Take the opera, Der Rosenkavalier, rework the details and set it in New York during the roaring ‘20’s add in a cold case and that’s the basic idea behTake the opera, Der Rosenkavalier, rework the details and set it in New York during the roaring ‘20’s add in a cold case and that’s the basic idea behind this novel.
How much is having the right last name worth?
Old money versus new money Youth and beauty versus a fabulous brilliant woman of a certain age there’s a lot of ideas to explore throughout this novel.
In the 1920’s America began to witness a divide between tradition and modern ideas. Women started to consider independence, employment, and more freedom in their fashion. Automobiles were changing things. Prohibition was alive and well and so were the parties, speak-easies, and bathtub gin.
Isn’t everything more daring and fun when it’s off limits?
New York in the 1920’s what a potential setting, and it was scarcely utilized. The historical fiction aspects took a back seat to an awkward love triangle. I wasn’t invested in either lady winning Octavian’s heart. In fact, I longed to see the younger of the two pursue her engineering dreams. There was a lot of “tell” in the development of these characters and not enough “show”. I didn’t buy into the chemistry or love at all.
Although the novel does take readers into a speak-easy and glamorous parties the experience isn’t an immersive one. The ambience isn’t explored and didn’t make an impression. A 1920’s speak-easy should feel alive when you read about it, and it didn’t.
A lot of the action takes place off the page throughout the novel which I thought was an odd choice. We get the lead up and the aftermath, but not the event. It was like reading twice the pages for half the information in some sections.
The headings for each chapter are derived from Helen Rowland’s Column “Reflections of a Bachelor Girl”. This column was written over a century ago and can be found today both in book and audiobook form. The witty snippets opening the chapters fit the subject matter of the novel.
“Marriage is like twirling a baton, turning handsprings, or eating with chopsticks. It looks easy until you try it.” -Rowland
Beatriz Williams is a fabulous author, but this novel fails to capture the essence of the 1920’s. There were a lot of hanging plot threads and extraneous scenes. I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I wish it had breathed life into this intriguing historical era.
I didn’t rate this because I couldn’t get through it.
I DNF this pretty quick. I wasn’t expecting a life altering read or anything just something to I didn’t rate this because I couldn’t get through it.
I DNF this pretty quick. I wasn’t expecting a life altering read or anything just something to listen to while doing mindless tasks, but I could not continue this one. Life is too short to read anything with plot holes big enough to drive a truck through. I kept having to go back over sentences repeatedly because they made no sense. The characters were boring and I have no idea what the actual plot was supposed to be. There’s a lot of telling and not enough showing. When the characters, especially the male lead, described themselves I kept thinking no one talks like that and shouldn’t these qualities be shown not recited by the actual character. This just wasn’t for me....more
I didn’t know the premise of Life and Death when I opened it. It’s Twilight reimagined with the characters swapping genders. I think it would’ve work I didn’t know the premise of Life and Death when I opened it. It’s Twilight reimagined with the characters swapping genders. I think it would’ve worked better if these versions had more development instead of being almost identical to the original counterparts. I do like the alternate ending. It was more realistic than the original. ...more
I liked this book better than the first in the series. The Apollo storyline was an interesting addition. The supporting characters overall made this I liked this book better than the first in the series. The Apollo storyline was an interesting addition. The supporting characters overall made this book so much better. ...more
A retelling of Hades and Persephone, A Touch of Darkness, is a quick easy read. The story felt underdeveloped though. The world building could have beA retelling of Hades and Persephone, A Touch of Darkness, is a quick easy read. The story felt underdeveloped though. The world building could have been much stronger. Stories that delve into the underworld, should contain breathtaking descriptions, because well.... it’s the freaking UNDERWORLD. Sadly, this book held a lot of promise without the follow through. However, the versions of Hecate and Hermes featured were nice additions to the cast of characters. I also liked the idea of Hades being open to try “mortal” activities. Persephone’s internship as a reporter felt wrong. There’s much potential for this story to take a better turn. Sometimes the first book in a series is just a little lacking. I enjoyed this enough to give the 2nd book a shot....more
The cover art is stunning and a perfect fit for the novel. It caused me to sit and study the art up close and as a whole. That’s what great art does nThe cover art is stunning and a perfect fit for the novel. It caused me to sit and study the art up close and as a whole. That’s what great art does no matter where you find it. It makes you think, feel, there’s a curiosity, a wonder. This is a book cover befitting of a fairy tale. House of Salt and Sorrow is, at its core, a retelling of the 12 dancing princesses, but imagine the story with a gothic atmosphere and a dash of horror. A drafty seaside castle, maybe a few ghosts wandering about, mysterious deaths….is there a curse…something worse? There are familial expectations/obligations shrouded in mourning. And the question of how much mourning can one family endure? When do you move on? Can you move on? ...more
The cover of Norse Mythology is one of my all time favorites. I can’t help, but brush my hand across it each time I see it. It is one to keep on the The cover of Norse Mythology is one of my all time favorites. I can’t help, but brush my hand across it each time I see it. It is one to keep on the shelf just to look at. In true Gaiman form, the real treasure lies within the pages though. I have a list of writers a mile long that whose work I adore, but I don’t know of anyone else who could have written a book like this one. Norse Mythology is outstanding. Mythology is interesting to me, but some books feel stiff or like there’s gaping holes in the presentation. Gaiman made the stories accessible to the reader. Definitely a novel for the keeper shelf. ...more
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