The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

 The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

Life is quiet at a women's boarding house in New York until Grace moves into the tiny room at the top of the house. She brings light and life that seeps into the very bones of the house and changes all - or almost all - those living there. 

One by one she invites them to join her for supper in her room until they are all gathering regularly, cooking for each other, sharing their stories and forming bonds. It sounds cozy, but this is not that kind of book. They all have pasts and secrets that will come to light in surprising scenes of intimacy and violence. It gave me several "Well, I was not expecting that." moments. 

The book is structured so that each character gets a chapter to tell their own story, but the overall story continues to advance through each one, flowing beautifully without gaps or repetition. Great writing, and character building; they are all believable and uniquely interesting, if not always likeable. I wished some of their stories were longer so I could know what happens to them later. A separate book could be written about each one.

At the end of the chapters is a recipe for one of the dishes served at Grace's suppers, with a suggestion of whom to eat it with and what song to listen to as you do. I tried a few of the recipes - the fried bananas in rum are great - and looked up all the music. The songs are from the 40s and 50s, sung by Tony Bennet, Perry Como, Eddie Fisher, Rosemary Clooney, and other artists of the day. I recommend listening and reading at the same time because the music really sets the tone, and each song reflects a specific woman's situation in the book. If The Briar Club is ever made into a movie it's going to have a terrific soundtrack. 

 One more thing - the house itself narrates a short chapter here and there, which gives a different perspective on things. It's strange but it works. 

I like this house, and this story, and this writer.