The Chaperone
by Laura Moriarty
Expected Publication: 06.05.2012
From
Goodreads:
A captivating novel
about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York
City in 1922, and the summer that would change them both. Only a few
years before becoming a famous actress and an icon for her generation, a
fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita to make it big in New
York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old
chaperone who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle is a
complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the
trip. She has no idea what she's in for: Young Louise, already
stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous blunt bangs and black bob,
is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention.
Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will change their lives
forever. For Cora, New York holds the promise of discovery that might
prove an answer to the question at the center of her being, and even as
she does her best to watch over Louise in a strange and bustling city,
she embarks on her own mission. And while what she finds isn't what she
anticipated, it liberates her in a way she could not have imagined. Over
the course of the summer, Cora's eyes are opened to the promise of the
twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being
fully alive.
My Thoughts: When I got the email inviting me to be on the blog tour for
The Chaperone and an invite to meet the author at a cocktail party in New York, I immediately was excited.
Like many of you, I get a lot requests to review books, although most of mine seem to indicate that the person requesting my review hasn't bothered to even look at my blog. So even though I was super excited, I was also worried that it wouldn't be a book I'd like. I read the summary, was sold on the idea of Louise Brooks since I love old movies and yes, I subscribe to the Turner Classic Movie Guide.
I admit to feeling a bit daunted by the size of the book when it showed up. If it turned out to be a slow or boring read, then I'd be in a bind.
Thankfully,
The Chaperone is easily one of my favorite reads this year.
I loved Cora! I especially loved the flashbacks to her time in the orphanage and growing up with the Kaufmans. When we first meet Cora she seems to have the perfect life, and the perfect marriage. As her past unfolds, all the things that lead to later choices by her character are easier to understand. The courtship between Cora and Alan was at first something out of a fairy tale. But when Cora learns just why Alan wed her, a reason I suspected, I was still amazed by how she handled it. I kind of wanted her to throw that in Louise's face to show the modern young lady how worldly Cora really was, but of course, ever the lady, Cora refrains.
Two scenes that had me in tears: Cora discovering the truth behind her marriage and when she reads the letter to the orphanage sent from her adoptive mother. There is so much love and simple strength in that wonderful woman's words, and you could feel what a labor of love it was from the hands of a farmer's hardworking wife. Tears, people, tears. I don't really mind crying though, because it makes my normally hazel eye's look super green.
I wanted to smack Louise Brooks. Seriously, smack her superior attitude right off her face. I also wanted to smack her parents. Basically, early on in the book I was calling for an out and out smackdown on the Brooks family (even though the kids seemed to be taking care of business themselves). As I read on, Louise kind of grew on me... but like some kind of mold that you really don't want to like but can't help but be fascinated by it. Even though I'm a movie fan, I really didn't know that much about Louise Brooks (and I'm going to be honest and admit I had her confused with other bright and beautiful leading ladies who died at a tragically young age). Unable to wait to find out her background, I immediately ran off to Wikipedia, because I'm impatient and hate to wait for information. Plus I kind of wanted to see how closely Moriarty followed her life in a fictional account. And after reading about her life, it was hard not to feel sorry for her. Both in reality and in
The Chaperone it's clear that unconditional love is not something Louise Brooks grew up with.
And I learned that Louise Brook's mother's maiden name was Rude, which says a lot. Like Cora, I was horrified at some of the things Mama Brooks chose to allow and ignore when it came to her beautiful, head strong daughter. If her mother was alive today I have no doubt she'd be a pageant mom on Toddlers and Tiaras.
The Chaperone, and Cora, continued to surprise me. Louise didn't end up surprising me (mostly because I cheated and wikied her), but instead made me sad with her choices. While Louise seemed to impact Cora during their time together, she seemed to take Cora and the lessons she had to offer for granted. It's not until later that she seems to finally understand Cora even a little bit. But as much as this book is touched by Louise Brooks, the story belongs to Cora.
Seeing New York through Cora and Louise's eyes was wonderful. The trips to the theater, including the eye-opening experience that forces Cora to ponder racial segregation, left me longing for the days when theater was popular everywhere. Even the little soda shop Cora and Louise go to frequently left me envious. This June will be my first real New York trip, and as excited as I am to see it, I'm a bit disappointed that it won't be the same New York City Cora walked through.
Hopefully NYC 2012 will smell a bit better though.
As much as I loved the time Cora spends in New York, and her flashbacks to the orphan train, it's the ending of the book where Cora really comes into her own. The mind blowing, life changing, decision she makes in New York (which I totally saw ending horrible, possibly because I watch entirely too much
Criminal Minds and the ID channel), kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last.
The Chaperone is just an amazing read, a book I'd really love to discuss at book club. Hopefully I've done an adequate job of explaining how good it is, although I fear I've fallen short. To sum up: read
The Chaperone. Then come and find me so we can discuss!
The Chaperone gets a Midnight Book Rating of:
The cover gets a Midnight Book Cover Rating of:
I love the 1920's, and this cover captures the era perfectly. You know exactly what era you're about to be transported to! The only thing that would have made it perfection would be to have both Cora and Louise (and her trademark bangs!) on the cover.
Author Laura Moriarty
Doesn't she seem like someone you'd want to have cocktails in New York with?
Find her on
Facebook or at her website.
***Disclaimer: I received a copy of
The Chaperone in exchange for my honest opinion. I did RSVP to the cocktail party for Laura Moriarty, but only after reading the book. I didn't want to say yes if I ended up disliking the book. No, this isn't your average disclaimer. That is all.***
