The story of Mademoiselle Eiffel reveals a fascinating figure of Claire Eiffel who made a great impact in maintaining her family’s legacy and their icThe story of Mademoiselle Eiffel reveals a fascinating figure of Claire Eiffel who made a great impact in maintaining her family’s legacy and their iconic contribution to the city of Paris.
The story begins with the family grieving the loss of the mother and wife of Gustav Eiffel. As the family pulls themselves together, the father expects his eldest daughter Claire to take over running the household and taking care of the younger children.
Claire relates the story and is glad to be close to her father and away from the overbearing grandmother. She becomes his personal assistant as she is the one he trusts the most. This is a time when her father is working on an important project, building a bridge in Portugal, which takes longer than expected. Thus, Gustav goes to the site and takes his daughter with him. And as Claire gets more involved in her father’s projects, she learns his architectural trade.
When Eiffel takes a young protégé, Adolphe Salles, under his wings, Claire feels pushed aside, but the animosity turns into friendship and more.
Then Eiffel receives the biggest commission of his life, a great iron tower, and the family legacy grows. But when the building of Panama canal turns into disaster, Claire fights in preserving his father’s legacy.
Claire is an interesting character, educated, strong-willed, devoted, but there were moments when I questioned if she’d be defiant to such extent as she was toward her grandmother and speak in such strong words as she did.
I wasn’t fully connected with her character as she was someone who worried about not being able to leave her mark on the project her father and husband were working on. I prefer characters who see a bigger picture of humanity. Despite her good traits, she seemed to be a bit too self-centered.
In big parts the story is driven by dialogue which might be to the liking of some. I prefer more dimensions to the character with descriptions rather than dialogue.
Nevertheless, it is a fascinating story, and it was interesting to learn about her character and contribution she made.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The Thirteenth Husband is based on real-life heiress Aimee Crocker (1864-1941).
Her father’s sudden death bestowed her with ten million dollars which sThe Thirteenth Husband is based on real-life heiress Aimee Crocker (1864-1941).
Her father’s sudden death bestowed her with ten million dollars which she used to have a very lavish life full of adventure and carelessness.
Seeing her parent’s business-like marriage, she craved romantic love. Her first marriage was before she turned twenty. The woes of her first husband ended very quickly and as the marriage was slipping out she was desperate to keep it together at first, then she asked for divorce. At which she became very proficient.
At first, the title seems misleading as she didn’t marry thirteen times. It is explained within the story what the number thirteen really meant and what would happen then.
The only strong trait about her that I can conclude from her life was her having guts to divorce during her time, and with her status it was heavily publicized. She was constantly in the spotlight which one might argue that she actually might have enjoyed it despite the criticism.
For those who enjoy reading about high lives of others this might be an enjoyable and entertaining read. In this regard, it is written well.
My problem with this story is that it’s one of those stories that leaves me questioning what was the point of telling the story of such frivolous person. What’s the point of shedding more light on her? She got enough attention during her lifetime. I don’t see substance or truly a strong character of someone who did something amazing with her life.
The pace seems fast at first but then as her adventures start sounding like repetition the pace seems to be slowing down. Or at least, the repetition for me was causing slow disengagement from the story.
P.S. I really enjoyed The Arctic Fury by this author, which I highly recommend.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
The Triumph of the Lions intriguingly imagines the saga of the Florios, whose founder initiated the spice company and extended into wine business in SThe Triumph of the Lions intriguingly imagines the saga of the Florios, whose founder initiated the spice company and extended into wine business in Sicily. This second installment follows the son and grandson of the founder.
Sicily, 1868: Vincenzo Florio assumes control of the family business following his father’s demise. With his burgeoning Marsala winery business attracting workers to the outskirts of Palermo, he is advised of the need for something to ensure the family’s peace of mind. Relationships are forged to such an extent that they become untouchable by the law. There is no necessity to involve the police from the north when matters can be resolved internally.
As Ignazio’s tale unfolds, he cherishes the memory of a woman he renounced for love, enabling the Florios to expend their business into realms his father could not – into the salons of aristocracy and the court of Savoys.
Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal fiercely compete for the port of Palermo, causing Vincenzo concerns. Exempt from taxation, they pose a stark contrast to the Italians, who are burdened with taxes. Disenchanted with the politics of Rome, which prioritizes personal gain over the welfare of its people, Vinzenzo looks northward to Rome, contemplating his next strategic move.
With ambitions of naval domination in the Mediterranean, he plans to demonstrate to Rome that alternative routes exist, requiring only Sicilian ingenuity. The Florios’ power and wealth go hand in hand.
This family saga delves into the dynamics across generations and the influence of wealth. The drive of the father mirrors that of the founder. Starting from nothing, they both work tirelessly to achieve financial independence. The founder’s grandson, born into wealth, adapts a contrasting approach to life, prioritizing love over financial pursuits, in stark opposition to his father, who sacrificed love for wealth. This divergence in values creates a rift, potentially threatening familial bonds.
However, the family is unprepared for the financial disaster that strikes. In 1893, Italy is rocked by the greatest financial scandal in its history, dragging the Florio family into chaos.
The narrative captivates with action-packed family dynamics and engaging prose, making for a fascinating read.
While Book 2 can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, I highly recommend beginning with Book 1 - The Florios of Sicily for a fuller understanding and appreciation of the story.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Finding Margaret Fuller vividly brings to life the extraordinary journey of Margaret Fuller, a pioneering woman who relentlessly championed women’s riFinding Margaret Fuller vividly brings to life the extraordinary journey of Margaret Fuller, a pioneering woman who relentlessly championed women’s rights and broader humanitarian causes. Her story, set against the backdrop of her remarkable achievements as a writer, unfolds with engaging first-person narration that captures Fuller’s spirited and trailblazing character.
The narrative begins in 1836 in Concord, Massachusetts, where Fuller receives an invitation from Ralph Waldo Emerson to visit him and his family at his Bush estate. Emerson, a profound thinker and staunch supporter of writers, shares enriching conversations with Fuller during their afternoon walks, discussing his essays and her insightful responses. Departing from this idyllic setting leaves Fuller reluctant to leave.
In Boston, Fuller takes a tutoring job to support her mother financially. Despite the loneliness of her single room in the bustling city, her life brightens when Bronson Alcott visits and offers her a position at his prestigious Temple School. However, Fuller grapples with whether teaching is her true calling, as it seems to drain her energy, conflicting with her passion for writing and thinking. Moreover, she faces societal judgment for choosing personal freedom over traditional commitments to marriage, a household, and children.
Determined to follow her own path, Fuller creates a women-only literary salon, and becomes an editor at The Dial magazine, followed by the New York Tribune. Her studies at the Harvard library mark her as the first woman to breach its walls, challenging societal norms with her written words. Fuller’s fight for women’s rights, the emancipation of slaves, and fair treatment of laborers exemplifies her defiance of the conventions of her time.
Fuller’s adventures continue as she becomes the first female foreign news correspondent. Her travels take her to France, where she mingles with luminaries like Frederic Chopin and George Sand, and to Rome, where she falls in love with a count.
The narrative’s first-person perspective lends authenticity and depth to Fuller’s voice, making her story not only believable but also deeply inspiring. Her commitment to following her heart and advocating for what she believes is right for humanity shines through. Against all societal constraints, she redefines the roles traditionally assigned to women, emerging as an enthralling figure surrounded by distinguished contemporaries.
The book’s prose is eloquently smooth, with seamlessly woven dialogue that propels the story forward. This masterful storytelling makes Finding Margaret Fuller a captivating and enriching read, paying homage to a woman whose life and work left an indelible mark on history.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com...more
The Romanov Brides delves into the captivating tale of two sisters from the Grand Duchy of Hesse – a small territory in western Germany - who married The Romanov Brides delves into the captivating tale of two sisters from the Grand Duchy of Hesse – a small territory in western Germany - who married into Romanov royal family and altered history.
In 1882, during a visit by their Russian cousins Paul and Serge to Dramstadt, Ella is charmed by Serge, and ten-year-old Alix becomes a fervent advocate for Ella’s marriage to Serge. However, their youth leaves them naïve about live in Russia, and the rest of the family is largely against the union.
With their father’s consent to the marriage, he extracts a promise from Ella to maintain their faith and to support her future husband publicly. Privately, however, he encourages her to be independent and express her own views. Concerned about Ella’s accommodating nature, he fears she may lack the fortitude to assert herself. This worry is echoed by her uncle, who questions the wisdom of raising children in a nation indifferent to its people. Ella’s eldest sister, Victoria, also probes Serge about Russian governance.
In a candid conversation, Serge reveals to Ella his preference for solitude or the company of his regiment, admitting that he had not desired female companionship until meeting her. He vows to respect her innocence and trust, flattering Ella but raising suspicions in her family about his motives.
Approaching seventeen and thus marriageable age, Alix is caught in the plans of her grandmother, the Queen of England. Ella, after a revelation in Jerusalem, argues against letting religious differences impede marriage. This stance irks their father, who views it as disrespectful in light of the wars fought over religion. Alix, smitten with Nicky during her Russian visit, is torn, especially as Nicky faces his own father’s disapproval due to Alix’s minor noble status and reluctance to convert to Orthodoxy.
This enthralling narrative portrays the sisters’ defiance of family and faith to bridge vastly different political realms. The skillfully crafted story weaves intrigue and mystery within a rich historical context, featuring lavish palaces, exquisite gowns, and stunning jewelry. The prose is masterful, evoking awe and immersing the reader in a history that continues to captivate.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
A Sign of Her Own illuminates the life of Alexander Graham Bell, particularly his development of Visible Speech for deaf-mute community. The narrativeA Sign of Her Own illuminates the life of Alexander Graham Bell, particularly his development of Visible Speech for deaf-mute community. The narrative revolves around the fictional character of Ellen Lark, who, after losing her hearing to scarlet fever, becomes Bell’s star pupil.
Her journey, interwoven with Bell’s quest for his invention’s patent, is skillfully depicted through a dual timeline, highlighting her life and perceived betrayal by Bell.
The tale commences with Bell, now an inventor, arriving in England. He seeks Ellen’s assistance in promoting Visible Speech. This request unsettles Ellen, as her husband is unaware of their full history. This complexity deepens when Ellen is asked to mediate a dispute over the rightful ownership of the Telephone patents, a testament to her close work with Bell’s work.
Ellen’s auditory challenges began at age four. In an era when sign language was undervalued, her mother was adamant about her learning an alternative communication method. Consequently, Ellen attended an Oral School, and later continued her education under Professor Bell of Boston University, a prominent figure in deaf-mute education.
Within the constraints of society, Ellen had limited exposure to sign language. In a world tailored for the hearing, such forms of communication were deemed inferior. Ellen excelled in lip-reading, a skill that earned her considerable recognition.
At Bell’s school, sign language was strictly prohibited; his focus was on developing vocal skills and speech reading, confidences he shared with Ellen. He also advocated the use of notebooks as an effective communication tool.
Ellen’s reunion with Bell stirs internal conflict. She feels betrayed by his contribution to the telephone, believing it undermined the deaf community. Revealing the truth jeopardizes not only her engagement and future security but also conflicts with her mother’s dying wishes.
The narrative vividly portrays the era’s patent frenzy and societal attitudes towards deaf individuals. Ellen’s experiences underscore the isolation caused by communication barriers. The story questions the disregard for the preferences of the deaf community, highlighting the tiring nature of lip-reading and the effectiveness yet societal rejection of sign language.
Narrated with eloquence, A Sign of Her Own explores the protagonist’s dilemma and decision-making, presenting a compelling story that sheds light on the era’s conflicting circumstances.
There are moments when the chapters seem to blear, not sure which time line it is. Once, I paid attention to the beginning of the chapter it became clear. Chapter titled Lesson#... is past timeline. Chapter with a picture of a sign language is present timeline.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
The Swan’s Nest brings a fascinating story of two 19th century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett.
In January 1845, Elizabeth has been confinThe Swan’s Nest brings a fascinating story of two 19th century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett.
In January 1845, Elizabeth has been confined to her room for the past four years by recurrent illness when she receives a letter from another poet she has secretly admired. Robert not only loves her poetry but also declares his love for her. This leads to an affectionate correspondence, but her insecurities delay their meeting in person.
Elizabeth’s stronger position, poetically and financially, has her family against Robert. Despite her health and the poetic love, Elizabeth has the strength to defy her family and follow her heart.
The story also involves a subplot which explains the financial status of Barrett family. They made their fortune on the backs of slaves at their sugar plantation in Jamaica.
It is truly a captivating story written with lyrical prose. However, the style of writing has a distant feel. A reader is invited to witness the conversations but kept at bay. This distant feel didn’t let me get fully attached with the characters.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Reclaiming Mini Sota weaves of a story of two individuals who come from different backgrounds. While they search for meaningful life, their paths crosReclaiming Mini Sota weaves of a story of two individuals who come from different backgrounds. While they search for meaningful life, their paths cross. It’s a sad time of war where they stand on opposite sides. Despite that there is something that unites them.
In 1850, Waabi, from Ojibwe tribe, is ten when his father takes him hunting for the first time, when his people experience famine for the first time in his native Minnesota. He is taught to respect the land and its natural resources; to take only what is needed from the land for them to survive. Soon after, he experiences the first unjust treatment from the hands of white people, when they’re being relocated to a different piece of land. This results in anger growing among Indians.
In 1859, Samuel is fifteen when tragedy strikes his family in his native Vermont. When his family struggles to survive, he learns about the frontier land that’s open in the middle west. In the new territory, one of their encounters with the Indians teaches them that they’ve taken more from the land than they should have, and ends tragically. The life in the new territory turns out to be pretty challenging. Samuel needs to make another hard decision in his life.
This fascinating story brings two interesting characters that show how we can live peacefully despite our differences; respect. It is steeped in history that doesn’t overwhelm the story. It is engaging from the first pages and holds to the very end.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
This story reimagines the young life of Mary Shelley at the time leading to the creation of her literary masterpiece, Frankenstein.
It alternates betweThis story reimagines the young life of Mary Shelley at the time leading to the creation of her literary masterpiece, Frankenstein.
It alternates between two timelines set apart by four years.
1816: Mary, with others, visits Lord Byron at Lake Geneva. It’s a circle of writers and poets that spend the evenings exchanging ghost stories. One night, Byron suggests that each writes a ghost story. While Mary muses over her tale, it reminds her of another summer, when she was fourteen.
1814: Mary is sent by her family from London to Dundee, Scotland, where she stays at Baxter family. She quickly becomes friends with Isabella Baxter, the younger of two daughters. They spend hours together wandering through the nature and conjuring stories about mythical creatures.
Baxter family has tradition of story night every second Friday of the month. There is a regular visitor to those evenings. It’s Mr. Booth, who is Isabella’s brother-in-law. From the first encounter, Mary notices something strange about him. At first impression, he looks handsome, but as she looks longer at him, it’s like his face takes another form. One evening, Mr. Booth tells a story of demonstration he saw years earlier when a corpse was more or less brought to life by electrical stimuli.
I enjoyed the character of Mary more in the timeline when she is fourteen, still innocent and discovering the world around her. However, there are quite a few scenes insinuating a sapphic involvement between two young girls, which I don’t know if it’s based on some facts or is fiction. I didn’t find those moments as engrossing part of the story.
In the later timeline, Mary already feels old and sounds older than her age and is grieved by the loss of her child. I found this timeline more dramatic and didn’t connect as strongly as with the earlier timeline.
The first half of the story has a faster pace as there are interesting facts being revealed. In the second half, there seems to be some repetition. Thus, there is not much moving the story forward.
Overall, it is an interesting story and written by a talented writer.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
The Woman at the Wheel imagines the story of Bertha Benz, whose husband built the first prototype automobile, which eventually evolved into the MercedThe Woman at the Wheel imagines the story of Bertha Benz, whose husband built the first prototype automobile, which eventually evolved into the Mercedes-Benz marque. She lived in the shadow of her husband. This story celebrates her contribution to his success.
Second half of 19th century. From a young age, Bertha Ringer is fascinated by her father’s work as a master builder in Pforzheim, Germany.
Bertha is bored with every man her mother tries to push her way until she meets Carl Benz. Despite her mother’s skepticism, Bertha is fascinated with his idea of the horseless carriage. His old clothes don’t scare her. It’s his mind that fascinates her.
The storytelling beautifully exposes his passion and his drive, and her strong believe in him. Her belief is so strong that she invests her dowry and inheritance in him. The path to success is not easy and meanwhile they need to make a living. They work as equal partners. They invent components for carriages, farming equipment, buildings, furniture and various other things to improve other’s work in producing higher quantities.
There are many hurdles on their journey. The new improved equipment is not cheap, it’s not easy to convince the buyer and see the vision of rising production. With each partner, his shares dwindle, and after a while each partnership fails until he becomes an outsider in his own company. With growing family, he needs to figure out how to support them and support his dream of horseless carriage.
The vivid imagination and the contrast in time periods create memorable scenes. Bertha’s mother had her dreams, but creating a horseless carriage is pretty much ridiculous. There are many others who see it as something foolish. To be against such skepticism, one must have an extraordinary drive to achieve such goal. But there is one partner, Bertha, that is not only his strongest supporter, but also is the driving force to his success. Despite the ridicule, resistance, and ever-dwindling resources, they persist with experimenting with the design.
It’s amazing to be witnessing the account of such extraordinary journey, to witness first hand such grit and determination of achieving something most couldn’t even imagine.
Spellbinding.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I’ve read a few historical fictions involving Lincoln. Despite that I was interested in this book as it gives a new angle of seeing Lincoln family. ItI’ve read a few historical fictions involving Lincoln. Despite that I was interested in this book as it gives a new angle of seeing Lincoln family. It’s through the eyes of a young émigré, who with her family, was forced to leave Madeira, Portugal.
1851, Springfield, IL. Fourteen-year-old Ana with her family had to flee their island due to the religious intolerance and hardship they experienced there. In this new land, they quickly saw that with hard work they could achieve a decent living, not possible in Madeira.
Ana gets hired as help to clean and help with little Lincoln boys. She witnesses the rise of Abraham Lincoln to presidency, and his fight for equality.
With her African American friend Cal, Ana witnesses the underground railroad in Springfield. It’s a horrifying experience to leave the abuse of her island, only to witness how her adopted country is torn by slavery.
The narration is through three characters: Ana, Spencer Donnegan, a free black man, minister and barber. With his brother William, they help runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad. And Mary Todd Lincoln.
The story is steeped in historical facts, many I wasn’t familiar with. It was interesting to learn the backstory of Madeira Island and why people were fleeing it, and the little-known Springfield race riot of 1908.
Some of the storytelling is through telling, which I wished was through characters actually experiencing what was being told. We learn a lot of history and what was happening, but we don’t experience much of characters experiencing their stories.
P.S. Also, highly recommend, Loving Frank by this author.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Emilienne is based on the true story of Emilienne Andre who was born to poverty and had risen to be the most sought-after woman in Paris in the 19th cEmilienne is based on the true story of Emilienne Andre who was born to poverty and had risen to be the most sought-after woman in Paris in the 19th century.
Paris, 1889: Emilienne, at almost eighteen, learns quickly the value of her beauty. Dancing comes naturally to her and that’s what she sees as her way out of poverty. Her grit takes her from one dancing club to traveling troop. With her heart shaped face and friendly personality, she steels the show wherever she goes. Then, an act at cirque opens up as rabbit dresser. It’s not a dancing position she craves, but she recognizes an opportunity for yet another spotlight. And with her new act she becomes a rising star over Paris.
Emilienne with her honest voice pulls the reader into her story from the first pages. She is a quick learner, and she also understands that dancing lasts as long as her beauty does. There comes a time when she must make a choice of man’s security and his choice for her life or her free will of being free spirited.
The story also involves Coco Chanel as two women were good friends. At the beginning, they both depend on men, but later they choose two different paths. Both stories are fascinating.
This richly imagined story evokes human emotions and brings to light this captivating woman who was thought to be one of the most beautiful and intelligent courtesans of the Belle Époque. She was someone who defied the norms, and stayed true to her spirit. She did what she loved the most, and remained true to it....more
An American Beauty is inspired by the true story of Arabella Huntington, who became the wealthiest self-made woman in America.
1867, Richmond, VirginiaAn American Beauty is inspired by the true story of Arabella Huntington, who became the wealthiest self-made woman in America.
1867, Richmond, Virginia. Arabella Duvall Yarrington (Belle in short), at seventeen, works at gambling parlor. With her personality and charm, she catches an eye of Collins Huntington, railroad baron. After they get acquainted, arrangements are made for her to live in NYC. And those are quite peculiar arrangements. She is a savvy woman and knows that she can’t rely just on those arrangements. Thus, she makes her own measures. She sees an opportunity in location and pieces of land.
Belle’s story in small pieces is intertwined with the story of her mother and young Clara, daughter of Collins Huntington. With marvelous prose, their backstories are smoothly woven in.
This story lightly weaves Belle’s own story of investing. It’s more about her mysterious backstory and how she navigated in high society, where it strongly paints a picture of a woman who forged her own path. A woman who stood her own and didn’t care about fitting with the Four Hundred. She was who she was and cared about her extraordinary life journey, rather than fitting with the high society of New York.
The whole storytelling is breathtaking. It has well-developed characters, a silky smooth flow, and is engaging from the start to the end.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
The End of Drum-Time explores the cultural clashes among the Nordic people. Sami people, also called Lapps, kept being pushed up north above the ArctiThe End of Drum-Time explores the cultural clashes among the Nordic people. Sami people, also called Lapps, kept being pushed up north above the Arctic Circle as no one wanted to bother with them and wanted them out of the way. Sami received some freedom in the north as they crossed the borders with their reindeers. But with time, the Christian settlers started dominating even this most norther land. With their domination, they were suppressing Sami traditions.
Set in the middle of 19th century Sweden. The characters are superbly developed. We meet an array of very interesting characters.
Lars Levi is the pastor, who seems to be affected by the death of his son. His sermons have become wild, supposedly affecting some people with sickness. Curiosity got hold of some people filling the church as they wanted to see who’d go crazy next.
Henrik in his store sells alcohol illegally. He came to this remote area and would have left the same day if he had money. But he got fooled by his uncle who promised it’d be easy to make a fortune off of Lapps’ drinking.
Ivvar is the main character, and the love attraction for some women in this story. With his father, Biettar, they’re both Sami herders. Biettar has a religious awakening and afterwards absorbing Christian values. As a result, more and more Sami people abandon their traditions and beliefs.
When it comes to plot, what drives it are the love connections to Ivvar and the change his father experiences. After meeting this phenomenal array of characters, I was ready for something more happening in their lives. The plot is not the strong force of this story.
There is a lot to praise about this story: rich in character development and culture exploration and the way of life and beautiful prose. But I wished the plot was stronger to make the pace faster.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
The Tiffany Girls brings a fascinating story of everyday women who worked at workshop for Mr. Tiffany, and were required to remain single in order to The Tiffany Girls brings a fascinating story of everyday women who worked at workshop for Mr. Tiffany, and were required to remain single in order to work for him. But they were treated equally with male coworkers, receiving equal pay.
NYC, 1899. The story weaves the paths of three ambitious women.
Emilie Pascal, daughter of an art forger, leaves the shunned life in Paris, and arrives in NYC in hopes of working for the studio of Louis C. Tiffany.
Grace Griffith admires Mr. Tiffany for hiring women, who make some of his most praised designs. She wishes she couldn’t be secretive about her dream job, which is being a cartoonist for journals and newspapers.
Clara Driscoll is the manager of the women’s division at Tiffany, and she has her own ambition. She attempts to capture the essence of the flight of dragonflies into a lamp. Later, it becomes Tiffany’s signature design.
As the stories of these women are woven, it is set against the atmospheric background of Tiffany’s workshop and their latest project which they work on for the Paris Exposition. As they work on creating the “Four Seasons” window, there is cutting of the glass, matching of the colors, and painstaking work of putting all the tiny pieces together. Then, the excitement of the big moment comes by displaying it at the Paris Expo. The atmosphere is contagious. It makes you want to be part of it.
It is written with passion and shedding light on every day women, who never truly received credit for their incredible work. Along the way, creating camaraderie among women, friendship and their drive to be artists in the way possible in their time.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Mrs. Van Gogh reimagines the life of Johanna Gezina Bonger, a woman, who cared about Vincent van Gogh’s talent and did everything possible that his woMrs. Van Gogh reimagines the life of Johanna Gezina Bonger, a woman, who cared about Vincent van Gogh’s talent and did everything possible that his work wouldn’t be forgotten.
1888. When Jo, as she is known, visits her brother in Paris for the summer, she experiences something new. Her brother is part of the Parisian artistic circle, and introduces Jo to Van Gogh brothers. Theo is a successful art dealer, where on the other hand, Vincent is a penniless artist.
When, she herself, tries her artistic abilities, she starts discovering about herself. Who she is and who she could possibly become. Only to find out that she is being pushed into marriage by her mother. She likes the idea of what Montmartre artistic area offers – to be bohemian and flamboyant, without any rush to marry. Jo doesn’t want an ordinary life, but she is not in a position to make a choice. She needs to make the most of what life offers her.
Later, she inherits all of Vincent’s paintings and letters. As a lover of art, she gets the drive to bring Vincent’s art to the world. And for the world to understand him better through his paintings – his hard work and his sorrows, not his madness.
The story is written thoughtfully. We get to know Jo well through her aspirations, thoughts, and feelings. She is a caring and likeable person. Her story begins with her ambitions, which quickly are put aside, then the story progresses with her marriage and friendship with Vincent. At the end, she emerges as a strong woman with her own voice, who leads the way with her ambitious project. It is a story of a remarkable woman, who, for most part, was unknown to the world until now.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The House Is On Fire recreates the true story of 1811 theater fire in Richmond, Virginia, that took some lives and extinguished a theater company.
TheThe House Is On Fire recreates the true story of 1811 theater fire in Richmond, Virginia, that took some lives and extinguished a theater company.
The story is driven by four characters: Sally, a society widow, who after the fire nurses the victims; Cecily, abused slave, who is about to change her fate; Jack, stagehand, who feels guilty about the fire; Gilbert, blacksmith, who saves many lives.
Through their eyes, we experience the events of the night when the fire happens and its effects. We experience the high society of the era, and those who struggled; the injustice of slavery and more.
The chapters are short, giving it a fast pace. The characters are interesting and I like the short chapters, but sometimes I wanted a bit more to character development before it switched to another. There are also secondary characters and sometimes it’s hard to keep track of them. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating and engaging story.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
After Sappho is a sapphic historical fiction, which involves many women and is told in cascading vignettes.
The book begins with three women: Lina PolAfter Sappho is a sapphic historical fiction, which involves many women and is told in cascading vignettes.
The book begins with three women: Lina Poletti (Italian poet), Rina Faccio (Italian writer), and Anna Kuliscioff, who was born in Ukraine, but studied medicine in Italy and became one of the first doctors in Italy, and strong voice for women across Europe.
It’s a story of women who fought for human treatment of women. They didn’t want lives that led to asylums. They also demanded freedom to grow intellectually, to be able to read and discuss it with other women. They argued that voting for men only is not democracy, but tyranny.
The story involves many fascinating women and this is what I appreciate, shedding light on them. As the story is told in brief pieces and keeps introducing new women, it hardly feels as a novel. After the introduction of the three women, they in a way connect, but I thought there would be more to their stories. Instead, the book progresses with introduction of more women.
The short vignettes give it a feel of brisk introduction of different women, but I wanted to connect with those women on a deeper level. That was the missing part for me.
Overall, it is a fascinating story of women who were brought to light.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The Invincible Miss Cust reimagines the story of Aleen Cust, the first woman veterinary surgeon of Britain and Ireland.
19th century. Aleen is born in The Invincible Miss Cust reimagines the story of Aleen Cust, the first woman veterinary surgeon of Britain and Ireland.
19th century. Aleen is born in Ireland to an aristocratic English family. Growing up with brothers, she notices the experiences and opportunities that her brother have, but they are denied to her. From childhood, she loves horses, adventure, and competition. When she learns about such position as veterinary surgeon, it becomes her dream. But that is not to be, she is told. That would be a disgrace to family.
When her family returns to England, she gets embraced by family whose daughter shares the same passions as Aleen. The difference is her friend is allowed to go hunting and do the training as a nurse. Aleen’s eyes open to a different world where opportunities for women are possible.
The compromise is for Aleen to become a nurse, but she quickly discovers that nursing is not for her. She prefers countryside to stifling city hospital walls. And she resents the stiff relationship between doctors and nurses.
When she is about to give up her dream, an opportunity opens up.
In the first part of the story, we get to know Aleen and her family. What it takes for her to break through the walls of her family and to follow her dream. Once the dream is possible, she is against other walls. The man’s world, where she is not welcomed among her fellow students. Some accuse her of being a disgrace. Others ridicule her for being at the wrong place. But as it turns out, the biggest obstacles are still ahead of her.
The character of Aleen is interestingly explored. Her taking a professional position in man’s world isn’t an easy path. And there are other challenges. Coming from a privileged family, it most likely isn’t easy for her to transition to very simple lodgings with a privy in the backyard. The loneliness she feels, because her family ostracizes her. Accusing her of being selfish and causing them shame.
The story is vividly presented, with scenes of her childhood, school years, and professional life, while tending to animals and trying to save them. It is a story of a woman who breaks many conventions, not only with her professional life, but later also with her private life. It is a fascinating portrayal of one’s life who stands against challenges, but when the right people come along to give her a hand, she grabs the opportunity. Her family is against her, but there are some who support her and encourage her to fight for her dream.
With sophisticated prose and fascinating storytelling, the passion of one’s woman comes to life.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com ...more
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