This is Fiona Davis’s third New York City based historical novel and it is a winner! I have not read her earlier books,The Address and The Dollhouse, but may well do so now.
The Masterpiece has a dual narrative structure, one story is set in the 1920s-30’s and the other in the 1970s. The stories of Clara Darden and Virginia Clay overlap and intersect.
Darden is an illustrator, teacher and painter in the earlier era while Virginia, a divorcee, begins working at Grand Central around the time when the landmark battle was underway. Each woman has a backstory, relationships and challenges, all of which are well depicted.
Did you know that in the 1920’s there was an art school right in Grand Central? Did you know that Sargent was one of the founders? Are you interested in historical preservation? Do you enjoy a story with a plot twist? If you can answer yes to any, or all of these questions, I highly recommend this book.
#TheMasterpiece #NetGalley
I adore this series which tells the stories of women of many talents. The books are short but detailed and factual with appealing illustrations. Georgia comes to life as a young girl who loves art and moves away from home to become an artist. Her love of city architecture, the appeal of looking at things up close and her deep appreciation for the southwest all shine through. Plus, the reader learns about Alfred Stieglitz. A great series for parents and children to share. These books provide role models for dreaming children.
This is the most buzzy of buzzes! This publication is available through NetGalley or you can access it at Amazon. It is absolutely worth looking at. Among the exciting things to mention for the fall season …Jodi Picoult, Tana French, Barbara Kingsolver and Kate Atkinson all have novels coming out. They and so many others are listed in this Book Buzz. It will be a great season for reading!
As June approaches, love and weddings start to be on people’s minds. If you don’t have a real June wedding to attend, take some time to spend a fictional summer on Nantucket and be a guest at a wedding there.
Seeing this book as a bargain reminded me of what a wonderful series the Kathy Kolla and David Brock series is. The Marx Sisters was the first book.
I look forward to Buzz Books Monthly and am never disappointed. This is a great resource for learning about what to read as the new books for the month are released. This time read excerpts from good fiction, including the new novel by Allison Pearson. She wrote I Don’t Know How She Does It and will now examine midlife issues for her characters. There are also listings of fiction, non-fiction and debuts for June. Take a look and savor your next read.
Lisa Scottoline has written many books. This is where she began. I read this many years ago and went on to read other books in the series. The book was originally published in 1993 so I will borrow the blurb, rather than trying to remember the plot.
Deborah Crombie is, like Elizabeth George and Martha Grimes, an American author who sets her novels in Britain. I adore this series which I have read ever since the first in the series, A Share in Death, was written.
Clare O’Donohue has written several mystery series. I was familiar with her quilting mysteries which I enjoyed. I was excited to see that the author had written something in a new series and that it was set in Ireland. The descriptions of places in the Emerald Isle did not disappoint. I also enjoyed watching the relationship between Finn and Hollis evolve, each has a distinct approach to life at the start of the novel. Anyone who has been married or in a relationship will be able to relate. The mystery itself was a bit too based on chases for me. In that way, I think that perhaps the book could have been more tightly written. Nonetheless, a good read.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 