Whisper of the Moon Moth

By: Lindsay Jayne Ashford

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

From the author of The Color of Secrets and The Woman on the Orient Express comes a poignant novel inspired by the Hollywood legend - and the secrets of - actress Merle Oberon, famous for playing Cathy to Laurence Olivier's Heathcliff in the film Wuthering Heights.

For nineteen-year-old Estelle Thompson, going to the cinema is more than a way to pass the time...it's a way out. In 1931 in Calcutta, Anglo-Indian girls like Estelle are considered half-breeds, shunned by both English and Indian society. Her only escape is through the silver screen, where she can forget the world around her.

When Estelle catches the eye of a dashing American heir with connections to a major motion-picture studio, he also captures her heart. Soon, Estelle has a one-way ticket to London and a recommendation for a screen test.

To get to the top, she must keep her Indian heritage concealed - and so begins her new identity as movie goddess Merle Oberon. But just as her dreams are poised to come true, she discovers that her own family is keeping a much more shocking secret from her - one that changes everything she's believed about her past.

©2017 Lindsay Jayne Ashford (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

fascinating and complicated woman.

This was a barely fictionlized story of Meryl Oberion. I was very interested to find out what was true.

Wonderful portrayal of film industry

Once again Lindsay Ashford tells a riveting story. This time Merle Oberon. Told with heartfelt emotions about rising to the top amidst conflict.

Whisper of the moon moth

I found this story of an Indian actress to be more than I had expected. It was an eye opener as to the prejudices in the movie making business and the world in general.

Riviting

Heartbreakingly beautiful story, I think the sex was too explicit, I like to use my own imagination a little. The book was hard to put down.

Disappointed

As I listened, it became apparent that the author was not going to give a true accounting of Merle life, which is what I was hoping to find.

very enjoyable

I usually read mysteries, but really enjoyed this book. Now I want to learn more about the actress.

Whisper of the moon moth

My 2nd book by Lindsay Jayne Ashford in seven days . Stunning , captivating and a page turner . Now I’m off to look for her next one .

Which to believe?

disappointed some parts true some made up....not a biography of Merle Oberon what?
a fairytale..what to believe.

The Trouble With This Book

The trouble with this good alternate history is that it’s going to be very difficult to erase from my mind. I knew very little about Merle Oberon prior to listening to this. I could not put it this book aside till it was done and in the interim I’ve searched out whatever available scraps of information there are about Merle’s life. I’m eager to know more — that is, to know the true story. Sadly, the wonderfully developed characters in this book and the believable, though fictional, events are going to muddle my understanding. The book is way better than it should be. Do not skip it, but get the true story first, before this glowing tale subsumes it.

Interesting enough...

The book was interesting in that it provided context to a fairly unknown, but not forgotten actress.
However, I found it sad to realize that these actresses - whom I had previously chose to view through the rose colored glasses of the roles they played - were as morally bankrupt as much of Hollywood is today. What happens to people when they become “famous”?
It was difficult to listen to when I wanted to make Merle a heroine, but found it impossible due to her morally challenged behavior.
Truth does not make a poor read...I was simply saddened.