Hollywood siren Tallulah Morehead spills the beans and many a tumbler of alcoholic libations in her raunchy "autobiography." Comedy writer and first-time novelist McEwan casts himself as a character in this spoof of the celebrity tell-all—he's the starstruck ghostwriter dutifully taking notes as Tallulah, aged 103, shares her memories of the licentious, alcohol-soaked golden age of Hollywood. Was she really Kaiser Wilhelm's love slave? Is she a lesbian? ("I like men as much as the next guy.") How many husbands did
she have? (Even she's not sure.) Was she really the model for Gloria Swanson's role in Sunset Boulevard? And why did Morehead marry so many homosexuals? The boozy, oversexed goddess sets the record straight to the best of her hazy recollection, describing her childhood as a vaudeville sensation ("Baby Tallulah, the World's Youngest Bar-tender") and her madcap ascent to stardom as a silent screen diva. Her colorful descriptions of venerable Hollywood partying are filled with less than subtle double entendre ("Louie B. Thalberg was wasting no time in plucking me from obscurity; indeed, the very afternoon we met... we went up to his room so I could read some scenes, and Louie pretty much plucked my brains out") and in-jokes about both contemporary and old-time celebrities. You can see some of the punch lines coming from miles away, but this audacious and over-the-top sendup is still great fun for Hollywood junkies. (Oct.)
