Wow! I absolutely loved this book. The Historical Autobiographical Fiction genre appeals to me anyway, but add that with early 20th century Hollywood and I can't resist. This will be a big hit in a time when women in Hollywood are speaking out and making themselves heard in the workplace. This tells the story of how it all began from the viewpoint of real life actress and screenwriter, Mary Pickford and Frances Marion, two of the most respected women in their industry at the time. I had no idea the first acting studio was founded by a woman and the most prestigious award in acting, the Oscars, was also started by a woman! This was an enjoyable way to learn some of the lesser-known facts about Hollywood written by a phenomenal author. Kudos to Melanie Benjamin for making sure the story was thorough enough to be an autobiography, yet entertaining enough to be fiction!

While I really liked Francis and initially I was very intrigued by the premise, I eventually lost interest and found it hard to care about the characters. I'm not sure if it was the narrative structure or the movie details that threw me off but this book just didn't work, for me. I do think many others will enjoy the timeframe and details of the old-time world of movies

The Girls In the Picture is a sweeping story introducing the beginning of the movie industry and the making of stars n Hollywood. It then follows the business from silent movies to talkies, from young stars to aging stars. The author focuses on the movie star Mary Pickford, and the screenwriter/director Frances Marion. The story moves between the lives of these two and the strong connections between them even when jealousy and alcohol form a wedge. There is particular emphasis on the strength and struggles of women in the movie business. Women endured sexual harassment, unequal pay and lack of credit for their contributions, This is very relevant today since these issues continue to persist. The Girls In the Picture is very interesting, well written and engaging.

The Girls in the Picture is a timely book that many will be drawn to because of the current scandals in Hollywood, with Weinstein and others men. As in life and literature, there is nothing new under the sun.

My two favorite chapters were the first and the last. They were gripping! To see the degeneration of a friendship and the feelings the old women experienced in their own viewpoint. I found the first third of the book riveting. I liked learning about both Mary Pickford and Frances Marion. It was interesting to see how women could make their place in a new industry, when they couldn't have got a toe in the door in the established avenues of business. Both of these women fought hard for what they got. It was heartbreaking to see how the men with the money tried to break Mary and Fran by rejecting their female produced movie, Poor Little Rich Girl. What is even more heartbreaking is that too many women today play into the same role of allowing those with power (both men and women) define their business relationships. 

It was also interesting to see how Fran decided she needed to go and film women during WWI, compared to Mary who sold bonds with her fellow actors. Fran's relationship with her husband was refreshing, contrasting with the regular sleaze associated with Hollywood. Even in those first years of movie making, it has been a morally bankrupt industry - not holding any values sacred.

There appear to be two reasons for the flavor of Hollywood examined in this novel. One of the flaws associated with theater is money, the lack of money, doing anything to make money and not producing what you feel is right all in the effort to make money. The other flaw shown is the glass bowl mentality of self-importance. When Mary Pickford marries Douglas Fairbanks they are idealized by the nation and Europe. Their clothes are torn by excited fans, they are mobbed and have to escape with the aid of the police. How can life seem anything but humdrum when sitting at home with a cold and a bowl of chicken soup, when there are fans who are ready to accost you just to gain a glimpse or a touch of the glamour? This is the section of the book I found tedious. I couldn't relate to the intense desires of the fans to have a piece of Mary and I hated Mary and Doug's attitude. Even so, it is necessary to see the decline of Mary and Fran being close to each other.

I was fairly disgusted how Fran accepted the ill treatment from the men in power. She explains how she was harassed. At times, it was as simple as a comment about her looks, and other times the men felt they had the right to touch, grope or pinch her. What is wrong with women that their response is so polite? They ignore, try to transcend and know it is expected. Why do women allow themselves to be treated like objects? Isn't the appropriate response a slap across the face and a lawsuit? It made me crazy how Fran, the more reasonable of the two women, accepted the way men treated her because she worked in Hollywood.

I happen to know great men, who would never treat women in this way. As witnessed by the news, there are still plenty of pigs/men who feel it is their right to treat women as objects. The author certainly shows how some men feel entitled to any woman they associate with to satisfy their whims.

If I were to give out stars for my favorite parts it would have been 4 stars. The long section about Mary Pickford's decline into self-absorption drastically reduced my interest in the novel. It was still interesting, and even though there is immorality, abuse and the unsavory side of Hollywood, it is handled with a delicate hand and doesn't delve into all the sordid details. Overall, I liked the novel.

The Girls in the Picture tells two stories that intersect, the story of the lifelong though bumpy friendship between actress Mary Pickford and movie screenwriter Frances Marion, and the story of the birth of the movie industry, mostly the early years. The parts about making movies were the most interesting. Mary and Frances’ friendship was less involving, maybe because Mary came across as a user, insecure, and jealous, and by the end of the book, I didn’t much like Mary. The author kept stressing her poor, sad upbringing as if that was an excuse but she was still unlikable. I wondered if that was a true depiction of her deterioration at the end of her life or whether it was author’s discretion filling in blanks.

Based on the notes at the end of the book, this friendship was based in historical fact and it seemed to be well researched.

Recommended for: Cinemaphiles, early Hollywood devotees; Pickwick/Fairbanks fans

*ARC via netgalley*

I really enjoyed this one! It hit all the marks for me for good historical fiction: I learned something new, I was inspired to do some online research to learn more, the author gave some insight into what was fact and what was imagined, and not least important,the story was interesting!

This is a story of the friendship of Mary Pickford, the first ‘movie star’ and Frances Marion, an early Hollywood screenwriter, known as a ‘scenarist’ at that time. While I’d heard of Mary Pickford and her husband, Douglas Fairbanks, I knew very little about them, and I don’t think I’d ever heard of Frances Marion. The story of their friendship, with its ups and downs, was engaging, but I may have liked the glimpse into the early days of film-making even more! As the story started, ‘Hollywood’ was not even a thing, and movie making consisted of filming silent movies. Anyone with equipment could film a movie and call themselves a movie studio. It must have been similar to YouTube today! There were no movie stars, but merely interchangeable rosters of actors. Of course as we know, an industry evolved and changed, with major movie studios appearing complete with a stable of stars.

One thing that apparently has not changed from the early days is the way the power was held by men and the use of the ‘casting couch’. The Harry Weinstein story broke as I was in the middle of this novel, which made the novel and Mary’s role in early Hollywood seem all that much more relevant!

One thing I really appreciated about this book was that, while it was not a ‘can’t-put-it-down’ read for me, it was very engaging. I had to put it down for a couple of weeks at one point, simply because I had two reserves come in from the library that I had to finish for book clubs. Usually when I put a book aside it is very difficult for me to get into the book again, and I often have to go back to the beginning and start over. This time however, I picked the book up and it was as if those 2 weeks hadn’t happened. I had not trouble reconnecting with the story and the characters. While I don’t recommend setting it aside, the book is engaging enough that you will be able to read it and enjoy it is small pieces if necessary.

You can visit the author’s <a href=http://www.melaniebenjamin.com/girls-in-the-picture.php> webpage</a> to learn more. Be sure to ‘The World of the Girls in the Picture’ and the author had compiled for background information about the book! I’ve not found a discussion guide yet, but expect that one will appear soon.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review purposes.</i>

Its easy to forget that behind the “Entertainment Weekly” headlines live and love actual people with beating hearts and ever aging bodies and minds. “The Girls in the Picture” brings back to life the men and women who spanned the eras of silent movies and “talkies”. Starring Mary Pickford, and Frances Marion, this novel is a timely contribution to the #MeToo movement as Melanie Benjamin reminds us of the anti-woman history of the film industry.

Mary Pickford was a force of nature. She was smart, hardworking and knew when to play her cards right. She and Frances were great friends and each had a long and prosperous career, basically because of each other. Mary helped Frances get her start. Frances was an excellent screen writer which kept Mary in the movies, even when the flickers became the talkies.

I researched Mary and Frances both. These ladies helped change the movie business. I had never heard of Frances and knew very little about Mary. So this novel taught me so much. I loved reading about the “flickers” and about old Hollywood. Also, these two women over came so many obstacles in a man driven world. They were forces of nature!

Wow! I enjoyed this novel! I am on a roll for 2018. I did fluctuate between a 5 and a 4 star rating. Basically because this is a long read, longer than it should be. But the 5 star won out. The setting and the characters were just too good!

Terrific historical fiction tailor made for those who like to read the "back story" of famous women. There are any number of examinations of old Hollywood and Mary Pickford figures in many of them. How many of us know about Frances Marion? I didn't and I enjoyed learning not only about how she forged the way for women screenwriters, but also about her life. The book is told in alternating chapters between Frances and Marion, who are both at a turning point because of changes in the industry. Nicely written and wholly entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this if you are interested in Hollywood or just a good story.

I was drawn to this story based on the summary and the fact that I enjoyed two of Melanie Benjamin’s previous books. The Girls in the Picture is another good story. Right off the bat, Benjamin’s stage-setting for the future partnership between “America’s Sweetheart” Mary Pickford and renowned Academy Award winning screenwriter Frances Marion hooked me.

Despite early rejection of powerful men in the movie industry, the success of Marion and Pickford’s public screening of Poor Little Rich Girl put these savvy women on the map. The public stood up and cheered, the pragmatic women regained their confidence and forged ahead to make movies the way THEY wanted to. They became powerful forces to be reckoned with, trailblazing businesswomen in a young Hollywood who would go on to make significant contributions in the movie industry. I loved their portrayal by Benjamin. Their smarts, perseverance and vision shone. Their individual stories are enjoyable enough but together, its magic. I looked forward to each of their conversations and collaborations. What they accomplished in a male-dominated world was impressive and this is a story I will not soon forget. It has spurred me on to watch some of their old movies with my new perspective.

*will post to additional outlets (amazon, powells, b&n upon publication

Truly captivating from the beginning-loved knowing these women were real people. I felt their friendship and their heartbreak. As the story unfolds and we get to see them as individuals and we can see how their lives grow and powers shift. The years changed them but do people really change? Fabulous reading about early Hollywood.

Back in the days of silent films Mary Pickford’s name was on everyone’s lips. She was the quintessential embodiment of the words “movie star” even though most of her fame was gained by playing little girls when she was well into her mid-twenties and beyond.

THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE focuses on the relationship between Pickford and Frances Marion, a budding writer in the early days of film. Personally, I had never heard of Marion and was surprised to learn that she had won two Oscars for her screenwriting.

Covering the lives of these two ambitious women who sought to make their way in a budding new business controlled by men and constraints imposed by the era in which they lived.

The story of the bond between these Mary Pickford and Frances Marion and their often rocky relationship with each other (as well as the men in their lives) would, in itself, have been great fodder for a movie. For all of their personal short-comings these women were innovative and driven and author Melanie Benjamin has definitely done some exhaustive background research and has brought them (along with some of their contemporaries like Lillian Gish, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin, to name a few) to life on the page.

For those who love “old Hollywood” and are seeking a well written piece of historical fiction, this is the ticket.
4 1/2 stars

Mary Pickford and Frances Marion helped build the foundation of the movie industry, or Hollywood, as referred to today. Melanie Benjamin explores their friendship and intertwining careers in this lush historical fiction, speculating on each women’s hidden agenda, demonstrating their jealousies and joys. Mary Pickford was the darling of silent movies and Frances Marion a lauded screenwriter of the era, navigating a perilous pathway through a man’s world. By alternating viewpoints of these icons, Benjamin has provided insight into their characters and woven a wonderfully complex vision of their complicated friendship. Pickford feels she must maintain her veneer of innocent waif, and Marion carefully balances her relationship with Pickford with the need to advance her own career. As the two evolve away from each other professionally, they remind themselves of obligations bestowed upon them by the other’s influence and talent. Benjamin leads the reader through Mary’s agonizing decision to leave her husband for her “true love,” and along with Frances into the Great War, where she meets her fourth and last husband. There’s a softness to the portrayal of Mary’s descent into alcoholism, and the ending displays the inherent kindness of her lifelong friend.

This fictionalized version of the friendship of two of Hollywood’s most influential females offers much more than salacious speculation and name dropping—many famous individuals are mentioned based on their relevance to the story. Rather, it depicts the nuances, unspoken feelings, and misunderstandings of the relationship between two strong, independent women who are very different individuals with a similar goal of making it in an industry run by men.

I’m grateful to have received an advanced digital copy of this wonderful story from NetGalley.

I posted this to my blog January 11, and I will share the link on my Facebook and Twitter.

This wasn't my favorite Melanie Benjamin novel but I did enjoy reading about the lives of 2 women that I had limited knowledge on.

Melanie Benjamin has a knack for selecting historical subjects who are fascinating. Always pioneering in some fashion, their exploits should make for great reading. Having read three of her novels now, I have determined that something happens to her subjects between research and pen. They lose their dynamism. Someone who should be fascinating becomes tedious in a way that borders on cartoonish. This results in stories that are not only disappointing, they are difficult to finish.

In her latest novel, Ms. Benjamin tackles the movie industry and the very first industry stars. Anyone with any interest in the history of movies will know that Mary Pickford was THE queen of Hollywood during the silent film era. Her unprecedented stardom and power within the industry remains the stuff of legends. In addition to Mary, The Girls in the Picture shines the spotlight on another female Hollywood pioneer, screenwriter Frances Marion. Two women of power when women in general did not have much of anything to call their own and a fledgling industry the likes of which no one has ever seen should be enough to make for a most compelling drama. Unfortunately, it is not.

My problem with the novel is the portrayal of Mary. To gain that much authority over her films and her career, she had to have been a fiercely independent and strong woman. After all, she was rising in popularity during a time when most of the country felt women were better off at home taking care of their husbands rather than having any sort of career. Plus, even now women have to battle against the male sense of superiority, that they know better than any woman. Ms. Benjamin even mentions the infamous casting couch and how any woman in Hollywood could only advance their career by paying a visit to a couch or two. Yet the Mary we see in the book is not strong nor is she independent. She is so very weak and heavily dependent on first her mother, then Frances, and finally her second husband. She may be canny about her movies, but Ms. Benjamin describes it more like an anomaly than a character trait. The Mary in the novel is childish, flippant, whiny, and, frankly, really annoying. She is not a pleasant character to follow, and she garners very little sympathy for her decline in popularity.

Frances is a more interesting character and one of the better parts of the novel. She embraces her independence and unique position as one of the top screenwriters in Hollywood. She lives her life how she wants to live it and cares not one whit what others think of her. Her rise in fame and power are fun to watch, especially as she does earn your sympathy not only with her scorn of men's dominance but also with her efforts to learn more about the world at large rather than just remain within the unique microcosm that is Hollywood. The portions of the novel in which Frances tells her story are the best parts.

The unfortunate part of The Girls in the Picture is that it is a character-driven story. It is the story of Mary and Frances and how they conquered Hollywood in their respective areas. There are some fascinating glimpses into early film-making and the rapidity with which they were able to churn out silent films, but those scenes sadly grow fewer in number as the ladies' fame rises. Instead, we are left to watch Mary, who was always weak, turn into an adult child as she grows older. Not even Frances' continued charm is enough to offset the annoyance you feel at Mary's petulant ways. In the end, The Girls in the Picture sounds better in theory than in execution, which is the most disappointing thing of all.

QuickShot Review
I liked this. It’s an interesting behind the scenes look at the early days of Hollywood. I think the only reason I wouldn’t rate it higher is that it was much more of a casual read for me, something to fill time between other books. I found it bit too easy to put down, and I wanted more of a connection to either female lead and I didn’t really feel it. But, if you’re a big fan of Hollywood and historical fiction, you may enjoy this.

**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**

I love good historical fiction and when it is about early Hollywood, I love it even more! The Girls in the Picture is the story of the relationship between Mary Pickford and Francis Marion. It really delves into the ins and outs of female friendship - all of the good and the bad. The loyalty, love and support and the betrayals.

But it is much more than just their friendship. Centered around this friendship is the development of Hollywood and films. From silent films, to “flickers” to the huge force that Hollywood became. It touches on the way females were treated in early Hollywood, which with everything that is going on today, still has the rings of truth.

Everything about this novel works. From the feel of the friendship between Mary and Francis, the ebb and flow of it, to the details on the early development of Hollywood. My judge of good historical fiction novel is that it makes me want to learn more, and this did. I want to read more about Mary Pickford, about the early days of Hollywood.

I received an ARC of this book.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

Mary Pickford started as a silent "flicker" actress and continued acting when "talkers" were introduced. She made her stardom as portraying the "little girl with the curls." One day early in her career a young woman from San Francisco, Marion Frances, entered her acting trailer and life for both changed drastically. Marion wanted to be behind the camera and Mary wanted to be in front. This allowed Marion to write the screenplays that Mary could act in. We follow their lives as they intertwine and separate over the years of 1914 to 1969.

I was very excited to get an advanced copy to read as I did not know much about Mary Pickford, other than she was an actress and I had never heard of Marion Frances (who I think was the real star of the two). While I think this book is very interesting, it has many parts that just seemed to lack excitement and drug on for way too long. I would be reading and really into it and then I would hit a section that I had to force myself to get through. This is my main reason for a 3.5 rating and not a 4.

It is extremely interesting that there is a section that Marion talks about the sexual harassment she experienced in Hollywood and while she was a correspondent during World War One. With the movement going on the last couple of weeks regarding sexual harassment I find myself believing that Marion would have been one of the first to speak out in favor of equality and women telling their stories.

If you are an avid Hollywood fan and want to learn about how it got started this is a great historical fiction based on real people. Ms. Benjamin did an excellent job researching each character and keeping as much as she could true to fact.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for a review in my own honest words.

I'm a big fan of books set in the early days of Hollywood, so Melanie Benjamin's The Girls In the Picture seemed like the perfect book for me to review. It's the story of the friendship between two of Hollywood's first leading ladies, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Frances Marion isn't interested in becoming an actress, but she's still eager to leave her mark on the movie business. To this end, she contrives a meeting with America's Sweetheart - Mary Pickford. Mary has taken America by storm, delighting audiences with her golden curls, bright smile, and indomitable spirit, and Frances is sure Mary is just the person to provide her entry into the secret echelons of Hollywood.

From the moment Mary lays eyes on Frances, she is struck by the other woman's confidence and poise. She thinks Frances would do wonderfully as an actress, but Frances swears up and down that's not what she's looking to do. She explains to Mary that she'd actually love to write the scenes the actors and actresses act out, and she expresses a special interest in writing scenes for Mary. Mary is delighted by this idea, and immediately pulls strings to get Frances hired on as a scenarist.

As time goes by, Frances and Mary become intimate friends as well as colleagues. Frances is eager to help Mary experience the childhood of which she was robbed by Hollywood, and Mary wants to teach Frances the ins and outs of Hollywood life. They're bonded by their mutual desire to make names for themselves in the male-dominated film industry, and as the years pass, their friendship will be tested by struggles and triumphs both personal and professional.

The story is told in alternating chapters from both Mary's and Frances's point of view, giving readers a bird's-eye view into the lives of these two strong, independent women. Mary and her husband, esteemed actor Douglas Fairbanks, start a movie studio of their own, making Mary the first woman ever to hold such power in Hollywood. For her part, Frances fights her way to the top of her field as a screenwriter at a time when women's contributions were constantly underestimated and belittled.

As I read, I found myself struck by the amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this book. The author’s attention to detail is to be applauded. She manages to breathe life into her characters, as well as to Hollywood itself, making me feel as though I'd traveled back in time. I love novels that evoke this feeling, but not many actually manage to pull it off.

I found it difficult to warm up to Mary, though. She was tenacious in an era when women weren't supposed to be, and while that is an admirable quality as it relates to her career, I found it less admirable in her personal life. She valued her acting career above all else, including those she claimed to care for, and never hesitated to stomp on the interests of others if she thought it could get her what she wanted. Even Frances, who was supposed to be her very best friend, was not immune to this treatment, and I often found myself wishing Frances would kick Mary to the curb for her bad behavior.

Frances, on the other hand, was a true joy to get to know. She worked hard for her success, but never comes off as selfish or thoughtless. I loved watching her rise from her humble beginnings and become a true powerhouse while not sacrificing her personal values. She manages to marry and have a family without having to give up her career, even though many of her business associates expected her to fade into obscurity once her children were born. In short, she's exactly the sort of heroine I'm delighted to roor for.

This is a novel that unflinchingly explores the complexities of female friendship. The relationship between Frances and Mary goes through a number of changes over the years, but is still strong and vibrant at the novel's end. Anyone who has had a close female friend can probably relate to the jealousies, insecurities, shared joys, and boundless loyalty shared by our heroines. True, Mary doesn't always treat Frances well, but underneath it all lurks a deep love and unwavering regard that nothing can alter. There's a scene near the end of the book that had me in tears, so powerful and visceral were the emotions shared by Mary and Frances.

The Girls In the Picture is a novel I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong heroines who lead unconventional lives. It's entertaining, thought-provoking, and just plain fun to read.

Buy it at: A/BN/iB/K

received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for a free review. I adored this book’s historical elements, but at the heart it is truly a novel of female friendship and the difficulties that those friendships face pioneering in competitive professional field. Especially poignant today given the societal changes in Hollywood, I really enjoyed learning about its beginnings with Mary and Frances’ lives at the forefront.