Scan barcode
A review by meghan_readsbooks
Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra
5.0
I want to thank Random House and NetGalley for the ebook copy of Anthony Marra's Mercury Pictures Presents.
I loved this book! What a treasure of writing, character development, and context and a writing voice that shows so much respect for the story and characters written. Mercury Pictures Presents was everything I really want in a favorite read: strong female voices, a focus on the whole story and not just a resolution or conclusion, well developed characters, and an immersive epic feeling, a sense I want to dive back and a regretting having to put a book down. I felt it was very real and present, often I find it hard to connect to historical fiction as it feels too distant to me but Marra's writing made the book lively and engaging.
I really enjoyed early in the book how I was quickly drawn into Maria's story and voice, she was given the chance to have a clear voice, to come across as confident, and was funny; I also appreciated how the backstory of her childhood was written from the perspective of what it would have been like for a young girl to be trying to process what was happening in Italy and with her family but not fully grasp it (that was really well done). The aunts in California were wonderfully written as well, vibrant and also confident, strong women. I am not a big fan of historical fiction but this felt different,
As the story opens up Marra weaves in important notes about history and the context and timing of the story (Hollywood, WWII, United States, Italy) while remaining true to character development and coming of age vibes.
I hope this book is treasured by other readers. I recommend it for historical fiction fans but also literary fans, perhaps readers who like Evelyn Hugo, Great Circle or fans of the author's previous books, which I have to go read now!
I loved this book! What a treasure of writing, character development, and context and a writing voice that shows so much respect for the story and characters written. Mercury Pictures Presents was everything I really want in a favorite read: strong female voices, a focus on the whole story and not just a resolution or conclusion, well developed characters, and an immersive epic feeling, a sense I want to dive back and a regretting having to put a book down. I felt it was very real and present, often I find it hard to connect to historical fiction as it feels too distant to me but Marra's writing made the book lively and engaging.
I really enjoyed early in the book how I was quickly drawn into Maria's story and voice, she was given the chance to have a clear voice, to come across as confident, and was funny; I also appreciated how the backstory of her childhood was written from the perspective of what it would have been like for a young girl to be trying to process what was happening in Italy and with her family but not fully grasp it (that was really well done). The aunts in California were wonderfully written as well, vibrant and also confident, strong women. I am not a big fan of historical fiction but this felt different,
As the story opens up Marra weaves in important notes about history and the context and timing of the story (Hollywood, WWII, United States, Italy) while remaining true to character development and coming of age vibes.
I hope this book is treasured by other readers. I recommend it for historical fiction fans but also literary fans, perhaps readers who like Evelyn Hugo, Great Circle or fans of the author's previous books, which I have to go read now!