Before Portnoy's Complaint, there was Marjorie Morningstar. Published in 1955, Herman Wouk's novel tells the story of a Jewish girl living on Central Park West who promises herself that she'll become an actress and run off with the dashing Noel Airman—but instead turns into a suburban version of her crazy-making mother, Rose.

Still, if Marjorie's mother is provincial and interfering, she also makes room for Marjorie's acting ambitions. As Antler points out, even Noel recognizes her "Shakespearean exactness and intensity of character." The book became a 1958 film starring Natalie Wood as Marjorie, Gene Kelly as Noel, and Claire Trevor as Rose.