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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my second Fiona Davis book, and I feel confident saying I just really enjoy her approach to writing. While I loved The Magnolia Palace more than this one, The Dollhouse delivers a fascinating history of NYC’s famous Barbizon Hotel wrapped up in a fictional story about women trying to break out of societal expectations.
The Dollhouse follows two storylines - one with Darby in 1952, one with Rose in 2016 - that feature similar storylines of wanting to be independent, yet feeling trapped by standards in society. Rose obviously has less of a struggle with this, but Darby’s storyline really delves into how difficult it was for a woman to make a name for herself in the 1950s. Both timelines held my interest, although I didn’t really love either lead character; they were both fine, but not super memorable. I really liked seeing how the two storylines eventually were connected, and seeing characters across storylines interact.
Basically, as long as Fiona Davis keeps writing NYC historical fiction with a focus on cool old buildings, I’m gonna bite. I recommend this as a light mystery with a lot of neat old timey NYC elements (but also the not neat elements too: racism, sexism, etc…Davis doesn’t clean up the history, and I really appreciate that.)
Also, Fiona Davis does RESEARCH, y’all. I remember her author’s note at the end of The Magnolia Palace vividly, and she has an equally intensive one here as she discusses all she did to better understand the women of the Barbizon. I love a research queen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The Dollhouse follows two storylines - one with Darby in 1952, one with Rose in 2016 - that feature similar storylines of wanting to be independent, yet feeling trapped by standards in society. Rose obviously has less of a struggle with this, but Darby’s storyline really delves into how difficult it was for a woman to make a name for herself in the 1950s. Both timelines held my interest, although I didn’t really love either lead character; they were both fine, but not super memorable. I really liked seeing how the two storylines eventually were connected, and seeing characters across storylines interact.
Basically, as long as Fiona Davis keeps writing NYC historical fiction with a focus on cool old buildings, I’m gonna bite. I recommend this as a light mystery with a lot of neat old timey NYC elements (but also the not neat elements too: racism, sexism, etc…Davis doesn’t clean up the history, and I really appreciate that.)
Also, Fiona Davis does RESEARCH, y’all. I remember her author’s note at the end of The Magnolia Palace vividly, and she has an equally intensive one here as she discusses all she did to better understand the women of the Barbizon. I love a research queen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
2.5/3 audio. Interesting premise, I wanted to love this book but it fell a bit flat. An ok read.
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Dollhouse was a book that I wasn’t expecting to like quite as much as I did. While it is the style of book that I enjoy (multiple perspectives and time periods), I have never read, nor have I have felt a desire to read, about life in NYC in the 50’s. This book changed all that. As I was reading I would start looking up places and events that were mentioned in the book and was surprised to find the amount of research that went into the book as most everything I could find was accurate. I really enjoy when authors fit their story into historical events or time periods and this book stays very true to those events. This was an excellent book. I couldn’t put it down and it wasn’t because of suspense of finding out what happened but rather interest and intrigue about the characters; who they were and what choices they would make. I would definitely recommend this one to any fan of historical fiction, especially the 1950’s.
Nice little book. Don't really have much to add other than that though.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Per recommendation - This book was a pleasant surprise. I would not have chosen this book on the premise alone, but it read like a breeze. The alternative 2016/1952 chapters were short enough that you didn't lose track of each storyline. Throughout the book I really didn't like Esme, as I thought she was a selfish and pushy "friend". But I felt the book ended beautifully and left me satisfied.
Fiona Davis is becoming a must read for me! This book drew me in and I found myself lost in this amazing story, this book gives you a glimpse into the 1950’s.
2016 Rose Lewin a journalist has just moved into an apartment in the former Barbizon Hotel, with her newly divorced boyfriend. The Barbizon Hotel use to be the home to young woman pursuing model and Secretary careers, away from the watchful eyes of their parents but now under the watch of the house woman.
One day while walking through the lobby Rose meets an unfriendly elderly resident. Asking the doorman Rose is told that woman and a few other elderly residents are long term tenants from the Barbizon Hotel. The Doorman then informs her that the elderly woman was involved in an accidental death on the roof of the hotel back in 1950’s. Rose decides this would be the perfect story to investigate.
We meet Darby McLaughlin in flashbacks from 1952, she just moved from Ohio to start classes at Katherine Gibbs at the hotel to be a secretary. She’s immediately looked down on by the other classmates. She soon befriends a maid at the hotel named Esme. Esme introduces Darby to the other side of New York. Soon Darby finds herself sneaking out of the hotel and hanging out at a bebop club. We soon see how Darby and Esme relationship develops and what led them to the roof that fateful night.
The chapters alternate between Darby and Rose and I couldn’t get enough. This book had everything mystery, suspense, romance and heartbreak! Five stars!
2016 Rose Lewin a journalist has just moved into an apartment in the former Barbizon Hotel, with her newly divorced boyfriend. The Barbizon Hotel use to be the home to young woman pursuing model and Secretary careers, away from the watchful eyes of their parents but now under the watch of the house woman.
One day while walking through the lobby Rose meets an unfriendly elderly resident. Asking the doorman Rose is told that woman and a few other elderly residents are long term tenants from the Barbizon Hotel. The Doorman then informs her that the elderly woman was involved in an accidental death on the roof of the hotel back in 1950’s. Rose decides this would be the perfect story to investigate.
We meet Darby McLaughlin in flashbacks from 1952, she just moved from Ohio to start classes at Katherine Gibbs at the hotel to be a secretary. She’s immediately looked down on by the other classmates. She soon befriends a maid at the hotel named Esme. Esme introduces Darby to the other side of New York. Soon Darby finds herself sneaking out of the hotel and hanging out at a bebop club. We soon see how Darby and Esme relationship develops and what led them to the roof that fateful night.
The chapters alternate between Darby and Rose and I couldn’t get enough. This book had everything mystery, suspense, romance and heartbreak! Five stars!
I loved the ending to this book. I really did not know how things were gonna go... lots of good plot twists. And I loved both perspectives.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture