Valley of the Dolls

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

Jaqueline Susann tells the story of three women in the entertainment industry in the 20 years following World War II. Each struggles in her own way with the demands of working in a field where beauty and talent are the keys to admission, but where cut-throat competition and ruthless self-promotion are the path to success. The "Dolls" of the title is a term Susann coined for the pills like Seconal and Benzedrine that are used, and then abused, to deal with the pressures of objectification in the industry and deteriorating personal relationships. While the book was shocking when first published, the sex is tame by modern standards. Yet the story has aged well and is still a fast-paced and enjoyable read today.