4-F Blues: A Novel of WWII Hollywood [Paperback]

Charles Rubin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001

This is a story of the way it was in Los Angeles of 1942. The war was on and millions of young men were answering the call to duty. Many more wanted to join up but for their 4-F status (a classification for men not physically fit for service). Which was the case with the main character, Tom Driscoll, a Hollywood stuntman who was kept out of uniform because of a heart murmur. And even though Tom risked his life daily by performing death-defying stunts, Uncle Sam wouldn't allow him to fight for his country. Tom did, however, through a series of hair-raising events on the homefront, serve his country in a way he never expected. 4-F BLUES is a sentimental journey back to the glitter of Hollywood, 1942. It takes you into the studios and into the lives of the stars. It's full of history and full of surprises.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A Marine Corps Veteran and former Clio Award winning advertisement creative director, Charles is also the the recipient of the PEN award for his 4-F Blues: A Novel of WWII Hollywood

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: New Century Publishers (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967979005
• ISBN-13: 978-0967979007
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Book!, November 8, 2001

By 

monica giles (San Rafael, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 4-F Blues: A Novel of WWII Hollywood (Paperback)

As I was browsing through my usual section of non fiction material, I suppose "By Chance" I came across a most delightful fiction based on fact book entitled 4 F blues. This book is about world war 2 and Hollywood and takes place in an era slightly before my time. As I went to bed that night, at midnight, I planned to read a few pages before falling asleep, and low and behold I could not put this book down until I finished it at 3 am! 4 F blues is humerous and it has an easy flow to read. It is not written as some books I have read where the descriptions are so flowery that I lost sight of the plot. I actually became so engrossed with the plot and setting, that for 3 hours I felt that I knew the characters personally, and lived there during that time period. The author was able to take sensitive subjects such as WW II, Hollywood politics, and the Japanese Internment Camps and to create a fun and humerous, yet very empowering book. The main characters withhold their highest personal integrity, even with all odds against them. For me it was a nostalgic look at a Hollywood of the past, the glamour, an inside look, and the reality that movies and their characters reflect our history and the mindset of the people during a particular era. Speaking of movies I feel that this book would make a great uplifting movie.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attention Grabber!, August 25, 2001

By 

william j sikorski (Santa Rosa, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 4-F Blues: A Novel of WWII Hollywood (Paperback)

From the outset, you want to read the book because it is so action-packed and then you start realizing the humor of it. You immediately like the main character, Tom, who goes through so many trials and comes out successful. The villains, who are terrible and despicable, grab your interest as well. The book takes many twists and turns that hold your attention from start to finish and, interspersed throughout, is this remarkable humor and even in intense situations you find yourself chuckling.

This is a very fun book to read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reliving the Hollywood Glamour and Intrique of II Wartime, August 8, 2001

By 

Melinda Young (Albany, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 4-F Blues: A Novel of WWII Hollywood (Paperback)

This book is a great trip into the nostalgic world of Hollywood and the Movie Stars in the WWII era. This evokes the time when all young want-to-be actresses thought they could go to Hollywood and be discovered and be a star, if only they had a great figure, a tight sweater, shiney blonde hair and money for a coke at Schwab's Drug Store. This is a great summer read and will be particularly applealing to anyone who is interested in how Americans thought and behaved during WWII.Rubin has an uncanny ability to create a great mystery, highlighted with international intrique, an expose of the old Hollywood studio system and wrap it all up into a witty and provocative tale reminiscent of Woody Allen's "Radio Days."