Three Girls and Their Brother

by Theresa Rebeck

Book Overview

Now that it's all over, everybody is saying it was the picture-that stupid picture was behind every disaster. . . .

They may be the granddaughters of a famous literary critic, but what really starts it all is Daria, Polly, and Amelia Heller's stunning red hair. Out of the blue one day, The New Yorker calls and says that they want to feature the girls in a glamorous spread shot by a world-famous photographer, and before long these three beautiful...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307394158
• ISBN13: 9780307394156
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 16 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 11 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Fast and fun reading for the literary set.

If you like reading the New Yorker itself, you'll probably like this book. I loved it. But if you're looking for a sappy, feel-good book or a cheesy Jodi Picoult type of thriller, probably not for you.

entertaining fluff

I loved this book. It's totally lightweight fluff, yet there's enough fsmily dynamics in it to hold your interest. It reminded me of J.D. Salinger and also of early Jay McInerney.Bright Lights, Big City. I don't think you choose a book like this looking for deep psychological insights. It's just fun to see what's behind the glamorous photo spreads in the glossy magazines, and it does give a good idea of the mechanics and manipulations of the PR business. The author is a successul playwright; that explains the snappy dialog. I'd love to see one of her plays.

fluffy nutter

this book is what it tis. Just fluff and good at it. It held my interest and Rebeck kept the story going. I would read more by this author.

Great fun!

This was such a fun book and so seemingly believable. If you ever indulge in any sort of celebrity watching, or wonder how pictures of the same "it girls" appear endlessly in magazine after magazine, you realize that there is a whole culture (sub-culture?) feeding our fascination with the famous and fabulous. The way the story is progressed through the points of view from youngest to oldest of the siblings adds a great insight to how family dynamics, ambitions and even birth order impacts how they see (or don't see) the same events. While I enjoyed the family drama and comedic aspects, even better were the inside New York/Hollywood media-gossip column-publicist-stylist-theater-and-modeling contexts, which seemed very "ripped from the headlines" and were thoroughly entertaining. From start to end, the story was incredibly absorbing; I was reading on the subway and even missed my stop, on two different occasions! Very highly recommended!

Such a family ...

Noted playwright, Theresa Rebeck's tongue-in-cheek debut novel exposes the dark underbelly of all that fame does--and doesn't have to offer. When three adolescent auburn-haired sisters gain notoriety for--well, not much of anything but their fiery hair and literary giant grandfather--their lives are turned upside down. There's Daria Heller, the oldest at 19, with an inflated sense of self and an aspiration to become an actress. Polly is the second child, who at 18 is precocious and wishy-washy. Then there's Amelia, the youngest and most rebellious at 14, who cares less about fame than her sisters. The girls' father enters the picture sporadically and inconsistently. Their stage mother has a drinking problem and will stop at nothing to push her daughters into the public eye. Colette is the Heller sisters' overzealous agent and the driving force behind their mother. Then there's Phillip, the brother who helplessly stands by and gets caught up in everything as his sisters' drama unfolds. Rebeck's book. Three Girls and Their Brother is refreshingly candid portrayal of sibling rivalry and showcases familial dysfunction at its finest. The novel takes us through the glitzy parties, champagne-soaked celebrity encounters, glamorous photo shoots and the pesky paparazzi who document everything they bump into along the way. Three Girls and Their Brother is divided into four parts, told from the first-person perspectives of Phillip, Amelia, Polly and Daria. Rebeck has easily transitioned from playwright to novelist. It's clear, when reading the book, she's mastered the art of conversation, as conversation among the siblings will resonate with you. The plot moves easily, and when reading, one is reminded of other poignant, existential character exhibits, such as J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey. As the press, photo shoots and requests for the Heller sisters increase exponentially, the relationship dynamic among the sisters and Phillip sharply turns. Once a team, the sisters now try to outdo each other. Will fame be the downfall of this already crumbling family? Will they be able to withstand being put under the microscope? Armchair Interviews says: It's worth your while to find out.