I just found out that Shirley Conran, author of contemporary literature's greatest piece of trash, died May 9, at the age of 91. I had no idea she was so up there. The cause of death was pneumonia, not surprising, but the legacy she leaves behind is.
"Lace" was trash; no more, no less. When it became a miniseries, and cast that bitch Beth Armstrong, I just knew she was the nasty mother who gave up the baby and put that child through hell.
I also tell readers that, just for the experience, they should read one, genuine piece of trash during their lives. Once "Peyton Place" and "Valley Of The Dolls," were designated as such, but over time they have evolved into literary icons that are sometimes taught in college classrooms. Who could have known?
When I am asked what the greatest piece of trash written is, I immediately say, "Lace."
It has everything--a mean girls school pact, greed, revenge, the world of fashion and design, and the revelation of the book's biggest bitch of all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alas, Shirley is gone, and already two weeks! May "Lace" live on for the designated trash it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who knows? Decades from now it may be taught in AP classes!!!!!!!!!
Lace for sure is the ultimate Trashy Novel!!
ReplyDeleteI devoured those types of books as a young girl; Danielle Steele, Rona Jaffe, Erica Jong, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Jackie Collins, Judith Krantz, Sidney Sheldon, Irwin Shaw, and of course all the Jacqueline Susann titles!!!
I didn’t know they were trashy at the time!!!
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
I read those authors in my youth, too. My favorite was Barbara Taylor Bradford, who I think is still writing. Danielle Steel may still be alive, but she is a cottage industry who has others write her novels. But Jackie Susann has been elevated to feminist literature taught in college classes.
No, for genuine trash, "Lace" IS the best!
Had no idea Conran was so up there. Sorry she is gone.