Ceri Louise Reads

eArc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

It’s release day for From Dust to Stardust by Kathleen Rooney, and for once I have actually read the book and written the review in time for the book’s release! Actually, it also follows on pretty well from my last review, as it is historical fiction set in the 1920s – so if you like parallel reading, 1922 and From Dust to Stardust make a good pairing. On with the review!

The deets:

Author: Kathleen Rooney

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: 5th September 2023

Rating: 5⭐️

The Synopsis:

Inspired by the life of Colleen Moore, From Dust to Stardust is the fictional memoir of 1920s film star Doreen O’Dare. Born Eileen Sullivan,an unwanted daughter after the loss of a son, Eileen/Doreen is captivated by the cinema and dreams of becoming an actress. Following a successful screen test aged 14, Doreen moves to Hollywood and begins her climb to fame. The novel follows the ups and downs of her career and relationships, culminating in the building of her ‘Fairy Castle’, an elaborate dolls house which she takes on tour to raise money for charity.

The Characters:

Eileen/Doreen: told in first person, we get to understand Doreen’s motivations and eccentricities. Ambitious but sensitive, Doreen balances dreaminess and groundedness and is likeable and relatable.

Granny Shuanessy: easily my favourite character, Granny Shaunessy is Doreen’s chaperone in Hollywood and her biggest supporter. Granny Shaunessy keeps Doreen rooted, but also encourages her imagination with Irish folk tales.

Jack Flanagan: Doreen’s producer and husband, based on Colleen Moore’s first husband. Jack is devoted to Doreen but struggles to battle his demons as she grows more famous.

Adela Rogers St John: the most prominent real-life figure in the novel, Doreen’s no nonsense journalist friend.

The Review:

I loved this book. Rooney captured the early days of Hollywood so well, it was very atmospheric. I spent the whole book believing and hoping that Doreen was a real person whose films I may be able to watch and that the Fairy Castle was a really thing I may one day be able to visit. I was grateful for the author’s note at the end pointing me to resources to learn more about Colleen Moore, the inspiration for Doreen (and for A Star Is Born, who knew?!)

The attention to detail was incredible and i loved the cameos of real 1920s Hollywood types such as Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Clara Bow.

Although quite different in tone, elements of this book reminded me of Evelyn Hugo, so if you liked the Hollywood biography aspect of that book, you may well enjoy this one.

Content warnings: domestic abuse, alcoholism, toxic relationships, suicide attempt