I really enjoyed this book. I didn't realize initially that it was a historical fiction novel, but that made it even more interesting to me. My favorite story - from beginning to end - was Cora's though. I loved that Cora "counted her blessings" no matter what happened to her. The Kaufmanns were such wonderful parents to her - giving her the love that a child needs, and orphans don't always get, - which helped her the rest of her very long life.
I couldn't figure out why her husband, who seemed like a kind and loving husband, wouldn't touch her after she became pregnant! I thought he was just being respectful of her during her pregnancy. Then, after the twins were born and he still didn't touch her, I thought that maybe he was having an affair.... but I also realized that birth control wasn't allowed back then so I thought that abstinence was maybe the only way he knew to not get her pregnant again. I didn't see the Raymond thing coming!
In most books I read about people having deep dark secrets, the truth always comes out and it always hurts someone when it does. Well, this may be the first book I have read where the secrets NEVER come out - and no one gets hurt by the lies. Interesting twist on that. ;) At first I thought they should have just been honest with Greta, but then it would have gotten weird with her not knowing about Alan & Raymond.... And I actually didn't think that Howard and Earle needed to know about their father, so that would have been another complication. So, I guess in this situation, it was better to not tell anyone the truth about anything! In the end, they all lived "happily ever after" in the ignorance. :)
I looked up Louise Brooks on the internet and watched a clip of one of her silent movies. She was interesting in her own right. Another troubled but talented dancer/actress/writer who spends a lot of time in "self-destruction mode", just like famous people today. Some things never change.
I'm not sure if this author's other books are historical fiction or fiction, but I am definitely going to take a look at them! Really engaging read for me.
Wendy's Rating: *****
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