The First Actress: A Novel of Sarah Bernhardt

The First Actress: A Novel of Sarah Bernhardt by C. W. Gortner   432 pages

You’ve heard me say it before: One of the reasons that I love historical fiction so much is that it introduces me to people and events I don’t know much about, or have no knowledge whatsoever.  The former is the category that this historical, biographical fiction work falls into for me. 

I knew that she was an infamous late 19^th and early 20^th centuries French stage actress whose talents glowed in plays by Alexandre Dumas (the father and the son), Victor Hugo and Victorien Sardou…to name only a few.  I knew that she had been dubbed the “Divine Sarah” for acting talents and made several tours of the United States. She was hit each and every time.

This book takes place before Sarah became a sensation in America.  She was the illegitimate daughter of one of Paris’ most sought after courtesans, Julie Bernhardt. While her father did not recognize her as his daughter, he did provide for her education---a rarity in those days.  She attended a boarding school and a convent school.

Although encouraged by her mother, Sarah had no desire to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She had a long string of lovers, but she was a woman who took care of herself.  Even when she, herself, became an unwed mother and the father didn’t help, she raised her son alone, with some help from family and friends.

Sarah also took control of her career. Sometimes she made mistakes in the parts she accepted. It was amazing to watch her encounter obstacles and overcame the majority of them,

Sarah had a few surprises in her that I found quite eccentric.  She had a full-sized dead bat that she wore as a lapel pin or as an adornment for her hat.  And she was rumored to sleep in a coffin, and traveled with it. 

Told for Sarah’s point of view, this highly researched and well written novel is a must read for those who enjoy reading about strong women.  “The First Actress: A Novel of Sarah Bernhardt” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

 

Echo After Echo

 Echo After Echo by Amy Rose Capetta   432 pages

Pennsylvania high school student Zara Evans wants to be an actress. Her favorite play is the Greek tragedy “Echo and Ariston.” Not only, in her opinion, is it the most romantic play ever written, it has taught her everything she knows about love.

Zara sends in an audition tape and is asked to read. She arrives in New York at the old Aurelia Theater. The Aurelia, rumored to be haunted, is home to the visionary director Leopold Henneman, himself as much as a myth as the Aurelia.

On her first day at the old theater, the lighting director mysteriously falls to his death. Although Zara doesn’t witness the event, she does discover the body. There are rumors that the Aurelia is cursed, which causes her to become skittish. Then, shockingly, Zara lands the lead in “Echo.”

Henneman demands that she allow no distractions in preparing for the difficult role of Echo. Zara agrees, she quits school and focuses all her intellect and emotions on the role. Then the re is a second death. Could it be another accident, is the theater really cursed or is there a murderer hiding in the shadows? Zara isn’t sure.

She befriends Eliza “Eli” Vasquez, the assistant lighting director. With her brusque manner, myriad tattoos and mysterious demeanor, Eli captures Zara’s heart in ways no one has ever done.

The two share a passion for each other that is only rivaled by their individual passion for the theater.

This story, to me had overtones of Gaston Leroux’s “Phantom of the Opera.” The prose is beautiful and often lyric, but I didn't quite understand the visions Henneman kept having. He seemed too melodramatic for his role. Therefore, Echo After Echo receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Okay For Now

OkayFor Now by Gary D. Schmidt, 360 pages

"As a fourteen-year-old who just moved to a new town, with no friends, an abusive father, and a louse for an older brother, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him until he finds an ally in Lil Spicer--a fiery young lady. Together, they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon's birds, and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage."  I read this for the first time the year that it came out.  I re-read it recently and I think I liked it more the second time around.  I had only rated it 3 stars on Goodreads and I changed it to 4 after this time.  Definitely a good novel for teens who like realistic "problem" novels.  I read this one in the ebook version because no hard copies were available.

A Step Toward Falling

A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern, 364 pages

This book reminded me of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, in quite a few ways. While it does tackle some very serious subject matter, this is a relatively light, easy read. Still, the characterizations are good. On the surface, there are obvious themes here - don't judge others on appearances, forgive others and seek forgiveness, treat others with dignity and compassion, and "Choose carefully the people whose approval you seek." (pg. 350) - but thankfully, they all go a bit deeper than that.

Worth noting, the characters who have special needs aren't put on a pedestal, perfect in every way apart from their disability - they get angry and make mistakes just like any of the other characters. If Belinda (the main character with special needs) weren't as richly painted, it would be hard to take the book seriously. Emily (the main character without special needs), on the other hand, comes across as a pretty typical YA lead. The real depth of the book comes from alternating between the two, showing that while society labels them differently, they are both human, with at least as many similarities as differences.

The Marvels

The Marvels by Brian Selznick, 665 pages

This is the story of the Marvel family, a genealogy from Billy Marvel through his descendants, down to his great-great grandson, Leo.  The book tells the story of the family in pictures, especially Billy's story, which is a very exciting story of surviving a shipwreck with only his dog, Tar.  All of the family led exciting lives afterwards, being famous actors at the Royal Theatre.  The second half of the book is about a boy named Joseph, who runs away from his boarding school to his Uncle Albert's house in London.  He has never met his uncle, and it is there that he discovers the story of the Marvel family.  Joseph is determined to uncover the secret his uncle is hiding and to figure out what the connection is between his family and the Marvels.  This was an excellent story.  Despite it's length, it will be an easy sell to reluctant readers since half of the book is illustrations.  I think this might be favorite of Selznick's books so far.

Station Eleven

Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel, 336 pages

I remember hearing a lot of buzz about this book- and then, nothing.  But I finally got around to reading it, and I enjoyed it.  The plot is this: a super flu happens and most of the world dies; this is the interlocking stories of a few of the survivors and a few of the non-survivors.  The stories span a wide range of years and include a number of voices, so it's up to the reader to keep them all straight.  One of the voices is that of Kirsten, a young woman who was just a girl when the flu hit, and years later, she is a member of a traveling theater troupe, who offer Shakespeare to the post-apocalyptic communities.  I love the idea of art being essential- the troupe use a Star Trek line as their motto, which really sums up the whole book: "Because survival is insufficient." 

Act One

Act One by Moss Hart
452 Pages

"Act One influenced a generation of theatergoers, dramatists, and readers everywhere as Hart eloquently chronicled his impoverished Bronx/Brooklyn childhood and his long, determined struggle to reach the opening night of his first theatrical Broadway success, written with George S. Kauffman, Once in a Lifetime ."

Playwright and Screenwriter Moss Hart was know for such hits as You can't Take it With You and My Fair Lady.  His autobiography is an engaging look at a lost era of Broadway. 

Will Grayson Will Grayson

Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
310 Pages

 Someone else on the blog already reviewed Will Grayson Will Grayson so I won't go into a lot of detail on the book. 

The book was enjoyable, the characters acceptable and the plot ok.  Was it the best John Green book?  No.  Would I buy the book and reread it?  No.  Unlike Karen Y I have like David Leviathan's writing, especially when he writes for adults.  I didn't have a problem with the two switching off writing challenges either.