Take a photo of a barcode or cover
mary_silva_21 's review for:
Bloomsbury Girls
by Natalie Jenner
If you ever saw the movie version of 84, Charing Cross Road (Helene Hanff), you have the picture of what I was seeing as I enjoyed Bloomsbury Girls. I loved this book and all its imperfect characters, especially the women. Each represents a different way the world is changing for women and, as each pursues her own future, their stories interact and show us women working together. This is something that isn’t always represented well, and it is a beautiful plot to watch unfold. Their friendship and ambition create a wonderful, engaging tale that makes me hope there is a sequel planned. I really want to follow their stories into the future. This book has a lot more meat to it than Hanff’s, but her bookstore remained in my head throughout my reading.
It took me a while to remember Evie from Jenner’s earlier book, The Jane Austen Society, which I listened to as an excellent audiobook. I enjoy those British narrators and I’m sure this will be a great audio book also. She, Grace, and Vivien’s stories move the action along with minimal repetition. The men, while not portrayed in as much detail as the ladies, are multidimensional characters and there is no obvious stereotyping or villainizing of them even as the world of 1950 is still 100% theirs. I actually felt some empathy for each of them as they adjusted to this world.
Post war Britain for women was an interesting place. I think most readers love a book set in a bookstore, but this is so much more. I learned a lot about this period and really enjoyed the inclusion of historical women and men writers as they appeared. I loved the advice they gave to the aspiring writer, Vivien, and the recalling of advice they had received from their past mentors. 1950s London is so vividly portrayed as the characters walk back and forth and dine or drink in various locations.
If you like to read about books and writers, you’ll love this book. It kind of reminded me of Lily King’s Writers and Lovers.
Thanks for the review copy, St Martin’s Press and Net Galley. This author is going places!
It took me a while to remember Evie from Jenner’s earlier book, The Jane Austen Society, which I listened to as an excellent audiobook. I enjoy those British narrators and I’m sure this will be a great audio book also. She, Grace, and Vivien’s stories move the action along with minimal repetition. The men, while not portrayed in as much detail as the ladies, are multidimensional characters and there is no obvious stereotyping or villainizing of them even as the world of 1950 is still 100% theirs. I actually felt some empathy for each of them as they adjusted to this world.
Post war Britain for women was an interesting place. I think most readers love a book set in a bookstore, but this is so much more. I learned a lot about this period and really enjoyed the inclusion of historical women and men writers as they appeared. I loved the advice they gave to the aspiring writer, Vivien, and the recalling of advice they had received from their past mentors. 1950s London is so vividly portrayed as the characters walk back and forth and dine or drink in various locations.
If you like to read about books and writers, you’ll love this book. It kind of reminded me of Lily King’s Writers and Lovers.
Thanks for the review copy, St Martin’s Press and Net Galley. This author is going places!