A review by judyward
Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices by Elizabeth George

4.0

I would give this novel a five for concept and a three for story--hence the four rating. The concept of the novel is pure genius. As part of The Novel: Live! project, this novel was written in six days, with 36 authors writing for two hours each, for 12 hours a day. Did I mention that each author wrote on stage with an audience and the project was being recorded and beamed out on the Web? There was also a chat room function and the project was used to raise money for a variety of causes. Before each author went on stage for their two hours, they had a chance to read what had already been written and consult with an editor. Prior to the project, there had been an editorial committee composed of Elizabeth George, Robert Dugoni, Jennie Shortridge, Maria Semple, and Garth Stein who brainstormed the idea for the novel and outlined a basic plot. Then it was showtime. The Hotel Angeline is a decaying hotel (formerly a mortuary) that houses a colorful cast of residents to say the least. There is an aging counter-culture hippie who has adopted a crow, a peg-legged woman, Deaf Donald, etc. And overseeing this community is 14 year old Alexis Austin who serves the afternoon tea, fixes the plumbing, and tries to deal with the myriad problems plaguing the hotel. And where is her mother? She hasn't been seen for days? And how will the hotel stay afloat? Each author writes in their own voice which makes the experience of reading the novel even more unique. I read the book, then went back to see who had written each chapter. A singular reading experience that paid off in the end.