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gracescanlon's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? N/A
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual assault
lit_with_lauren's review
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
brittanysimmons7's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a digital copy of The Bohemians in exchange for my honest review.
The Bohemians, a work of historical fiction set primarily in early 1920s San Francisco, CA, focused on the early life and work of Dorothea Lange and her assistant, Ah-yee (named Caroline Lee in the book). Going into the book I did not know about Dorothea Lange (aside from a few of her depression era photos) or anything about this time period in San Francisco. In many ways this book felt like present day - the issues with race, immigration, a woman's role in society and in the home, and the politics surrounding all of these issues are brought up in the book (organically), and led to very thought-provoking read. The Bohemians was an “atmosphere” of its own. While obviously a work of fiction, Jasmin Darznik kept the reader engaged with a fictional story about the artistic culture that blossomed in San Francisco during this time. I was shocked to discover that several of the major and minor characters’ real life mirrored the timeline of the book, which just further lended to this book’s allure.
The Bohemians is medium paced, not a dual time line (thank you!), in the first person (from Dorothea's perspective), and was easy to sink yourself into. While there are a few emotionally wrenching scenes, Ms. Darznik's characters are resilient and principled to the end.
The Bohemians, a work of historical fiction set primarily in early 1920s San Francisco, CA, focused on the early life and work of Dorothea Lange and her assistant, Ah-yee (named Caroline Lee in the book). Going into the book I did not know about Dorothea Lange (aside from a few of her depression era photos) or anything about this time period in San Francisco. In many ways this book felt like present day - the issues with race, immigration, a woman's role in society and in the home, and the politics surrounding all of these issues are brought up in the book (organically), and led to very thought-provoking read. The Bohemians was an “atmosphere” of its own. While obviously a work of fiction, Jasmin Darznik kept the reader engaged with a fictional story about the artistic culture that blossomed in San Francisco during this time. I was shocked to discover that several of the major and minor characters’ real life mirrored the timeline of the book, which just further lended to this book’s allure.
The Bohemians is medium paced, not a dual time line (thank you!), in the first person (from Dorothea's perspective), and was easy to sink yourself into. While there are a few emotionally wrenching scenes, Ms. Darznik's characters are resilient and principled to the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcoholism
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