DREAMS ARE NOT ENOUGH

by Jacqueline Briskin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 12, 1986

Briskin's pop biggies (Too Much Too Soon, 1985, etc.) may not have quite as much sateen finish as her heaviest competitors'; however, her cat's-cradle plots are tops in tight weave and tidiness. Here, Briskin interlinks the fortunes of a Monroe-type film star and a quintet of Hollywood-based cousins who do her dirty. At the start, a retired and reclusive Alyssia Del Mar, who'd sizzled on the screen six years before, has assembled a meeting of cousins by marriage, who arrive growling hateful accusations. Fade to flashbacks, then, and the story of how Alyssia, nee plain Alice Hollister, sprout of a migrant worker, married weak Barry Cordiner, son of powerful Desmond, head of Magnum Pictures. Three Cordiner cousins rally round: agent-to-be P.D.; producer-in-the-pod Maxim; and soon-to-be-starring-director Hap. Desmond draws Alyssia into a flick career--after Wring to buy her off. Eventually, the male cousins convene for the breakthrough picture that makes Alyssia a star. But there are real troubles ahead: Barry's a pill, and Hap becomes Alyssia's lover; one cousin attempts to rape and kill, while another brings in Mob money and a well-dressed killer named Lang. One way or another, Alyssia bails out the family, only to lose Hap to Lang in an African jungle. Rejection, defamation, rape, scares aplenty, grief--Alyssia's had it all--but there's a hap-hap-happy day aborning. A Touch and Glo pack of off-lot Hollywood familial gossip, and again Briskin's latest will circulate briskly.

Pub Date: Feb. 12, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION