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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
The only thing that is saving Fiona Davis' "The Magnolia Palace" from a two star rating is that it picked up in the last sixty pages and that part was somewhat entertaining. I typically avoid sepia-toned covers featuring grand historic settings and the back of a woman. They generally signify a saccharine and melodramatic work, and I was not wrong. What made me relent is that it did not have the word "girl" in the title, and the setting is the Frick Collection, one of my favorite museums in the world. The story alternates between 1919 where Lillian Carter-- the famed model "Angelica" who posed for sculptors for their statues that dot NYC-- is connected to a murder that threatens her Hollywood dreams. By happenstance during her escape, she ends up employed for Miss Helen Clay Frick, the dowdy, temperamental daughter of Henry Clay Frick, the controversial steel magnate and founder of the Collection. She becomes embroiled in a scheme to get Helen married, but not without luring the possible fiancé and the family's organ player. Then again, her future dreams of Hollywood and love are shattered when she is accused of another murder (the girl just can't get a break). Fast forward to 1966 when British model Veronica is at the Frick for a photo shoot. Things go awry and she is locked in with the archivist, Joshua. Together they find clues around the house that might lead to the "Magnolia Diamond". Can their work in the present solve the mysteries of the past?
The strengths of this book is that Davis provides excellent insight into the Frick, not as a museum, but as a home. Through this book I was able to revisit the museum and "see" my favorite sights, but I also got to learn more about it as a house, to "see" the rooms that are not currently open to the public. It was also fun when some of my favorite paintings were mentioned, especially when Lillian's favorite is my favorite, too: Vermeer's "The Soldier with the Laughing Girl". Although, great attention was given to the Fragonard Room, nothing was said about the other two Vermeer paintings. Frick owned THREE of the thirty five known Vermeer paintings. That's a BFD. Queen Elizabeth only has one. Davis also did well at capturing the Frick's tragic family drama; all of their wealth cannot ease Mr. and Mrs. Frick's pain of losing a child. The child's visage still loomed large over the family years later. Davis humanizes the family from the societal paragons they are perceived to be.
But I found the writing to be flat and the characters two-dimensional. It was the least suspenseful suspenseful story I have ever read. The plot felt far-fetched and contrived, and once we moved away from looking at the art on the walls to the actual characters, I just wasn't buying it. It felt superficial at best, and when any character spoke about a painting or the history of the house, they sounded like a Wikipedia entry. It just wasn't for me. Lots of people are raving about it and the editors at Book of the Month made it one of their selections, so maybe it will have better luck with you.
The strengths of this book is that Davis provides excellent insight into the Frick, not as a museum, but as a home. Through this book I was able to revisit the museum and "see" my favorite sights, but I also got to learn more about it as a house, to "see" the rooms that are not currently open to the public. It was also fun when some of my favorite paintings were mentioned, especially when Lillian's favorite is my favorite, too: Vermeer's "The Soldier with the Laughing Girl". Although, great attention was given to the Fragonard Room, nothing was said about the other two Vermeer paintings. Frick owned THREE of the thirty five known Vermeer paintings. That's a BFD. Queen Elizabeth only has one. Davis also did well at capturing the Frick's tragic family drama; all of their wealth cannot ease Mr. and Mrs. Frick's pain of losing a child. The child's visage still loomed large over the family years later. Davis humanizes the family from the societal paragons they are perceived to be.
But I found the writing to be flat and the characters two-dimensional. It was the least suspenseful suspenseful story I have ever read. The plot felt far-fetched and contrived, and once we moved away from looking at the art on the walls to the actual characters, I just wasn't buying it. It felt superficial at best, and when any character spoke about a painting or the history of the house, they sounded like a Wikipedia entry. It just wasn't for me. Lots of people are raving about it and the editors at Book of the Month made it one of their selections, so maybe it will have better luck with you.
3.5, I would have liked this piece of historical fiction to have had more history. So if you're expecting Audrey Munson's story or deep insights about the Fricks, go elsewhere. This is just a tease. Otherwise, it's good fiction enjoyably told.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
ReadHeads Book Club May Pick
Objectively, this was a really good, well written book with a very well thought out plot and interesting characters. I did enjoy it, however, there are some elements that i didn't love (like the 1966 plotline, needed a lot more depth to it. I liked what the author was trying to do bit it fell short and just felt so random). I don't think I feel passionately enough about it to recommend, hence 3 stars
Objectively, this was a really good, well written book with a very well thought out plot and interesting characters. I did enjoy it, however, there are some elements that i didn't love (like the 1966 plotline, needed a lot more depth to it. I liked what the author was trying to do bit it fell short and just felt so random). I don't think I feel passionately enough about it to recommend, hence 3 stars
A very nice story surrounding a real life historical landmark. I really loved how the author went back and forth between two women’s stories and eventually intertwined them into one- all with highlighting real life exhibits of The Frick Collection. A slow start and definitely more calm than I’m used to in terms of a read- however it was a nice change of pace and I did enjoy the ending a lot.
I love a good historical fiction book and in the Magnolia Palace, Fiona Davis is at her best with this dual timeline story of the Frick family that involves a mystery, a jewelry heist and an art world scandal. In alternating timelines, we travel to 1919 and Lillian’s journey as private secretary to Helen Frick and 1966 when Veronica, an aspiring actress, gets locked in the Frick museum during a snowstorm.
Read if you enjoy:
Dual timelines
New York City setting
Scavenger Hunts
Family Secrets
This was a fun adventure that I would recommend to anyone looking to for a good historical read!
Read if you enjoy:
Dual timelines
New York City setting
Scavenger Hunts
Family Secrets
This was a fun adventure that I would recommend to anyone looking to for a good historical read!
adventurous
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:
Yes
I thought it was good! The story was solid, if slow-going for the majority of the time--though the pace did pick up at the end which was nice. I liked the multiple viewpoints, but the 1919 timeline felt like the stronger storyline with more nuanced characters. Veronica and Joshua were likable enough, but they felt flat compared to Lillian and Helen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Murder
Minor: Racism, Blood, Medical content
Actual rating 3.5 stars
I absolutely adore Fiona Davis. I have been a fan since 2017 when I stumbled upon [b:The Dollhouse|28504574|The Dollhouse|Fiona Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471139804l/28504574._SY75_.jpg|48657995] in an indie bookstore. I love her dual-timeline storytelling method. Her characters tend to pop off the page. She has an uncanny ability to bring buildings to life in a way that they deserve “character” status.
Given my love for her work, pre-ordering The Magnolia Palace was a given. Reading it sooner rather than later, even with my teetering TBR pile, was certain. Knowing I was in for another architectural marvel mixed with colorful human characters was a foregone conclusion. Closing the cover after finishing the book, sighing, and saying “Well. Not bad. Not my favorite though”? Well, I had not anticipated that response!
And Magnolia Palace was not bad. Fiona Davis’ descriptions of the Frick Mansion had me ready to hop a plane a visit another of New York City’s architectural marvels. But the characters didn’t have the zing & pop as they did in other of Davis’ stories. And I was downright annoyed with the fact that the scavenger hunt notes remained hidden for 50 years…despite the fact that curators had readied the mansion for conversion to a museum! Why was this detail such a reach for me? It is fiction not nonfiction. But those notes just gnawed at my brain and dug in as a big irritation. Maybe if the characters had not felt so flat (Veronica and Joshua in 1966 were especially wooden), I could have overlooked this small detail. And maybe if Davis had broke with her normal storytelling device of the dual timeline and just focused on the 1919 era, which was far more fascinating that the 1966 story, I would have walked away feeling much more satisfied.
As it is, I will say The Magnolia Palace is good for her current fans. But for those reading Fiona Davis for the first time? I’d say start with [b:The Dollhouse|28504574|The Dollhouse|Fiona Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471139804l/28504574._SY75_.jpg|48657995] or [b:The Address|33607640|The Address|Fiona Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494949882l/33607640._SY75_.jpg|54427214] or even [b:The Masterpiece|37504654|The Masterpiece|Fiona Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513199542l/37504654._SY75_.jpg|59112137]. Those will lure in new readers and show them exactly how building could be characters!
I absolutely adore Fiona Davis. I have been a fan since 2017 when I stumbled upon [b:The Dollhouse|28504574|The Dollhouse|Fiona Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471139804l/28504574._SY75_.jpg|48657995] in an indie bookstore. I love her dual-timeline storytelling method. Her characters tend to pop off the page. She has an uncanny ability to bring buildings to life in a way that they deserve “character” status.
Given my love for her work, pre-ordering The Magnolia Palace was a given. Reading it sooner rather than later, even with my teetering TBR pile, was certain. Knowing I was in for another architectural marvel mixed with colorful human characters was a foregone conclusion. Closing the cover after finishing the book, sighing, and saying “Well. Not bad. Not my favorite though”? Well, I had not anticipated that response!
And Magnolia Palace was not bad. Fiona Davis’ descriptions of the Frick Mansion had me ready to hop a plane a visit another of New York City’s architectural marvels. But the characters didn’t have the zing & pop as they did in other of Davis’ stories. And I was downright annoyed with the fact that the scavenger hunt notes remained hidden for 50 years…despite the fact that curators had readied the mansion for conversion to a museum! Why was this detail such a reach for me? It is fiction not nonfiction. But those notes just gnawed at my brain and dug in as a big irritation. Maybe if the characters had not felt so flat (Veronica and Joshua in 1966 were especially wooden), I could have overlooked this small detail. And maybe if Davis had broke with her normal storytelling device of the dual timeline and just focused on the 1919 era, which was far more fascinating that the 1966 story, I would have walked away feeling much more satisfied.
As it is, I will say The Magnolia Palace is good for her current fans. But for those reading Fiona Davis for the first time? I’d say start with [b:The Dollhouse|28504574|The Dollhouse|Fiona Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471139804l/28504574._SY75_.jpg|48657995] or [b:The Address|33607640|The Address|Fiona Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494949882l/33607640._SY75_.jpg|54427214] or even [b:The Masterpiece|37504654|The Masterpiece|Fiona Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513199542l/37504654._SY75_.jpg|59112137]. Those will lure in new readers and show them exactly how building could be characters!
Fun historical fiction based on true stories in the Gilded Age in NYC. Easy read, great beach read or snow day read. It's a very plot-driven book—I never really felt connected to any one character, but I did enjoy the story.
A good companion book when I am doing my puzzles. Two parallel story lines converge to the end.