Seemed kind of trite and by the numbers. I didn't think any of the characters were likeable.

The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin is a 2018 Delacorte Press publication.

I love tales from old Hollywood- the silent pictures, the scandals, the innovations and vision that are felt throughout the industry to this day.

This story zeroes in on the tumultuous friendship between movie star Mary Pickford and screenwriter, Frances Marion.

I loved the way Benjamin gives Frances such a real and believable voice as she regales us with the beginning days of ‘flickers’ and the way her friendship with Pickford developed, flourished, was tested, then faded, but through good and bad times, was never broken.

The portrait of both Pickford and Marion is vivid, as is the way the movie industry got off the ground and how Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charles Chaplin became the first big movie stars. The story captures that exciting atmosphere, but also gives the reader a look at the issues facing women in the industry, which, although this is a piece of historical fiction, makes this a timely topic, all the same.

The struggles Marion and Pickford faced helped pave the way for women in the industry, and will sound all too familiar as women continue to grapple with the same power imbalances, harassment, and the pressure to make concessions on the way to success.

Pickford is a sad figure, stereotyped, with her fans refusing to allow her to ever grow up. She’s often shallow, self- absorbed, and jealous, while Marion is the pragmatist, often giving in to whatever Pickford wanted.

This is an interesting approach to Marion and Pickford’s long friendship. Although the pacing is just a tiny bit uneven at times, I think Benjamin pulls it off beautifully.

Naturally, anytime I read a work of fiction, based on real people, it always makes me wonder what was real and what was fiction, and of course I always want to read more on the subject or person. The author provides the reader with a few reading suggestions, so I will certainly want to take her advice to learn more about the silent film era, and look at both Marion and Pickford a little closer.

I’ve said this about Melanie Benjamin before, but I think it bears repeating. She certainly does have a knack for writing historical fiction. I’m always impressed with the way she takes well known figures from the past, and gives them a voice that seems so utterly real, I keep having to remind myself that it is a work of fiction.

Overall, this is an interesting, fascinating, and incredibly absorbing look at the silent film era, and two of the most influential ladies of their time.

4.5

Melanie Benjamin's "The Girls in the Picture" recounts the real life friendship of early Hollywood royalty, Mary Pickford and Frances Marion. Mary is a silent film star on the rise when she becomes friends with Frances who is looking to break into writing and stumbles into the film world. Together they create some of Hollywood earliest blockbusters while breaking through the sexiest attitudes of early studios. The novel focuses both on their careers and personal lives and loves. As their careers soar with Academy Awards and box office stardom their tight bond begins to crack as their trajectories take very different paths. I am a huge film fan and learned a lot about these talented women who made in roads for future women in the entertainment business. As with her previous works, Benjamin's depiction of these true characters is captivating, complex and entertaining.

I am conflicted about The Girls in the Picture. I am a huge fan of Mary Pickford and learned significantly more about her in The Girls in the Picture, and I knew virtually nothing about Frances Marion so I enjoyed the details about her. However, I felt the book was overly long and drawn out, and as I was reading I wished it had ended earlier in the women’s lives. In the Author’s Note, Benjamin explains how much she glosses over in the later years and that left me with the same feeling again - I wish she had ended the book years before she did.

The Girls in the Picture did encourage me to find many clips of Pickford in her heyday, and I spent hours watching her various “movies”. One of the most interesting things I learned was how short the early “movies” were – many were under twenty minutes. Pickford and Marion were far ahead of their time, and it is fabulous to see their stories told. I received this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I love good historical fiction, but usually I know a little something about the characters before I read the book. In this case I'm a little too young to have known anything about Mary Pickford, other than the Douglas Fairbanks marriage and "Pickfair," their home. I knew absolutely nothing about the other character, Frances Marion, a screenwriter. The author alternated back and forth between the 2 women, as well as the timeframe, past and "present." This is a difficult task, and she did it seamlessly. I had no problems keeping up with the plot or where we were in their lives. I also found out about some silent screen stars, including Charlie Chaplin, that I knew nothing about. I also learned a lot about historic Los Angeles and the art involved in the silent films in the infancy of the industry. All so fascinating. I highly recommend this book.

“A story that began with two women—once girls. One golden-haired, one with raven locks. Standing next to each other on a porch, gazing up at a night full of stars.”

I fell in love with Benjamin’s work when I read The Aviator's Wife a few years ago. She does a great job at taking a perhaps forgotten woman (or women) and bringing them back to life. I had never heard of Frances Marion or Mary Pickford prior to reading this, but now I feel a connection to these two trailblazers of the film industry.

The Girls in the Picture is a quieter, slower novel than those I normally read, but it delves deep into its characters’ developments and lives. Their emotions and thoughts are brought to life through Benjamin’s skilled writing. I enjoyed learning about an area of history I knew so little of, which is something I always look forward to in my historical fiction.

The Girls in the Picture
Melanie Benjamin
Delecorte Press (PRH)
Publication Date: January 16, 2018

Mary Pickford, America’s Sweetheart and Screenwriter Frances Marion were two of the biggest names in the early age of Hollywood. Queens of the Silent Film Era and Best friends. The Girls in the Picture is a Historical Fiction book about Mary and Fran’s friendship. As with all friendships there are ebbs and flows, people fall in love, grow apart; life goes on and scandals occur. This book is their story.

Author Melanie Benjamin creates a world that exudes early Hollywood, when it was Hollywoodland and the scandal you created by becoming a “Flicker Film” star was as looked down upon in those days as if you were a dirty poor person or Jewish. Film was a filthy matter; theater people just didn’t do it. “Little Mary” Pickford broke that view point.

What we think of modern Hollywood and the lack of female respect resided back in the early days too. Men thought women should be home raising their families, didn’t listen to women’s opinions on their own ways of creating their characters portrayals, then along came Mary Pickford and Frances Marion and that started to change. This book shows the smarts of the two main characters, the progressive steps they were willing to take, although unflinching from their rights to be woman and not be sexual objects. Neither went to the “casting couch” so to say, they did things their way.

I appreciate the relationship that Mary and Frances had with each other and grew frustrated sometimes knowing that Mary would always envision Fran as someone who catered to her, the Queen of Hollywood. However, that is how friendships are, there is a give and take, an understanding that someone might always be the one that is “more” than the other and this book doesn’t shirk that reality.

The Characters, as they are real breathing historical people are full of depth and Ms. Benjamin doesn’t destroy their characters as I have seen in some historical based fiction does. I applause Ms. Benjamin for “keeping it real.”

I could talk about this book for days, it was such a great read. Yet, I don’t want to ruin it for you so, I won’t divulge anymore “dets” about the story premise it self.

I enjoyed getting to know Mary Pickford and Frances Marion, especially Frances Marion, whom I don’t feel we hear enough about, and her success as the first female and Academy Award winning Screenwriter. They are woman to talk about, look up to (film wise) and teach our own daughters about. Is their story tragic, absolutely, does that matter? Not at all. You want to cheer for these women ever rooting for them until the end, that to me, is what to me this story is about.

I would recommend this book to ALL readers as it is free of sex, swearing and innuendo unlike a lot of historical fiction that I have read of late. I am pleased that Ms. Benjamin didn’t take that route.

You can buy The Girls in the Picture from your local Indie bookstore, the way I get my books, or you can buy it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

I received The Girls in the Picture from Delacorte Press via Netgalley in lieu of my honest review. This is that review.

I was a huge fan of The Swans of Fifth Avenue particularly because of the way Melanie Benjamin used facts to weave an intriguing and compelling story. Here, in this novel about the friendship between two women, both titans in the budding film industry, Benjamin manages to pull it off again. While the dialogue was a bit stilted in places, the characters were real and honest. I learned so much about the rise of movies, the evolution of the industry, and the figures who influenced it.

I thought it was an interesting choice of Benjamin's to tell Fran's story from first person and Mary's from third person limited. It underscores Mary's image as forever a performer, someone who was never able to be herself or to feel understood. Meanwhile, Fran's strong narration mirrors the strength and fearlessness in her own life with which she cemented her role as a force in Hollywood.

This book will appeal to fans of The Paris Wife, Rules of Civility, and of course, The Swans of Fifth Avenue.

I’m not going to spend much time reviewing this book. I truly disliked this book. I did not find any of the characters interesting or appealing. Nor did I find the story interesting . It just wasn’t my type of book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love a good historical fiction. I really do, especially when the author is able to combine fact and fiction in such a way that you can't put the book down because it's just that good. I was vaguely familiar with the main characters in this book but only because of a film appreciation class in college. I knew the names but not the amazing legacy and drive these women possessed. Mary Pickford was the highest paid actress of her time not to mention she also worked behind the scenes and had great business acumen. She was known as "America's Sweetheart" which annoyed her because she wanted to be known as more than a pretty face. She went on to befriend Frances Marion who was also a lady well ahead of her time. Frances was one of the first female screenwriters and her and Mary broke all kinds of stereotypes. Frances wrote over 100 scripts and even won 2 Academy Awards. Mary was one of the original founders of the United Artists film company and of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Unfortunately, we still have so far to go in honoring and recognizing female talent in the film industry. This is such a great read about 2 very talented women.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

DNF @ 23%

As Kenny Rogers famously sang, "You got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run."

This book seemed like something that should have been right up by alley (two strong women making their way in the early days of Hollywood -- sign me up!), but it was just such a slog to read. It felt like I had been reading for at least 30 mins, but I'd only covered a page or two. The siren song of my mountainous TBR is calling, so I'm calling it quits on this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a galley in exchange for an honest review.

3.8 - rather enjoyable from the historical novel perspective, but it seemed overly dramatic in parts (without any basis on historical fact)

I was captivated by this story, The story of Mary Pickford and Francis Marion. This is historical fiction and I can't wait to look deeper into the work of these two great women. In a world that still marks the accomplishments of men while forgetting to acknowledge women, this novel speaks of the 2 women who were key players in the revolution of Cinema. I never really thought of how movies originated: those original Flickers as they were known, then came the talkies and look at where we are today. This was a welcome heartwarming look at the birth of Hollywood.
However this book also speaks to friendship and how peoples lives affect each other. The impact Mary and Fran had on each others lives and careers lasted their lifetime. This was truly a story that I am very glad to have read.
Thank you to Melanie Benjamin for this novel.

I received this novel as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed this historical novel about two famous Hollywood legends, actress Mary Pickford and screenwriter Frances Marion. I learned a lot about the movie industry in the early 1900’s and how women were so poorly treated , disrespected and compensated for the work they did. This story follows Mary and Frances through their many spouses , jobs and ups and downs in the movie business. I learned a lot about the rise and fall of Hollywood ‘s leading lady and America’s little sweetheart. The main characters including Mary, Frances and Douglas Fairbanks were very well depicted and interesting. I now have a better appreciation and understanding for the silent films and the transition to more modern movies .

Glamorous and dazzling! I really loved The Girls in the Picture. Telling the true story of Mary Pickford, the first movie star, and Frances Marion, a scenarist in early Hollywood, The Girls in the Picture sucked me in from the first page. Set in early Hollywood, Mary Pickford is a silent film star, when she meets Frances Marion, a woman determined to make it in the pictures. They become fast friends, and I loved reading about their friendship. It was very refreshing to read a book where the focus was on female friendships, and not on their love lives.
There is a bit of romance here, as Mary falls hard for Douglas Fairbanks, and Frances finds love as well, but there is so much more to these ladies than the men in their lives. The battle against gender stereotypes falls into play in this book, as Mary is a successful businesswoman, as well as one of the very first Hollywood celebrities and tries to fight the conventions of the time. Frances also directs movies and stands up to the men running Hollywood.
I found the historical tidbits about movies and Hollywood absolutely fascinating. The Girls in the Picture was a book that I kept thinking about when I wasn’t reading it, and was one that I tried to read any moment that I could. I loved reading about Mary’s acting techniques and tricks, and her determination to succeed. I loved reading about Frances’s struggles to break into the business and was fascinated about how Hollywood helped fund the American WWI effort and the rise of Hollywood’s popularity and the transition from silent films to talkies. If you are interested in movie history or celebrity history at all, you need to read this book! It was unlike anything else I’ve read, and I absolutely loved it. You’ll root for Mary and Frances to be successful in the world of men, and while it feels a tad heavy-handed at times, I was fascinated and drawn into the glamorous world of Hollywood.
Bottom Line: A fabulous, fascinating account of Old Hollywood! I loved it!

I'm going to make a pledge right now to read everything that Melanie Benjamin writes! I have tremendously enjoyed each of her books that I have read and The Girls in the Picture is no exception. She absolutely excels in character-driven novels; with each character painted so clearly and attentively that by the end of the book I could swear I know them personally.

It is immediately obvious that Ms. Benjamin did extensive research for this book. Spanning the years 1914 to 1969, The Girls in the Picture is about Mary Pickford, a famous actress, and Frances Marion, a famous screen-writer and director. Mary and Frances tell their stories in alternating chapters.

This book is fascinating in so many ways; it tells us what it was like in the early years of Hollywood, and how it changed over the years. But it is primarily about the friendship Mary and Frances shared. Best friends, it is intriguing to see how their complicated relationship ebbed and flowed over the years as they dealt with their individual successes, failures, and relationships with men. Their friendship alternated between joyful, hurtful, competitive, supportive, envy, pity, admiration, and disdain, but they always thought the other would be there for them when needed.

These were very powerful women at a time in our history, and in a field, where women were considered trivial. Each dared to dream, and to follow that dream, come what may. They were especially adamant that no man would deter them from reaching their goals. A man wanting a relationship with Mary or Frances would have to fit into her life - not the other way around. Each was quite astute at business and ahead of their time in terms of far-reaching thinking. Each rose to fame in her arena, and was the highest paid or one of the highest paid in her field. "Watching" how they handled themselves, changing the industry and beating the good-old-boys at their own game was delicious!

I have heard of Mary Pickford, but not of Frances Marion. Now, both women have my utmost respect. They were each trailblazers for all the girls and women to follow.

I highly recommend (5 stars from me!) this engaging, intriguing, educational and fun read! I can't wait to see what Melanie Benjamin tackles next!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Delacorte for allowing me to read an e-copy of this fabulous book. All opinions expressed within this review are strictly my own.

Mary Pickford, known as the queen of movies, and the actual first “movie star” and Frances Marion, the top and highest paid screen writer of her time. Together, best friends and business partners, these two women created and took this new town called Hollywood by storm. From vaudeville and silent movies, Charlie Chaplin and the first Western - incredible author Melanie Benjamin takes us through the lives of these beautiful, smart, talented and strong women. Amazing how nothing has changed! 100 years ago the casting couch was full of action and a handful of brilliant but brutal men ran the business and the studios. Mary and Frances become so famous and successful they were able to call the shots and direct their own movies and careers. A backstory of tough childhoods, difficult marriages, and two world wars this heartfelt story is brought to life. Loved learning about the beginning of movies that have shaped the entertainment world as we know it today and these wonderful women who paved the way. Another fabulous work of historical fiction that you do not want to miss!

All I know about Mary Pickford came from Granny Clampett in “The Beverly Hillbillies” and all Granny ever said was how much she liked Mary and how Mary was ‘one of them.’ Or something like that. It’s been awhile since I watched that particular old show, though I do love it.

Combining an affection for Granny Clampett and a love of historical fiction, I jumped at the chance to get an ARC of Melanie Benjamin’s novel about Mary Pickford and famed early Hollywood screenwriter Frances Marion, who I had never heard of.

Though I finished the book, my trust in Granny was slightly misguided.

I’ve never been particularly fond of novels about Real People. I haven’t read many because I’m not overly fond of the idea of them. Is it really a biography if it’s largely made up? No. And should a ‘fictional biography’ even be a thing? Not if you ask me. Not before I read THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE and, to be honest, not after reading it.

It took me too long to realize that Fran’s parts of the book are written in first person and Mary’s are third person. At first, I liked it. Then I didn’t like it so much. I’m not sure I understand Benjamin’s purpose with the dueling narratives. Is it because Mary is the Film Star and Frances is the one behind the scenes? That’s what it seems like and, for a story meant to be about an equal friendship, it doesn’t seem quite right.

My general problem with historical biographies and novels about real people is how much is made up. It can be done well. Or it can be done not quite right. This book falls more in line with not quite right. Things go too easily for Mary and Fran, even when they’re going badly. Everything is colored with old Hollywood glamour and it makes things almost too… Hollywood. Like, their life reads like a script that will have a happily-ever-after because that’s what the audience demands.

That’s not real life.

Even when Frances goes to Europe during World War I as a filmmaker, and sees the aftermath of Verdun, it’s through the lens of ‘filmmaker’ and that takes something from the realness of the war.

It is, however, a good look at the fabled Old Hollywood of entertainment history. It sent me to Wikipedia to research the actors and directors and, to be honest, that was almost more interesting at times than the book.

One thought that stuck with me as I read the book was a question about the source material Benjamin used.

Were there articles written about Mary and Fran? Did they write autobiographies or even leave journals detailing their friendship? Did some other witness to their friendship leave stories behind? The answer to all that seems to be maybe. It is, according to Benjamin’s afterward. She even admits that fights she created between the women were created solely based on the fact that Mary Pickford and Frances Marion didn’t work together again after one particular movie.

So what, I wonder makes this better than writing biographies about two of the most powerful women in early Hollywood? Possibly, probably it’s just that I shouldn’t read these types of books.

That being said, I did read it and I did, for the most part, enjoy my time reading it. If you like historical biographies and old Hollywood, this is the book for you.

(I received a copy of THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE through NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest and original review. All thoughts are my own.)

Girls captures the enthusiasm of the early “flickers,” when Pickford wrote her own scenes, did her makeup, acted and edited the finished product, then twisted her hair into her trademark curls at bedtime.

Old Hollywood, early stars, the 'flickers'. This is a well written, easy to read story of female friendship, love, victories and heartbreak. Name dropping is essential here for the two ladies were in the core of the Hollywood glamour. This is one for movie buffs, but it also is one for feminists.

I really enjoyed this book. I found the subject fascinating and the characters were memorable. It kept me turning pages--it's a story I won't soon forget. Thank you so much, NetGalley, for introducing me to this author!