Shrines of Gaiety
Ratings13
Average rating3.9
15
Ratings13
Average rating3.9
The #1 bestselling, award-winning author of Life after Life transports us to a restless London in the wake of the Great War—a city fizzing with money, glamour, and corruption—in this spellbinding tale of seduction and betrayal. "A wondrously intricate piece of narrative clockwork.... The Jazz Age London of Shrines of Gaiety is nearly as merciless as Dickens’ Victorian metropolis and even more rife with crime and intrigue.” —Slate 1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time. The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven, whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie’s empire faces threats from without and within. For beneath the dazzle of Soho’s gaiety, there is a dark underbelly, a world in which it is all too easy to become lost. With her unique Dickensian flair, Kate Atkinson gives us a window in a vanished world. Slyly funny, brilliantly observant, and ingeniously plotted, Shrines of Gaiety showcases the myriad talents that have made Atkinson one of the most lauded writers of our time.
Reviews with the most likes.
I've just joined my first book club and this was the read chosen.
An interesting tale set against the backdrop of nightclubs in London in the early 1900s.
Enjoyed the characterisation though still a little confused by the ending.
Looking forward to chatting with book club this week to find out if others figured it out because I want to know!
Holy cow, I loved this. The characters were all so interesting and well done. The setting was perfect. The whole feel of it. I loved the inclusion of a Baby Party (see Bright Young People by D.J. Taylor). The whole obsession with The Green Hat that goes throughout most of the book (I'll have to finally read it! I first heard of it over a decade ago!). This ticked every one of my boxes. Loved it. It wrapped up a little quick and easy, but that's honestly my only issue and it's minor. So good! (I'll have to look more into the woman that Nellie is based on. She sounds fascinating too!) I think I'm definitely going to have to read more Kate Atkinson as I've loved the two I've read by her.
I just finished the Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson and here is my review
Nellie Coker has been released from jail and she is ready to pick up her empire where she left off. 6 kids and all of them with their own agendas. There is unrest within her ranks and threats from the outside has Nellie grappling to hold onto her crown.
The glitz and glamor of 1926 soho hides a seedy underbelly and the dregs of society long to be on the inside.
I held a constant dislike for Nellie the whole way through. Usually there is something redeeming about characters like her but I just never found that connection and I think that was done on purpose. I loved the character development and the different facets of personalities that we got to experience.
I have a real affection for the 20s and this book lived up to my expectations on all levels. The storyline was fluid and well thought out. I felt the research done by the author on the 1920s and soho, was very accurate. I really enjoy books that span a few different genres and this one definitely pulled it off with style.
I have a real love for crime books set in London. It's my go to so this book more than delivered on everything that was promised.
4.5 stars! This book was a real winner for me and if you haven't picked up this book or any by #kateatkinson then you need to remedy that today!
Thank you to #penguinrandomhouseca for my finished review copy!
This was an entertaining read with an extensive cast of characters. I was listening and multi-tasking, so I had a hard time keeping track of who was who, especially for the first third or half of the book. I would have liked more Gwendolyn ... and the dog ... but I enjoyed other characters too, including the indomitable Nellie (a badass matriarch). The plot had good twists and turns, and I'd recommend this if someone wants a light historical fiction, with a bit of mystery, and a few spunky and smart women characters. (I was a bit underwhelmed with the ending, however.)
