Dear Bookclub,
Kate Atkinson's "Shrines of Gaiety" dazzled us with a cast of characters, distinct in our memories for their well-developed personas yet blurred in our recollections for their actual names. Atkinson/Dickinson entertained, her intricate styling of a story rivaled only by her fabulous sense of humor. We adored it.
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Kate(!) Meyrick, "Night Club Queen", could not fully be encapsulated in Atkinson's novel. Please enjoy this litany of adventure from none other than Wikipedia to further bolster the curious newspaper blurb at the end of the book:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Meyrick
As we basked in the bright April sunshine on the Veranda, our conversation turned to the many other books this prolific writer has produced. We appreciated the variety and noted that our bookclub had read one of hers in the past. Must have been past-past because we weren't really sure which one(s)? "Case Histories" sounded familiar to me (pre-blog?) and "Life After Life" (blog - 2013) we read, but I don't remember at all! Sigh.
The covers are distinct. I remember the roses. And her name, as my Olivia noted, is not to be missed:
Finally, we can only wonder what was served in the clubs... Atkinson's credit to a Dutch cocktail book is here to inspire:
https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/slag015hoem02_01/slag015hoem02_01_0014.php
With a little imagination and experimentation, you, too, can indulge like the bright young things.
Terrie's suggestions for an upcoming read:
"The Covenant of Water" Abrahan Verghese
"Hang the Moon" Jeannette Walls
"Hello Beautiful" Ann Napolitano *chosen
Up next:
Happy reading,
LK
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