45 pages • 1 hour read
Quentin TarantinoOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood: A Novel
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino follows Rick Dalton, a once-successful actor struggling to revive his career, and his loyal stuntman, Cliff Booth, as they navigate the evolving film industry of 1969 Hollywood. They encounter real and fictional characters, including director Roman Polanski and actress Sharon Tate, while dealing with personal and professional challenges. The novel features racist, antisemitic, antigay, and misogynistic language, graphic violence, substance misuse, suicide, and discussions of statutory rape.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood immerses readers in a meticulously crafted 1969 Los Angeles, blending real events with fictional narratives. Praised for its vibrant characters and rich period details, some critics argue the plot meanders and relies heavily on nostalgia. Nonetheless, fans of Tarantino will appreciate his signature dialogue and dark humor.
Who Should Read Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?
Fans of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino are likely to enjoy his signature blend of sharp dialogue, dark humor, and rich character development. Readers who appreciate literary homages to 1960s Hollywood, akin to the narrative style of Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon or The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, will find this novel compelling.