Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Book Tour: Beautiful Lies








Beautiful Lies
By Clare Clark


I am thrilled and honored to participate in TLC Book Tours for Beautiful Lies. Especially since I loved the novel.  What originally drew me was the mysterious cover, very victorian. Does a book cover ever talk to you?

 This is a different kind of historical fiction. It is  fast pace, and some twists through out.  Beautiful Lies, should have taken me longer to finish because of the length of the book. But, it was such a page turner, and kept me up all hours of the wee night.   It is based on historical figures.

I don't know what to say about Beautiful Lies. It is so vivid, with lots of lies and deceit in Victorian England.  Victorian images in the late 19th century, London playing in my head.    I loved the author's style of writing. Her writing is so poetic. It played like a movie in my head. 
 I could picture Trafalgar Square in London.

There is so much packed in this novel, it goes everywhere. At times I think it just is too much, what was the author thinking. But, it does work with Beautiful Lies.

There is lots of underlying mystery of smoking Maribel in 1880's London. Maribel, is supposedly, a Chilean Parisian woman. There is a lot of lies, and treachery that is unearthed as we read the novel.  Is she or isn't she, that is the question. 

What a scandal, a high society woman working, as a photographer, and a chain smoker. Her husband, Edward, charming, sophisticated member of Parliament. Always thinking of trying to make the rights of the hard working man in the industrialist England.

There is a political mess, that has been caused by Webster, a newspaper man. The best part of the book was the end when the roles were reversed. Webster, had the rug swept under him from Maribel. Now, he is begging her to have sympathy for him. I loved it. Because he was ruining her husband, Edward's political career, and reputation. Once he did that is very hard for people to forget. But, now the joke was on him. Sound familiar with the politics of today. Using the newspaper for his own benefit, of the poor, or any politics. Isn't that what all newspapers, and politicians do

The book as I was reading made me dizzy, too many things happening. There is suspense, mystery, scandal ~lots of them. There is even a wild west show, with Cody, and Indians, and the golden Jubilee celebration of the queen.

A family scandal that Maribel's family and herself would rather forget and not see each other. But, something happens that both sides have no choice but ask a favor. This opens up Maribel's memories to try to reconcile with her favorite sister, Ida.

Ida was always the understanding sister, and her other sisters were not so understanding when they were young. It is ironic later, on that Ida is stubborn and won't forgive Maribel.

I will say, originally there was just too much going on in the story. It was a bit over the top. I was wondering what was the author thinking? But, for some reason it still worked in the story. I was thinking this was too ridiculous. I still enjoyed the ride very much.
If you love historical fiction,  based on historical characters, and lots of action going on you will enjoy reading Beautiful Lies.

I can see this as a book club pick. There is a lot to talk about in the politics of yesterday and today.
 I love the time period.

 I was given this novel to review by TLC Book Tours and I would like to thank them for allowing me to review.  Here are the other stops, come read what the others have to say.
Thursday, September 20th: Unabridged Chick
Friday, September 21st: Savvy Verse & Wit
Monday, September 24th: Twisting the Lens
Tuesday, September 25th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Thursday, September 27th: Iwriteinbooks’s blog
Saturday, September 29th: Doing Dewey
Monday, October 1st: The Written World
Tuesday, October 2nd: Oh! Paper Pages
Wednesday, October 3rd: nomadreader
Thursday, October 4th: Broken Teepee
Sunday, October 7th: What She Read …
Monday, October 8th: Gone Bookserk
Tuesday, October 9th: A Dream Within a Dream
Wednesday, October 10th: missris
Wednesday, October 10th: Luxury Reading
Thursday, October 11th: No More Grumpy Bookseller


4 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I've been sucked in by a great cover more often than I care to admit. I like to read about Victorian England so will have to look for this book.

Unknown said...

I hope you enjoy it.

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

I love the cover too, and it sounds like what is inside is just as good!

Thanks for being on the tour.

trish said...

This sounds like a really fun book! And that cover...oh how I love that cover.

Thanks for being on the tour!