Slapstick
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REVIEW BY ELENA CHANNING
Well-penned and entertaining, Laura Mazzuca Toops' trip back to the early days of Hollywood has been named a 2001 Eppie Award finalist. Set in the 1920s, her extensively researched historical novel is a rare treat for film buffs. But donít let the title fool you; although there are a few laughs in Slapstick, this engaging novel is not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination. Successful silent-film producer Harold Gilbert has everything a millionaire could want -- a vast estate called Avalon, a red Bugatti sports car, his own movie studio and an adoring public. Married to his former leading lady, and with two lovely children, Gilbert has what appears to be a perfect life. However, life is seldom what it seems in Hollywood, and Harold is no exception. His beautiful wife drowns herself daily in alcohol, and his children are nothing but strangers to him. His business is threatened by the upcoming "talkies," a new film genre he refuses to acknowledge, and he is plagued by dreams of his past. On top of all that, Harold is having an affair with his beautiful new leading lady, Lila Lenore, a young and very talented performer with a few secrets of her own. Harold valiantly struggles to hold his life together, keeping the demons at bay by transforming his fears into laughter on film. He struggles in silent anguish to come to grips with the threatening changes in his life, ultimately fighting loneliness and feeling the need to be with his loved ones. The heart-wrenching events and the poignant feel of this tale are deeply moving; youíll be rooting for Harold as he weathers the storm of the film world's first big shake-up. Toops shows her talent by creating a story with a well-paced script and witty dialogue. She pulls you into the narrative with her fully drawn, well-researched characters, points of view and atmosphere. The many secondary characters all help in significant ways to carry the story along seamlessly, and the main characters seem so alive you'll soon be doubling back to the first page just to make sure this is indeed a work of fiction. Taking readers into the era of bootlegging and silent movies, Toops' novel is hard to put down and even harder to forget. For readers who enjoy historical novels, Slapstick is one not to miss. Leena Hyat (aka Elena Channing) is a reviewer for several online sites. She's also a part owner and review coordinator for www.HeartRateReviews.com.
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