Curl Up With Some Tea, For A Satisfying, Historical Read, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Unlike the trash of "Next Year In Havana," Therese Anne Fowler's novel falls somewhere the trashiness of stuff like "The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory, and "The Mirror And The Light," by Hilary Mantel. It leans more toward the latter, fortunately, though is not like reading an historical textbook, where one is studying for an exam, which is the feeling I got from Mantel's book, and why it might have cost her the Booker nomination.

                                                  I knew, starting out, that this novel dealt with The Vanderbilts, so, of course, I was expecting Gloria to appear.  To all those Gloria queens out there, let me say, she does not appear.  But don't let that stop you.  The story of Alva Vanderbilt, and how she was one step from the streets, and worked her way up to a position in turn of the century New York society, could serve as a template to all us girls.

                                                    Fowler knows how to write.  She paints a picture of Alva, others, and the times around them, with the skill of an Edith Wharton or Henry James.  More like Edith.  There are teas, balls, parties, estates, delicious food descriptions, costumes to go with them--it is all so fun and sumptuous, not to mention informative, that, girls, you will just sink back in your chair, absorbed.

                                                       I know I did.  I read this one quickly, and when I heard Fowler had written the historical novel, "Z," about Zelda Fitzgerald, I went out and bought it, ready to savor that for another time!

                                                       And, girls, who knows?  Maybe Fowler will return to the Vanderbilts, and write about Gloria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                        Now, wouldn't that just make us all happy at last?????????????