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A review by thebooktrail88
The Girl from the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor
5.0
Travel to the literary settings of : The Girl from the Savoy
There’s few novels that touch me in the way that this one has. I’m also fascinated with the jazz age and would quite like to take a peak inside the Savoy hotel so this novel ticks more than one box for me. The writing and the loving detail which builds up a complex and lush painting of that time and period however is what makes this read a five star one.
I loved Dolly from page one – and it was fascinating to go with her on her journey from maid in a regular house to one in the Savoy hotel. The level of hierarchy and rules that come from working with some of the rich and famous was often shocking to read but it was the hierarchy below stairs which was the worst. Each member of staff, each girl came to life with their chatter and polish of the stairs. The stars who glide through the hotel (and make even more mess it would seem than the rest of us) are shown to be indifferent at best or predatory at worse with the maids who clean their rooms. Staff are not allowed in the main hall and there is hell on when one of them happens to be there.
The world of the theatre and of dreaming to be on the stage is lovingly captured and I was drawn deep into the excitement of waiting for the curtain to go up, the random last minute whispers from the orchestra, the smell of the greasepaint and the excited chatter of those backstage. Seeing it through the eyes of established star Loretta and Dolly who dreams of nothing else really gave a full and fascinating picture of behind the scenes and how a passion for something can make your life so much richer and rescue you in other ways.
The story of the two women is exquisite and so very sad when you read on and discover their pasts and yearnings. I cried for what could have been and what was. It’s very emotional and I really felt invested in the characters so much that this book affected me when I ‘d finished reading it. I’m still thinking of them days after and will no doubt they’ll still be with me for a long time to come.
Highly recommended!
There’s few novels that touch me in the way that this one has. I’m also fascinated with the jazz age and would quite like to take a peak inside the Savoy hotel so this novel ticks more than one box for me. The writing and the loving detail which builds up a complex and lush painting of that time and period however is what makes this read a five star one.
I loved Dolly from page one – and it was fascinating to go with her on her journey from maid in a regular house to one in the Savoy hotel. The level of hierarchy and rules that come from working with some of the rich and famous was often shocking to read but it was the hierarchy below stairs which was the worst. Each member of staff, each girl came to life with their chatter and polish of the stairs. The stars who glide through the hotel (and make even more mess it would seem than the rest of us) are shown to be indifferent at best or predatory at worse with the maids who clean their rooms. Staff are not allowed in the main hall and there is hell on when one of them happens to be there.
The world of the theatre and of dreaming to be on the stage is lovingly captured and I was drawn deep into the excitement of waiting for the curtain to go up, the random last minute whispers from the orchestra, the smell of the greasepaint and the excited chatter of those backstage. Seeing it through the eyes of established star Loretta and Dolly who dreams of nothing else really gave a full and fascinating picture of behind the scenes and how a passion for something can make your life so much richer and rescue you in other ways.
The story of the two women is exquisite and so very sad when you read on and discover their pasts and yearnings. I cried for what could have been and what was. It’s very emotional and I really felt invested in the characters so much that this book affected me when I ‘d finished reading it. I’m still thinking of them days after and will no doubt they’ll still be with me for a long time to come.
Highly recommended!