Saturday, January 06, 2018

#BookReview: A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller



About the Book:


Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.
            
After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky is torn. Just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?



Reviewed By: Endy
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Recommended Age: Young Adult 
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
How I Acquired this book: Purchased
Overall rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon
About the Author:
Sharon Biggs Waller grew up around artists and developed a passion for Edwardian history and the Pre-Raphaelites when she moved to England in 2000. She did extensive research on the British suffragettes when she wasn't working as a riding instructor at the Royal Mews in Buckingham Palace and as a freelance magazine writer. Her favorite painting is A Mermaid, by J.W. Waterhouse. She is a dressage rider and trainer and lives on a ten-acre sustainable farm in Northwest Indiana with her British husband, Mark. Visit her at sharonbiggswaller.com.



Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: The Main character is an artist? Sign me up!! 

Check out author's other books? YES
Recommend this book? YES

Notes and Opinions: The writer's voice was interesting. I was very hooked and pulled into chapter one.  The author established a time and place which was London 1909. I felt as if I could see her world through my eyes because the story was so detailed I could imagine it. 
The story flows naturally and I really liked it.  The main character was different from everyone else. She stood up for women rights and her art. My favorite character was her love interest Will. Every character was realistic. The author's secondary characters had roles and details as well. 
The point of view was the first person. It didn’t change.  Most of the conflict is how Victoria wants her life to go with a few challenges. Victoria was the only character that had an open motivation. There wasn’t too much conflict.  I loved the book, It made me want to read more from the author.  


Go Into This One Knowing: Romance, Amazing Characters
 

Excerpt

With Will next to me, the fog no longer seemed ominous; instead, it felt peaceful. The fog blotted out the surroundings and any passersby, making it feel as though we were the only people about.

“So you believe in votes for women?” I asked as we walked.

“I don’t see the point in denying half the population the right to vote.” He shook his head. “It’s daft. So yes, the suffragists have my sympathies. I can’t work out which side you’re on, though.”

“With the women, of course.”

“But you don’t fight with them?” He looked at me, his eyes questioning.

“I’m going to help them with the artwork. I’m not the fighting type.” I twirled my beret around my hand.

He grinned. “And an artist can’t fight?”








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