From Dust to Stardust

A Novel

By: Kathleen Rooney

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk comes a novel about Hollywood, the cost of stardom, and selfless second acts, inspired by an extraordinary true story.

Chicago, 1916. Doreen O’Dare is fourteen years old when she hops a Hollywood-bound train with her beloved Irish grandmother. Within a decade, her trademark bob and insouciant charm make her the preeminent movie flapper of the Jazz Age. But her success story masks one of relentless ambition, tragedy, and the secrets of a dangerous marriage.

Her professional life in flux, Doreen trades one dream for another. She pours her wealth and creative energy into a singular achievement: the construction of a one-ton miniature Fairy Castle, the likes of which the world has never seen. So begins Doreen’s public tour to lift the nation’s spirits during the Great Depression—and a personal journey worth remembering.

A sweeping journey from the dawn of the motion picture era through turbulent twentieth-century America, From Dust to Stardust is a breathtaking novel about one determined woman navigating change, challenging the price of fame, and sharing the gift of real magic.

©2023 Kathleen Rooney. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Xe Sands and author Rooney reunite years after their multiple award-winning Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk for another award-worthy collaboration.… Sands's voice and cadence mesmerize and will make listeners wholly invested in Eileen's rise to fame and subsequent fall to obscurity. As Eileen recounts tumultuous times…Sands gives her voice a mature pragmatism. She performs other Hollywood characters with glitz and glam, joy and bitterness, demonstrating the breadth of her skill.… A delight of a historical novel about the Golden Age of Hollywood, perfect for fans of Juliette Fay's City of Flickering Light, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's When Women Invented Television, and Elizabeth Gilbert's City of Girls.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“After captivating listeners in Rooney’s 2017 hit Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, Sands returns to voice Rooney’s latest historical novel. Sands’ low, gravelly voice is again a fine choice for an older lead character looking back on life.… Sands convincingly embodies Eileen’s ambition and strength and captures the story’s nostalgic, moving tone. Her performance helps keep listeners engaged. Fans who love a solid blend of biography and fiction are in for a treat.”—Booklist

“Kathleen Rooney deftly weaves delectable film and women’s history into her enrapturing tale… [Her] delight in the real story behind this richly faceted novel burnishes it to a bewitching luster.”—Booklist (starred review)

Liked a lot ... but audio is missing Author's Note

I liked this ... included in KindleUnlimited, read and listen, and I went with the audiobook, narrated by Xe Sands. Her voice sounded SO familiar, but I don't know that I'd listened to anything by her recently. It fit here, with the two timelines. The Present/Past are NOT clearly marked ... although there are chapter headings, dates are not included. Instead, in the present, our MC is telling her tale to Gladys (and her recorder). So each chapter starts in the present tense, with a little exchange between Eileen and Gladys (and Eileen's personal thoughts) ... and then it shifts to past tense (what we assume is Eileen telling her story to Gladys). The "past" though, written so well, and with dialog ... couldn't really just be Eileen telling her story (it's much too polished - but, suspension of disbelief and all that).

The "past" is in the silent movie era ... and it was interesting to learn more about that. Way before my time, and as Eileen reveals, most of the movies have been lost. It follows the dreams of a young girl who wants to become an actress, and succeeds. There is also the story of her connection to "fairies" and her dollhouse. Her life, love, etc ...

I didn't realize that this, while fiction, is based on an actual person (Colleen Moore) ... she had one blue eye and one brown. She made 60+ films, she created a dollhouse which is in Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. She had a reporter friend, who wrote a film based on Colleen and her husband's troubled marriage, which is where "A Star is Born" comes from. I didn't realize all this until I came to write up my review and glanced at a couple others. I'm frustrated because this is all included in extensive Author's Notes ... which were NOT included in the audio! These notes are essential to the story. Luckily I had the Kindle copy to read them, and there were some bookclub discussion questions as well, which are always appreciated.

Loved this glimpse into history of Hollywood

Truly enjoyed every moment of this! The story is well developed and based on history while not getting weighted down by its accuracy. As usual, Xe Sands does a superb job reading it to us…I’d listen to anything she narrates!

I loved this story! So unique!

I listened to Lillian boxfish takes a walk, and when I saw this, I knew I had to listen! Great story, great characters based on real people, lots of love, trials, and successes! Fantastic story!