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A review by glitteryfaery
Gilded Needles by Michael McDowell
4.0
4.5 stars
Edith Fair moved at the side of the wheeled chair, searching for perfect shells which, when found she dropped into a basket Lena Shanks held in her lap
Wow, where to begin, the vivid descriptions, the setting, the beautifully orchestrated revenge plot, a feast for the eyes of any reader who enjoys thrillers.
Although McDowell is known for his more fantastical horror writtings this was a very realistic portrayal of New York during the Gilded Age, I often found myself having clear pictures of a Victorian Big Apple in my mind while reading, and I'm not someone who has an easy time imagining things in my mind's eye.
It was the first book of his I've read and I think I made a good choice, McDowell doesn't shy away from letting you know just how superficial that golden foil is, there are very vivid descriptions of death, poverty and debauchery of every kind, contrasted with the picture of elegance and class portrayed by the Stallworths.
This is a shocking yet enjoyable read but it does have it's flaws which I found to be the multiple unfortunate additions of racially insensitive passages, so do keep that in mind.
Edith Fair moved at the side of the wheeled chair, searching for perfect shells which, when found she dropped into a basket Lena Shanks held in her lap
Wow, where to begin, the vivid descriptions, the setting, the beautifully orchestrated revenge plot, a feast for the eyes of any reader who enjoys thrillers.
Although McDowell is known for his more fantastical horror writtings this was a very realistic portrayal of New York during the Gilded Age, I often found myself having clear pictures of a Victorian Big Apple in my mind while reading, and I'm not someone who has an easy time imagining things in my mind's eye.
It was the first book of his I've read and I think I made a good choice, McDowell doesn't shy away from letting you know just how superficial that golden foil is, there are very vivid descriptions of death, poverty and debauchery of every kind, contrasted with the picture of elegance and class portrayed by the Stallworths.
This is a shocking yet enjoyable read but it does have it's flaws which I found to be the multiple unfortunate additions of racially insensitive passages, so do keep that in mind.