storytelling by Collins.
There are a variety of characters in this novel and Collins does characterisation so well. I enjoy getting drawn into plot lines as all characters are so strong. Drama. Money. Sex. Drugs. This is Hollywood and these are their Wives. Brilliant storytelling by Collins.
August 6, 2016
A classic. Here's a little detail account of how I got to read it:
http://sleaze-factor.blogspot.ca/2012...
http://sleaze-factor.blogspot.ca/2012...
November 2, 2022
Classic 80's Hollywood trash novel. An amusing read, if you're in the right mood. The plot bogs down a bit toward the end of the first half, but the second half really takes off. It's mainly about a hot movie that everyone in Hollywood wants to be a part of. There's also a murder sub-plot that becomes connected with the rest of the story in the second half. It's pretty much what you'd expect: a quick, mindless, entertaining read.
Read for the June group read at Classic Trash: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
Read for the June group read at Classic Trash: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
January 19, 2010
Thought I would give myself a break from the old classics and try some classic trash and this book got me hooked. I absolutely love Jackie Collins. She's fun and easy to read and I've happened to get a couple of friends reading her works too. God bless Jackie Collins!
Read
June 11, 2008Sometimes I like to read crap.
If memory serves, this was particularly stupendous crap.
If memory serves, this was particularly stupendous crap.
June 13, 2020
Cate o stea pentru fiecare volum. Singurul lucru pozitiv pe care pot sa-l mentionez despre aceste carti este ca pe una dintre ele se afla Anthony Hopkins pe coperta.
Avem de-a face cu o poveste gen "Tanar si nelinistit", fara cap si coada. O multime de personaje neinteresante, ostentative si penibile incadrate in intamplari scandaloase, neverosimile si menite sa socheze. Vampe batrane care se incurca cu baieti tineri, barbati flescaiti care seduc femei siliconate si in general un haos total in arborele genealogic nemaiputand urmari cine cu cine s-a casatorit si cine al cui copil este. Niciodata sexul n-a parut atat de fad si plictisitor iar pana se termina cartea, cititorul se va satura de aceste secvente inserate la tot pasul.
Poate ca pentru anii 80-90 aceste comportamente ar fi fost socante sau interesante dar acum nu mai pot starni interesul nimanui. Pana la urma, singurul sentiment pe care aceste volume il pot starni la cititor este dorinta de a da foc la intregul Hollywood.
Avem de-a face cu o poveste gen "Tanar si nelinistit", fara cap si coada. O multime de personaje neinteresante, ostentative si penibile incadrate in intamplari scandaloase, neverosimile si menite sa socheze. Vampe batrane care se incurca cu baieti tineri, barbati flescaiti care seduc femei siliconate si in general un haos total in arborele genealogic nemaiputand urmari cine cu cine s-a casatorit si cine al cui copil este. Niciodata sexul n-a parut atat de fad si plictisitor iar pana se termina cartea, cititorul se va satura de aceste secvente inserate la tot pasul.
Poate ca pentru anii 80-90 aceste comportamente ar fi fost socante sau interesante dar acum nu mai pot starni interesul nimanui. Pana la urma, singurul sentiment pe care aceste volume il pot starni la cititor este dorinta de a da foc la intregul Hollywood.
March 23, 2008
This is not intellectually stimulating material, but sometimes I like a good quick rollercoaster ride of a dirty novel. This one is definitely dirty, and follows some very dynamic characters through all kinds of troubling situations. One line stuck with me and I actually added it to my mantra list... "This is your life, Piper Silverthorne, can you hack it?" Obviously the name was different (Buddy Hudson), but when I feel particularly challenged or WHATEVER I say that and it makes me smile and soldier on-- such a ridiculous place to find inspiration, a Jackie Collins novel, but you never know what life will hand you.
January 17, 2022
I gave this two stars because it did turn into a page turner for me in the second half of the book, but my GOD there was a lot of lengthy preamble to get there! So many unnecessary moments. I will say I’ve never read a book quite like this one, and everything did come together in the end, but I don’t think I’ll be going for another Jackie Collins book anytime soon.
November 14, 2021
This was fun to read and i never wanted it to end but end it must.
July 22, 2017
of course i read this at a very young age. Trying very hard to know what is on with Hollywood living. Jakie has many novels. Read one you read all seriously... laden with glam glitters and sex definitely.
August 31, 2019
Jesus Christ. What a ride that was. Utterly batshit and completely un-put-down-able.
February 2, 2022
This book is completely crazy but you should still read it.
April 24, 2023
This is not my usual type of book, but I wanted something easy to read, that was light and not much thinking was involved. This was exactly what I needed!
This is my first Jackie Collins book. She did not disappoint. It was filled with shallow people, who were so caught up in themselves, and who based their worth on what they have... it was great! While these people annoy me in real life, it was so entertaining to read about. Their whole existence just seemed so self centered and pointless, lol!
I loved this escape from reality. The lives of these characters made me feel great about my own life choices, haha!
This was like reading a soap opera. Lying, cheating, sex, money, etc. I swear I was disappointed when it ended.
I needed this book, and I'll be reading similar ones in the future to keep things light.
This is my first Jackie Collins book. She did not disappoint. It was filled with shallow people, who were so caught up in themselves, and who based their worth on what they have... it was great! While these people annoy me in real life, it was so entertaining to read about. Their whole existence just seemed so self centered and pointless, lol!
I loved this escape from reality. The lives of these characters made me feel great about my own life choices, haha!
This was like reading a soap opera. Lying, cheating, sex, money, etc. I swear I was disappointed when it ended.
I needed this book, and I'll be reading similar ones in the future to keep things light.
April 11, 2008
This book is exactly what you'd expect it to be....trash, utter trash; but that doesn't suggest that it wasn't entertaining, because it was. If you'd pick up any random tabloid and have it novel-sized, you'd get Hollywood Wives. This book is filled with everything you can imagine that is delicioulsy scandelous, and I loved every trashy page of it!
August 29, 2024
This book is like a wild night in the Hollywood Hills; it’s full of scandal, glitz, and messy drama that hooks you with its risqué secrets and glamorous betrayals.
The trashy affairs and lies are addictive, but the serial killer subplot feels like a jarring misstep. And while the characters’ constant obsession with sex adds to the spicy allure, it also gets old, leaving little room for the depth that could have made this book truly captivating.
The trashy affairs and lies are addictive, but the serial killer subplot feels like a jarring misstep. And while the characters’ constant obsession with sex adds to the spicy allure, it also gets old, leaving little room for the depth that could have made this book truly captivating.
June 13, 2019
some of this is bad in a very fun way, some of it was just bad in a bad way
not exactly mad i read it i guess, i do like a trash mess sometimes but it def isn't something i could ever recommend
not exactly mad i read it i guess, i do like a trash mess sometimes but it def isn't something i could ever recommend
October 20, 2024
I read this book for a literature course I took this summer. This is the essay I wrote about this book, focusing on its portrayal of sex.
In 1983, Jackie Collins released her novel Hollywood Wives, an instant bestseller. The book delves into the glamorous and cutthroat lives of fictional characters in Hollywood, exploring the high-stakes world where the rich and famous collide with those struggling to make ends meet, while they all fuck and fight their way through Tinseltown.
Sex and desire permeate every dynamic in the book, and that’s where this book–often dismissed as trashy literature–becomes an interesting subject for analysis. How is the sex portrayed and what sort of power dynamics arise from the sexual encounters all these characters engage in?
Each scene in the book generally follows one of the main characters' perspectives, in the third person. This is no different in the descriptions of the sexual encounters, which give a direct insight into the character’s thoughts, feelings, and pleasure during the encounter. The enjoyment and emotions of their partner are indicated through dialogue, movement, sounds, and expressions. However, Collins does not rigidly stick to this formula and occasionally offers a glimpse into the mind of a side character.
The sex scenes are usually short, anywhere from a couple of brief sentences, to a page, except for one sexual encounter between Neil Gray and Gina Germaine that culminates in Neil’s first heart attack, and eventually his affair being exposed to the world, and to Neil’s wife, Montana. This sex scene lasts a total of six pages spread out over chapters thirty-four to thirty-eight.
Collins describes her sex scenes simply, without metaphors or flowery language. She has no trouble using erotically charged language (Johnsdotter 2015, P. 37-38) She usually refers to the male organ as “his penis” “his hardness” “his erection” and occasionally “his cock” by male characters. Breasts are usually simply called breasts except when the book follows Ross Conti’s perspective, then they are referred to as “Tits” to indicate his chauvinism and objectification of the female body.
Because most of the major plot points hinge on the drama of the sexual encounters that the characters find themselves in. There is no shortage of sex scenes in the book. But they all have some narrative relevance, not only because they serve as the inciting incidents of conflicts, or as some conflict resolution, but also because we are often privy to the character’s private thoughts and feelings during these scenes. The characters actively converse during or after the act, resulting in narrative progression.
According to Frappier-Mazur (1988, p. 113), the sole goal of pornography is to be sexually stimulating, whereas erotic stories represent a succession of sexual acts connected by a narrative thread. Due to the narrative focus and the consequences that inevitably affect the characters following their sexcapades, if we follow Frappier-Mazur’s description of pornography versus Erotic literature, we can not call this book pornography. Furthermore, the book does not follow pornographic logic because the book treats the sexual acts that the characters indulge in with some level of realism. The characters have psychological depth and the sex they have impacts them, it has consequences, whether it be guilt, pregnancy, or trauma.
Each main character has a unique personality that is strongly reflected in their attitudes toward sex. Ross Conti for instance is an aging Hollywood celebrity formerly celebrated for his good looks and massive phallus. He has no problem objectifying women, especially regarding their “tits”. He feels no remorse over his treatment of women, whether it’s cheating on his wife Elaine Conti, or screwing over Sadie LaSalle once she has served her purpose for him.
Analyzing characters through their attitudes toward sex is especially crucial when examining the novel's female characters. The titular Hollywood Wives. Each woman offers a unique perspective shaped by her environment and past experiences.
Elaine Conti is the very first of the ladies we are introduced to, in chapter one. The thirty-nine-year-old wife of Ross Conti, she is the quintessential Hollywood wife of the book. Always preoccupied with the social status of herself and her husband among the Beverly Hills socialites and celebrities. Elaine is quite concerned with her appearance and spends the majority of her time preening herself with thick layers of makeup, clothes, dieting, exercise classes, and spray tans. She explains in the aftermath of Ross's affair that she does all this for him, even though he does not appreciate it. Ironically it is later revealed that Ross finds her much more attractive once all the makeup and spray tan is removed. Elaine has a fierce sexual appetite, she has had a few short affairs but has never felt fulfilled by them, she wants to have sex with her husband but refuses to ask for it, expecting Ross to make the first move. Ross is convinced that Elaine doesn’t enjoy sex because she never initiates, and often turns it down.
On the flip side, there’s Montana Gray, the twenty-nine-year-old second wife of aging director Neil Gray. Montana is a woman who does not rely on her husband for her self-worth in the way Elaine Conti does. Montana is confident in her abilities and has aspirations, independent from that of her husband. It’s indicated several times that Montana has no trouble getting into the head of men, and that she’s somehow different from most women. During the majority of the book Montana is preoccupied with getting the movie she wrote “Street People” made, however, she realizes quickly that she faces a lot of resistance simply because she is a woman. Most of Hollywood seems to doubt Montana even really wrote the script, the producer Oliver Eastern doesn’t respect her authority on the film and is constantly trying to take over for her, and old Hollywood legend George Lancaster treats her as if she were a receptionist during their first meeting to discuss the film, even after finding out that she authored it. Early in the book Neil Describes how Montana Gray is different from the other Hollywood wives
“ ‘Well… Let’s see now. You don’t shop on Rodeo Drive. You don’t give catered parties. You don’t lunch with the girls. You don’t employ a maid. You don’t have impeccable fingernails. You don’t gossip. You don’t spend my money at a speed faster than sound. You don’t–’
She held up her hand, still laughing. ‘Enough already! Let’s go home and make out.’
‘And you don’t wait to be asked.’ ” (Collins, 1983 pp. 30-31)
One can interpret this as a jab towards his ex-wife Maralee Gray, who happens to be Elaine Conti’s best friend, but one can recognize a lot of the behavior from Elaine.
Gina Germaine is the woman that Neil Gray has an affair with. He seems unable to comprehend why he would cheat on Montana, he doesn’t find her dull in bed and they have plenty of sex, but he rationalizes his affair with Gina describing how he craved sex with a woman who was beneath him, not his equal. Frappier-Mazur’s text (1988, pp. 120, 123) describes how an equal partnership is usually depicted in texts as an impossibility or at the very least unfulfilling because men inherently crave domination and women crave subjugation. Neil Gray subconsciously feels emasculated by an equal partnership and therefore desires a different kind of stimulation with Gina Germaine, who he describes as “Fluffy. Blonde. Dumb. And worse. A movie star.”
Gina Germaine is a thirty-three-year-old bleach-blonde sex symbol who, after years of cute corny movies, wants to be taken seriously and make meaningful movies. However, nobody takes her seriously, the mere idea of Gina Germaine making serious movies is laughable to the public. She does not let this deter her from trying. Her chosen method of making her entré into serious cinema is through an affair with the acclaimed movie director, Neil Gray. She has no qualms with using sex as a weapon, using it to get to men. Her attitude towards sex is described succinctly in this passage:
“ Most men were such bastards. But what did she care? She used them. No way did they use her. Her life was full of what she termed ‘business fucks’ ” (Collins, 1983 p. 130)
Gina doesn’t care for the men she sleeps with, she feigns adoration, but when it comes down to it, the sex she participates in is never about mutual respect and pleasure, it’s about the fame and fortune she can gain from associating with these men. When Neil Gray dies of his second heart attack, her first thought is about how relieved she is that he did not die in her company because of how it would reflect on her.
She ends up Blackmailing Neil Gray for a screen test for the role of Nikki in Street People. In the aftermath, it is revealed that she’s a decent actress, albeit not fantastic. Eventually, she lands the role, much to Montana Gray’s dismay. Montana demands that Gina downplay her sex appeal, a demand that Gina ignores until Montana appeals to Gina’s Narcissism.
While Gina Germaine aspires to be taken seriously in Hollywood, the novel undermines her by portraying her as hypocritical. She is depicted as wanting respect while still relying on her sexuality to advance her career. This contradiction reinforces the stereotype of the shallow starlet, suggesting that Gina is trapped in the very role she seeks to escape. In the epilogue, she is ridiculed by the media, prompting her to flee the country and undergo breast reduction surgery in a desperate bid for credibility. Ultimately, she secures a “serious” role in a French film, ironically, as a dumb blonde American movie star.
Angel Hudson, Buddy Hudson’s wife, is portrayed as the model of femininity; the ideal woman. She is young, beautiful, and pure, embodying traditional ideals of womanhood.
Angel was raised by a foster family, always feeling like an outsider, upon moving to Hollywood she aspired to be an actress but was put off by the sleazy nature of Hollywood. The expectations of beautiful young starlets to trade sexual favors for industry favors. When Angel met Buddy, she was at a low, having been mistreated by several men and eventually even a woman, Daphne, her landlord, who she had come to think of as a friend. Buddy is immediately captivated by her beauty and pursues her with determination. Angel is enamored with Buddy, although she remains resolute in her decision to wait until marriage to become physically intimate, so they get married.
Once married Angel no longer feels the need to pursue acting and dreams instead of being a good wife and mother to Buddy’s children. This dream appears to be coming true when she becomes pregnant with Buddy’s baby. However, Buddy struggles to find work as an actor, and he attempts to make money by returning to his seedy past. Angel eventually leaves Buddy, to return when he gets his act together, to stop doing drugs with his friends Randy and Shelly, and start being honest with her. During their separation, Shelly exacerbates the situation by deceiving both of them. Telling Buddy that Angel had an abortion and found a new partner while informing Angel that Buddy and Shelly have been together since she left. Clearly out of jealousy and a lust for Buddy.
Eventually, Buddy and Angel find their way back to each other. Buddy achieves his dreams of becoming a movie star and Angel gets to live her dreams as Buddy’s perfect wife, and a mother of a pair of twin boys.
Angel and Buddy are shining examples of “good heteronormative sex” as described by Gayle S. Rubin (1993, p. 13) a monogamous, married couple whose sex results in pregnancy. They are also shining examples of masculinity and femininity respectively. With Buddy Hudson being the dominant, leader and provider, and Angel being the beautiful demure, pure homemaker and mother.
Sadie LaSalle on the other hand is an aging spinster. The jilted former lover, and former agent of Ross Conti. She was responsible for Ross’s success, this was during a relationship between the two. When Ross left her for another woman and another agent. She could not bring herself to love another man again, devoting her life to her work. Eventually, becoming the most sought-after agent in Hollywood. However, she still loves Ross Conti and simultaneously wants him back, and wants revenge against him for how he hurt her.
After Ross Conti; Sadie no longer seeks sexual relationships with men, instead turning to women for sexual encounters.
“ Very occasionally she went to bed with a woman. Sex with another female was not a threat, more of a diversion. And Sadie called the shots. She liked that. ” (Collins, 1983 p. 346)
Sadie’s reasoning for going to bed with women mirrors Frappier-Mazur’s text (1988, p. 120) on portrayals of lesbian sex as a refusal of male dominance and an act of revenge against Ross Conti for leaving her.
“ Lesbianism and sterilization [is] the only possible rebellion and ‘revenge’ in a society that allows men to abandon women with impunity and will not give the heroine an active role in keeping with her gifts and education ” (Frappier-Mazur, 1988 p. 122)
It’s also relevant to remember that Ross Conti got Sadie LaSalle pregnant just before he left her, leaving Sadie to undergo a painful illegal abortion that didn’t take. And then gave birth to two boys that she gave up for adoption. With women, this would not be a concern.
Still, It’s worth considering how Sadie’s treatment of lesbian sex is treated with less weight than sex with a man, implying that Lesbian sex is less fulfilling than sex with a man (Frappier-Mazur, 1988, p. 117) or an option open to any woman (Heede, 2020 pp. 31-32) There arises a pattern in how the female queer characters are portrayed. Sadie LaSalle, Daphne, and the older couple Norma and Celeste.
None of these characters are portrayed as exclusively homosexual, with most of them indulging in sex with a man from time to time, if one compares this treatment to that of the male queer characters, most of whom are solely homosexual except the bisexual Ron Gordino.
Most of the significant encounters with Queer characters are through the lens of the model of “good sex” (Rubin, 1993, p. 13) in the story: Angel and Buddy Hudson. This makes the difference between how the queer characters, and how the heterosexual characters are portrayed all the more obvious.
A majority of the queer characters are portrayed as predatory, and depicted as manipulative, with each act of kindness revealed to be transactional or driven by ulterior motives. This is clear with characters like Daphne whose invitation to Angel for Hawaii quickly proves to be nothing more than a calculated attempt to get her into bed. Jason Swankle's offer of a lucrative gig of escorting two lonely women around town, with no strings attached, and a free stay at a beach house to Buddy is motivated by his desire to seduce him. It’s also revealed that Jason's 'innocent' job offer was a scheme to present Buddy to a lesbian couple seeking a threesome
The predatory nature of the queer characters is especially heinous with a character introduced in Buddy Hudson’s backstory. This gay man offered up cocaine to Buddy’s friend Tony at a party, when Buddy and Tony escaped home for some freedom, Buddy left the party early getting a bad feeling about the situation. Tony’s corpse was later found battered and sexually abused. The gay man is later revealed to be Wolfie Schweicker, a professional walker close to Bibi Sutton. By the end of the book Wolfie Schweicker is found murdered in his home, serving as his punishment for his evil deeds.
There are however two queer characters that are treated as good. That’s Koko, and his partner Adrien. These characters act as Angel Hudson’s support system once she separates from Buddy Hudson. They genuinely care for Angel without ulterior motives.
“ ‘For God’s sake. Don’t you go giving me lectures. I know. She’s old enough to look after herself but Adrien.’ his eyes misted over ‘How can I explain this. She's such a sweet person. I want her to stay with us so that we can protect her.’ ” (Collins, 1983 p. 559)
In the end, Koko and Adrien are still by Angel’s side and become her children's godfathers.
I feel that the difference between how Koko and Adrien are portrayed lies in the fact that they are a long-term monogamous couple who don’t act particularly sexually. This puts them at the margins of “Good sex” because as far as homosexuality goes, they are relatively heteronormative. (Rubin, 1993, p. 14)
Resources
Collins, J. (1983). Hollywood Wives. Simon and Schuster UK Ltd.
Frappier-Mazur, L. (1988). "Marginal Canons: Rewriting the Erotic." In The Politics of Tradition: Placing Women in French Literature (pp. 112-128). Yale University Press.
Heede, D. (2020). "Only a Bullet Through the Heart Can Stop a Lesbian Vampire: Emmy Carrell’s Novel Kan Mæn Undværes? (1921)." In Forbidden Literature: Case Studies on Censorship (pp. 27-40). Nordic Academic Press.
Johnsdotter, S. (2015). "Written Fantasies: A Case of Language-Induced Sexual Excitement." In M. Larsson (Ed.), Sexual Fantasies: At the Convergence of the Cultural and the Individual (pp. 37-55). Peter Lang Publishing Group.
Rubin, G. (1993). "Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality." In The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader (pp. 9-16). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
In 1983, Jackie Collins released her novel Hollywood Wives, an instant bestseller. The book delves into the glamorous and cutthroat lives of fictional characters in Hollywood, exploring the high-stakes world where the rich and famous collide with those struggling to make ends meet, while they all fuck and fight their way through Tinseltown.
Sex and desire permeate every dynamic in the book, and that’s where this book–often dismissed as trashy literature–becomes an interesting subject for analysis. How is the sex portrayed and what sort of power dynamics arise from the sexual encounters all these characters engage in?
Each scene in the book generally follows one of the main characters' perspectives, in the third person. This is no different in the descriptions of the sexual encounters, which give a direct insight into the character’s thoughts, feelings, and pleasure during the encounter. The enjoyment and emotions of their partner are indicated through dialogue, movement, sounds, and expressions. However, Collins does not rigidly stick to this formula and occasionally offers a glimpse into the mind of a side character.
The sex scenes are usually short, anywhere from a couple of brief sentences, to a page, except for one sexual encounter between Neil Gray and Gina Germaine that culminates in Neil’s first heart attack, and eventually his affair being exposed to the world, and to Neil’s wife, Montana. This sex scene lasts a total of six pages spread out over chapters thirty-four to thirty-eight.
Collins describes her sex scenes simply, without metaphors or flowery language. She has no trouble using erotically charged language (Johnsdotter 2015, P. 37-38) She usually refers to the male organ as “his penis” “his hardness” “his erection” and occasionally “his cock” by male characters. Breasts are usually simply called breasts except when the book follows Ross Conti’s perspective, then they are referred to as “Tits” to indicate his chauvinism and objectification of the female body.
Because most of the major plot points hinge on the drama of the sexual encounters that the characters find themselves in. There is no shortage of sex scenes in the book. But they all have some narrative relevance, not only because they serve as the inciting incidents of conflicts, or as some conflict resolution, but also because we are often privy to the character’s private thoughts and feelings during these scenes. The characters actively converse during or after the act, resulting in narrative progression.
According to Frappier-Mazur (1988, p. 113), the sole goal of pornography is to be sexually stimulating, whereas erotic stories represent a succession of sexual acts connected by a narrative thread. Due to the narrative focus and the consequences that inevitably affect the characters following their sexcapades, if we follow Frappier-Mazur’s description of pornography versus Erotic literature, we can not call this book pornography. Furthermore, the book does not follow pornographic logic because the book treats the sexual acts that the characters indulge in with some level of realism. The characters have psychological depth and the sex they have impacts them, it has consequences, whether it be guilt, pregnancy, or trauma.
Each main character has a unique personality that is strongly reflected in their attitudes toward sex. Ross Conti for instance is an aging Hollywood celebrity formerly celebrated for his good looks and massive phallus. He has no problem objectifying women, especially regarding their “tits”. He feels no remorse over his treatment of women, whether it’s cheating on his wife Elaine Conti, or screwing over Sadie LaSalle once she has served her purpose for him.
Analyzing characters through their attitudes toward sex is especially crucial when examining the novel's female characters. The titular Hollywood Wives. Each woman offers a unique perspective shaped by her environment and past experiences.
Elaine Conti is the very first of the ladies we are introduced to, in chapter one. The thirty-nine-year-old wife of Ross Conti, she is the quintessential Hollywood wife of the book. Always preoccupied with the social status of herself and her husband among the Beverly Hills socialites and celebrities. Elaine is quite concerned with her appearance and spends the majority of her time preening herself with thick layers of makeup, clothes, dieting, exercise classes, and spray tans. She explains in the aftermath of Ross's affair that she does all this for him, even though he does not appreciate it. Ironically it is later revealed that Ross finds her much more attractive once all the makeup and spray tan is removed. Elaine has a fierce sexual appetite, she has had a few short affairs but has never felt fulfilled by them, she wants to have sex with her husband but refuses to ask for it, expecting Ross to make the first move. Ross is convinced that Elaine doesn’t enjoy sex because she never initiates, and often turns it down.
On the flip side, there’s Montana Gray, the twenty-nine-year-old second wife of aging director Neil Gray. Montana is a woman who does not rely on her husband for her self-worth in the way Elaine Conti does. Montana is confident in her abilities and has aspirations, independent from that of her husband. It’s indicated several times that Montana has no trouble getting into the head of men, and that she’s somehow different from most women. During the majority of the book Montana is preoccupied with getting the movie she wrote “Street People” made, however, she realizes quickly that she faces a lot of resistance simply because she is a woman. Most of Hollywood seems to doubt Montana even really wrote the script, the producer Oliver Eastern doesn’t respect her authority on the film and is constantly trying to take over for her, and old Hollywood legend George Lancaster treats her as if she were a receptionist during their first meeting to discuss the film, even after finding out that she authored it. Early in the book Neil Describes how Montana Gray is different from the other Hollywood wives
“ ‘Well… Let’s see now. You don’t shop on Rodeo Drive. You don’t give catered parties. You don’t lunch with the girls. You don’t employ a maid. You don’t have impeccable fingernails. You don’t gossip. You don’t spend my money at a speed faster than sound. You don’t–’
She held up her hand, still laughing. ‘Enough already! Let’s go home and make out.’
‘And you don’t wait to be asked.’ ” (Collins, 1983 pp. 30-31)
One can interpret this as a jab towards his ex-wife Maralee Gray, who happens to be Elaine Conti’s best friend, but one can recognize a lot of the behavior from Elaine.
Gina Germaine is the woman that Neil Gray has an affair with. He seems unable to comprehend why he would cheat on Montana, he doesn’t find her dull in bed and they have plenty of sex, but he rationalizes his affair with Gina describing how he craved sex with a woman who was beneath him, not his equal. Frappier-Mazur’s text (1988, pp. 120, 123) describes how an equal partnership is usually depicted in texts as an impossibility or at the very least unfulfilling because men inherently crave domination and women crave subjugation. Neil Gray subconsciously feels emasculated by an equal partnership and therefore desires a different kind of stimulation with Gina Germaine, who he describes as “Fluffy. Blonde. Dumb. And worse. A movie star.”
Gina Germaine is a thirty-three-year-old bleach-blonde sex symbol who, after years of cute corny movies, wants to be taken seriously and make meaningful movies. However, nobody takes her seriously, the mere idea of Gina Germaine making serious movies is laughable to the public. She does not let this deter her from trying. Her chosen method of making her entré into serious cinema is through an affair with the acclaimed movie director, Neil Gray. She has no qualms with using sex as a weapon, using it to get to men. Her attitude towards sex is described succinctly in this passage:
“ Most men were such bastards. But what did she care? She used them. No way did they use her. Her life was full of what she termed ‘business fucks’ ” (Collins, 1983 p. 130)
Gina doesn’t care for the men she sleeps with, she feigns adoration, but when it comes down to it, the sex she participates in is never about mutual respect and pleasure, it’s about the fame and fortune she can gain from associating with these men. When Neil Gray dies of his second heart attack, her first thought is about how relieved she is that he did not die in her company because of how it would reflect on her.
She ends up Blackmailing Neil Gray for a screen test for the role of Nikki in Street People. In the aftermath, it is revealed that she’s a decent actress, albeit not fantastic. Eventually, she lands the role, much to Montana Gray’s dismay. Montana demands that Gina downplay her sex appeal, a demand that Gina ignores until Montana appeals to Gina’s Narcissism.
While Gina Germaine aspires to be taken seriously in Hollywood, the novel undermines her by portraying her as hypocritical. She is depicted as wanting respect while still relying on her sexuality to advance her career. This contradiction reinforces the stereotype of the shallow starlet, suggesting that Gina is trapped in the very role she seeks to escape. In the epilogue, she is ridiculed by the media, prompting her to flee the country and undergo breast reduction surgery in a desperate bid for credibility. Ultimately, she secures a “serious” role in a French film, ironically, as a dumb blonde American movie star.
Angel Hudson, Buddy Hudson’s wife, is portrayed as the model of femininity; the ideal woman. She is young, beautiful, and pure, embodying traditional ideals of womanhood.
Angel was raised by a foster family, always feeling like an outsider, upon moving to Hollywood she aspired to be an actress but was put off by the sleazy nature of Hollywood. The expectations of beautiful young starlets to trade sexual favors for industry favors. When Angel met Buddy, she was at a low, having been mistreated by several men and eventually even a woman, Daphne, her landlord, who she had come to think of as a friend. Buddy is immediately captivated by her beauty and pursues her with determination. Angel is enamored with Buddy, although she remains resolute in her decision to wait until marriage to become physically intimate, so they get married.
Once married Angel no longer feels the need to pursue acting and dreams instead of being a good wife and mother to Buddy’s children. This dream appears to be coming true when she becomes pregnant with Buddy’s baby. However, Buddy struggles to find work as an actor, and he attempts to make money by returning to his seedy past. Angel eventually leaves Buddy, to return when he gets his act together, to stop doing drugs with his friends Randy and Shelly, and start being honest with her. During their separation, Shelly exacerbates the situation by deceiving both of them. Telling Buddy that Angel had an abortion and found a new partner while informing Angel that Buddy and Shelly have been together since she left. Clearly out of jealousy and a lust for Buddy.
Eventually, Buddy and Angel find their way back to each other. Buddy achieves his dreams of becoming a movie star and Angel gets to live her dreams as Buddy’s perfect wife, and a mother of a pair of twin boys.
Angel and Buddy are shining examples of “good heteronormative sex” as described by Gayle S. Rubin (1993, p. 13) a monogamous, married couple whose sex results in pregnancy. They are also shining examples of masculinity and femininity respectively. With Buddy Hudson being the dominant, leader and provider, and Angel being the beautiful demure, pure homemaker and mother.
Sadie LaSalle on the other hand is an aging spinster. The jilted former lover, and former agent of Ross Conti. She was responsible for Ross’s success, this was during a relationship between the two. When Ross left her for another woman and another agent. She could not bring herself to love another man again, devoting her life to her work. Eventually, becoming the most sought-after agent in Hollywood. However, she still loves Ross Conti and simultaneously wants him back, and wants revenge against him for how he hurt her.
After Ross Conti; Sadie no longer seeks sexual relationships with men, instead turning to women for sexual encounters.
“ Very occasionally she went to bed with a woman. Sex with another female was not a threat, more of a diversion. And Sadie called the shots. She liked that. ” (Collins, 1983 p. 346)
Sadie’s reasoning for going to bed with women mirrors Frappier-Mazur’s text (1988, p. 120) on portrayals of lesbian sex as a refusal of male dominance and an act of revenge against Ross Conti for leaving her.
“ Lesbianism and sterilization [is] the only possible rebellion and ‘revenge’ in a society that allows men to abandon women with impunity and will not give the heroine an active role in keeping with her gifts and education ” (Frappier-Mazur, 1988 p. 122)
It’s also relevant to remember that Ross Conti got Sadie LaSalle pregnant just before he left her, leaving Sadie to undergo a painful illegal abortion that didn’t take. And then gave birth to two boys that she gave up for adoption. With women, this would not be a concern.
Still, It’s worth considering how Sadie’s treatment of lesbian sex is treated with less weight than sex with a man, implying that Lesbian sex is less fulfilling than sex with a man (Frappier-Mazur, 1988, p. 117) or an option open to any woman (Heede, 2020 pp. 31-32) There arises a pattern in how the female queer characters are portrayed. Sadie LaSalle, Daphne, and the older couple Norma and Celeste.
None of these characters are portrayed as exclusively homosexual, with most of them indulging in sex with a man from time to time, if one compares this treatment to that of the male queer characters, most of whom are solely homosexual except the bisexual Ron Gordino.
Most of the significant encounters with Queer characters are through the lens of the model of “good sex” (Rubin, 1993, p. 13) in the story: Angel and Buddy Hudson. This makes the difference between how the queer characters, and how the heterosexual characters are portrayed all the more obvious.
A majority of the queer characters are portrayed as predatory, and depicted as manipulative, with each act of kindness revealed to be transactional or driven by ulterior motives. This is clear with characters like Daphne whose invitation to Angel for Hawaii quickly proves to be nothing more than a calculated attempt to get her into bed. Jason Swankle's offer of a lucrative gig of escorting two lonely women around town, with no strings attached, and a free stay at a beach house to Buddy is motivated by his desire to seduce him. It’s also revealed that Jason's 'innocent' job offer was a scheme to present Buddy to a lesbian couple seeking a threesome
The predatory nature of the queer characters is especially heinous with a character introduced in Buddy Hudson’s backstory. This gay man offered up cocaine to Buddy’s friend Tony at a party, when Buddy and Tony escaped home for some freedom, Buddy left the party early getting a bad feeling about the situation. Tony’s corpse was later found battered and sexually abused. The gay man is later revealed to be Wolfie Schweicker, a professional walker close to Bibi Sutton. By the end of the book Wolfie Schweicker is found murdered in his home, serving as his punishment for his evil deeds.
There are however two queer characters that are treated as good. That’s Koko, and his partner Adrien. These characters act as Angel Hudson’s support system once she separates from Buddy Hudson. They genuinely care for Angel without ulterior motives.
“ ‘For God’s sake. Don’t you go giving me lectures. I know. She’s old enough to look after herself but Adrien.’ his eyes misted over ‘How can I explain this. She's such a sweet person. I want her to stay with us so that we can protect her.’ ” (Collins, 1983 p. 559)
In the end, Koko and Adrien are still by Angel’s side and become her children's godfathers.
I feel that the difference between how Koko and Adrien are portrayed lies in the fact that they are a long-term monogamous couple who don’t act particularly sexually. This puts them at the margins of “Good sex” because as far as homosexuality goes, they are relatively heteronormative. (Rubin, 1993, p. 14)
Resources
Collins, J. (1983). Hollywood Wives. Simon and Schuster UK Ltd.
Frappier-Mazur, L. (1988). "Marginal Canons: Rewriting the Erotic." In The Politics of Tradition: Placing Women in French Literature (pp. 112-128). Yale University Press.
Heede, D. (2020). "Only a Bullet Through the Heart Can Stop a Lesbian Vampire: Emmy Carrell’s Novel Kan Mæn Undværes? (1921)." In Forbidden Literature: Case Studies on Censorship (pp. 27-40). Nordic Academic Press.
Johnsdotter, S. (2015). "Written Fantasies: A Case of Language-Induced Sexual Excitement." In M. Larsson (Ed.), Sexual Fantasies: At the Convergence of the Cultural and the Individual (pp. 37-55). Peter Lang Publishing Group.
Rubin, G. (1993). "Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality." In The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader (pp. 9-16). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2020
OK so I know I should be using lockdown to read lots of improving books. But sometimes a gal needs a bit of Jackie Collins to get her through.
Considering how old this is if feels surprisingly undated - but then I suppose I am pretty old too - a youngster may find this more dated.
But I love it. Fast paced, ridiculous and full of wonderful details about the absurdity of Hollywood.
Loved Ross and Elaine Conti and Buddy Hudson.
The women are kickass and the sex scenes are appropriately over the top. Was Silver Anderson based on Joan Collins, I wonder? (Silver is in Hollywood Husbands!)
The perfect escapism. Love it.
Considering how old this is if feels surprisingly undated - but then I suppose I am pretty old too - a youngster may find this more dated.
But I love it. Fast paced, ridiculous and full of wonderful details about the absurdity of Hollywood.
Loved Ross and Elaine Conti and Buddy Hudson.
The women are kickass and the sex scenes are appropriately over the top. Was Silver Anderson based on Joan Collins, I wonder? (Silver is in Hollywood Husbands!)
The perfect escapism. Love it.
January 19, 2024
Jackie Collins is a Feminist.
Perfectly trashy, scandalous and weird. I read it like a bucket of buttered popcorn. It was crack even when it was appallingly bad. It was better at mind numbing than the red wine I formerly worshipped. I was also surprised to find strength, ownership and resilience in many of the female characters. Most of the male characters were rightfully scum.
Perfectly trashy, scandalous and weird. I read it like a bucket of buttered popcorn. It was crack even when it was appallingly bad. It was better at mind numbing than the red wine I formerly worshipped. I was also surprised to find strength, ownership and resilience in many of the female characters. Most of the male characters were rightfully scum.
February 18, 2014
i got 3/4 through but it was so cheesy and dated. also i was getting stressed out about this party that one wife was throwing and i realized i hated her. and then i realized i hated all the characters.
February 23, 2021
Showbiz style gossip book. Who doesn't like a bit of Jackie Collins? Her books were huge in their day...which is no surprise, she has a style and it works.
I've read the sequel, Hollywood Husbands, which wasn't as good, but still worth reading, for pure escapism.
I've read the sequel, Hollywood Husbands, which wasn't as good, but still worth reading, for pure escapism.
July 27, 2022
I read this many years ago but remember it was pretty wicked but a really interesting book. It will keep you entertained.
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