The Only Woman in the Room

By: Marie Benedict

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

She possessed a stunning beauty. She also possessed a stunning mind. Could the world handle both?

Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.

But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: She was a scientist. And she knew a few secrets about the enemy. She had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis...if anyone would listen to her.

A powerful novel based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication, The Only Woman in the Room is a masterpiece.

©2019 Marie Benedict (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

The Fascinating story of Hedy Lamarr

The book is in two parts. Before Hollywood and Hollywood. I did like the before bits a lot more, Hollywood was good too, but the more I think about it, the more i think I know why. See this is a fictionalized story of Hedy Lamarr. The bones are there and the things we know, but not everything was known about her Austria days and I felt that the author embraced that more then and let her pen fly. And then when we came to Hollywood there was so much she wanted to talk about that we know happened. Like what a meat market Hollywood was which she surely wanted to talk about cos of MeToo. And how Hedy worries about war, and then war comes so she worries about Jews. And on top of that she is making so many movies and they are all mentioned. Plus her inventions. See, there was just so much going on there. Still good, but I really liked the drama of the first part.



Part one. Hedwig Kleiser, Jewish, even if she does not think of her that way, she is Austrian after all. Actress and now celebrated in the stage production of Sisi. She is 19 an a whirlwind. I liked her from page 1. Then then drama starts, a rich older man wants her and she obeys. This is Austria in the 30s after all. Her father knows trouble is coming and the third richest man in Austria might just protect her and them then. He is a controlling man who just wants pretty armcandy to show his friends.



And this part was exciting. A husband she grew to fear more and more. Tensions rising in Austria. Her husband being part of the Austrian political elite. It was this whole other life I did not know she had had.



Then comes Hollywood. I did feel she suffered a bit too much from survivors guilt. She went on and on how she could have saved the Jews of Austria. I think not.



And the thrilling part how freaking smart she was. I wish the author had showed more of that in her earlier years. It was like she suddenly was a genius. I mean she invented something that now was a forerunner to bluetooth, wifi, gps (and the military swept that under the rug, aholes.)



That is why I really enjoyed this book. What a fascinating woman! Everyone should read it and see for themselves.



Narrator

I liked her narration because it felt like it was an older Hedy talking. It brought you really close into the story.

Great Historical Fiction Listen

I listened to this for a book club read.
First off, Suzanne Toren does such a great job narrating. Many times I am listening to a narrator, but do not think to myself that is the character. To me I am listening to the narrator not the character. With The Only Woman in the Room I thought I was sitting in my living room with the main character, having a private conversation. It felt very intimate.
The story was good, parts made me angry, but they are true facts as over 90% of this book is historical and not historical fiction. I liked that I felt the emotion though. I also liked that this book is almost completely historical.
My big issue is, I felt we are learning and learning and then suddenly it ends. I know several other women felt the same way in my group.
I have recommended this to several people who have also enjoyed it.

loved it

this is a book all young women should read! it is incredibly inspiring and shocking at the same time

Great!

I give this the highest of praises - it was interesting, historical, and utterly captivating. Definitely 10/10 recommend.

So good!!!

Wow! It’s worth a FULL listen. What an amazing woman. This book kept my attention and I kept wanting to hear more

Fascinating writing and life!

This is the best book I've read in a long time...and I've been reading a lot.

Lamarr's life was fascinating and the author did it justice.

Hedy Lamarr so much more than an Pretty Face.

Marvelous retelling of the early life of Hedy Lamarr. She was a women of great strength, determination, talent, and intellect.

Remarkable Story

I didn't really know anything about Hedy Lamarr before listening to this book. What an incredible woman she was with such an incredible life. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about her and I'm glad to have bought this book on a whim.

Very interesting history of Hedy Lamarr

Though I was not sure how much I would like this book when I started, I was very pleasantly surprised. Though I think the author painted Hedy in too golden of a light most
of the time (we all have flaws), her story is fascinating and seems to be pretty true to Lamarr’s actual story. Engrossing read.

Really Well Done!!!!!

I actually don’t think I could offer. Any suggestions to make it better. One would think it was written by Ms. Lamar’s, although it does not purport to be her words. Really really well done. It would be a great fictional novel but of course, all the better for it veracity. Shame on America, both then, and now for underestimating, disregarding, and marginalizing anything other than white men.