Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
✨ Review ✨ Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
This book was an absolute delight of historical fiction. Set in the five months preceding Queen Elizabeth's coronation (June 2, 1953), the book follows the owner and two guests at the Blue Lion Hotel, a historic hotel on the coronation parade route. Edie began her ownership of the hotel after her parents died young, and she's trying to keep the hotel afloat. A family friend of Edie's, Stella moves in to the hotel after getting a job as a photographer at Picture Weekly Magazine. And, finally, James, war hero and artist, is commissioned to paint the image of QE2 passing by the building across the street from the Blue Lion on coronation day.
The book brilliantly rotates between these three characters to bring forward not only their individual viewpoints but also a sense of the network at the hotel and the interconnections between characters. I appreciated that it brought in Edie's struggles as a single young business owner; Stella's experience in WWII as a Jew, and James's constant battle with the racism he faces as a Scottish person with Indian ancestry. I loved the found family dynamics here as well.
I especially enjoyed the way this situates the characters' experiences in the postwar world -- featuring tensions in race and identity, photography and changing media, and more. It read beautifully as a work of historical fiction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was an absolute delight of historical fiction. Set in the five months preceding Queen Elizabeth's coronation (June 2, 1953), the book follows the owner and two guests at the Blue Lion Hotel, a historic hotel on the coronation parade route. Edie began her ownership of the hotel after her parents died young, and she's trying to keep the hotel afloat. A family friend of Edie's, Stella moves in to the hotel after getting a job as a photographer at Picture Weekly Magazine. And, finally, James, war hero and artist, is commissioned to paint the image of QE2 passing by the building across the street from the Blue Lion on coronation day.
The book brilliantly rotates between these three characters to bring forward not only their individual viewpoints but also a sense of the network at the hotel and the interconnections between characters. I appreciated that it brought in Edie's struggles as a single young business owner; Stella's experience in WWII as a Jew, and James's constant battle with the racism he faces as a Scottish person with Indian ancestry. I loved the found family dynamics here as well.
I especially enjoyed the way this situates the characters' experiences in the postwar world -- featuring tensions in race and identity, photography and changing media, and more. It read beautifully as a work of historical fiction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This newest book by Jennifer Robson, set to be released in April of 2023, is actually the first one I have read by her and I will definitely be picking up her previous works as I really enjoyed her writing.
I will admit initial disappointment that the story was not at all what I was expecting it to be but once I got over that, I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was.
The less you know about its plot the better in my opinion but it is a historical fiction that follows 3 storylines during the year of Queen Elizabeth's coronation.
I received an arc as a Goodreads giveaway, three months after the Queen's death and really hope the final edition includes an author's note including a reflection on the timing of the story not knowing that there would be the coronation of a new king a few months after its offical release!
For those who have read and love 84, Charing Cross Road you will be happy to hear this road being referenced often and for those who would love to visit London through the pages of a book give this one a go!
I will admit initial disappointment that the story was not at all what I was expecting it to be but once I got over that, I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was.
The less you know about its plot the better in my opinion but it is a historical fiction that follows 3 storylines during the year of Queen Elizabeth's coronation.
I received an arc as a Goodreads giveaway, three months after the Queen's death and really hope the final edition includes an author's note including a reflection on the timing of the story not knowing that there would be the coronation of a new king a few months after its offical release!
For those who have read and love 84, Charing Cross Road you will be happy to hear this road being referenced often and for those who would love to visit London through the pages of a book give this one a go!
This was such a fun read! The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II provides a really interesting time period to set this historical fiction novel, especially as it was in the decade past the end of VE day. The story was easy to get into and I loved the characters! I highly recommend it!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I think this could be Jennifer Robson's best novel. I loved reading it!
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is another enjoyable book by Canadian author Jennifer Robson. Her love of the Royal Family comes through on every page. She is very skilled at putting fictional characters and locations into known points in history. My only disappointment is that the book felt smaller than The Gown (wider margins and bigger spacing between the lines). Recommended.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No