In 1950s Hollywood, it seems that every other movie is a sword-and-sandal epic, often with Biblical stories at the center. At the moment, every actress wants to play Salome in the titular film, so many are shocked when an unknown Mexican immigrant named Vera lands the coveted role. But while drama unfolds onscreen, bigger issues unravel behind the scenes, with jealous rivals, overt racism and misogyny, and family drama.
I'll be completely honest: I didn't particularly enjoy this book. It was a decent look at the 1950s Hollywood, but the alternating chapters between real life and the movie were a bit awkward (as in, it wasn't clear that it was the movie and not a historical Salome being featured) and I found it hard to root for any of the characters. Read Nghi Vo's Siren Queen for a better book about old Hollywood.
*This book will be published Aug. 6, 2024.
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