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A review by henrymarlene
Palace of the Drowned by Christine Mangan
5.0
"For that's what they were, in the end, pieces of herself, bits of her, the inner workings of her mind that would otherwise empty themselves out day after day".
Frankie is an author. She is longing to give of herself a chance to create another literary masterpiece, but is wounded by a review. She escapes the review and further scandal at the Savoy to the waters of Venice, to relax and write. Frankie becomes embroiled in a connection with Gilly - someone who claims to know Frankie and is also a budding author. Thus begins a twisted tale of ambition, snobbery, and the river towards success, no matter the cost. Who is Gilly? What is she? She emerges from the watery canals of Venice, and seems to glide into Frankie's frame of existence too regularly. All the characters - Frankie, her friends Jack and Leonard, publisher Harold and even Gilly - seem insipid, shallow, and arrogant. To me this was an integral part of this book's triumph; they are all not quite who they seem to be as characters and in their connectionswith each other. I also love that Frankie is the preferred name for Frances Cory, and her friend is Jack. Was the use of these masculine names part of the character creation in contrast with Gilly's name, like a siren, a temptress?
The watery thematics of the book added to the drama and thrilling feel to this book. Venice's flooded canals and dead ends created a sense of claustrophobia for Frankie, as much as her mind was drowning and swallowing her to the core.
Frankie is an author. She is longing to give of herself a chance to create another literary masterpiece, but is wounded by a review. She escapes the review and further scandal at the Savoy to the waters of Venice, to relax and write. Frankie becomes embroiled in a connection with Gilly - someone who claims to know Frankie and is also a budding author. Thus begins a twisted tale of ambition, snobbery, and the river towards success, no matter the cost. Who is Gilly? What is she? She emerges from the watery canals of Venice, and seems to glide into Frankie's frame of existence too regularly. All the characters - Frankie, her friends Jack and Leonard, publisher Harold and even Gilly - seem insipid, shallow, and arrogant. To me this was an integral part of this book's triumph; they are all not quite who they seem to be as characters and in their connectionswith each other. I also love that Frankie is the preferred name for Frances Cory, and her friend is Jack. Was the use of these masculine names part of the character creation in contrast with Gilly's name, like a siren, a temptress?
The watery thematics of the book added to the drama and thrilling feel to this book. Venice's flooded canals and dead ends created a sense of claustrophobia for Frankie, as much as her mind was drowning and swallowing her to the core.