In 1966, Jacqueline Susann published "The Valley of the Dolls" ; one of the three

outstanding novels she wrote before her death in 1974. Set in New York City, this novel takes

us through the incredulous decline of three girls seemingling perfect lives; Anne Welles, Neely

O'Hara, and Jennifer North. Anne Welles, the center character of this novel, moves to New

York to escape a "solid, orderly and planned" life in her home town of Lawrencville. Upon her

arrival in New York, she discovers that everyone seems to be hagridden with the idea of "the

perfect life" and many consider her daft for leaving a place where such a thing is provided for

you. She feels confident at first but more and more throughout the story her whole world is

turned upside down and she feels as if she is alone in a world where no one hears her or

even cares what she has to say. The overall atmosphere of the novel begins as hopeful...but

ultimately becomes dismal yet eerily pacifying; in that you accept her life for what it has

become, as she does. Jacqueline Susann certainly keeps one wanting more throughout this

upon her arrival in New York, even getting a job and an apartment within her first day there.

"Valley of the Dolls" was a wonderfully written and easily readable book. The characters are so easy to connect with and to understand. There is never an action performed by a character that the reader does not understand, regardless of whether or not they agree with it. One connects with this book on such a personal level it is easy to laugh out loud while reading

thoughorally enjoyable book, fit for any mature reader.

With Neely's great success in pictures, she sinks into a world of pills, men, and stardom, all of

which leads to a great ego and a radical lack of morals. After Neely hits rock bottom, she ends

affair with Lyon and attempting to destroy his already shaky marriage. Neely's greed only succeeded in breaking Anne's fragile spirit and sealing her fate to fall into the Valley.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Valley Dolls, York City, Anne Welles, Vaudeville Neely, Anne Lyon, Lyon Neely, Valley Neely's, Inevitably Neely, Lyon Burke, Lyon Anne's, valley dolls, anne welles, fall valley, york city, throughout story, character novel, jacqueline susann, arrival york,
Approximate Word count = 1167
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)