Chasing Carole [Paperback]

Barbara Washburn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2008

A remarkable and historically authentic look inside Hollywood's Golden Age and the legendary romance between Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. This novel explores Lombard's life and how the twin burdens of illegitimacy and silence shaped her daughter. When Cass McGowan, Lombard's grand-daughter and professor of film history, discovers her famous grandmother's diaries and edits them for publication the reader is plunged into a world twisted between the present and the past where time and space lose their hold. Cass chases her grandmother through her story, seeking her own answers as she explores the subtle complexities of love told through the stories of three generations of women--an interwoven strand of blood and love. Cass's search moves as swiftly as the trains Carole knew so well until it reaches its own spellbinding conclusion. This book is authentic Lombard, as close as anyone can get to knowing her now.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (April 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419695533
• ISBN-13: 978-1419695537
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #829,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Fan, May 26, 2009

By 

NYC Bookworm (New York, nY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chasing Carole (Paperback)

As someone who planned to be far more intrigued with the "Old Hollywood" aspect of this book than its namesake, I was genuinely surprised at how quickly I was taken with Carole (and every other aspect of this book).

One pleasant surprise was finding that this work is an easy read - in a book that contains less than easy content. There's a lot going on here - but it works. The drama of secrets, infidelity, and life-altering decisions create an interesting, if not stark, contrast to the "screwball" personality that that we are used to seeing in Carole Lombard - which makes for a thoroughly satisfying read.

Highly recommended.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Fiction, Pure Carole, May 29, 2009

By 

Meredith L. Grau - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chasing Carole (Paperback)

Several months ago, I was online searching in vain for a biography on Carole Lombard. I have long been a fan, and decided my research of the actress was long past due. To my great disappointment, I could find no non-fictional books, at least none of note, to put in my cart. Then, my eyes landed on Ms. Washburn's book, "Chasing Carole," a fictional account of the actress's life, with its basis in fact. I took a chance, clicked "buy," and waited for my delivery.

To say that I was greatly impressed with Ms. Washburn's novel is a massive understatement! I have seen all of Carole's movies, heard little tidbits along the way, and feel at this point that I "know" her. But to feel the awakening of her true personality, to witness her many dimensions coming to life and being realized was truly something to behold. In this book, Carole is presented honestly, openly, and as herself. While reading, I felt I was listening to Carole in her own voice and in her own words. Being introduced to her humor, her fears, her fire, and her sadness in such an intimate way made me respect and love her all the more. So many bios present you with the hard facts, but they never really let you get close to the flesh and blood subject. This book does, and it left me very pleased and very moved.

It is a fictional novel, but its mixture of true events with a modern story rubbing elbows with the spiritual world never feels phony or forced. It feels real and natural, and there were times when I had to remind myself that the predominant narrator was not a real person, but a fabrication used to take you closer to a being long since gone. I think this book could work for anyone- a Carole fan looking to know her better or a student of history looking for interesting bits and pieces of a life ended far too soon. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it to any and everyone with a love of Hollywood, humor, and strong, independent, interesting women.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Genious!, May 26, 2009

By 

Viet_Vet - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chasing Carole (Paperback)

Extremely well written and thought out. Not only was it educational, but entertaining as well.

Ms. Washburn did a fantastic job in writing this book. My interest in Carole Lombard has been reinvigorated, and I plan on finding more books about her here on Amazon!