Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 1, 1990 TAG: 9007040080
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by LYNN ECKMAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The greatest joy for a reviewer is to discover a first novel of value. Feeling no less important than Columbus, I want to shout, "Eureka!" - to hire a sky-writer, to tell everyone not to miss this marvel. And so I do here. "The Girl Who Loved Garbo" should be at the top of all summer reading lists.
Besides highlighting the contemporary scene in both New York and California, Rachel Gallagher uses words the way Rembrandt used color. Her characters demand your attention and hold it fast. Her ideas make your head swim. This woman can write.
Almost obsessive in her curiosity about the legendary aloofness of Greta Garbo, Rebecca Duffy becomes so involved with the actress that she almost ruins her own life. At one point, she finds herself at 26, alone, pregnant, jobless, without any direction or clear definition of herself. In order to resolve her dilemma, she is forced to make decisions and to become a whole human being. The substance, the fascination of the story lies therein.
Having devoured this novel greedily, stopping only when forced to, I now plan to reread it slowly, savoring the lyrical language, the thought-provoking ideas it contains. This review must be short; it's back to Page One.
by CNB