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A review by mhinnen
The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I love Fiona Davis’ historical novels and was excited to receive the ARC from #Netgalley for “The Spectacular.” It was fun reading about the origins of The Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall.
Marion’s excitement and the disciplined energy of following that kind of dream was impressive particularly when it is clear that she must also make emotional sacrifices.
The back story tackles the expectations of women and the traps that were set when they didn’t follow a path that benefitted a patriarchal system. I loved Marion’s strength and determination even as she struggled with losing the support of her father (who in my reading was an unsympathetic character). I also appreciated the love story angles and how they played out.
There were several less preferred elements in this particular novel. One of Davis’ skills is writing a duel timeline. In this case, it felt a little more forced . . . Like the 1992 section could have been an epilogue. And while I was fascinated about the Big Apple Bomber, the extent of Marion and Peter’s investigation felt far fetched - particularly because of their very demanding work schedules. Finally, the characters in 1992 were written in a way that made them feel so old. I was shocked to realize they were only in their mid-50s.
Overall, this was a worthwhile book though not my favorite by the author. I thoroughly enjoyed the final chapters and felt like it was a very satisfying (if bittersweet) ending. And of course the author’s note always adds a helpful fact vs fiction account.
Side note - As someone who lived in the NYC area during the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing and the 9/11 attacks, I was interested to learn through this book about the 16 year 32 bomb spree that happened in NYC.
Marion’s excitement and the disciplined energy of following that kind of dream was impressive particularly when it is clear that she must also make emotional sacrifices.
The back story tackles the expectations of women and the traps that were set when they didn’t follow a path that benefitted a patriarchal system. I loved Marion’s strength and determination even as she struggled with losing the support of her father (who in my reading was an unsympathetic character). I also appreciated the love story angles and how they played out.
There were several less preferred elements in this particular novel. One of Davis’ skills is writing a duel timeline. In this case, it felt a little more forced . . . Like the 1992 section could have been an epilogue. And while I was fascinated about the Big Apple Bomber, the extent of Marion and Peter’s investigation felt far fetched - particularly because of their very demanding work schedules. Finally, the characters in 1992 were written in a way that made them feel so old. I was shocked to realize they were only in their mid-50s.
Overall, this was a worthwhile book though not my favorite by the author. I thoroughly enjoyed the final chapters and felt like it was a very satisfying (if bittersweet) ending. And of course the author’s note always adds a helpful fact vs fiction account.
Side note - As someone who lived in the NYC area during the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing and the 9/11 attacks, I was interested to learn through this book about the 16 year 32 bomb spree that happened in NYC.