The Dollhouse, by Fiona Davis

What a great surprise this book was.  After reading several literary duds in a row, I was thrilled to come across this engrossing story that had me ripping through the pages at lightning speed.  Many thanks to 'First to Read' for providing me with a copy to review.

At the risk of (erroneously) making it sound boring, this book was like sitting through that (rare) enjoyable history class.  The story takes place at the real-life Barbizon building in New York City.  In 1952, it was a hotel for women, boasting some rather famous residents, such as Lauren Bacall, Joan Crawford, and Sylvia Plath.  In 2016, it’s a condominium complex.  As art imitates life, the building continues to house some former hotel residents on its 4^th floor – residents who date back to the building’s heyday, including one Darby McLaughlin. 

As the book opens, we’re introduced to Rose, a struggling journalist who is facing upheaval in her personal life, as well as in her professional aspirations.  A resident of the 2016 version of the Barbizon, she encounters one of the 4^th floor residents on the elevator, Miss McLaughlin, and begins to sniff a story. Just who are these women who’ve inhabited the hallways for over 60 years? And, what is this about a mysterious incident that left a woman dead?  Through Rose’s research, we’re introduced to the 1952 Barbizon, seen through the eyes of Darby, a resident who was attending the Katharine Gibbs secretarial school. 

Darby is a shy, introverted young woman, stuck living on a floor with the statuesque models (re: mean girls) signed to the Eileen Ford modeling agency.  While struggling to adapt to her vast new world, Darby is befriended by a maid in the hotel.  Esme is an aspiring actress and singer, who introduces Darby to a different side of New York City – a seedier, yet exciting side, filled with glamour, jazz, and drugs.  Soon Darby is falling in love with her new life, and a new man. 

The chapters take turns, bringing us snippets of Darby’s life, before returning us to Rose’s research of that life.  The story itself is intriguing enough to keep the reader turning those pages, but when I discovered that the Barbizon was once a real, true-life residence for women, I read the words with an extra dose of enthusiasm. 

If this book had one fault, it’s that it could have used an extra twenty to thirty pages.  I felt like the author was in a rush to get the final piece of the puzzle out and shoved all the necessary information into ten quick pages, after building it up for almost 300.  What’s the rush?  I wanted to savor the end, as much as I had the entire book.  Regardless, this is still one of those books you won’t mind plunking down twenty bucks for.  Of course, some may argue that you won’t be getting your money’s worth when you want to read all the pages in a single day.

June, by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Sometimes reading the back flap of a new novel is enough to suck you in, and such was the case with June.  Among other aspects, the summary promises such themes as old Hollywood, creepy mansions, murder, family secrets, and more.  In fact, if I were to find any fault within its pages, it would be with the ‘more’ category.  It sometimes felt as if there was TOO much going on.  That said it was still an enjoyable, if drawn out, read.

The title of the novel refers to two things – the month in which the activity takes place (both in 1955 and 2015), and the name of one of the main characters.  June’s story takes place during the former period, while her granddaughter, Cassie, is at the center of the latter.  Connecting the two generations is the once-regal home known as Two Oaks.  Cassie has returned to the family mansion, inheriting its crumbly masses from her deceased Grandma June.  While she’s holed up there, trying to hide away from daily life, there’s a knock on the door, which brings in a whole new set of characters. 

Tate Montgomery, the current Hollywood ‘it’ girl, shows up on the doorstep with her entourage, Hank and Nick, to inform Cassie that she has somehow inherited the estate of Tate’s father, Jack Montgomery, a former movie star himself.  But, how is that even possible?  Where is the link?  Had Grandma June been hiding a secret past?  It takes the author nearly 400 pages to explain everything to us.  Therein lies the problem.

There was too much of everything, and yet not enough of anything.  There were characters I could have done without (Nick serves absolutely no purpose other than to throw a sex scene in here and there), and characters who should have been developed more, and given more credit (do you see the name Lindie anywhere on the dust jacket?  Nope, neither did I. Yet, the story can’t really be told without her). 

While I enjoyed the writing style, and the back and forth between the past and present, I still think there is such a thing as too much drama, and in this case, the author is guilty as charged.  Themes such as racism and homosexuality deserve more than the random mention here and there that they were granted.  It’s as if Ms. Beverly-Whittemore threw in every idea that popped into her head, when she may have been better off keeping a few for her next book. Less can sometimes be more.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free Advanced Reading Copy of this title through Library Thing, in exchange for an honest review

Are you there God? It's me, Amy...

So...where to begin? 

Life has been...well, awful...for several months now.  No details.  Those of you who know me already know what the deal is. But, it's hard to get back to any semblance of normalcy when your world is flipped upside down and seems as if it will forever stay that way.

There's the conscious part of your brain - the intelligent part - which tells you that life must somehow go on.  Typically, we don't have too much of a say in that, I suppose. But that other pesky side - the one that controls our emotions, our heart, our soul - that's the real pushy one.  That's the one telling you to stay hidden away in your dark little corner, where life can't get at you anymore.  That dark little corner has been my best friend for several months now, but it's time to branch out to the sunnier side of the room.

When I force myself to look at things logically, there really is no other credible option. Life is going to continue rolling on, whether I'm on the train or not.  Kids on playgrounds will continue to giggle and play, even if I'm not walking by during recess. New couples start to fall in love each and every day, even though my continuing (blessed) journey down that path started over 22 years ago.  Most importantly, the sun is still going to rise tomorrow, whether or not I decide to get out of bed to witness it. Life is out there for each and every one of us.  It's filled with celebrations, graduations, jobs, homes, achievements, families, welcomes, and then, sadly, goodbyes.  When life crashes in on you, it's hard to remember how much the good outweighs the bad.

I'd give anything - everying, in fact - to change the events of the past 18 months.  The part of my life that I miss so much is never going to be back.  It doesn't matter how much I cry, how much I beg, how much I pray.  It just won't change things.  Instead, I have to be the one to find my happy again.  I have to remind myself - every single day - that even when it doesn't feel like it, I'm a very lucky girl. I have a nice home, some special friends, two cats who are more like babies, and most importantly, an amazing, loving husband and family who were right by my side as we faced our battles together.

It's hard to read that list and not feel fortunate.  Maybe you can read that list and point out that you don't have half of those things.  But, I bet you have something (or some things) on your list that are missing from mine, don't you?  We don't all have to be the same, or have the same experiences, to know that life occasionally throws a curve ball that can't be hit out of the park.  Whether it strikes you early in life, or you're fortunate enough to get to middle age unscathed, it sucks. It just plain sucks. But, we're still here, aren't we?

Whether it's that new song just out for the summer, or making plans to see a friend in another state, life is STILL good, and there is still fun to be had.  It's just different. But, it's your own responsiblity to make it a GOOD different.