Review: The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

THE MASTERPIECE by Fiona Davis
Release date: August 7, 2018
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 368
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Historical fiction
Source: First to Read
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars 

For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.
For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded--even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter--Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.
Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece--an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931.

Review: 

This is my first Fiona Davis book and it was certainly an interesting read. I love New York City, so was extremely eager to read about Grand Central in a historical context. THE MASTERPIECE alternates between the 1920s and the 1970s following two characters: Clara Darden and Virginia Clay. These two woman are unique and each are working to prove themselves as independent and capable in very different time periods. Clara Darden is an artist teaching at the Grand Central School of Art and Virginia Clay is a divorced woman who finds a job at the train station information booth. At first it seems that the only thing tying these two woman together is their time spent in Grand Central, but that quickly proves to not be the case.

Clara dreams of becoming a famous illustrator, recognized for her talents and able to make a career out of it. Virginia simply wants to keep her and her daughter afloat. I appreciated the depiction of these strong woman who had to work around sexism and other challenges every day. Clara's coworkers at the art school were well developed characters and I appreciated the subtle hints of romance that took time to develop. It was interesting to see the different kinds of art being done at the art school and how there was some prejudice against illustrators at the time. I did like Virginia's character a bit more. She was very likable and the fact that she was dealing with scars both physical and mental made me want to root for her success even more.

The stories begin to come together when Virginia finds an old painting in Grand Central and starts to research more of Clara Darden's history. Several characters from the two time periods weave between both stories and it was a bit sad to see the state of the art school (and the station) in the 70s. Grand Central Terminal was a beautiful place of architectural wonder and it featured the art school, grand parties, and well dressed travelers. By the 70s it was falling apart and considered dangerous because of the muggers and drug dealers that frequented the dark corners of the station. There were numerous subplots to keep track of from the individual woman's experiences to the deterioration of the terminal to missing art to Virginia's daughter. This was one of my biggest issues with the book. Some of the plot points seemed rushed or unnecessary and the author tried to fit too much into the book.

THE MASTERPIECE, to me, was at its best when focusing on the characters. Fiona Davis did a great job of creating very fleshed out and unique individuals. Characters who only made a small appearance were memorable. The ending just felt a bit rushed and because so much was happening in two different time periods the book often felt rushed and a tad unbelievable. Still, I liked the characters and seeing Grand Central through the years. I'm glad the beautiful building still stands. Fiona Davis always receives a lot of praise so I will be checking out some of her other titles for sure. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos

The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos 

Release date: November 13, 2018

Publisher: Atria Books

Reading level: Adult

Genre: Historical fiction 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

On a freezing night in January 1941, a little Jewish girl is found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest. With Romania recently allied with the Nazis, the Jewish population is in grave danger, undergoing increasingly violent persecution. The girl is placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted by a wealthy childless couple who name her Natalia. As she assimilates into her new life, she all but forgets the parents who were forced to leave her behind. They are even further from her mind when Romania falls under Soviet occupation.
Yet, as Natalia comes of age in a bleak and hopeless world, traces of her identity pierce the surface of her everyday life, leading gradually to a discovery that will change her destiny. She has a secret crush on Victor, an intense young man who as an impoverished student befriended her family long ago. Years later, when Natalia is in her early twenties and working at a warehouse packing fruit, she and Victor, now an important official in the Communist regime, cross paths again. This time they are fatefully drawn into a passionate affair despite the obstacles swirling around them and Victor’s dark secrets.
When Natalia is suddenly offered a one-time chance at freedom, Victor is determined to help her escape, even if it means losing her. Natalia must make an agonizing decision: remain in Bucharest with her beloved adoptive parents and the man she has come to love, or seize the chance to finally live life on her own terms, and to confront the painful enigma of her past.

This was suggested for fans of LILAC GIRLS, which I thought was excellent. I love historical fiction and I am interested in reading about a Romanian's experience during World War II. This is also a debut!

Can't Wait Wednesday Is Hosted By: Wishful Endings inspired by Breaking the Spine 

Review: The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines

The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines
Release date: July 19, 2011
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 352
Reading level: Young adult
Genre: Historical fiction/mystery
Series: Book 1
Source: Gift
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars 

Iris Anderson is only 15, but she's quickly mastering the art of deception in this YA novel for fans of Veronica Mars.
It's the Fall of 1942 and Iris's world is rapidly changing. Her Pop is back from the war with a missing leg, limiting his ability to do the physically grueling part of his detective work. Iris is dying to help, especially when she discovers that one of Pop's cases involves a boy at her school. Now, instead of sitting at home watching Deanna Durbin movies, Iris is sneaking out of the house, double crossing her friends, and dancing at the Savoy till all hours of the night. There's certainly never a dull moment in the private eye business.

Review:

This book has been sitting on my shelf for years and I am surprised at that. I love mysteries and historical fiction, plus the cover is very alluring. I can't say for sure whether I would have enjoyed this more if I had read it when I was 15, but I felt that it had a lot of promise that didn't ultimately deliver. THE GIRL IS MURDER is supposedly the first in a series, but I think this could have been a standalone. At 15, Iris lives alone with her father in New York and longs to be involved in his private detecting work. He forbids her, but Mr. Anderson's war injury combined with the fact that his latest case involves a missing student from her daughter's school, makes it hard for him to completely keep his daughter uninvolved. What follows is a quick read that involves Iris sneaking out and immersing herself in the case all while trying to help her dad without his knowledge.

The plot seemed promising and I loved the idea of a mystery set in Manhattan in the early 1940s. The author seemed intent on clearly defining the setting with a lot of slang and other references to the time. Iris did seem to want to actually help her dad, but it seems she might have been more helpful if she wasn't always sneaking out and lying to him and her friend(s). I can't imagine how difficult it was for Iris to know her father was struggling financially and thinking his only option was her help. Iris was adventurous and an entertaining main character, but the plot often fell flat. I wasn't particularly invested in learning what happened to the missing boy, Tom, and the ending also seemed a bit too easy, while definitely not what I was expecting.

There were a multitude of supporting characters and I enjoyed reading about what they did for fun and hearing the slang they used. All in all, this was a fast paced and entertaining mystery that doesn't get too in-depth. Iris was sweet in her dedication to solving the mystery and helping her family, but beyond that I do not think I will be picking up the sequel. Reviews do mention that it was much more plot driven than this one so that is a bit appealing.

Review: America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Release date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 606
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Historical fiction
Source: Purchased
Links: Authors • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.
It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father’s troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William’s wife and still be a devoted daughter.
Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded.

Review: 

I loved this! Historical fiction has always been one of my favorite genres particularly when it's about someone/something I don't know too much about. What most impressed me was how much detail went into AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER. This book followed Thomas Jefferson's daughter, Patsy, for her entire life. Of course even in 600 pages that isn't enough to cover every important moment, but I still felt I learned a lot about both Patsy and her father. Thomas Jefferson has always been a fascinating figure to me and I liked getting to see this more intimate side of him. Patsy and her father had an incredible relationship and she was present for some of the most important moments in history.

Patsy was born in Virginia and eventually followed her father from Monticello to Paris to the White House. After her mother died, Patsy became the one her father confided in and relied on. It truly makes you wonder what exactly her impact was on our nation's history. The author's utilized letters and journals to provide as much accuracy as they could to this story of Patsy Jefferson. They were fairly liberal with their creation of her relationship with William Short and relied quite heavily on the fact that Thomas Jefferson may have had a serious relationship with Sally Hemmings. Still, these are rumors that many feel have substance and it was interesting to see how these situations affected Patsy and shaped her life. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for Patsy to maintain her strength and composure when her father was such a public figure. She did her best to protect him and seemed to be one of his only confidants.

Thomas Jefferson is one of our most well-known presidents and shapers of our nation. While we do get to see a more personal side of this legendary man, what I most liked about this book was learning about Patsy's life and how her father's actions shaped her own life. What a life it was. Patsy had some incredible adventures and experiences early in life, but unfortunately married a man who struggled with drinking and bad temper. It was awful to see how much Patsy and her father struggled at the end.

AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER is a lengthy read and packed full of information. The authors do discuss what liberties they took at the end and I also did some of my own research on Patsy and her family after I finished reading. There are so many "hidden figures" in our nation's history and I am excited to read Dray and Kamoie's next book on Alexander Hamilton's wife, Eliza. In the early days of the United States women are often left in the background, yet they often made such a significant impact. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction.

Waiting on Wednesday: The War Outside by Monica Hesse

The War Outside by Monica Hesse 

Release date: September 25, 2018

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 

Reading level: Young Adult

Genre: Historical fiction

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

It's 1944, and World War II is raging across Europe and the Pacific. The war seemed far away from Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado--until they were uprooted to dusty Texas, all because of the places their parents once called home: Germany and Japan.
Haruko and Margot meet at the high school in Crystal City, a "family internment camp" for those accused of colluding with the enemy. The teens discover that they are polar opposites in so many ways, except for one that seems to override all the others: the camp is changing them, day by day and piece by piece. Haruko finds herself consumed by fear for her soldier brother and distrust of her father, who she knows is keeping something from her. And Margot is doing everything she can to keep her family whole as her mother's health deteriorates and her rational, patriotic father becomes a man who distrusts America and fraternizes with Nazis.
With everything around them falling apart, Margot and Haruko find solace in their growing, secret friendship. But in a prison the government has deemed full of spies, can they trust anyone--even each other?

I love historical fiction, especially when it tackles a time in history that might not be as well known. It's important for people to understand what happened with the Japanese in the United States during World War II and I am eager to see how Monica Hesse handles this difficult subject. All of the early reviews I have seen have been fantastic, so I am eager to read this myself!

Waiting on Wednesday Is Hosted By: Breaking the Spine

Review: The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel

The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel
Release date: March 27, 2018
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 400
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Goodreads Giveaway
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But war is looming on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too.
Charlotte Dacher is eleven when the Germans roll into the French capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. After the Jewish restrictions take effect and Jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart.
Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing during the waning days of the Blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home.
When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the courage to defy the Nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive. Rich with historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

Review:

THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE was a beautiful story of three inspiring individuals during World War II in Paris. I had recently read Kristin Hannah's THE NIGHTINGALE and had seen some critiques that they were extremely similar (in plot, not to mention author's name!). I will admit there were several similarities to aspects of the story, but these were only in the historical sense, not in the characters or writing style. I have always been interested in historical fiction that brings to life a place and period that I am not all that familiar with. While I have read a multitude of books on World War II, I have not come across many stories of Paris and the experiences of people there. 

I don't want to get into the intricacies of the plot of THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE, because I think it is worthwhile to go into this book not knowing much about the characters. I will say that this novel focused on three people: Charlotte, Ruby, and Thomas. Charlotte and Ruby are living in Paris at the start of the war and Thomas is training as a fighter pilot. Their stories were told in alternating chapters, which is something I am not always a fan of, but each of these characters was extremely developed and I didn't have any trouble fully immersing myself in each individual's narrative. Their experiences are fairly interconnected and we are able to see the characters from various perspectives. 

It is always difficult to read a book with characters going through particularly tough and tragic situations, and Harmel did an excellent job of bringing the reader into the setting right alongside the characters. She has a unique and vivid method of writing and I was able to finish this book in just one day. Some might go into this story expecting it to be only focused on history and the struggles of the characters, but romance was also a key aspect of THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE. I think the beautiful relationships formed in this novel made it even more enjoyable for me. Not only romantic relationships, but friendships as well were beautifully crafted. 

I highly recommend THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE for anyone interested in historical fiction and I am eager to read what Kristin Harmel writes next. 

Review: Curses and Smoke by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii by Vicky Alvear Shecter Release date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 336
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Historical
Source: Netgalley
Links: Author's Website/Goodreads

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

When your world blows apart, what will you hold onto?
TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master's injured gladiators. But his warrior's heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom.
LUCIA is the daughter of Tag's owner, doomed by her father's greed to marry a much older Roman man. But she loves studying the natural world around her home in Pompeii, and lately she's been noticing some odd occurrences in the landscape: small lakes disappearing; a sulfurous smell in the air. . . .
When the two childhood friends reconnect, each with their own longings, they fall passionately in love. But as they plot their escape from the city, a patrician fighter reveals his own plans for them -- to Lucia's father, who imprisons Tag as punishment. Then an earthquake shakes Pompeii, in the first sign of the chaos to come. Will they be able to find each other again before the volcano destroys their whole world?

Review:

Historical fiction has always been one of my favorite genres and I like to read about a wide variety of time periods. When I first heard about Vicky Alvear Shecter's novel of Pompeii I was so excited- this was one part of our history that I hadn't read about recently and I was intrigued to see how she would depict this horrible disaster. While this was a well-written novel with strong characters, I didn't find this book as engaging or informative as I had hoped.

Lucia is the daughter of the master of the gladiators in Pompeii and Tag is a medical slave. Curses and Smoke is told through alternating points of view between the two of them. Lucia lived a luxurious life, but was very much under her father's control. Even though she did have an adventurous side and seemed to really care for Tag, it often appeared that Lucia just wanted to be with Tag because he was something different and allowed her to do something against her father's wishes. Tag was a much more likable character, in my opinion. He cared deeply for his own father and was dedicated to his medical duties; yet Tag still had aspirations to become a gladiator and earn his freedom.

The plot was very slow-paced at first, but the last few chapters definitely had me on the edge of my seat. It was strange knowing what everything was leading up to. It's hard to describe my feelings about this book because it is based on a real natural disaster, but it was especially awful to see what happened to Pompeii after experiencing the city through the eyes of Tag and Lucia.

I have to say the ending was a huge what. So much happened at once that I just had to sit there after I finished and try to process it all.

I would recommend Curses and Smoke to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a romantic twist. As a whole I liked this new book by Vicky Alvear Shecter, but I had a few issues that left me conflicted. I am looking forward to seeing what time period she covers next, though!

Review: Panama by Shelby Hiatt

Panama by Shelby Hiatt
Release date: September 28, 2009
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 256 Pages
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher (ARC)
Links: Author's Website/Goodreads

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

At fifteen, a girl moves from a small town in Ohio to Panama while her father takes part in building the Panama Canal. This trip comes just at the right time for her. She yearns to see more of the world than her small mid-western town has to offer. She wants to meet new people. Visit exciting places. Panama with its lush rainforests and myriad of people is the perfect place for her desires to be fulfilled. Then she meets Frederico, a Spanish aristocrat who is working as a digger, one of the masses who toils daily in the heat and the dust and the danger of the canal. He embodies everything she's looking for: he's exotic, exciting, intelligent and pushes her beyond the limits her sequestered life has set for her.

Review:

This summer I have been working through my shelves; uncovering a lot of books that have been hidden for years. I was beyond excited when I found Panama-- I had just returned from a trip to Panama myself a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to read this. While this one definitely had promise, the negatives outweighed the positives and I ended up not enjoying this one as much as I had hoped to.

Historical fiction has long been one of my favorite genres of YA because I love watching history come alive. I have been fascinated with the history of the Panama Canal ever since I visited it myself earlier this summer. In Shelby Wiatt's debut, the main character and her family move from Dayton, Ohio to Panama because her father has gotten a good job working on the canal. It was fascinating to read about the whole process of the canal work and to see it from the perspective of a young girl.

The weirdest part of this book for me, and what makes writing this review particularly challenging, is that we never learn the name of our narrator. I'm not sure why the author chose to do this, but it left me feeling very disconnected from her. Anyway, the main character is an only child who enjoys exploring and the outdoors. I was looking forward to seeing the canal work and surrounding Panama area from her eyes. Unfortunately, she soon becomes distracted by a young man and that becomes the sole focus of the plot.

I'm all for romance, especially in a historical setting, but this one was just strange. She meets Frederico one time and immediately becomes obsessed with him and once they start hanging out more often her obsession only grows. I didn't really see what was that great about him. He was smart and passionate about doing what was right, but it also seems like he only cared about himself and bragging about how smart he was. Also, he never asked the narrator anything about herself and seemed to only want her for her access to books and for sex.

I enjoyed reading about the work on the canal and seeing what life was like for all the different workers involved with the project, but the fact that the main character and romantic interest were so unlikable and the novel revolved more around her planning ways to sneak off and see him rather than on the fascinating world they were living in, I just ended up not enjoying this one as much as I had hoped to. I liked the author's writing style and would love to see what aspects of history she wrote about next, though.