Sunnyside

Sunnyside chronicles the year 1918 through multiple intersecting narratives, with silent film legend Charlie Chaplin at its center. The story begins with a mysterious mass hallucination where Chaplin is reportedly seen in hundreds of places simultaneously across America. The novel follows three main threads: Chaplin's struggles with his art and fame in early Hollywood, a young soldier's experiences in the Allied intervention in Russia, and a lighthouse keeper's son who dreams of becoming a movie star. These narratives play out against the backdrop of World War I, the Spanish Flu pandemic, and the birth of modern celebrity culture. Through its sprawling cast and parallel storylines, Sunnyside explores the emergence of mass media, the power of illusion, and the complicated relationship between art, fame, and reality in early 20th century America.

Readers found the book ambitious but uneven. Many felt it tried to cover too many storylines and characters without tying them together cohesively. Readers appreciated: - The deep historical research and period details - Chaplin's complex characterization - The vivid descriptions of early Hollywood - The writing quality in individual scenes Common criticisms: - Confusing narrative structure - Too many subplots that don't connect - Story loses focus and momentum - Excessive length (555 pages) - Unsatisfying conclusion One reader noted: "Beautiful prose but no payoff." Another said: "Each thread could have been its own novel." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (80+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (200+ ratings) Several readers who loved Gold's previous novel Carter Beats the Devil expressed disappointment, calling Sunnyside more scattered and less engaging than his debut.

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🎬 Charlie Chaplin actually experienced the bizarre event described in the book where thousands of people mistakenly believed they saw him in hundreds of different places simultaneously, known as the "Chaplin hysteria" of 1916. 🎥 The novel's title "Sunnyside" comes from a 1919 Charlie Chaplin film of the same name, which was considered one of his less successful productions despite its massive budget. ⚔️ During WWI, as depicted in the book, American soldiers were specifically trained in Charlie Chaplin's signature walk and mannerisms to boost troop morale. 📚 Glen David Gold spent seven years researching and writing Sunnyside, diving deep into primary sources including Chaplin's personal papers and military records. 🌟 The early Hollywood era featured in the book (1916-1919) marked the transition from simple nickelodeon shows to the establishment of major movie studios, with weekly movie attendance growing from 7 million to 22 million Americans.