Gossip girls hit the 19th century in this frothy and fun book that is the first in a three set series. Newcomer Anna Godbersen manages to catch all the loves, lusts and manipulations of New York’s high society with on-the-spot language. As she states in the opening chapter, “They were a society whose chief vocations were to entertain and be entertained, punctuated occasionally by the reinvestment of their vast fortunes in new and ever more lucrative prospects.” The plot unfolds exactly as I expected, given that most of the characters have the depth of Tori Spelling, but the story is a page-turner and the historical “feel” makes it entertaining. At 433 pages it was a remarkably fast read (and includes a 15 page preview of the upcoming sequel, “Rumors”). The chapters are short and are each prefixed with gossipy news items or snippets of letters. This bodice-ripping lite fare celebrates a truly fascinating time in our past. The aptly named “gay nineties” wasn’t just a heyday, it was very much the end of a kind of history. Half a generation before the “modern” times, this would be the last moments for corsets and horse-drawn carriages and gentlemen who left calling cards. The Victorian Age was dying, the Industrial Age was charging ahead like an omnipotent mammoth, and the women in those stuffy receiving rooms were clearly sensing the new winds. They outwardly adhered to the sensibilities of the time but the mentality of 20th century freedoms was making its mark. Amidst the Astors and the Vanderbilts, there were young women who smoked, laughed loudly and did far more than hold hands with their beaus during chaperoned walks along the promenade. This book may heighten the realities of those behind-the-scene behaviors, but it is easy to see flappers emerging from a generation of women who would throw off conventions and live life to the fullest. Glitz may have come in with the 20s, but this was the era of true glamour, of elegance, in a way it would never be again. I liked this book and look forward to the next (although it feels more like a summer beach read…). My one complaint is the cover, which features a woman too old to represent the lead character, and dressed in a way that is belied by the descriptions inside. I realize it may be a subtle hint at the “inner life” of the character, but it’s distracting. This series should be a hit with our chick-lit crowd if they are willing to stretch themselves ~just a little~ to move beyond the prep schools of their current literature.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
“The Luxe” by Anna Godbersen
Gossip girls hit the 19th century in this frothy and fun book that is the first in a three set series. Newcomer Anna Godbersen manages to catch all the loves, lusts and manipulations of New York’s high society with on-the-spot language. As she states in the opening chapter, “They were a society whose chief vocations were to entertain and be entertained, punctuated occasionally by the reinvestment of their vast fortunes in new and ever more lucrative prospects.” The plot unfolds exactly as I expected, given that most of the characters have the depth of Tori Spelling, but the story is a page-turner and the historical “feel” makes it entertaining. At 433 pages it was a remarkably fast read (and includes a 15 page preview of the upcoming sequel, “Rumors”). The chapters are short and are each prefixed with gossipy news items or snippets of letters. This bodice-ripping lite fare celebrates a truly fascinating time in our past. The aptly named “gay nineties” wasn’t just a heyday, it was very much the end of a kind of history. Half a generation before the “modern” times, this would be the last moments for corsets and horse-drawn carriages and gentlemen who left calling cards. The Victorian Age was dying, the Industrial Age was charging ahead like an omnipotent mammoth, and the women in those stuffy receiving rooms were clearly sensing the new winds. They outwardly adhered to the sensibilities of the time but the mentality of 20th century freedoms was making its mark. Amidst the Astors and the Vanderbilts, there were young women who smoked, laughed loudly and did far more than hold hands with their beaus during chaperoned walks along the promenade. This book may heighten the realities of those behind-the-scene behaviors, but it is easy to see flappers emerging from a generation of women who would throw off conventions and live life to the fullest. Glitz may have come in with the 20s, but this was the era of true glamour, of elegance, in a way it would never be again. I liked this book and look forward to the next (although it feels more like a summer beach read…). My one complaint is the cover, which features a woman too old to represent the lead character, and dressed in a way that is belied by the descriptions inside. I realize it may be a subtle hint at the “inner life” of the character, but it’s distracting. This series should be a hit with our chick-lit crowd if they are willing to stretch themselves ~just a little~ to move beyond the prep schools of their current literature.
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1 comment:
This book was amazing. I love the show, Gossip Girl, so I enjoyed this book. Godberson is a very good author. But, I do agree, Teresa, that the characters are bit Tori Spelling atitude....okay, not a bit, but a lot!
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