A few months ago, I binged FX's Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and since then, I've become obsessed with the feud between Truman Capote and his posse of fA few months ago, I binged FX's Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and since then, I've become obsessed with the feud between Truman Capote and his posse of fashionistas/socialites who were known as his "swans." I've read tons of articles about his relationships with each of these glamorous women, along with his infamous/famous Black-and-White Ball (where he allegedly told each of the swans that they were his "guest of honor.")
The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a fictionalized account of the aftermath of Capote spilling all the tea regarding his friends' personal lives in excerpts for Esquire magazine. The excerpts were used to tease his upcoming book called Answered Prayers that intended to unmask the depravity that took place in New York High Society. Despite Truman changing names to protect the not so innocent, the swans were not pleased that their business was out there for everyone to read, and he's promptly given the "cut-direct." Thus, he begins to spiral.
I loved this book because I love rich people shenanigans. And these rich people shenanigans were REAL. While the author takes some liberties, a lot of what happens in this book happened in real life. Capote was actually exiled from New York Society after airing his friends' dirty laundry. Only Edith Wharton herself could have written a more tragic and delicious tale.
"The ugliness had always been there, he knew; didn’t he know it better than anyone? The stories behind the stories; the bargains and sacrifices he had made, that his swans had made, all of them, throughout their lives. The sordidness they were so determined to hide from the world."
After reading this book, my-and I'm sure a lot of readers-biggest question was WHY did he write these excerpts? Why was he willing to spill all his friends' secrets? And especially Babe's? While his relationship with most of the swans was surface level (most of the women were casually homophobic and saw Truman as their "entertainment") it seemed as if his friendship with Babe was deeper. Based on everything that I've read about them, they really seemed to care for each other. With the exception of his partner Jack, she appeared to be one of the few people in his life that he truly loved and respected. So why did he betray her? Was Babe, right? Was Truman testing them? Was he trying to see how far he could push them, what they were willing to forgive? Or did he simply think that they were too dumb and wouldn't realize that he was writing about them? Maybe it's a little bit of both. The sad part is that Truman never finished Answered Prayers, so he seemingly blew up his relationships for nothing.
To me, the heart of the book was the love story between Truman and Babe Paley. They were two broken, lonely people who finally felt seen by another person. They both felt like they had to put on an act to be loved. Babe felt like she had to be the perfect, elegant hostess and wife while Truman felt like he had to be the flamboyant, life of the party. When they're together, that's the only time when you don't see them having to play those roles. So, it's heartbreaking when you already know how their friendship ends, and that there's no resolution or forgiveness before Babe's death. Don't tell Ryan Murphy ...more
LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I AM CAPABLE OF READING (AND ENJOYING) ROMANCE NOVELS THAT DON'T HAVE STEAM IN THEM.
Synopsis: A sweet, sweeping time-tr3.5 stars
LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I AM CAPABLE OF READING (AND ENJOYING) ROMANCE NOVELS THAT DON'T HAVE STEAM IN THEM.
Synopsis: A sweet, sweeping time-traveling romance in which a 21st century history professor/researcher finds herself in 1812. In 2012, Emry is having a hard time on the dating scene because she's become obsessed with a portrait of a mysterious hottie in a locket. Once she time-travels through a portal, she finds herself face-to-face with Mr. Locket Hottie in 1812. Unfortunately, she also has amnesia.
This was adorable and romantic and exactly what I needed right now. Some would call this book boring, but I would prefer to call it soothing. Despite the time-traveling, there's not a ton of plot and I'm ok with that! Emry aka Emme was a great heroine. She was kind, intelligent and willing to immerse herself in the time period. The hero, James Knight, was great but he was a little TOO perfect. There were also parts of the book that dragged a bit, and the dialogue got repetitive but overall, I really enjoyed myself....more
**spoiler alert** "The bad stuff will keep coming, Molly, no matter what you do. But the good stuff, the moments that take your breath away, the momen**spoiler alert** "The bad stuff will keep coming, Molly, no matter what you do. But the good stuff, the moments that take your breath away, the moments when you can’t see anything bad because you’re so dazzled by happiness, those moments you’ve got to work for."
Plot Summary: When Molly Monroe wakes up with a killer headache and no memory of the night before, she understandably freaks out a bit. The handsome (clothed) man in her bedroom can only tell her that A. They did NOT have sex and B. When he found her, she seemed very upset about something. Once she leaves her apartment, she finds out that she's now the star of a viral video that was taken the night before. The folks on the internet behave....exactly as you would expect. Just when you think her day can't get any worse, she returns home to find her roommate and best friend Posey, dead in her bathtub. The police rule it an accidental death, but Molly knows better, especially since Posey was investigating the disappearance of a teenage girl named Lulu Lawrence. Especially since she was being threatened to drop her investigation.....
TW: sa, murder, slut shaming, cyberbullying, attempted drugging, attempted murder, death threats, death of a parent (flashbacks) anxiety and depression, gaslighting, grief
What I liked about the book: 1. Great cover, beautiful cover. But seriously, this cover is what made me want to buy the book ...more
At the height of the pandemic, I became obsessed with two things: the first thing were those satisfying soap videos on Youtube, and the second was a sAt the height of the pandemic, I became obsessed with two things: the first thing were those satisfying soap videos on Youtube, and the second was a series called Miss Fisher's Murder Mysterious. I intended to read the books that the series was based on...until I found out that there were more than 20 books and then I was like "Ain't nobody got time for that." This is a collection of short stories that give you a taste of the whole series which is the Hon. Phyrne Fisher solving mysteries (while wearing fabulous clothes), kicking ass and smashing the patriarchy. It's delicious and I finished the book within a couple of days.
Slight (Book) Spoiler Below:
If you were like me and shipped the hell out of Phyrne and Jack in the show.... well, they are not a thing in the books. Jack has a whole wife and kids. I cried and fell to my knees ...more
But seriously, how can a story about two people who share a telepathic connection that's b**spoiler alert** 1.5 stars
Great cover......beautiful cover.
But seriously, how can a story about two people who share a telepathic connection that's been passed down from generation to generation be so FREAKING BORING?!?...more
Cute, short, festive read that's perfect for the holiday season. Would recommend reading this while drinking hot chocolate on a cold rainy day. StellaCute, short, festive read that's perfect for the holiday season. Would recommend reading this while drinking hot chocolate on a cold rainy day. Stella West is "head of holidays" at a department store and when their professional window dresser quits unexpectedly, Stella and her co-workers have to work together and create memorable windows displays within a few days. The pressure's on to not only create the perfect display (and keep their jobs) but for Stella to finally tell her co-worker/friend/crush Hector how she really feels about him. ...more
**spoiler alert** A magical short story about a young woman who begins a torrid affair with her brother-in-law, while at the same being drawn to a mys**spoiler alert** A magical short story about a young woman who begins a torrid affair with her brother-in-law, while at the same being drawn to a mysterious traveler.
This is the 3rd book that I’ve read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and she’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. ...more
While the Old Emperor is on his deathbed, Mistress Charm is given a task: to find out which of the emperor's sons are respo**spoiler alert** 4.5 stars
While the Old Emperor is on his deathbed, Mistress Charm is given a task: to find out which of the emperor's sons are responsible for his death.
The Bone Orchard was incredible. If someone were to ask me what this book was about, I would say it's about bodily autonomy and the things we're willing to do to protect ourselves. I would keep it vague because you have to experience this book on your own. That third act is amazing. But don't worry, if you're like me and aren't into dark or sad books, the ending is hopeful. Don't get me wrong, it's a heavy read but it doesn't have an ending where you regret reading it. The final scene is so wholesome and it’s well-deserved after what these characters have endured.
I took off half a star because it was pretty confusing in the beginning, the world building was a little fuzzy, but I started to understand what was happening about halfway through the book. But yeah, while I understand why so reviewers DNF'd this, I'm a little sad because the last part was great.
TW/CW: death of a child, violence, murder, trauma....more
**spoiler alert** Wow. I didn't expect this book to knock me off my feet the way it did. This romance was wholesome, soothing and warm. This is the ki**spoiler alert** Wow. I didn't expect this book to knock me off my feet the way it did. This romance was wholesome, soothing and warm. This is the kind of book that I would recommend reading a chapter before going to bed (like I did) not because it's boring but because it's enjoyable and won't stress you out. I also think this is the perfect time of year to read it because it takes place in the fall (there are mentions of thanksgiving and Christmas) and even though it's set in Brooklyn the vibes are giving "small town romance."
HEROES NAMED SEBASTIAN CONTINUE TO HAVE ME IN A CHOKEHOLD.
Some background info: For some reason, I'm way tougher on contemporary romances than I am on historical romances, don't ask me why, I just am. Contemporary romances that give me the butterflies in my stomach that I get from historical romances are usually written by Talia THEE Hibbert. But friends, Just a Heartbeat Away gave me butterflies!
The Plot: When Sebastian Dorner first meets his son's Pre-K teacher, Via DeRosa, it's only six months after the death of his wife Cora. Sebastian doesn't know how to function let alone how to be a proper father to his son. Via sees that he's struggling, and she gives him a gentle kick in the right direction and Sebastian gets his life back on track. They meet again two years later, Via is now the guidance counselor at Sebastian's son's new school and friendship, and eventually love blossoms between them.
What I loved about this book: So many things lol There were things that I loved in this book that I would not have been a fan of in any other romance. For example.....
1) Via is in a serious relationship for half of the book, and no she does not cheat on her boyfriend with Sebastian. I usually hate it when MCs are either hung up on or are in relationships with other characters BUT in this case, it actually made sense. Via is only with her boyfriend-his name is Evan-because he represents stability for her. Via's parents died when she was young, and she had to go into foster care. She goes from foster home to foster home before she finally ends up in a permanent loving home. So given her background, it made sense that she would try to make this relationship work even though they're clearly not compatible. I also like how Evan wasn't a stereotypical "evil" boyfriend." Sure, he was a bit of a man child (lol) but he wasn't a bad person! They love each other, they just want different things in life. Which happens in real life, relationships run their course and there aren't any bad guys. In fact, there weren't any villains in this book. It was so refreshing. I'm so over cartoonish villains in my romances. THERE I SAID IT. Sebastian is also dipping his toe back into the dating scene and he goes on a couple of dates with women that he's met online (he even goes on a "friend" date with Via's friend Fin). He sleeps with one of these dates but it's not a descriptive scene (thank goodness) he talks about it with a friend, because he felt weird about sleeping with someone after so many years.
2) Sebastian is a widower and while I'm usually OK with widower/widow MCs, I HATE it when their late spouses are put on a pedestal. I love how Sebastian's relationship with his late wife Cora is handled. He did love her, and she was a great mother, but their marriage wasn't perfect, and she wasn't really the love of his life. Similar to Evan/Via's relationship, they just weren't compatible, and Sebastian carries guilt about that, He didn't cheat on Cora or anything he just felt like he wasn't the best husband and father when she was alive.
3) I know some people hate kids in romances, but MY GOODNESS SEBASTIAN'S SON MATTY IS JUST THEE CUTEST KID EVER. He's not one of those kids in romances who exist solely to cause trouble for the couple and he's not a "wise beyond his years" kid either. He acts like a real kid. For example, Matty has this thing where he'll only drink water if it's his dad's water and I was like YES THIS IS THE KIND OF ADORABLE/WEIRD STUFF THAT KIDS DO ALL THE TIME THANK YOU CARA BASTONE. Side note: I've read romances where I've wanted to ask the author "have you ever been around a kid in real life or is this how you THINK kids act in real life?" but that's a rant for another day! Sebastian is such a great dad yet he's so hard on himself and you just want to shake him and go "NO YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING AMAZING SWEETIE."
4)Another thing I loved about this book was the COMMUNICATION. Communication is sexy! These grown folks talk things out and I love it! When Sebastian is being weird about their age gap (Seb is 42, while Via is 28) Guess what happens? THEY TALK ABOUT IT. When Via tries to run off because she's afraid that she's gonna mess things up if she gets into a relationship with Sebastian, Guess what? Sebastain runs after her and THEY TALK ABOUT IT. They put all their fears on the table. It's just *chef's kiss*
Other things I loved about this book that I'm just gonna put in one paragraph because my hands are tired: The secondary characters are delightful. The other teachers at the school are amazing, hilarious and they ship the hell out of Via and Sebastian. I loved that you have so many people helping Sebastian with Matty (His friend Tyler, Cora's friend Mary and Cora's parents) it truly takes a village, and it was so heartwarming to see people stepping up for Matty and Sebastian. Another thing I loved was that Via and Sebastian are normal looking people. They're attractive, but they're not supermodels. It's so refreshing. I'm so sick of reading about gorgeous people falling in love. I also loved Crabby the dog (he's the dog on the cover) Crabby is a legend, an icon, the moment.
Oh, before I forget. Yes, this is a slow burn romance but the HEAT is there. Like...don't let the cute cover fool you because once they finally get together.....KABOW. This is not a closed door romance. The door is WIDE open.
Using the backdrop of the 1988 presidential race, Didion pulls back the curtain to reveal the machinations that take place in the political arena. WitUsing the backdrop of the 1988 presidential race, Didion pulls back the curtain to reveal the machinations that take place in the political arena. With her cool, crisp and wary observations, she exposes the performances that go into American politics, and the narratives that are built to both deceive and appease voters. A fantastic read, this is the fourth Didion that I've read and I plan on reading everything that she's ever written....more
While I admire the author for combining genres (memoir and historical fiction) this book would’ve gotten a higher rating had it just been a memoir as While I admire the author for combining genres (memoir and historical fiction) this book would’ve gotten a higher rating had it just been a memoir as her journey as a PhD candidate researching Gaskell OR a historical fiction novel about Elizabeth Gaskell’s time in Rome. The dual timeline wasn’t cohesive. I wanted it to to blend more a la Julie and Julia. But overall, this was a delightful read. ...more
Update: A well researched, gripping depiction of the passionate and volatile relationship between legendary crooner**spoiler alert** Review to come…..
Update: A well researched, gripping depiction of the passionate and volatile relationship between legendary crooner Frank Sinatra and movie star Ava Gardner and the highs and lows of during respective careers.
My thoughts: Strangers in the Night was incredible. The book has dual POV and you can tell that the author did a lot of research to capture Frank and Ava’s voices. They were the loves of each others lives but they brought out the worst in each other. I could feel how exhausting this relationship must’ve been for them.
It’s also interesting to see how the press hasn’t changed in its treatment of entertainers. When Frank and Ava first get together, Ava is the bigger star and Frank is seen as a D-list actor/singer with a temper. The fact that Frank is a married man with kids doesn’t exactly improve his reputation. For the first part of their relationship and even during the beginning of their marriage, he’s known as “Mr. Ava Gardner.” It’s one of the biggest issues in their relationship, that the traditional Frank feels inferior to his wife. Ava is the one who pulls some strings to get Frank is Oscar-winning role in From Here To Eternity. The press is incredibly fickle lol at the start of the affair, Frank and Ava are written as evil cheaters who are hurting Frank's Saint of a Wife but later, they're Romeo and Juliet and Frank's evil wife is keeping them apart by refusing to sign the divorce papers. Also, JUSTICE FOR NANCY I would love to read a historical fiction novel from her perspective in the same vein as "The Paris Wife" another book I would highly recommend about Hadley Hemmingway, Ernest Hemingway's first wife.
It's clear that Frank and Ava are way too similar. They're both passionate people who had to claw their way to the top. They're both underestimated by the movie studios and the press. Before we knew Frank Sinatra as THE Frank Sinatra the press and studios saw him a mediocre singer and an even worse actor. Ava's seen as a pretty face, and she's trapped in vixen roles when she has a hunger to hone her craft. It’s a case of “can’t live with you, can’t live without you.” You can understand why even after their divorce, they couldn't stay away from each other... now I'm rambling ha!
There is ONE thing that bugged me....and yes, I'm aware this is Historical FICTION, not a biography. The author has a storyline about Lauren Bacall and Sinatra having an affair behind Bogie's back while he was dying?!? Now, Bacall and Sinatra did have a relationship and get it engaged, but it took place AFTER Bogie's death. There was enough cheating in this book, you didn't have to add an affair that probably didn't take place.... or maybe I'm just oversensitive because I'm currently reading Bacall's memoir lol
I would definitely recommend this book to people who love history, historical fiction and celebrity memoirs from the "Golden Age of Hollywood."
So I don’t usually do songs for real life couples but Diet Mountain Dew by Lana Del Rey is definitely Frank and Ava’s song ...more
When I was about halfway through My Education, I was sure that I would give it two stars. But the more I read, the more I found myself enjoyi3.5 stars
When I was about halfway through My Education, I was sure that I would give it two stars. But the more I read, the more I found myself enjoying this book. Choi's writing is visceral. If you're looking for characters who are "likeable" this is not the book for you. If you’re not a fan of love triangles (or is it a square?) with horrible people, this is not the book for you. Most of the characters in My Education are selfish, flawed, insufferable....and human. They’re not good humans but they are humans ...more
Louisa May Alcott’s vivid writing brings you along the journey of a courageous heroine as she attempts to escape a villainous former lover who’s deterLouisa May Alcott’s vivid writing brings you along the journey of a courageous heroine as she attempts to escape a villainous former lover who’s determined to possess her by any means necessary.
TW: stalking, gaslighting, death of an animal (described in flashbacks)...more
The story of a family trying to survive in the midst of violence and upheaval as they fight monsters that are both human and animal. In less than 30 pThe story of a family trying to survive in the midst of violence and upheaval as they fight monsters that are both human and animal. In less than 30 pages, Silvia Moreno-Garcia packs an emotional punch. This was excellent.
Melanie THEE Reader
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