Miss del Rio by Bárbara Mujica

Miss del Río by Bárbara Mujica

Published by Graydon House ISBN 9781525899935

Trade paperback, $17.99, 432 pages

I enjoy a good historical fiction, especially if the subject is based on a real person. Bárbara Mujica's historical novel Miss del Río, is a fictionalized account of the life of Mexican actress Dolores del Río, who appeared in many Hollywood movies in the 1920s- 1940s, and became the first major Latina actress to find stardom there. 

 Dolores del Río led a privileged life in Durango, Mexico in 1910 as a young child. Her family had ties to high government officials, and her father was a wealthy banker. When revolutionaries led by Pancho Villa burned down expensive villas, Dolores escaped with her family to California. 

The beautiful Dolores met a director at a party who saw potential in her, and Dolores was on her way to appearing in motion pictures. Dolores' husband Jaime wanted to be a screenwriter, but his career did not take off like Dolores' did. 

Dolores was drawn to the glamour of Hollywood, but as a beautiful woman, she was also subject to its abuses by powerful men. While her professional life was blossoming, and she sucessfully made the transition from silent movie to "talkies", her private life was less than happy. She had a series of marriages that didn't work out as she didn't always choose her mates wisely. 

Dolores' story is narrated by her childhood friend Mara, who later became her hairdresser. (Mara is a fictional character.) Mara also fled Mexico, and the contrast between Dolores' life and Mara's life fuels much of this intriguing story. Mara had a happy marriage to a man she loved, and they had several children together. Dolores longed for children, but it was not meant to be. Mara and her husband struggled financially, Dolores had plenty of money. Mara was torn by her love and appreciation for Dolores and her disappointment in the way Dolores lived her life.

As her success in Hollywood waned, Dolores moved back to Mexico.  She became a big part of the Mexican film industry, making movies about subjects that mattered to her, instead of playing the stereotypical roles she was being offered in Hollywood. She had her share of dealings with difficult filmmakers in Mexico  as well.

Plenty of famous people make cameos in Miss del Río. Dolores was good friends with Marlene Dietrich, had a torrid love affair with Orson Welles, and became enchanted with Frida Kahlo when she returned to Mexico. (Mujica wrote a fantastic historical novel Frida as well that led to Miss del Río.)

A good historical fiction always has me wanting more, and I immediately began to search out more information on Dolores del Río. If you liked Adriana Trigiani's All The Stars In The Heavens and Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, (I loved both) you'll want to read Miss del Río. It's also a great read for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Thanks to Harlequin Books for putting me on their Fall 2022 Historical Fiction Blog Tours.

Friday 5ive- September 23, 2022

Welcome to the Friday 5ive, a weekly post featuring five things that caught my attention this week.

It's hard to believe that summer is over and fall has begun. I know my youngest sister is so happy about that.

1) Fall is here, so it's time to change my seasonal/holiday book display from summer to fall.

2) I went with my cousin to a taping of the Rachael Ray Show last Friday. Rachael's set is one of the loveliest ones I've seen, it's very much in keeping with her Adirondack home style. The crowd is much smaller than it was pre-pandemic and I felt sympathy for Tom Kelly, the substitute warm-up comedian. He really had to work hard to keep the audience energy up with fewer people in the audience. Following the taping, we went to Eataly for a birthday lunch for my cousin. I had my favorite pasta dish, Quadrati , a spinach and ricotta filled ravioli in a butter-lemon sauce topped with pistachios. It was tasty and I liked their two course lunch for $22. 

Photo courtesy of my cousin Mary Beth

Tasty Quadrati ravioli

3) It's Banned Books Week, and this takes on more urgent meaning this year as more people are pushing to ban books they don't like in school and public libraries. Most bookstores (including the Book Cellar where I volunteer) and libraries have dedicated displays of Banned Books. You might be surprised at some of the titles- many of them are considered classic literature. I bought two new t-shirts to wear to work, the #FReadom one benefits a project to highlight the positive work being done by school librarians.

Book Cellar Banned Books

4)  I was happy to see that season six of The Good Fight began on Paramount+. The cast this season is phenomenal, led by Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald. Andre Braugher joins as a new partner, and Alan Cumming returns as attorney Eli Gold, father to Sarah Steele's Marissa. I especially enjoyed seeing Mary Testa as an opposing attorney in episode two, she performed at the ArchCare gala last October and she is wonderful. 

5)  The book I read this week is appropriate for Hispanic Heritage Month. Bárbara Mujica's historical novel Miss del Río is a fictionalized account of the life of Mexican actress Dolores del Río. Del Río escaped with her family from Durango in Mexico, fleeing the revolution led by Pancho Villa. Delores met a director and became an successful actress, but her personal life was less successful. She had a series of marriages that didn't work out, she didn't always choose wisely. Delores' story is told by her childhood friend who becomes her hairdresser, and their lives couldn't be more different. I love reading fictional accounts of real people, and Dolores befriends Frida Kahlo and Marlene Dietrich, and becomes romantically involved with Orson Welles. A good historical fiction always has me wanting more, and I immediately began to search out more information on Dolores del Rio. If you liked Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, (as I did) you'll want to read Miss del Río. My full review posts October 4th.

Have a safe, healthy week. Happy Fall!