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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes | Anita Loos
The delirious 1925 Jazz-Age classic that no less an authority than Edith Wharton called "the great American novel." If any American fictional character of the twentieth century seems likely to be immortal, it is Lorelei Lee of Little Rock, Arkansas, the not-so-dumb blonde who knew that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Outrageous, charming, and unforgettable, she's been portrayed on stage and screen by Carol Channing and Marilyn Monroe and has become the archetype of the footloose, good-hearted gold digger, with an insatiable appetite for orchids, champagne, and precious stones. Here are her "diaries," created by Anita Loos in the Roaring Twenties, as Lorelei and her friend Dorothy barrel across Europe meeting everyone from the Prince of Wales to "Doctor Froyd"-and then back home again to marry a Main Line millionaire and become a movie star. In this delightfully droll and witty book, Lorelei Lee's wild antics, unique outlook, and imaginative way with language shine.
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review
merelybookish
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Pickpick

A perfect, short, lazy-day read. Set in the Jazz Age, Lorelei is a smart woman who believes in fate, fun, and diamonds. 🥂 💍💃 In her diary, she recounts adventures with her 'unrefined' friend Dorothy in NYC, London, Paris & Vienna, & the men they befriend along the way. You can't help but root for Lorelei & chuckle at Dorothy My #dramaqueen for #titlesandtunes. So glad I finally read it! @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

dabbe Hello there, sweet pup! 🖤🐾🖤 7mo
LeahBergen I like to think I‘m a believer in fate, fun and diamonds 🤣 7mo
batsy Great review! Fate, fun, and diamonds sounds like a life philosophy to admire 😆 7mo
See All 9 Comments
Centique @LeahBergen @batsy i might have to vary mine a little to fate, fun and chocolate. 😜 This sounds so good though! 7mo
BarbaraBB Sounds like a book for me too! And well chosen for the prompt! 7mo
merelybookish @LeahBergen @batsy @centique @BarbaraBB Definitely an inspiration! 😁 (She might be a bit of an opportunist too 😉). The book is fun, funny and biting. I think you'd all enjoy it! 7mo
merelybookish @dabbe Thank you! It's actually my sweet kitty cat. 🙂 yesterday our area was hit by Tropical Storm Lee, so we hunkered down in bed together. 7mo
Cinfhen Glad the challenge helped you get a book off your TBR as opposed to adding more books 😜 7mo
dabbe @merelybookish Yet another reason I need my eyes checked! 🤣 I thought it was like a husky mix! 🤩🤗😍 7mo
72 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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merelybookish
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I'm actually early this month for #titlesandtunes. 😮😀 This book has been sitting on my shelf for years and paired well with this classic 80s song by Kim Carnes. I guess #dramaqueen made me think of movies stars.
🎭👸🎥⭐
@Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

batsy Great pairing! Iconic song and I've not read the book, as well. Cool to see in the Litsy description that Edith Wharton seems to have loved it 🙂 8mo
merelybookish @batsy Thanks! There's a Backlisted episode about it which is what prompted me to buy it. (I won't listen till after I've read it.) 8mo
LeahBergen Oh, how I love this song! And yeah, this book has been sitting on my shelves for years, too. 😆 8mo
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Cinfhen Fabulous!!!! 8mo
BarbaraBB Brings back memories! 8mo
merelybookish @LeahBergen It's a great song! And feel free to join me. The book is actually pretty short. 👍 8mo
merelybookish @BarbaraBB Yes, I was still pretty young when it was a hit. 8mo
merelybookish @Cinfhen Thanks! Great prompt! 8mo
47 likes8 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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#OnThisDay in 1893 author and pioneering screenwriter Anita Loos was born. Best known for her novels Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes. Loos was the first female staff screenwriter in Hollywood, working under DW Griffith who called her "the world's most brilliant woman." Her sharp wit served her well when transitioning to "talkies", penning classics like The Women in 1939. #HistoryGetsLIT

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merelybookish
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My teetering stack for #bookspin. All from my shelves, many recycled from previous bookspins. Hoping to read mostly from my shelves this year. #Bookspin always helps with that!
@TheAromaofBooks

Lcsmcat Bless Me Ultima and Crow Lake are both wonderful ! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
merelybookish @Lcsmcat I hope to get to both soon!! 2y
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BiblioLitten I have Crow Lake planned next. 2y
merelybookish @BiblioLitten I look forward to hearing what you think! I hope to get to it soon. 2y
Centique Oh wow Bless Me Ultima and Women of Brewster Place were both top ten books for me the years I read them. And there are so many here that look really interesting. I am all agog to read your reviews 😍💕 (edited) 2y
79 likes6 comments
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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

This was a funny, lighthearted romp through the 20s. Just what I needed right now.

LeahBergen I have this waiting on my shelves and have been meaning to read it for years! 2y
Lcsmcat @LeahBergen It‘s frothy and fun. Not great Literature with a capital L, but it was perfect for me right now. 2y
45 likes1 stack add2 comments
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kera_11
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On the surface this is a silly book about a gold-digging flapper who is so beautiful men can‘t help but give her anything she wants (good for her) but it actually has some insight about politics, gender norms and class in the 1920s. Anyway, I thought it was funny and Anita Loos is an icon.

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keepingupwiththepenguins
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Pickpick

CONTROVERSIAL OPINION: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a way better book than The Great Gatsby. They're comparable, but Loos‘ effort is just so much better! I think this one is written off as a funny little story about a silly gold-digger, but scratch the surface and you‘ll find a compelling, hilarious account of gender roles, politics, and power in 1920s America. Full review: http://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/gentlemen-prefer-blondes-anita-loos/

ManyWordsLater How interesting! I‘d always written off this book as silly because I don‘t like the movie. Just goes to show, don‘t judge a book by its movie! (edited) 5y
LeahBergen I need to pluck this off my shelf and read it soon! 5y
CarolynM It's a great book🙂 5y
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keepingupwiththepenguins @ManyWordsLater Oh definitely - the book is much better! It's brilliant! ❤ 5y
keepingupwiththepenguins @LeahBergen Good idea! 😉 Would love to hear what you think!! 5y
merelybookish I agree with your controversial opinion! But I have always thought Gatsby was overrated. 😉 7mo
43 likes7 comments
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Reviewsbylola
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I bought this book a year ago for #pop18 and then ended up using a different book for the prompt it was for. Short and snappy though, this one sounds like a lot of fun!

#cabaret #musicalnewyear

CarolynM It's a fun read. Enjoy! 5y
JazzFeathers I bought it a few years ago. Haven't read it yet, but am very curious about it 5y
vivastory It sounds like a fun book! 5y
Mdargusch Sounds fun 👯‍♀️ 5y
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Ladygodiva7
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brennahawleycraig
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Hah! Oh Lorelei, you‘ve just insulted my Saturday plans!

rubyslippersreads I'm sure many of us would say, Blondes Prefer Books! 🙋🏼📚 6y
29 likes1 comment
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brennahawleycraig
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When your closest library is in a super small town and part of a chain of small-town libraries, sometimes book requests come back with ancient versions like this. The latest copyright up front legitimately says 1926! I‘m excited to read this because I love this movie.

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CuriousG
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So before I've even started the novel itself, I'm 100% in love with the author, Anita Loos. When her ___ of a husband loses his voice and his doctor says it can only be cured by her giving up her career (?!?!?), she manages to fake a surgery without him realising it's fake ...and it cures him! 😂😂😂 Well played Anita, well played.

DivineDiana What a story! Fierce woman! 😂💪🏻 7y
9 likes1 comment
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Endrilkay
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I needed something light and easy this week, and was having trouble getting into the run-on, punctuationless "Blindness," so switched up books! I love the illustrations, and the 20s era setting is fun.

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Minervasbutler
Pickpick


This 1925 classic has been on my tbr some day pile for years and I finally got round to it. It's as delightfully frothy fun as you'd expect. A bit dated, of course, and it consists of essentially one joke, but it still made me laugh out loud in places. I defy you not to hear Marilyn's breathy tones in your head as you read it.

Liatrek Love that movie! Will have to check out the book😊 7y
Minervasbutler @Liatrek Book and film are only loosely connected I think though it's been years since I saw the film. 7y
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Kateri
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He sent me a set of books by a gentleman called Mr.Conrad. They all seem to be about ocean travel. - Lorelei Lee

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rubyslippersreads
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I've never heard of the not-tagged book, but I love the cover! 👩🏼 #blondebombshell #characters2017

LibrarianRyan 👍🏻🤓 7y
LeahBergen I hadn't heard of it either! 7y
KerriNTurner Too cute! I love both covers! 7y
69 likes3 comments
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KerriNTurner
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#junebookbugs #allthesingleladies Books about ladies looking for love, excitement, and/or marriage.

LeahBergen 😍😍 7y
RealLifeReading Fun picks! 7y
20 likes2 comments
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LeahBergen
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I adore this cover. #ArtDeco #FeistyFeb

SharonGoforth ❤❤ 7y
CherylDeFranceschi Fabulous! 💕 7y
CrowCAH Awesome movie too, with Marilyn Monroe!!! 7y
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KerriNTurner Such a funny book, didn't realise there was a sequel though! And that cover is the best. 7y
LauraBeth I ❤ this cover 7y
MrBook 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
112 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Soscha
Pickpick

A short & sharp read that has the additional benefit of fulfilling my #52WeekChallenge & #PopsugarChallenge category "Book with an unreliable narrator.

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nemesis
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When I was looking for something fluffy and fun in my tbr I stumbled over Anita Loos' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and it is everything I had hoped for: funny, fast paced, short and full of 1920s magic!

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Hobbinol
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I am listing two characters with a #bestcharactername. Both characters were created in the 1920s. Once you've met Loos' Lorelei Lee, you never forget her! #booktober

LeahBergen I have this but haven't read it yet. 👍🏼 8y
Hobbinol @LeahBergen From the looks of that beautiful library, I imagine you have about 1 of everything🙂 8y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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elkeOriginal
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I don't usually buy #usedbooks but could not pass up these delightfully dramatic covers 🤗

#augustphotochallenge #day18 #usedbooks

LeahBergen ❤️❤️ 8y
SusanInTiburon They don't make em like that any more - except ironically. ❤️ 8y
31 likes2 comments
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MrBook
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A #VintageEdition post! @BookBabe and I came across this little prize over the weekend. Who knew? Even a lot of iconic classic movies owed their success to the traditional author 😊. This is from a 1926 edition! Vintage editions make one feel like one is time-traveling, I love it!

rubyslippersreads What an adorable illustration--I love this book (and movie)! 😀 8y
ramyasbookshelf Everything about the book is drool worthy - the font, the illustration, the paper.. How awesome! 8y
LeahBergen Love! ❤️ I have this one but it's only a paperback 😢 8y
See All 9 Comments
[DELETED] 3558467437 Oh! Cool find! 8y
quirkyreader You vintage addiction is a good thing. 🐸🐙 8y
MrBook @rubyslippersreads Ditto everything you said 😎👌🏻! @ramyasbookshelf Oh yeah, I opened it up and knew immediately that I had to have it 😊. @LeahBergen Aww. Try Amazon! @BookBabe finds some great #vintageeditions on there! @Currysunshine Thank you! Wasn't going to let this one pass me by 😊. @quirkyreader Lol, I hope so for all the investment being made 😂👍🏻! 8y
Autumn Anita Loos--so cool 8y
MrBook @Autumn Very! Just don't say "change" after saying her name, you'll get all kinds of icky smelly metal. Leaves a nasty smell on your hands, ya know? 8y
Autumn @MrBook 😆 8y
132 likes6 stack adds9 comments
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PurpleyPumpkin
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Pickpick

My 4th and last book for the #24in48 #readathon! It was a good way to finish, with a comical and entertaining read. Very much a story of its time, but still enjoyable today. 3/5⭐️

brendanmleonard I just watched the movie for the first time! Such fun! 8y
cathy6098 I love the book too and will bet not too many people know it is actually book first then movie!! 8y
PurpleyPumpkin @brendanmleonard I watched the movie many moons ago, but now that I've read the book, I'd like to see the movie again. Did you happen to see it on Netflix? 8y
PurpleyPumpkin @cathy6098 I'm sure you're right! I've heard the book is quite different from the movie. I'll have to watch it again soon. 📽 8y
23 likes1 stack add4 comments
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dogra
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Louise Brooks enjoying a good read.

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