She prayed her red eyes wouldnt be noticeable in the darkened room. I studied her work in college and so have a background that will be useful. Fiona Davis is at the top of her form in this captivating historical novel about a family who lives inside the stone fortress known as New York Public Library in the early years of the twentieth century. Sadie scoured the department of sanitations books from that year and found the answer: approximately one hundred thousand tons. When they first moved in, Jack had had to give them a stern warning when they were caught poking their heads inside the dark shaft, but soon enough the family had settled in and adjusted to their new surroundings. , [] 3 Stars. Sign Up Now. Sadie had continued working on the master sheet of the Berg Collections highlights for an upcoming exhibit, entitled Evergreen, while Claude had been one room over, in the exhibit hall, going over the floor plan with the carpenters. For the next twenty minutes, Mr. Hooper went through the list of exhibit items one by one, in alphabetical order, asking for a progress report. As he opened it wide, she gasped and stepped forward. That means long hours, lots of research and writing, but we believe you both will rise to the occasion., Of course. Sadie tried to contain her joy. She pointed through the glass door at the bottom shelf. "A page-turner for booklovers everywhere! Theyd stared at each other in shock before doubling over with laughter. The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis is named for the world-renowned pair of marble lions that guard the Beaux-Arts building of the New York Public Library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan. He didnt gesture for them to take a seat. ", "I'm so thrilled that my book, 'The Lions of Fifth Avenue,' was chosen as the 'GMA' Book Club pick for August," Davis said. That she feared if something happened to Jack, shed also end up on the steps, ragged and dirty, begging for money. The book hed started several years ago and was so close to finally completing. Sadie had been at the library longer, but Claude had more years in the Berg Collection. Read them. (the iconic New York City Public Library is the setting for this histfic []. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Have you been up here yet?. Once he started in on his manuscript, her interruption would be even less welcome. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. (This article contains affiliate links. She was fine now, thank goodness, but they were still catching up. Davis said the book is "historical fiction plus a mystery all rolled up into one. If the tourists wanted a museum, they could go to the Met uptown and be pests there. She gave him a quick kiss, then turned and slid the letter that shed left out on the work03 table back into the pocket of her apron. At which point it had fumbled away from him, landing in the sink in a pile of ice-like shards. She blushed furiously under Dr. Andersons close scrutiny. Genre/Categories: Historical Fiction, New York City. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. So Id be surprised if we found anything of interest., In any event, let me know what you discover.. The Lions of Fifth Avenue. Setting: The New York City Public Library setting is the star of The Lions of Fifth Avenue! https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/the-odd-objects-found-in-a-public-library, https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/berg-collection-english-and-american-literature, Posted in American authors, Book review, historical fiction, Tagged Berg Collection, Edgar Allan Poe, Fiona Davis, Heterodoxy Club, Leaves of Grass, Nathaniel Hawthorne, New York City, New York Public Library, Tamerlane, The Lions of Fifth Avenue, The Scarlet Letter, Virginia Woolf, Walt Whitman. Or, start your trial of Amazon Video for movies and tv series on demand. Her husband is the director of the library and aspiring author. A sound up on the walkway that ran along the length of the room above the shelves made her jump. Her family had moved to New York, hoping to pass as White in order to gain a more secure economic life. This is for your wife.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The NYPL has a special significance for three generations of the Lyons family, whose surname appears to be a nod to the institutions sentry lions. Dont miss our most anticipated book releases of 2020. I welcome your comments on my site. She began her career in New York City as an actress, working on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in regional theater. While I enjoyed the mystery and the act of reading a book about books, this one just didnt really work for me. Praise for The Lions of Fifth Avenue "Davis delves into the history of the New York Public Library in this delightful mystery. A Good Morning America Book Club Pick and a New York Times bestseller! M.J. Rose What can we do to help, Mr. Hooper? asked Claude. They stood in the night air on a balcony high above Bryant Park, looking west across the city. Finally, the crowd eased and she headed inside, maneuvering up the stairs to the northeast corner of the librarys top floor, through the heavy wooden door marked BERG COLLECTION. People made hats out of birds, inkwells out of horses hoofs. Dr. Anderson trusted only Jack to wind it each week; no one else was allowed to even touch it. But Sadie stiffened as Mr. Hooper continued on. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. In 1913, Laura Lyons is living in an apartment within the New York Public Library with her husband, Jack, and two children, Harry and Pearl. Love the premise of both plot lines. How strange to be barely managing month to month while living in such architectural splendor. Get fast delivery as well as movies, music, Originals, shows, and more.4. Hed been away for a week after that, during which time shed let her imagination run wild, thinking of them together, wandering around the city, roaming from bookstore to bookstore. In 1993, Sadie is the Curator at the New York City Public Library and also shares a secret connection with the famous essayist, Laura Lyons. You what?, I reached out to the bursar, whos an old college chum. God bless. Laura hurried up the steps and into Astor Hall, past the dozens of visitors milling about, their voices echoing off the marble steps, the marble floors, the marble walls. As Lauras world is expanding and changing, her home life threatens to fall apart when a string of thefts occur at the library. Although the official building superintendents office was on the main floor of the library, hed also commandeered a small storage space in the basement, to be closer to the rest of the staff. Harry, at eleven, was older by four years, but Pearl was wiser, faster. The novel is a dual timeline story about the Lyons family which has two generations that worked in the library. Rumor has it they were meant to eventually be walkways, for an extension of the building that was never realized, but I have a feeling the architects simply liked the way they looked. He took a drag on his cigarette. That would never be her. THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE by Fiona Davis Dutton When rarities disappear, a curator at the New York Public Library, who grapples with her grandmother's legacy, uncovers new truths about her. In The Lions of Fifth Avenue, we follow two womenone in 1913, the other in 1993who are determined to defy society's expectations. This is a story about three women who become unlikely friends. Its an important artifact, one that tells us a lot about Charles Dickens and the time period he lived in. When shed first brought up the idea with Jack earlier that year, hed approached it with his usual meticulousness. After her discussion with Jack, shed asked Dr. Anderson for a recommendation and been delighted when hed agreed to provide one. Id like to go, and Id like to have your support. She reached down and kissed him, feeling his rough beard on her lips. In 1913, library superintendent Jack Lyons, his wife, Laura, and their two children, Pearl and Harry, inhabit seven rooms on the librarys mezzanine. The timing couldnt be worse. She thought of the beggar woman squinting in the harsh sunlight, one bare and lifted. Much of the book is difficult to discuss without spoilers. Anderson wants to see both of us, Jack said, his face pale. . That means we dont lend the books out, they must be consulted on-site. He wasnt handsomehis eyes bulged outslightly, and his upper lip tended to sweat when he got excitedbut he had broad shoulders and a thick head of hair, and most of the female librarians swooned when he paid them the slightest bit of attention. Honestly, when I hear histfic, I expect it to revolve around some historical event. The Lions of Fifth Avenue Fiona Davis Quick Synopsis A story of two women connected through family whose lives center around the New York Public Library and the strange disappearance of priceless books and antiquities. "A page-turner for booklovers everywhere! Once again she illuminates another New York City landmarkthe New York Public Libraryand expertly creates two rich, mysterious worlds which she deftly braids together into a compelling, page-turning read. Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of six historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Magnolia Palace, The Dollhouse, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. The last school year had been tough for Harry, who, unlike his sister, never brought friends home to play or got invited to birthday parties. Surely, if something were wrong, Marlene would have reached out and let her know. Her stomach lurched as she followed him down the hall. . The library called to me with this one. She was hired by J.P. Morgan to curate his collection of books, manuscripts and artworks, which were housed in the newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. If living in a library sounds neat to you, check out even more great books about libraries and librarians both fiction and nonfiction. Its rare for me to struggle with a review unless I finish a book in the middle of the night. Theyre old enough to take care of themselves. Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry One year. Uncovering the truth drove Sadies story line, and her personal growth caused me to prefer the present day story line over the past. Sadies skittishness around strangers, her worry that she was somehow lacking, disappeared at work. However, I think some of the mirroring of events between the two timelines tends to be a bit gimmicky. Is it real? asked Mrs. Smith, scrunching her turned-up nose. But Jack had imagined writing a novel contrasting city with country life with that would take the world by storm. They simply couldnt afford it. Posted on Last updated: September 27, 2022, Klara and the Sun Book Club Questions & Discussion Guide, Next Year in Havana Book Club Questions & Discussion Guide, Home | Blog | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | About. Ill do it. Sadie didnt care that she was being rude. Mr. It was such an interesting journey to go on, and while the characters faced some challenging times, the ending was ultimately satisfying for me.. The daily chores, the sameness, weighed her down like stones in her pockets. Do you think women still face societal pressure today to only fill traditional roles? In nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis's latest historical novel, a series of book thefts roils the iconic New York Public Library, leaving two generations of strong-willed women to pick up the pieces. But still. Jack had joined her, drying the champagne coupes, both of them stifling a laugh after the hostess breezed by and warned them to be careful to not break the stems. It was a gripping and satisfying story about two strong women that lived eighty years apart. It's become so common place that it is no longer an interesting twist. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Shed dashed off a silly article about the difficulty of keeping Pearl and Harry quiet during the day, especially in the summer when they werent in school, and how shed come up with the idea of a ten-minute stomp every evening, after the patrons had drained into the streets and the administrative offices had emptied. . Laura Lyons, despite her husband's protests, wants to be a wife, a mother and a dedicated journalism student. The main theme of the book was not as portrayed in reviews and synopsis. . Either will do.. She felt that restlessness in her bones every day. Other than their gender, how are Sadie and Laura similar? Praise for The Lions of Fifth Avenue "Davis delves into the history of the New York Public Library in this delightful mystery. While the librarys vast holdings included several rare book and map collections, the Berg was Sadies favorite. It was not about the library so much or book theft but about women navigating free life choices and being denied opportunities, IMHO. Sadie sat back, stunned. 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