Shrines of Gaiety

  

I received a copy of this release from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Shrines of Gaiety 

Author: Kate Atkinson

Publisher: Doubleday

Release Date: 9.27.22

Publisher’s Summary 

1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time.

The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven, whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie’s empire faces threats from without and within. For beneath the dazzle of Soho’s gaiety, there is a dark underbelly, a world in which it is all too easy to become lost.

With her unique Dickensian flair, Kate Atkinson gives us a window in a vanished world. Slyly funny, brilliantly observant, and ingeniously plotted, Shrines of Gaiety showcases the myriad talents that have made Atkinson one of the most lauded writers of our time.

My Review

Love love loved it!

As I was reading I was making comparisons to The Goldfinch in that there are so many characters and plots that keep doubling back and twisting around that you have to stay focused. However, where The Goldfinch is a fairly depressing novel, Shrines of Gaiety deals with the dark underbelly of 1920s London in a witty and clever manner. Inspired by real events, this foray into London's Soho nightlife is not a light and fluffy read. Every single sentence is a grammatical piece of artwork, with many running for several lines, causing my reading speed to slow immensely. Also, my galley claimed to be just a few pages shy of 400 pages but I would say it is closer to 600 pages in a more commonly formatted styling. That all being said, if you are willing to invest the time, you will be greatly rewarded.