Anthony Marra's Mercury Pictures Presents has garnered praise for its intricate storytelling and rich historical detail. Readers appreciate the well-drawn characters and the vivid depiction of Hollywood during World War II. However, some found the plot slow at times and the narrative occasionally convoluted. Overall, it's a compelling read with a few pacing issues.

A reader who enjoys intricate historical novels with rich character development and dark humor would appreciate Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra. Comparable to Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See, this book appeals to fans of World War II fiction and storytelling that reveals the resilience of the human spirit.

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra is a tragi-comic historical novel that follows Maria Lagana, an Italian immigrant in World War II-era Hollywood, who becomes an associate producer at Mercury Pictures. The story explores her struggles with professional frustration, her complex relationship with Europe and America, and the impact of political turmoil on her life and art. The novel includes references to racist and anti-gay stereotypes, racial slurs, and suicide.

Anthony Marra

Adult

Novel

Fiction

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Mercury Pictures Presents Summary and Study Guide

Background

Mercury Pictures Presents Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Section 1: “Sunny Siberia” - Part 1, Section 2: “The Bigwig”

Part 1, Sections 1-2

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 1, Sections 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Section 3: “The Posthumous Life of Vincent Cortese” - Part 1, Section 4: “Off Sunset”

Part 1, Sections 3-4

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 1, Sections 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Section 1: "The People vs. Art Feldman" - Part 2, Section 2: “Blackout”

Part 2, Sections 1-2

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 2, Sections 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Section 3: “The False Front” - Part 2, Section 4: “German Village”

Part 2, Sections 3-4

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 2, Sections 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Section 5: “Mercury in Retrograde” - Part 2, Section 6: “San Lorenzo”

Part 2, Sections 5-6

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 2, Section 5: “Mercury in Retrograde” Summary & Analysis

Mercury Pictures Presents

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