finished reading

If you enjoy "Where are they now" articles, this book is for you.  A rags to riches to rags to riches tale that spans decades, heartbreaks, and showbiz.  The dual narrative is the evolution of Margie Ferguson into stage star Dolly Jamieson and her life as a has-been.  In Dolly's current situation, she befriends Jane at the local library and Jane inspires Dolly to write her memoir.  The easy affection and fast friendship were totally believable to me because I've had situational friendships that have morphed into lifelong friends.  

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.  The audio narration is quite good!

From the publisher:

The One and Only Dolly Jamieson is a compelling feel-good novel featuring a proud and gutsy heroine with a truly unbreakable spirit.

Life is full of downs and ups . . .

Dolly Jamieson is not homeless, she's merely between permanent abodes. The 78-year-old spends her days keeping warm at the local library, where she enjoys sparring with the officious head librarian and helping herself to the free morning tea. It's not so bad, really.

But it's certainly a far cry from the 1960s, when this humble girl from Geelong became an international star of the stage. As the acclaimed lead in the Broadway production of The Rose of France, all Dolly's dreams had come true.

So how, in her old age, did she end up here?

When Jane Leveson, a well-to-do newcomer to the library, shows an interest in Dolly, the pair strike up an unlikely friendship - and soon Jane is offering to help Dolly write her memoirs.

Yet Dolly can detect a deep sadness in the younger woman's eyes. Perhaps by working together to recount the glittering highs, devastating lows and tragic secrets of Dolly's life, both women can finally face their pasts and start to heal . . .