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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Not sure who recommended this one, but I found it on Libby (if you don’t have a library card, get one. E-book borrowing is the best!) it was a great historical fiction/mystery, set in the gilded age of the 1920’s. It hooked me and left me with some curiosity about the Frick gallery in New York, more for the architecture of the mansion than the art if I am to be honest.
I think maybe Fiona Davis writes specific books just for me that I specifically would adore. Her stories are always so captivating. I loved the mystery, scavenger hunt, interesting female characters, the importance of setting, all amongst some historical events. I had never heard of the Frick’s and think even less about the individuals who have posed as an artist’s muse. Fiona Davis did it again!! I love all of her books.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
medium-paced
While I enjoyed this book as a fun summer read, I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. The resolutions to the mystery as well as the characters fates was convenient and not very realistic.
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wish I could give this 3.5 stars. It was a nice book and very entertaining. Interesting use of historical fact blended with the author’s imagination of how things may have happened. I did enjoy it. An easy and fun read.
No matter what different genres I digress to, no question, my favorite always ends up being historical fiction... a culmination of historical era, places and people emerged in a fictionalized story....
This was my first Fiona Davis book and I immediately fell in love with the premise of what appears to be all her stories where she takes a real place in NYC of a bygone era with characters from that time to create her stories around... what a great way to learn history!
This story is about the Frick family and their mansion which after Henry Fricks death was converted to an art museum... our main character is Lillian Carter based on the real life character of the time Audrey Munson, the sculptor super model of the 1910s who posed nudes for the artists of nyc and who's 'likeness' statues are seen all around city landmarks... at the outset of the story her landlord, obsessed with her, kills his wife ( true Audrey story) and Lillian has to flee before she's implicated in the saga and finds herself in front of the Frick mansion admiring her 'likeness' statue over their doorway, when she's mistaken for an applicant to become Helen Frick's personal secretary.... needless to say, she gets the job and serves the family for a few months before Mr. Frick's suspicious death.
Alot of the Frick family info, characters and turn of events/ drama seems to be based on reality, which is fascinating- except of course the suggestion that Audrey ever worked for the Fricks ( which is fictionalized). The ending for Lillian is much nicer written then Audrey's real life story, which I appreciated.
In the process you learn a ton about art and artists of the era and I found myself constantly googling these art pieces. This book very much reminded me of the 'Personal Librarian' by Marie Benedict and the 'Collector's Apprentice' by B.A. Shapiro.... both of which were great 'Art' based historical fictions.
I highly recommend the audiobook, which was amazingly narrated by Karissa Vacker. Very enjoyable.
This was my first Fiona Davis book and I immediately fell in love with the premise of what appears to be all her stories where she takes a real place in NYC of a bygone era with characters from that time to create her stories around... what a great way to learn history!
This story is about the Frick family and their mansion which after Henry Fricks death was converted to an art museum... our main character is Lillian Carter based on the real life character of the time Audrey Munson, the sculptor super model of the 1910s who posed nudes for the artists of nyc and who's 'likeness' statues are seen all around city landmarks... at the outset of the story her landlord, obsessed with her, kills his wife ( true Audrey story) and Lillian has to flee before she's implicated in the saga and finds herself in front of the Frick mansion admiring her 'likeness' statue over their doorway, when she's mistaken for an applicant to become Helen Frick's personal secretary.... needless to say, she gets the job and serves the family for a few months before Mr. Frick's suspicious death.
Alot of the Frick family info, characters and turn of events/ drama seems to be based on reality, which is fascinating- except of course the suggestion that Audrey ever worked for the Fricks ( which is fictionalized). The ending for Lillian is much nicer written then Audrey's real life story, which I appreciated.
In the process you learn a ton about art and artists of the era and I found myself constantly googling these art pieces. This book very much reminded me of the 'Personal Librarian' by Marie Benedict and the 'Collector's Apprentice' by B.A. Shapiro.... both of which were great 'Art' based historical fictions.
I highly recommend the audiobook, which was amazingly narrated by Karissa Vacker. Very enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this read. I agree with others that the ending was wrapped up a bit TOO succinctly, but I enjoyed both the mystery and history/art aspect. Hoping to talk my husband into watching some Cocktails with a Curator at Frick.org :)