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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
Who hasn't heard of the great Houdini? Slightly lesser known is his longtime co-performer and marriage partner, this book's titular "Mrs. Houdini." This is a great exploration of the more prominent events and triumphs of the Houdinis' public and private lives and gives insight into their times and contemporaries.
But this book is billed as an immortal romance, a tryst beyond the grave, an entanglement that transcends death itself. Does that sound like Wuthering Heights to anyone but me? Unfortunately, it is not Wuthering Heights. What it is is perhaps a more mundane historical work while still capturing that sparkle of magic in its revelation of Houdini's obsession and the realisation of his, and Mrs. Houdini's, dreams.
Some elements of the construction are done very well. For example, the Houdinis' militancy and sharpness on the lookout for spiritualist scammers becomes the setup for one of the most subtly executed and emotionally charged moments of the novel when one of them is on the brink of a realisation about the other that they had never known and did not now want to admit to themselves, and therefore tries to write it off as a clever trick staged to shatter their illusions.
The most poignant lines of the book unfortunately stand out starkly in contrast to the somewhat under-developed and less-polished style of the rest of the narrative, but remain nonetheless beautiful: "Now she was reunited with the old city, except it was larger and more glamorous than it had been thirty years earlier... Certainly, she could not help being saddened that the place she had loved had become better without her; that she had left for a better life that had disappointed her, and stood now in a past that had blossomed alone." Perfect.
Taken altogether, though, this book didn't stand out to me, but is definitely worth a read for those interested in Houdini, magic, the turn of the twentieth century, and/or spiritualism.
But this book is billed as an immortal romance, a tryst beyond the grave, an entanglement that transcends death itself. Does that sound like Wuthering Heights to anyone but me? Unfortunately, it is not Wuthering Heights. What it is is perhaps a more mundane historical work while still capturing that sparkle of magic in its revelation of Houdini's obsession and the realisation of his, and Mrs. Houdini's, dreams.
Some elements of the construction are done very well. For example, the Houdinis' militancy and sharpness on the lookout for spiritualist scammers becomes the setup for one of the most subtly executed and emotionally charged moments of the novel when one of them is on the brink of a realisation about the other that they had never known and did not now want to admit to themselves, and therefore tries to write it off as a clever trick staged to shatter their illusions.
The most poignant lines of the book unfortunately stand out starkly in contrast to the somewhat under-developed and less-polished style of the rest of the narrative, but remain nonetheless beautiful: "Now she was reunited with the old city, except it was larger and more glamorous than it had been thirty years earlier... Certainly, she could not help being saddened that the place she had loved had become better without her; that she had left for a better life that had disappointed her, and stood now in a past that had blossomed alone." Perfect.
Taken altogether, though, this book didn't stand out to me, but is definitely worth a read for those interested in Houdini, magic, the turn of the twentieth century, and/or spiritualism.
NOTE: Received as an ARC for review from Netgalley.
I didn't know much about Houdini beyond a couple of biopic-type movies and the song from the musical "Ragtime" until this book. I found it interesting that he was confident enough onstage to risk his life night after night, but offstage, desperately needed Bess behind him. The author's research apparently included a biography that quoted Bess extensively, so much so that she used some of the quotes as dialogue for the novel, and I think that may be what made it ring true for me.
What fascinated me most was the author's take on how Harry Houdini might have fulfilled his promise to return to his wife after death. The novel captures how difficult it would be to live with a man so obsessed with his work and magic, and then how difficult to live without him.
I didn't know much about Houdini beyond a couple of biopic-type movies and the song from the musical "Ragtime" until this book. I found it interesting that he was confident enough onstage to risk his life night after night, but offstage, desperately needed Bess behind him. The author's research apparently included a biography that quoted Bess extensively, so much so that she used some of the quotes as dialogue for the novel, and I think that may be what made it ring true for me.
What fascinated me most was the author's take on how Harry Houdini might have fulfilled his promise to return to his wife after death. The novel captures how difficult it would be to live with a man so obsessed with his work and magic, and then how difficult to live without him.
What an irritating, bullshit book. You know it's bad when you keep hoping the ~~plot twist~~ is just an elaborate fantasy, and that the whole story, then, takes place in a dream.
How terribly disappointing to find out the author meant every word.
The book isn't even enjoyable to read: Kelly knows how to tell but not how to show; the dialogue is unbelievable in too many moments; the most interesting chapters are the "present" but they have the shitty plotline. All of Bess's sex/intimate scenes feel kinda rape-y, and that's so bizarre. And generally, when you're telling someone's story, the narrative should be in 1st person. I can't be the only one who thought 3rd person was a bizarre narrative to shape this story in.
Houdini deserves better. Bess deserves better. Don't read biographies of Houdini, get a little hooked, then try your hand at fiction novels about his life. Don't be me. Don't make my mistakes.
And please, for my sake, don't believe everything in here. As aggravating as Ruth Brandon's "The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini" is, it'll clear up a lot of Kelly's "facts", which are misremembered half-truths that are retold for plot purposes.
How terribly disappointing to find out the author meant every word.
The book isn't even enjoyable to read: Kelly knows how to tell but not how to show; the dialogue is unbelievable in too many moments; the most interesting chapters are the "present" but they have the shitty plotline. All of Bess's sex/intimate scenes feel kinda rape-y, and that's so bizarre. And generally, when you're telling someone's story, the narrative should be in 1st person. I can't be the only one who thought 3rd person was a bizarre narrative to shape this story in.
Houdini deserves better. Bess deserves better. Don't read biographies of Houdini, get a little hooked, then try your hand at fiction novels about his life. Don't be me. Don't make my mistakes.
And please, for my sake, don't believe everything in here. As aggravating as Ruth Brandon's "The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini" is, it'll clear up a lot of Kelly's "facts", which are misremembered half-truths that are retold for plot purposes.
This book was perfectly okay. Personally, I was really disappointed that it lacked more supernatural or paranormal elements and instead focused so much on the relationship between Houdini and his wife. In retrospect, that of course makes a lot of sense, but it is neither what I expected nor wanted. Still, a pretty good read and maybe even a great one for someone more interested in those elements.