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What burning questions, observations, or comments do you want to share?
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I enjoyed The Briar Club! I think I was in the right mood to read it. I can’t say I had any quibbles other than my sympathies were with Grace because she had to go off with Arlene at the end. I didn’t feel she deserved that, but I’m satisfied she worked her magic in getting Grace married off and will be off to another adventure with Red. Have any of you read other books by Kate Quinn (other than The Rose Code) that you would recommend?
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I’m with you Maureen. I thoroughly enjoyed The Briar Club and I wasn’t sure I would. I agree with you about Grace. She was my heroine throughout and at times I even wondered if she wasn’t clairvoyant!!! I just ache that she has to keep that cross-patch Arlene with her now. Hopefully, Arlene will find someone to marry her and Grace will be freed of her.
Kate Quinn has written The Alice Network and The Huntress. I have read both of them and loved them. She has also written The Diamond Eye which I own but have not yet read. Hope you enjoy her other novels.
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Thanks, Libby and Maureen. I also enjoyed “The Briar Club” and was initially doubtful. I will keep this author on my list of folks to read.
The other interesting part of this story was the setting in a boarding house, a style of residence that I associate with 19th century lives and times. The closest my experience comes is to living in a college dormitory. I am not sure I could navigate having one room and a shared bathroom with multiple other people. And yet, I don’t think the camaraderie and intimacy that these women share would have been possible under different living arrangements. Grace absolutely created and nurtured their connections but I am not sure that could have happened in a more separate and autonomous living arrangement.
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It’s so funny. I had a similar sentiment to you all – I wasn’t sure if I was going to like The Briar Club in part because I’m not too interested in 1950s American history and even less so the setting of a “boarding house.” But the book surprised me and I really enjoy Quinn’s writing and characters. Having the POV chapters was also a nice break from the standard historical mystery. Now having read The Rose Code and this novel, I will pick up her other earlier works when time permits (because like you Maureen I’ve not read her other works). I have a tidbit about her next book to share and it will be quite a departure – she is switching genres to what sounds like fantasy. She says “The upcoming book is something very different for me, more book-themed and a little bit of magic. And there might be dragons.”
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Like Libby, Jane and Tara, I was not sure that I would like this book, partly because I was born in 1941 and was growing up during the 50s and the house being somewhat of a character. I like some fantasy/magical realism, but that didn’t seem to be the case here. I did enjoy it and may eventually read her other books. I agree with you, Jane, that the boarding house worked well to draw the characters together through Grace.
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I’m surprised that so many here of you all doubted that you would enjoy the book! I’m not sure who suggested or voted for this one – other than the “On Tyranny” pop up that I suggested, we admins usually stay out of the suggestions and votes. But when I read the description for TBC, I thought it sounded interesting and was sure that I’d enjoy it. And I did enjoy it!
I’m only regretful that I don’t have the bandwidth to participate more actively in our discussions. As always, I have a much deeper appreciation for this book after reading everyone’s comments from our discussion. Thank you all for your contributions. I learned so much from your insights.
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