(This is a compensated post, sponsored by the Blogher Book Club. The opinions expressed are completely my own.)
Sometimes you read books that fill you with excitement, that thrill with every turn of the page and make your heart skip beat after beat.
The Chaperone, by Laura Moriarty? It isn't one of those. That isn't to say it isn't a good book though. It's more of a gentle read--like an old friend that never really does anything terribly exciting but you're still glad to have around. I fear my original assessment sounds too harsh. I did enjoy reading this book. It's beautifully written, with lovely descriptions and an intriguing portrayal of the lives of women through the 20's, 30's and beyond. As a period piece, I found it thoroughly captivating. The characters were generally likable, and nicely developed in most respects.
In a nutshell, the novel details the experiences of a mid-thirties woman hired to serve as a chaperone to the young and saucy Louise Brooks, an aspiring actress and dancer who is just about to make it big as an actress, as she starts her career in New York City. New York is a different world for both women--far different than their mild, suburban life in Wichita, Kansas and proves to be rich with answers about life and love and relationships in general.
For it's captivating prose and mostly engaging story line, I'd recommend this as a "check out from the library" or "borrow from a friend" book.
To learn more about the book and join in on the discussion, visit the BlogHer Book Club page here:
