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The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

Meeting date: May 28, 2018 ;
Star rating: 2.9/5 stars

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.

Comments and questions from attendees:
  • Definitely made some attendees interested in learning more about Hedy Lamarr.
  • This format was preferred to biographies
  • Focuses mostly on the backstage life of Lamarr, not films/Hollywood
  • Hedy of many masks - truly the only woman in the room
  • Sounds/reads like a diary
  • The men Hedy encounters are horrible! None of them ever see the real Hedy (except for her father)
  • So many predators in every industry or arena she entered - film, society, Austria, California - scary!
  • There are people like Fitz today! 😬
  • Does anyone ever see or know Hedy? We mean, really see her?
  • Guilt is central to Hedy - is she in a Catch-22? Is her guilt misplaced?
  • The actions of the military are just ridiculous! Rejecting Hedy's idea because she is a woman. GRRR
  • Have we come any farther since Hedy? Not far enough? Are we going back?
  • "How can a beautiful face also have a brain?" - every man in this book
  • Hedy has the unique qualifications to solve the issue, but the men still refuse to look past her gender and beauty.
  • Hedy could have kept fighting for ideas with no result. Instead, she gave up to raise money and do something. We couldn't blame her. She was ahead of her time.
Lowest rating: 2
Highest rating: 4
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