Garbo LaughsFrom the award-winning author of A Student of Weather, a funny, sad-eyed novel about a woman caught between real love and movie love--and real love doesn't stand a chance. This is a novel about movie love. Set in Ottawa in the 1990s, it is the quixotic tale of tall, thin Harriet Browning, inflamed by the movies she was deprived of as a child. Bent on seeing everything she has missed, she rapidly becomes so saturated with old movies, seen repeatedly and swallowed whole, that she no longer fits into this world. Equally addicted are her three companions- of-the-screen: a boy who loves Frank Sinatra, a girl with Bette Davis eyes, and an earthy sidekick named after Dinah Shore. Breaking in upon this quiet backwater, in time with the devastating ice storm of 1998, come two refugees from Hollywood, the jaded widow of a famous screenwriter and her movie-expert stepson. They are Harsh Reality. With them come blackouts, arguments, accidents, illness, and sudden death. But what chance does real life stand when we can watch movies instead? What hope does real love have when movie love, in all its brief intensity, is an easy option? In this brilliant and poignant comedy of secondhand desire, m |
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Page 3
... better . " Who's better ? " he'd asked her . " Not again , " she said . " No , wait . Just this time . Who's better ? Frank Sinatra or Marlon Brando ? " " Are you ready for this ? " she said . " Can you take it ? I'd have to say Marlon ...
... better . " Who's better ? " he'd asked her . " Not again , " she said . " No , wait . Just this time . Who's better ? Frank Sinatra or Marlon Brando ? " " Are you ready for this ? " she said . " Can you take it ? I'd have to say Marlon ...
Page 159
... better with people than I am . You're better at love too . You're the one who should be married . " Dinah winced , and Harriet saw how wrong - footed her so - called com- pliment was . " I'm sorry . " She touched Dinah's arm . " I have ...
... better with people than I am . You're better at love too . You're the one who should be married . " Dinah winced , and Harriet saw how wrong - footed her so - called com- pliment was . " I'm sorry . " She touched Dinah's arm . " I have ...
Page 259
... better at things they should make more money . " Jane said , " Do you think it's fair that the extremely rich use their talents on the stock market and make loads of money ? Is that fair ? " " It's fair , but it's not equal . " " I ...
... better at things they should make more money . " Jane said , " Do you think it's fair that the extremely rich use their talents on the stock market and make loads of money ? Is that fair ? " " It's fair , but it's not equal . " " I ...
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Common terms and phrases
answer asked aunt beautiful began beside better Bill called Cary coffee coming couldn't dark didn't Dinah don't door everything eyes face fall feel felt fern Fiona Frame front Garbo gave give glass going gone hair hand happened hard Harriet head hear heard heart interest It's Italy Jack Jane Kenny kids kitchen knew later laughed Leah leave light living looked mean mind morning mother moved movie never night once Pauline picture play reached remember side sitting sleep smile snow someone sound standing stayed steps stood stopped story street talk tell thing thought told took tree turned voice waiting walk watch week window woman women wonder write wrote