sargar114's review
3.0
I loved the setting and the dual time lines, but the story fell a little flat for me. I liked how it ended up all coming together so probably a little better than just okay…say 3.5 stars ⭐️
marshmallowbooks's review
3.0
This was an interesting mystery story set in the late 1920s and mid 1970s. Two women in different times, brought together across time over the artwork known only by the artist's pseudonym. It also covered the change over time of the Grand Central Terminal, from fascinating and beautiful, home of such things as an art school, to grubby and quite second-rate, perhaps to be demolished for capital or corporate gain.
Overall I liked it. The one thing that would have made the audio better was a different narrator for when perspectives switched between Clara Darden in the '20s, and Virginia Clay in the '70s.
Also, I wish the ending had been a little different, a little less cliched and more satisfying.
Overall I liked it. The one thing that would have made the audio better was a different narrator for when perspectives switched between Clara Darden in the '20s, and Virginia Clay in the '70s.
Also, I wish the ending had been a little different, a little less cliched and more satisfying.
Spoiler
I found it very hard to believe that Clara successfully pulled off the act of looking like a man when she was actually, what, a 70 year old woman? As much as I do love books where girls have to take on the guise of a boy to do something they couldn't do otherwise, in this case it seemed more sinister. The Clara of the '20s seemed forward thinking and innovative, ahead of her time for a woman. The Clara of the '70s was just crotchety and mean - maybe understandably so, but it was like she took off the disguise and gave the too cliche "mwah-ha-ha, now turn it over!" type of response. Same with the shifty couple that were stealing artwork, they're kind and helpful, and then turn around with a sneer. It seemed like a cop-out to an otherwise original story.anna_reads_too_much's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn't know much about this book - or this author - going in to it. I was pleasantly surprised. This is a dual timeline story with one storyline following artist Clara during the late 1920s and early 1930s, and the second following Virginia during the 1970s. This is a beautiful story of friendship, family, and art with a little bit of the fight to save and restore Grand Central Terminal thrown in.
I loved the dual timeline aspect, as well as how both of our main characters evolve as the book continues. It is interesting seeing both the similarities and the differences in daily life for both women, even though they are living in different decades so far apart from each other.
I can't wait to read more by this author.
I loved the dual timeline aspect, as well as how both of our main characters evolve as the book continues. It is interesting seeing both the similarities and the differences in daily life for both women, even though they are living in different decades so far apart from each other.
I can't wait to read more by this author.
torimariereads's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
bookedonbooks2020's review
4.0
The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis takes place in Grand Central during the 1920s and the 1970s. Following the stories of 2 women, art teacher Clara Darden through the 20s and divorcee Virginia Clay. Clara teaches art classes in Grand Central during a time when the opinions and talents of a woman aren't appreciated and she has to fight for recognition and better treatment. Clara finds and loses love twice throughout her journey.
Virginia is a divorcee and cancer survivor who has to try to make her way in the world once her marriage is over. After exaggerating her abilities as a legal secretary, she is offered a position in the information booth at Grand Central and find the abandoned art studio, where she discovers a painting that may be the work of the mysterious Clyde and sets off on her own journey to prove it is really a Clara Darden.
I enjoyed the story, particularly Clara's part during the 1920s.
Virginia is a divorcee and cancer survivor who has to try to make her way in the world once her marriage is over. After exaggerating her abilities as a legal secretary, she is offered a position in the information booth at Grand Central and find the abandoned art studio, where she discovers a painting that may be the work of the mysterious Clyde and sets off on her own journey to prove it is really a Clara Darden.
I enjoyed the story, particularly Clara's part during the 1920s.
jdromsky's review against another edition
I really liked the characters from the 1920s (Clara at the grand central school of art). But I could stand the characters in the 1970s, and as the book went on more and more time was spent in the 1970s
eshatto's review
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kittykornerlibrarian's review
4.0
I liked this quite a bit. It has the dual timeline plot going on; between 1928-1930 and 1974-1975. The unifying factor is the place; which is New York City. I thought choosing both of these periods in the same novel was a terrific choice; there's such a contrast between the prosperous, glittering New York of the 1920s and the rundown, dirty New York of the 1970s. As the title indicates, there is an art plot going on in both story lines. It was fascinating to learn that there was an art school in Grand Central Terminal in the early part of the 20th century; and this plot element worked well with the struggle in the 1970s to preserve the Grand Central building as a historic monument. The main characters were both women who were struggling in different ways. I enjoyed the way the plot lines came together at the end. This was a well-executed book that was full of interesting history.
pjkerrison's review
5.0
March 21, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It is totally unfair to rank books in order of preference when an author you love writes so well, and tells such different stories. Sure, there are themes similar in all, but that is the appeal here.
Women who are complex, intelligent, talented and strong. A breathtaking historical landmark. New York City. Multiple timelines. These are the staples of Fiona Davis’ novels. This is a writer who makes me feel it unfair to rank her novels because they’re all so lovely, so enriching to my modern day literature palate, and just so goddamned good.
With a quick, penetrating mind, Davis’ extensive research and storytelling is both amazing and wondrous. From start to finish, she never lets us down. I have genuinely marveled at the four novels of hers I l have read. No two the same or repetitive, she has created characters we want to know. Some, we want to meet. Some, both male and female alike, we may find ourselves wanting their strength and prudence.
An art class in a small room in the depression era. The information booth on the main floor nearly 50 years later. Davis weaves these areas of the Grand Central Terminal together seamlessly, smoothly and with an easy to believe tale.
She portrays an illustrator turned painter in the 20’s teaching in the lost Grand Central School of Art so well, you’ll feel you had a brush or pencil in hand. You’ll imagine the watercolor paint on your clothes. You need not know anything of art. Davis makes us comfortable and learned readers. She will educate you just enough to feel better about your new found knowledge, while not for a moment coming across as patronizing.
She features another woman about fifty years later. A woman who went in to have some cancer removed and woke to a mutilated breast removed from her person, as was part of the interior of her chest. Shortly after, her husband left her. A single mother, feeling maimed and scarred needs work. She finds a job at Grand Central Terminal Information Booth. She then, whilst in the throes of a brief - we’ll call it romantic - interlude finds a sheet of paper with a sketch on one side, a water color painting on the other.
You’ll need to read it for anything more and I can assure you it’s brilliant and beautiful, smart and at times rather funny, but most of all beautifully written with magnificent characters.
I don’t want my passage of life with Fiona Davis novels to come to an end but I am running out of them. I just take to it like a moth to a flame and don’t care if I get burned. She lights her own literary fires in each undertaking and I am a willing participant in each.
I am going to reiterate I feel it unfair to rank these books of hers … but my heart is leaving me no choice. It is telling me I have to tell you … I just adore, love, will read again, and must get a hardcover first edition all to myself of The Masterpiece. Because in my opinion, few books have ever been so perfectly titled and it is easily the best of the 27 books I have read thus far in 2023.
Damn you Davis. How dare you make me love one of yours over another.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It is totally unfair to rank books in order of preference when an author you love writes so well, and tells such different stories. Sure, there are themes similar in all, but that is the appeal here.
Women who are complex, intelligent, talented and strong. A breathtaking historical landmark. New York City. Multiple timelines. These are the staples of Fiona Davis’ novels. This is a writer who makes me feel it unfair to rank her novels because they’re all so lovely, so enriching to my modern day literature palate, and just so goddamned good.
With a quick, penetrating mind, Davis’ extensive research and storytelling is both amazing and wondrous. From start to finish, she never lets us down. I have genuinely marveled at the four novels of hers I l have read. No two the same or repetitive, she has created characters we want to know. Some, we want to meet. Some, both male and female alike, we may find ourselves wanting their strength and prudence.
An art class in a small room in the depression era. The information booth on the main floor nearly 50 years later. Davis weaves these areas of the Grand Central Terminal together seamlessly, smoothly and with an easy to believe tale.
She portrays an illustrator turned painter in the 20’s teaching in the lost Grand Central School of Art so well, you’ll feel you had a brush or pencil in hand. You’ll imagine the watercolor paint on your clothes. You need not know anything of art. Davis makes us comfortable and learned readers. She will educate you just enough to feel better about your new found knowledge, while not for a moment coming across as patronizing.
She features another woman about fifty years later. A woman who went in to have some cancer removed and woke to a mutilated breast removed from her person, as was part of the interior of her chest. Shortly after, her husband left her. A single mother, feeling maimed and scarred needs work. She finds a job at Grand Central Terminal Information Booth. She then, whilst in the throes of a brief - we’ll call it romantic - interlude finds a sheet of paper with a sketch on one side, a water color painting on the other.
You’ll need to read it for anything more and I can assure you it’s brilliant and beautiful, smart and at times rather funny, but most of all beautifully written with magnificent characters.
I don’t want my passage of life with Fiona Davis novels to come to an end but I am running out of them. I just take to it like a moth to a flame and don’t care if I get burned. She lights her own literary fires in each undertaking and I am a willing participant in each.
I am going to reiterate I feel it unfair to rank these books of hers … but my heart is leaving me no choice. It is telling me I have to tell you … I just adore, love, will read again, and must get a hardcover first edition all to myself of The Masterpiece. Because in my opinion, few books have ever been so perfectly titled and it is easily the best of the 27 books I have read thus far in 2023.
Damn you Davis. How dare you make me love one of yours over another.