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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Wow, I loved this book! I'm a huge fan of Downton Abbey, so the time period definitely appealed to me. Plus, I love a dual narrative watching mysteries unfold. I expected this to be great historical fiction, and it was. But it had so much more to offer. The relationships and the characters were so rich, I genuinely cared about what happened to them. Which meant I spent the last 50 pages of quietly sobbing as I read!
This book was impossible to put down, heart-wrenching, and -- dare I say -- glittering. Read it!!
This book was impossible to put down, heart-wrenching, and -- dare I say -- glittering. Read it!!
Overall, this is a good story and perfect for an airplane ride (unfortunately, I read this on my couch). "The Glittering Hour" is a story about Selina, a wealthy socialite in 1920's England, who falls in love with a penniless artist who is not of her class. Like bunting, all of the tropes of the lack of women's choices in marriage and life are rolled out as Selina has to decide between the hot artist with whom she has great sex or the stodgy but respectable and respectably rich man her family expects her to marry. The story takes place over two time periods--from Selina's point of view in 1925 and her daughter Alice's point of view in 1936 as Selina's choices all come to a head. It's entertaining, and Ione Grey does a good job portraying London and life old manor houses, but it is predictable and overwritten with too many repetitive descriptions. I found myself skimming large chunks of it.
This book is largely about the choices available to women of the upper class and the sacrifices a woman has to make if she chooses outside her expectations. There is a large focus on the rules that society puts on women. Therefore, I was a little perplexed by Selina's friend Theo, an openly gay character for whom society's rules do not apply to at all. However, for gay men in this time and place, there were many, many draconian rules against the (up until very recently), and men were often jailed for winking at another. Homosexual relationships, if conducted at all, were expected to happen in the deepest, darkest recesses of the closet. Look at Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing. Or look at Thomas from "Downton Abbey". So for Theo, part of the fast set that had many run-ins with the police and were tailed by the media, to be openly gay during a very repressive time does not ring true. If society had this many rules about women's behavior, then gay men had even more. Stories absolutely need to be inclusive, but they should also be authentic to the time period and to people's experiences.
Speaking of being true to the time period, one character moves to America to be a photographer, and he makes a lot of money doing so, except that he's in America from the late 20's to mid 30's. What photographers (especially unknown and foreign) are making bank in the Great Depression?
Things like these drive me bonkers.
This book is largely about the choices available to women of the upper class and the sacrifices a woman has to make if she chooses outside her expectations. There is a large focus on the rules that society puts on women. Therefore, I was a little perplexed by Selina's friend Theo, an openly gay character for whom society's rules do not apply to at all. However, for gay men in this time and place, there were many, many draconian rules against the (up until very recently), and men were often jailed for winking at another. Homosexual relationships, if conducted at all, were expected to happen in the deepest, darkest recesses of the closet. Look at Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing. Or look at Thomas from "Downton Abbey". So for Theo, part of the fast set that had many run-ins with the police and were tailed by the media, to be openly gay during a very repressive time does not ring true. If society had this many rules about women's behavior, then gay men had even more. Stories absolutely need to be inclusive, but they should also be authentic to the time period and to people's experiences.
Speaking of being true to the time period, one character moves to America to be a photographer, and he makes a lot of money doing so, except that he's in America from the late 20's to mid 30's. What photographers (especially unknown and foreign) are making bank in the Great Depression?
Things like these drive me bonkers.
“The Glittering Hour” by Iona Grey is a lush portrayal of the glamorous yet outrageous life of the “Bright Young Things” of the 1920s. Selina Lennox, along with her friends Flick and Theo, were the son and daughters of the high society, aristocrats, and middle-class people: a generation too young to be sent into the battle of the Great War. Hounded by the paparazzi who were every inch hungry to have a glimpse into the intriguing lives and imminent dissolution of these rebellious, promiscuous and carefree boys and girls, chased around London while notoriously reveling in extravagant parties and theatrics, enjoying treasure hunting in fast cars, and experimenting with drugs.
Selina’s carefree disposition, embroidered with a carpe diem attitude, had been her family’s cause of concern and disapproval. Adored and favored by her brother Howard from when she was little, Selina’s high spirits were a result of her brother’s favor that she should enjoy life’s pleasures and live for the moment. After Howard’s death, Selina cocooned her grief by throwing herself into lavish parties with her friends. But when her path unexpectedly crossed with Lawrence Weston, an impoverished artist who knew better than to mingle with someone of Selina’s stature, their lives were suddenly swept from a forbidden love affair to a tragedy that will make them choose between love and practicality.
This novel brought me to tears. Grey’s circuitous and poetic writing is impeccable as the way she has framed a time once loved and lost then brought back to life for her readers to acknowledge and understand. Selina’s narrative reminds me once again why historical novels have always captivated me: to fathom the extremes of human behavior set against the political, social, and cultural circumstances and struggles of a particular era.
Enthralling, heartbreaking, and hauntingly beautiful, “The Glittering Hour” is a celebration of a generation catapulted into an ironic twist of the remnants of the Great War and the boisterous parade of the plummeting wealth of the once rich and powerful scarred by death and financial duties. A moving tale of love and sacrifice and of life and of death, Grey’s masterpiece of a novel disarms the readers of prejudices, instead ignites a discussion on ethical dilemmas. The novel’s heartfelt finale proves that love will always find its way in the most glittering hour of our lives.
Selina’s carefree disposition, embroidered with a carpe diem attitude, had been her family’s cause of concern and disapproval. Adored and favored by her brother Howard from when she was little, Selina’s high spirits were a result of her brother’s favor that she should enjoy life’s pleasures and live for the moment. After Howard’s death, Selina cocooned her grief by throwing herself into lavish parties with her friends. But when her path unexpectedly crossed with Lawrence Weston, an impoverished artist who knew better than to mingle with someone of Selina’s stature, their lives were suddenly swept from a forbidden love affair to a tragedy that will make them choose between love and practicality.
This novel brought me to tears. Grey’s circuitous and poetic writing is impeccable as the way she has framed a time once loved and lost then brought back to life for her readers to acknowledge and understand. Selina’s narrative reminds me once again why historical novels have always captivated me: to fathom the extremes of human behavior set against the political, social, and cultural circumstances and struggles of a particular era.
Enthralling, heartbreaking, and hauntingly beautiful, “The Glittering Hour” is a celebration of a generation catapulted into an ironic twist of the remnants of the Great War and the boisterous parade of the plummeting wealth of the once rich and powerful scarred by death and financial duties. A moving tale of love and sacrifice and of life and of death, Grey’s masterpiece of a novel disarms the readers of prejudices, instead ignites a discussion on ethical dilemmas. The novel’s heartfelt finale proves that love will always find its way in the most glittering hour of our lives.
The vivid prose and moving story in The Glittering Hour did not disappoint. I cannot recommend this book enough.
A soaring read of the Bright Young Things generation post WWI! This was a really good book and fans of Downton Abbey will be pleased!
emotional
reflective
slow-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:
Complicated
RATING: 4.5
2019; St. Martin's Press/Thomas Dunne Books
“Footfalls echo in the memory Down the passage we did not take, Towards the door we never opened Into the rose garden" T.S. Eliot
The Glittering Hour is a gorgeous read, just like all the different book covers associated with the title. Grey captures you from the first word to the last. It is written well, with the lavish drama of the 1920s. Selina is one of the Young Bright Things in Britain spending their days asleep and nights drinking, partying and getting into trouble. After losing her brother to the Great War, she is lost, as much as her mother becomes more strict. She wants her to act like a lady and marry well. One night Selina meets a poor young artist and they both fall hopelessly in love. Yet, the obstacles in their way seem to be too large. Weaved into this love story, eleven years later, is Selina's daughter, Alice. Alice is staying with her maternal grandparents while her parents travel for her father's job. She does not feel loved or wanted there, and cannot wait till her mother is back. To keep her occupied, Selina send her letters with a scavenger hunt. Alice starts to learn more about her mother and how her parents met.
I started this audiobook while I was doing chores, but spent the rest of the day making up chores to keep listening. I wasn't always fond of Selina and was scoffing a few times over her choices, but I loved Alice and Lawrence. Alice reminds me of a [a:Frances Hodgson Burnett|2041|Frances Hodgson Burnett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1197934848p2/2041.jpg] heroine, so not only brought back good memories, but made her endearing. I was invested in this story mostly because of Alice. With her meanie maternal grandmother, this added to the fairy tale tone of the story. I enjoyed the writing, the era, the story and characters so I would recommend you add this to your TBR list!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2019; St. Martin's Press/Thomas Dunne Books
“Footfalls echo in the memory Down the passage we did not take, Towards the door we never opened Into the rose garden" T.S. Eliot
The Glittering Hour is a gorgeous read, just like all the different book covers associated with the title. Grey captures you from the first word to the last. It is written well, with the lavish drama of the 1920s. Selina is one of the Young Bright Things in Britain spending their days asleep and nights drinking, partying and getting into trouble. After losing her brother to the Great War, she is lost, as much as her mother becomes more strict. She wants her to act like a lady and marry well. One night Selina meets a poor young artist and they both fall hopelessly in love. Yet, the obstacles in their way seem to be too large. Weaved into this love story, eleven years later, is Selina's daughter, Alice. Alice is staying with her maternal grandparents while her parents travel for her father's job. She does not feel loved or wanted there, and cannot wait till her mother is back. To keep her occupied, Selina send her letters with a scavenger hunt. Alice starts to learn more about her mother and how her parents met.
I started this audiobook while I was doing chores, but spent the rest of the day making up chores to keep listening. I wasn't always fond of Selina and was scoffing a few times over her choices, but I loved Alice and Lawrence. Alice reminds me of a [a:Frances Hodgson Burnett|2041|Frances Hodgson Burnett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1197934848p2/2041.jpg] heroine, so not only brought back good memories, but made her endearing. I was invested in this story mostly because of Alice. With her meanie maternal grandmother, this added to the fairy tale tone of the story. I enjoyed the writing, the era, the story and characters so I would recommend you add this to your TBR list!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes