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kayann's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
creolelitbelle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Slow-paced to start but great at exploring the "place" of women in society at two vastly different time periods - the late 1920s and mid-1970s. Liking either Clara or Virginia took me a lot of time, because they both come across as entitled women in their own ways. I appreciate the way each fought for her own stake in life and refused to be defined by the men around them. Clara's love triangle could have been done better, because all involved were supposed to be in their mid-20s I think but acted much younger. Maybe that was part of the demeanor of the Roaring 20s, though. Virginia's situation gave me a good look into what life could be like for a single woman in the 70s, which was interesting for me with a mom who divorced during that decade (without children yet). Virginia found employment unrealistically easy, but the story had to move along. The art mystery and Clara finding success was more fascinating to me than the actual history of the fight for Grand Central Terminal keeping its landmark status, but I think Clara's connection to the building made me mroe invested in seeing how GCT might be saved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
5.0
The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis is a dual timeline novel. It is April in 1928 in New York City where Clara Darden works as an illustration teacher at Grand Central School of Art. She is the only female faculty member and looked down upon because she is woman and an illustrator. After being taken under the wing of Oliver Smith, a poet and Levon Zakarian, a brash artist, Clara’s star starts to rise. Clara becomes the go-to illustrator for Vogue and she even designs a car. But looming on the horizon is the great depression and a horrible accident.
Virginia Clay has been divorced almost a year and is forced to get a job in 1974 New York. After being unsuccessful as lawyer’s secretary, Virginia is assigned to the information booth at Grand Central Terminal. The building has deteriorated over the years and now there is a lawsuit to demolish the historical landmark to pave the way for a skyscraper. Virginia gets lost one day and stumbles into the area that once belonged to the Grand Central School of Art. She spies a beautiful painting hidden behind a cabinet in the storage room after an unexpected encounter. Virginia is drawn to the work of art and decides to take it with her. Little does she know that this one act will propel her into a mystery that goes back to 1928 and will include threatening letters.
I found The Masterpiece to be an engaging story. It is well-written and has steady pacing. The POV switches between Clara and Virginia as the tale unfolds. The transitions were smooth, and it was easy to keep track of the various characters. Fiona Davis is a descriptive writer which brings the book alive. I can picture Grand Central Terminal in my mind along with New York. I cannot believe that people wanted to demolish this architectural masterpiece. I felt she captured the time-periods with the language, clothing, the lifestyles and attitudes. I could tell that the author did her research and it was interesting to learn the history of the Grand Central Terminal. Ms. Davis created realistic characters that fit into their time periods. I preferred Clara over Virginia. I loved the descriptions of Clara’s artwork and how she evolved as an artist. I liked that Virginia cared for Grand Central Terminal and was willing to do what was needed to help save the building. The mystery was clever, and readers will be surprised at the reveal. Fiona Davis crafted a historical novel with a complex plot that will capture readers attention and hold it until the very end. The Masterpiece is my favorite novel by Fiona Davis and it is one of the best books I have read in quite some time.
Virginia Clay has been divorced almost a year and is forced to get a job in 1974 New York. After being unsuccessful as lawyer’s secretary, Virginia is assigned to the information booth at Grand Central Terminal. The building has deteriorated over the years and now there is a lawsuit to demolish the historical landmark to pave the way for a skyscraper. Virginia gets lost one day and stumbles into the area that once belonged to the Grand Central School of Art. She spies a beautiful painting hidden behind a cabinet in the storage room after an unexpected encounter. Virginia is drawn to the work of art and decides to take it with her. Little does she know that this one act will propel her into a mystery that goes back to 1928 and will include threatening letters.
I found The Masterpiece to be an engaging story. It is well-written and has steady pacing. The POV switches between Clara and Virginia as the tale unfolds. The transitions were smooth, and it was easy to keep track of the various characters. Fiona Davis is a descriptive writer which brings the book alive. I can picture Grand Central Terminal in my mind along with New York. I cannot believe that people wanted to demolish this architectural masterpiece. I felt she captured the time-periods with the language, clothing, the lifestyles and attitudes. I could tell that the author did her research and it was interesting to learn the history of the Grand Central Terminal. Ms. Davis created realistic characters that fit into their time periods. I preferred Clara over Virginia. I loved the descriptions of Clara’s artwork and how she evolved as an artist. I liked that Virginia cared for Grand Central Terminal and was willing to do what was needed to help save the building. The mystery was clever, and readers will be surprised at the reveal. Fiona Davis crafted a historical novel with a complex plot that will capture readers attention and hold it until the very end. The Masterpiece is my favorite novel by Fiona Davis and it is one of the best books I have read in quite some time.
ebc726's review against another edition
3.0
Fiona Davis’ books are so formulaic, but they’re such a guilty pleasure for me because of the old NY history that I don’t even care.
wolfytheblack's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
beth_s98's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The plot was super intriguing, and I thought the characters were well rounded. I felt the book dragged in the beginning, but by the end I was fully invested.
taralorraine's review against another edition
4.0
I still liked it, but it was also my least favorite of Fiona’s so far.
sydmaier's review
5.0
Did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I’m not usually one for historical fiction but this book exceeded all expectations and I was pleasantly surprised. Both Clara and Virginia are beautifully flawed women, and the twist at the end actually had me gasping out loud. I was truly convinced that Clara had died along with Levon until it was revealed that she was alive all along, right under Virginias nose. The last 100 pages or so had me glued to the book, and there was never a point where I dreaded picking it back up. The switching between Clara’s time and Virginias time kept the pacing up, so I never felt bored reading it. The ending was incredibly satisfying, well done Julia Quinn.
carpentd's review against another edition
reflective
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
4.0
graciesmom's review
3.0
Perhaps it's because I read all three of the author's books in a few weeks, I found this one dragged a bit.