FIRST BORN [Paperback]

Doris Mortman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1988

Spanning twenty tumultuous years, and moving from the glittering world of Paris high-fashion to the headquarters of luxury hotel conglomerate, from the set of a prime-time TV sizzler to a major Senate race, First Born unfolds the lives of four fascinating women whose destinies compel them toward a violent clash of ambition and love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tracing the steps of four women named to honor a beloved matriarch, the author of the bestseller Circles serves up a bevy of beautiful, talented women, powerful men, and a few requisite dollops of human frailty. Young, headstrong Jinx makes a rapid ascension up the career ladder after marrying the owner of a string of deluxe hotels. When she meets Cissie, wife of a bedhopping politician and the manager of a chic clothing boutique, their striking resemblance leads Jinx to the father who abandoned her. Yet no one else in the familynot her social-climbing half-sister Becca, nor Frannie, the selfish top-flight modelwill admit the truth. While Jinx struggles to come to terms with her father's rejection, Becca vengefully tries to destroy the rival who seems to block her path at every turn. Frannie's insecurities and Becca's monstrous nature do set off some sparks, but not enough to make a tired, overblown formula seem fresh and exciting. 75,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The glamorous big-money worlds of hotels and haute couture, politics and Hollywood, set the scene for First Born , which intertwines the stories of four women. Each is the granddaughter of a woman she never knew, but from whom she receives a genetic legacy: Cissie, the fiery crusader who devotes herself too generously to any just cause and to everyone she loves; Frankie, beautiful model and actress, yet so insecure that she permits herself to be manipulated first by her bitter mother, then by her agent; Jinx, abandoned by her father and determined to prove herself to the family that will not acknowledge her; Becca, inheritor of her grandmother's unbreakable spirit but driven by it to destroy the half-sister who divides her father's affections. The women and men are all stunningly attractive, the careers challenging and lucrative. But beneath the glitzy trappings, Mortman ( Circles ) has crafted a solid structure of actions, reactions, and consequences. Better-than-average escapist reading. A.M.B. Amantia, Population Crisis Committee Lib., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam (May 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055327032X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553270327
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #451,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was the BEST!!!!!, March 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: FIRST BORN (Paperback)

I truly loved the whole plot of this book. The separate stories from each of the women's lives were fascinating. The history of the family was discussed at appropriate points. This book would actually make a great TV movie. I am surprised that nobody has thought of making the movie. There are plenty of actresses who would be terrific in the parts of the four women.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, January 21, 2003

By 

Danielle (OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FIRST BORN (Paperback)

I know this book has been around for almost 2 decades and I am know finally reading it. WOW!!!!!! This book had me crying, cursing, loving and hating with every line I read. The characters and the plot were outstanding. I do hope one day they do make it into a movie or TV miniseries, but when they do I hope they do the book justice and capture every detail that Doris Mortman wrote down. Fantansic job!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful, April 1, 2002

By 

Aaron Giannini (Fort Bragg, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FIRST BORN (Paperback)

This is absolutely without a doubt the best book I have ever read. I have never had a book be able to make me laugh and cry like this book did. These womens stories were truly touching and extremely well written. I could not put this book down! I was up til 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning reading this book a couple nights.