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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
emotional
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:
Complicated
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Skip to the epilogue and author’s note, those are the best parts.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for the honest review. I hadn’t realized that Dorothea Lange was a real person until after I read the book but I had known some of the other artists mentioned. I had enjoyed learning about Sam Francisco and this era as I wasn’t as familiar. This was so well written and researched it was a joy to read.
informative
slow-paced
informative
medium-paced
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Deep (imaginary, fictional) dive into Dorothea Lange's arrival in SF and early career. Lots of good writing and a strong feminist POV. The author creates an almost completely made-up life, based on slim records, of Lange's assistant, a Chinese American woman, Caroline Lee. IMO, she was well-served by this, shown as a brilliant, independent, powerful woman in terribly oppressive times for Asian Americans (which we might argue continue today).
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
In 1918, Dorothea Lange steps off the train in San Francisco, ready to start her new life as a portrait photographer. When she is pickpocketed before she can even set foot on California soil, and she loses every bit of money to her name, she has no idea what to do. Then she meets Caroline Lee, a vivacious, straight-talking Chinese American with a complicated past, and with Caroline's help she is able to get a place to stay and food to eat. The two become best friends and Caroline introduces her to the bohemian lifestyle that is Monkey Block - an artist's colony, where she meets legendary figures such as Mabel Dodge Luhan, Frida Kahlo, Ansel Adams, and D. H. Lawrence.
This book was fascinating. I hadn't heard of Dorothea Lange before, but I had heard of many of the other names mentioned in the book. It was interesting to see the parallels between then and now, since they were dealing with the Spanish Flu, there were politicians who were preaching "keep America white", and people were blaming the chinese immigrants for the Spanish Flu. Sound familiar? It also talked about building the Golden Gate Bridge, the destruction of Monkey Block, and the Depression.. Dorothea was a fascinating woman, and I really think you will enjoy reading about her and her fascinating life. I know I did.
In 1918, Dorothea Lange steps off the train in San Francisco, ready to start her new life as a portrait photographer. When she is pickpocketed before she can even set foot on California soil, and she loses every bit of money to her name, she has no idea what to do. Then she meets Caroline Lee, a vivacious, straight-talking Chinese American with a complicated past, and with Caroline's help she is able to get a place to stay and food to eat. The two become best friends and Caroline introduces her to the bohemian lifestyle that is Monkey Block - an artist's colony, where she meets legendary figures such as Mabel Dodge Luhan, Frida Kahlo, Ansel Adams, and D. H. Lawrence.
This book was fascinating. I hadn't heard of Dorothea Lange before, but I had heard of many of the other names mentioned in the book. It was interesting to see the parallels between then and now, since they were dealing with the Spanish Flu, there were politicians who were preaching "keep America white", and people were blaming the chinese immigrants for the Spanish Flu. Sound familiar? It also talked about building the Golden Gate Bridge, the destruction of Monkey Block, and the Depression.. Dorothea was a fascinating woman, and I really think you will enjoy reading about her and her fascinating life. I know I did.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character