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A review by feliciarene
The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis
4.0
✦ "How tenuous the line is between friends and enemies in a world at war." ✦
★ = 4
The Chelsea Girls is an educational, heartwarming, and exciting story of friendship, politics, and betrayal.
Set over the course of 20 years, Hazel Riley and Maxine Mead's friendship is tested by the trials of war and secrecy. After meeting during their volunteer days with the USO in WWII, the girls reunite again in New York City. When Hazel is given the opportunity to take her own play to Broadway, Maxine is cast in the lead role and it seems that nothing could go wrong for these two ambitious girls. But the McCarthy era looms ahead and anti-communist witch-hunts threaten everything they hold near and dear.
Hazel and Maxine were two complex, interesting but VERY different characters. While they were both determined to make their way on the stage and on the silver screen, it was easy to see how parallel their interests and the ways that they would achieve their dreams were as the story progressed. However, they were constantly bound by their experience as two women in an era where women were often powerless and relegated to domestic roles, which they were clearly deviating from by participating in show business.
This story introduced me to the McCarthy era, something I wasn't familiar with prior to reading due to my lack of knowledge about recent American history. It was interesting to show how these anti-communist attacks penetrated the theatre community, and how the livelihoods (and lives) of so many in show business were threatened by these charges. Fiona Davis mixed the educational with the entertaining, which is no easy feat.
Finally, I will say I was nonplussed by the romantic plot. While it wasn't exactly integral to the overall story, it still was pretty essential but I just found it a bit "insta-love"-y and wasn't sure why I should be rooting for these two characters to get together. Besides that, it was also over and done with within the blink of an eye.
Thank you to Dutton who provided me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
content warnings: suicide, overdose, death, abuse (emotional, physical)
Full Review: https://www.thebookishbrunette.com/blog/2020/12/4/ckyra3licmddgeliy12qbgc8k6o110-syrc7-g9nz3
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★ = 4
The Chelsea Girls is an educational, heartwarming, and exciting story of friendship, politics, and betrayal.
Set over the course of 20 years, Hazel Riley and Maxine Mead's friendship is tested by the trials of war and secrecy. After meeting during their volunteer days with the USO in WWII, the girls reunite again in New York City. When Hazel is given the opportunity to take her own play to Broadway, Maxine is cast in the lead role and it seems that nothing could go wrong for these two ambitious girls. But the McCarthy era looms ahead and anti-communist witch-hunts threaten everything they hold near and dear.
Hazel and Maxine were two complex, interesting but VERY different characters. While they were both determined to make their way on the stage and on the silver screen, it was easy to see how parallel their interests and the ways that they would achieve their dreams were as the story progressed. However, they were constantly bound by their experience as two women in an era where women were often powerless and relegated to domestic roles, which they were clearly deviating from by participating in show business.
This story introduced me to the McCarthy era, something I wasn't familiar with prior to reading due to my lack of knowledge about recent American history. It was interesting to show how these anti-communist attacks penetrated the theatre community, and how the livelihoods (and lives) of so many in show business were threatened by these charges. Fiona Davis mixed the educational with the entertaining, which is no easy feat.
Finally, I will say I was nonplussed by the romantic plot. While it wasn't exactly integral to the overall story, it still was pretty essential but I just found it a bit "insta-love"-y and wasn't sure why I should be rooting for these two characters to get together. Besides that, it was also over and done with within the blink of an eye.
Thank you to Dutton who provided me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
content warnings: suicide, overdose, death, abuse (emotional, physical)
Full Review: https://www.thebookishbrunette.com/blog/2020/12/4/ckyra3licmddgeliy12qbgc8k6o110-syrc7-g9nz3
Blog | Twitter | Instagram