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A must read for lovers of Frank Lloyd Wright or not. Would have never found myself reading this book if it weren't for my bookclub.
It is a great book to discuss with friends or a book club. The book was a real page turner, and it was fun pretending to be in the minds of the characters.
The ending was so unexpected it left me in tears. It was well written and presented a side or Wright that was totally new. I would recommend this book to anyone. Came away from reading this book with the question "was it worth it.". Although I personally didn't approve of the choices made by the author it was very thought provoking.
Mamah and Frank deal with the backlash of abandoning their families, Frank's money troubles are clearly depicted, and the role of women during the beginning of the 19th century is discussed in great deal, with Ellen Key's philosophy used as a vehicle. In the beginning it seems as if she might veer away from the standard linear, but ultimately decides not to.- The diary angle is unnecessary and only partially executed.
I'm sorry, but it doesn't match what's inside.As a whole, the positive exceeds the negative, as the story itself kept me reading. The Ugly:- The cover.
Nancy Horan's historical novel about the scandalous affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick is an interesting debut she should be proud of. Given the characters and context, I think Horan could have been a bit more creative with her narrative decisions.
I must defend the text against those that argue with the characters' decisions- keep in mind this is based on a true story, therefore Horan didn't feel at liberty to rewrite Frank and Mamah's past. The Good:- The historical events and personal drama are appropriately balanced; after reading the novel you feel as if you have learned about Frank Lloyd Wright's history as an architect, but have also obtained an interesting perspective on his and Mamah's personalities.- Another note on history, Nancy Horan must be given credit for the amount of research put into the text, both in regards to her characters and the actual events described.- The novel is full of struggle, with multiple viewpoints represented.
The Bad:- Nothing about the novel stands out as far as the actual prose.
Good reading. She was a motivating character in his life until her tragic end. Usually takes me 50 pages or so to get "hooked" on a book, but Loving Frank grabbed me from the start. Well written historical fiction vividly portrays Frank Lloyd Wright's relationship with his lover.
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