The Address, Fiona Davis, Dutton, 2017, 297 pp
I read this for a reading group. The author writes popular women's fiction about historical icons. The "address" is the Dakota, the residence where John Lennon lived with Yoko and where he was shot and killed. This story does not however cover that period.
Instead it covers the early years when the building first opened in 1884 and a parallel story at the same location in 1985. The modern part features descendants of Theodore Camden, a real life historical person who was one of the building's architects.
If not for the reading group I doubt I would have read the book. While it was fairly entertaining, I would not have missed much. For me the writing did not stand out. Fine for a popular book but the story was a bit too predictable despite the mystery embedded in it.
In the 1800s a woman tries to rise in the world and runs into the usual pitfalls and barriers for women of those years. In the modern plot, a woman faces similar troubles. Ho hum.
Sorry to hear this novel was a dud!! I've had this novel and other novels written by Fiona Davis on my reading wishlist... Rethinking about whether I'd want to read any of them now after reading your review.
ReplyDeleteWith all the great books you want to read ahead of you, you might save some time if you skip Fiona Davis.
DeleteThe one flaw that I find insurmountable in a book is lack of originality. Sometimes when it comes to books that seem to be so routine, I wonder if the author started with original ideas that fell by the wayside.
ReplyDeleteI agree Brian. Maybe these authors, like the movie business, just want to make some money by following a successful format. Or I should say, maybe the publishing business takes on such books for that reason.
DeleteI do love the cover art but, not sure about the story. Curious what the other thought.
ReplyDeleteIt has 3.9 stars on Goodreads and some of the bloggers I follow liked it just fine. But some reviewers on GR are with me. Check it out!
DeleteSounds like the same old familiar story with nothing different or original to recommend it. I think I'll give it a miss.
ReplyDeleteYep, that is what it turned out to be.
DeleteThis sounds like it could have been an interesting story, but the author missed the opportunity to make it into something original and memorable. I don't think I'll be reading it.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately that is what I found. The book has worked for others but not for me.
DeletePerhaps the novel would have been more memorable if the author had pursued the John Lennon angle.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about that. It was the writer, not the angle.
DeleteThank you for the review. I doubt that I would have chosen this, either, and I'm not surprised it's not really your type of book.
ReplyDeleteBetter luck next time.
Oh the things we read for reading groups, right?
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