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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
In two completely different eras, we find two women who are quite similar. It's 1919, and Lillian Carter, known as Angelica, is a muse for the most famous and well known sculptors. Her mother, Kitty, gave up her family wealth to marry a man beneath her status and found herself working in a utensil factory. After he deserted, the women moved to New York where Lillian was discovered. Her career kept them afloat until the Spanish Flu. Alone and accused of a tawdry relationship with her landlord, who just murdered his wife, Lillian flees and finds herself employed soon thereafter by the Frick family - in a home that features her body above the entry.
In 1966, British aspiring model Veronica lands a gig in New York for Vogue. Desperate to make money to care for her sister, Veronica is devastated when her job falls apart and she finds herself trapped in the Frick house (now a museum) overnight with a young man, Joshua, whom she doesn't know. As she stumbles upon what appear to be scavenger hunt clues hidden in the house, Veronica may find the answer to her own puzzle.
Alternating between two women whose grew up in similar circumstances, Davis weaves a story that is grounded in the world of art, but demonstrates that the inspiration for that art isn't always appreciated. Featuring two protagonists that learn beauty won't save you, but your strength and ingenuity can.
I love the historical connections in this book and the research that went into incorporating Henry Frick and his family in a fiction novel.
In 1966, British aspiring model Veronica lands a gig in New York for Vogue. Desperate to make money to care for her sister, Veronica is devastated when her job falls apart and she finds herself trapped in the Frick house (now a museum) overnight with a young man, Joshua, whom she doesn't know. As she stumbles upon what appear to be scavenger hunt clues hidden in the house, Veronica may find the answer to her own puzzle.
Alternating between two women whose grew up in similar circumstances, Davis weaves a story that is grounded in the world of art, but demonstrates that the inspiration for that art isn't always appreciated. Featuring two protagonists that learn beauty won't save you, but your strength and ingenuity can.
I love the historical connections in this book and the research that went into incorporating Henry Frick and his family in a fiction novel.
Comparing a white model's problem with people underestimating her intelligence to the problems a black man in the 60's was certainly a choice.
I enjoyed the art history. Maybe it wasn’t the right time for me to read this book. I’ve heard great things about the author but didn’t enjoy the book. There are enough terrible men in real life. I don’t want to read about them in my downtime as well, ya know?
I loved the pacing and the characters; this book is very well-written and detailed! I felt like the end wrapped up a little too quickly and nicely but it wasn’t awful.
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
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 would realistically like to give this book a 4.5 stars. I really, really loved a grand majority of it. The Magnolia Palace is the first book in a very long time, that I had the energy to stay up all night reading. I made it to page 303, put it down intending to savor the ending, and found myself picking it right back up again to finish the last 30 or so pages.
What I loved: The setting, the gilded descriptions, the link to Pittsburgh, the history, the women in this book getting mostly happy endings, the mystery, and being able to/knowing I can go explore The Frick in Pittsburgh after reading this book.
What I did not like/what felt off: Though I chalk it up to the era(s), I did not love the weight talk/body and age shaming, or the sentiment of women being washed up at very young ages. Though this may well have been the truth in patriarchal society/men's eyes then, especially as women grow not only older but WISER, more self-advocating, and less likely to be willing to be objectified and exploited. Even more so when the men in this book, possibly the art world then, and still today seem to prefer to gaze and prey upon young, underdevoloped, "perfect" female bodies. I was very grateful for Lilly's perspective, for her acknowledgment of the value of her work as an artistic model, for the moments where she finally stood up for herself and took back her life, and for her and Archer's conversation about how removed the rich are from the work/nudity not being shameful/the human aspect of the body used to create the most beloved works of art we have today.
I also loved Veronica, her standing up not only for herself but other women, the overall acknowledgment of poverty and the difference money could make in both her and Lilly's lives, and in the end, valuing brains/wit over body and beauty. I wish we had heard from Veronica more, honestly.
My biggest complaint is how quickly the ending came, tying everything up into a neat bow that didn't feel rushed but too perfect, with it all seeming to happen so fast and too conveniently. Though I will say, everything that this writer does put into this book, there are small references to leading up to the end, where if you had to go back into the story you could go, "I suppose this makes sense, with Veronica mentioning x, y, and z," or "Yes, I suppose I did see Lilly running away with the organist and how that could be the safest, most loving, honest option." But with all her money and vindictiveness, I do not see why Helen Clay Frick would not have found Lilly and Archer sooner with them having conveniently and partially unrealistically, moved so close to where they escaped. Or upon receiving a letter years later, not going there to exact her revenge or further investigate immediately. Though without the technology of today, it may have been much easier to disappear.
Lastly, the middle romance was my least favorite bit. I found it frustrating and a surprise, but not a good one. Though it served to advance the story, I felt it unnecessary. I would, however, liked to have taken the scavenger hunt Helen designed myself.
What I loved: The setting, the gilded descriptions, the link to Pittsburgh, the history, the women in this book getting mostly happy endings, the mystery, and being able to/knowing I can go explore The Frick in Pittsburgh after reading this book.
What I did not like/what felt off: Though I chalk it up to the era(s), I did not love the weight talk/body and age shaming, or the sentiment of women being washed up at very young ages. Though this may well have been the truth in patriarchal society/men's eyes then, especially as women grow not only older but WISER, more self-advocating, and less likely to be willing to be objectified and exploited. Even more so when the men in this book, possibly the art world then, and still today seem to prefer to gaze and prey upon young, underdevoloped, "perfect" female bodies. I was very grateful for Lilly's perspective, for her acknowledgment of the value of her work as an artistic model, for the moments where she finally stood up for herself and took back her life, and for her and Archer's conversation about how removed the rich are from the work/nudity not being shameful/the human aspect of the body used to create the most beloved works of art we have today.
I also loved Veronica, her standing up not only for herself but other women, the overall acknowledgment of poverty and the difference money could make in both her and Lilly's lives, and in the end, valuing brains/wit over body and beauty. I wish we had heard from Veronica more, honestly.
My biggest complaint is how quickly the ending came, tying everything up into a neat bow that didn't feel rushed but too perfect, with it all seeming to happen so fast and too conveniently. Though I will say, everything that this writer does put into this book, there are small references to leading up to the end, where if you had to go back into the story you could go, "I suppose this makes sense, with Veronica mentioning x, y, and z," or "Yes, I suppose I did see Lilly running away with the organist and how that could be the safest, most loving, honest option." But with all her money and vindictiveness, I do not see why Helen Clay Frick would not have found Lilly and Archer sooner with them having conveniently and partially unrealistically, moved so close to where they escaped. Or upon receiving a letter years later, not going there to exact her revenge or further investigate immediately. Though without the technology of today, it may have been much easier to disappear.
Lastly, the middle romance was my least favorite bit. I found it frustrating and a surprise, but not a good one. Though it served to advance the story, I felt it unnecessary. I would, however, liked to have taken the scavenger hunt Helen designed myself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced e-book of The Magnolia Palace!
The Magnolia Palace showcases an intricate depiction of life within the 1910s in one of the wealthiest families in New York City, whilst also exploring the secrets left behind almost fifty years later. The book revolves around Lillian, a young woman who is caught in a massive misunderstanding and is forced to fend for herself like never before. Thanks to her misfortunes, Lillian waltzes right into the life of a private secretary in one of New York's most elite households. We get to explore the inner workings of a high-society family, akin to the drama and ornateness of Downton Abbey.
I enjoyed that Lillian was on a journey within herself to find worth outside of what she had known for so long. She was fiery, but she knew when to hold her tongue and go through the motions most of the time. I felt like I was friends with her and only wanted the best for her the whole way through. Helen managed to be the most likable unlikable character that I have ever read and I would honestly just love to sit down and listen to her stories.
The side plot set in 1966 could drag at times, but I really enjoyed a look into how a home of such elegance had fared throughout the decades. It had whimsical aspects that kept me turning the page looking to see what they would get into next. The ending was beautiful and I feel like these characters will stay with me for quite some time.
The Magnolia Palace showcases an intricate depiction of life within the 1910s in one of the wealthiest families in New York City, whilst also exploring the secrets left behind almost fifty years later. The book revolves around Lillian, a young woman who is caught in a massive misunderstanding and is forced to fend for herself like never before. Thanks to her misfortunes, Lillian waltzes right into the life of a private secretary in one of New York's most elite households. We get to explore the inner workings of a high-society family, akin to the drama and ornateness of Downton Abbey.
I enjoyed that Lillian was on a journey within herself to find worth outside of what she had known for so long. She was fiery, but she knew when to hold her tongue and go through the motions most of the time. I felt like I was friends with her and only wanted the best for her the whole way through. Helen managed to be the most likable unlikable character that I have ever read and I would honestly just love to sit down and listen to her stories.
The side plot set in 1966 could drag at times, but I really enjoyed a look into how a home of such elegance had fared throughout the decades. It had whimsical aspects that kept me turning the page looking to see what they would get into next. The ending was beautiful and I feel like these characters will stay with me for quite some time.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Based on the Frick Mansion, now art museum in NYC, this story centers around two women, both models on in 1919 and one in 1966, trying to provide themselves with a new chance at life.
Lillian was a famous model known as Angelica whose face and body can be found in statues all around NYC who now has the harsh reality that her golden days are gone. In an off-chance she wanders into the Frick mansion in 1919 and gets hired as the personal secretary of Helen, the daughter of the Frick steel magnate.
Veronica is discovered in England in 1966 and has her first chance to make it in modeling when she’s brought to New York for a shoot at the Frick Mansion.
Two women at two different times find themselves in the same home with a mystery: what happened to the Frick pink diamond, called the Magnolia Diamond.
It’s a story about the power and hardships that women faced, and still face, in a man’s world.
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#readersofinstagram
#bookstagram
#bookstagrammer
#bookish
#mybookishlife
#wearebookish
#lovereading
#alwaysreading
#readinggoals
#2024reads
#goodreads
#audible
#audiobook
@bookofthemonth
#bookofthemonth
Based on the Frick Mansion, now art museum in NYC, this story centers around two women, both models on in 1919 and one in 1966, trying to provide themselves with a new chance at life.
Lillian was a famous model known as Angelica whose face and body can be found in statues all around NYC who now has the harsh reality that her golden days are gone. In an off-chance she wanders into the Frick mansion in 1919 and gets hired as the personal secretary of Helen, the daughter of the Frick steel magnate.
Veronica is discovered in England in 1966 and has her first chance to make it in modeling when she’s brought to New York for a shoot at the Frick Mansion.
Two women at two different times find themselves in the same home with a mystery: what happened to the Frick pink diamond, called the Magnolia Diamond.
It’s a story about the power and hardships that women faced, and still face, in a man’s world.
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#readersofinstagram
#bookstagram
#bookstagrammer
#bookish
#mybookishlife
#wearebookish
#lovereading
#alwaysreading
#readinggoals
#2024reads
#goodreads
#audible
#audiobook
@bookofthemonth
#bookofthemonth