Scan barcode
A review by pia_de_e
The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe
3.0
This is a very complex story: Anita Hemmings, although African-American, can pass as white. Her lifelong dream has been to study at Vassar, and she will do all she can to fulfill it.
A bright student, she is accepted, and rooms with Lottie, one of the richest girls not only at school, but of New York.
Her brother, Frederick, almost as light skinned as she is, goes to a college that accepts black students and disagrees with Anita for passing as white.
To complicate events even more, Anita falls in love with a white, rich student.
But, although the story is well written, I felt the characters lacked depth. I don't think we get to know Anita, or sympathize with her. This is one of the first women to attend college, and on top of this she is not white! It would make for so many interesting and tense situations, which were missing.
Lottie, the roommate is just spoilt and nasty, and when she finds out Anita's secret, she just turns against her in a horrible way.
I enjoyed the book, but I felt some of the situations were somewhat superficial.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A bright student, she is accepted, and rooms with Lottie, one of the richest girls not only at school, but of New York.
Her brother, Frederick, almost as light skinned as she is, goes to a college that accepts black students and disagrees with Anita for passing as white.
To complicate events even more, Anita falls in love with a white, rich student.
But, although the story is well written, I felt the characters lacked depth. I don't think we get to know Anita, or sympathize with her. This is one of the first women to attend college, and on top of this she is not white! It would make for so many interesting and tense situations, which were missing.
Lottie, the roommate is just spoilt and nasty, and when she finds out Anita's secret, she just turns against her in a horrible way.
I enjoyed the book, but I felt some of the situations were somewhat superficial.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.