Posted in
|
Glen David Gold
|
|
||
|
Genre
|
|||
|
Media
|
Book
|
||
Publisher | Sceptre | ||
ISBN | 978-034099849 | ||
|
Reviewer
|
Gareth
|
Synopsis
From the author of the acclaimed CARTER BEATS THE DEVIL comes a grand entertainment with the brilliantly realized figure of Charlie Chaplin at its centre: a novel at once cinematic and intimate, thrilling and darkly comic, which dramatizes the moment when American capitalism, a world at war, and the emerging mecca of Hollywood intersect to spawn an enduring culture of celebrity. SUNNYSIDE follows three overlapping fortunes: Leland Wheeler, son of the last (and worst) Wild West star, as he heads to the battlefields of France; snobbish Hugo Black, drafted to fight in Russia under the British general, Edmund Ironside; and Chaplin himself, contending with studio moguls, accusations of cowardice, his unchecked heart and, most menacing of all, his mother, as he pursues the goal of making a movie 'as good as he was'. With a cast of enthralling characters both historical and fictional, SUNNYSIDE is a heart-rending, spellbinding novel about dreams, ambition and the dawn of the modern age.
Review
I really enjoyed this book. Glenn David Gold has a wonderful turn of phrase and really manages to describe a forgotten age in our history. Reading Sunnyside made me realise how little I know of World War I - it was a real eye opener to know what conditions were like in Russia at that time. Being a film buff I loved reading about Charlie Chaplin and how the film studio United Artist's came into existence; it was also an insight into the character behind the "tramps" exterior.
This is a very entertaining read, the characters are indeed enthralling and the story is too - it's funny; poignant and moving - and you can't help but be swept up in its narrative. This is an excellent successor to Carter Beats The Devil and proves that Glenn Gold is a writer to watch out for!
If you enjoy what we provide, please consider making a donation.
