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A review by spatterson12
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
3.0
I was a little iffy about this one at the start but really fell into the story about midway.
This has been sitting on my shelf for two years so I'm really proud I finally read it, especially since it's one I borrowed from a friend. Trying to be better about reading borrowed books.
The author's note at the end really pulled a lot of things together and made the book that much more interesting. I guess I'm used to a majority of historical fiction focused on WW2 so when they're not I'm like what? lol I don't think I've ever heard about the Fricke Collection, and though this one mentions WW1, it's not the core focus. I enjoy when I can learn something new from these stories.
The book opens with Lillian's landlord's wife being found murdered. Lillian is wanted for questioning, and really that's all that happens with this storyline. It gives reason for her to end up working for Helen as a way to escape the police, but kind of spoiler – I don't remember there being a conclusion to this. Helen's father persuades Lillian to play matchmaker and get Helen engaged by end of year, which Lillian agrees to with the promise of $1000 and an escape route to Hollywood to become a silent film star.
Lillian is also hiding part of her identify from this wealthy family – she's a former sculpture model famously known as Angelica.
The book flips between time and POV, as other chapters are told about 50 years in the future as a by-happenstance-commercial model Veronica. She leaves behind London to try a series of shoots in the US, with one held at the Fricke House. I think this is where I got a little lost at first because I would get invested in Lillian's story and then switch to Veronica who I didn't super care about.
Anyway, Veronica ends up trapped at the house for several days and meets intern Joshua who also is stuck in the house. They work together to uncover clues left from decades before to find the hidden family secrets. Joshua seemed cool, though.
This book really wanted me to know that the house had a bowling alley. It was brought up more than necessary, imo.
This has been sitting on my shelf for two years so I'm really proud I finally read it, especially since it's one I borrowed from a friend. Trying to be better about reading borrowed books.
The author's note at the end really pulled a lot of things together and made the book that much more interesting. I guess I'm used to a majority of historical fiction focused on WW2 so when they're not I'm like what? lol I don't think I've ever heard about the Fricke Collection, and though this one mentions WW1, it's not the core focus. I enjoy when I can learn something new from these stories.
The book opens with Lillian's landlord's wife being found murdered. Lillian is wanted for questioning, and really that's all that happens with this storyline. It gives reason for her to end up working for Helen as a way to escape the police, but kind of spoiler – I don't remember there being a conclusion to this. Helen's father persuades Lillian to play matchmaker and get Helen engaged by end of year, which Lillian agrees to with the promise of $1000 and an escape route to Hollywood to become a silent film star.
Lillian is also hiding part of her identify from this wealthy family – she's a former sculpture model famously known as Angelica.
The book flips between time and POV, as other chapters are told about 50 years in the future as a by-happenstance-commercial model Veronica. She leaves behind London to try a series of shoots in the US, with one held at the Fricke House. I think this is where I got a little lost at first because I would get invested in Lillian's story and then switch to Veronica who I didn't super care about.
Anyway, Veronica ends up trapped at the house for several days and meets intern Joshua who also is stuck in the house. They work together to uncover clues left from decades before to find the hidden family secrets. Joshua seemed cool, though.
This book really wanted me to know that the house had a bowling alley. It was brought up more than necessary, imo.