Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
#playwright
blurb
Librarybelle
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
post image

It‘s time for our #LiteraryCrew discussion! I have 7 questions posted as spoilers; you can find these on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

I think this is my favorite of Davis‘s I‘ve read so far. Hope you enjoyed it too!

TheBookHippie Greenland is the world's largest island, not a continent, and is located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While part of North America geographically, it has strong cultural and historical ties to Europe, particularly Norway and Denmark. 11h
See All 6 Comments
TheBookHippie Nuuk, Greenland's capital, is a small city on the country's southwest coast. Its large fjord system is known for waterfalls, humpback whales and icebergs. The waterfront is dotted with brightly colored houses against the backdrop of Sermitsiaq mountain. Greenland National Museum has mummies and Inuit skin boats, while the Nuuk Art Museum displays local works. The Katuaq cultural center offers films, concerts and art.
11h
TheBookHippie Greenland's education system includes primary, secondary, and higher education levels, with a 10-year compulsory primary education for children aged 6-16. While education is free, including university, and students may receive a monthly grant, challenges remain in quality and completion rates, particularly at the secondary and higher education levels. 11h
Jerdencon I really enjoyed this one! But I love all her books! 9h
32 likes6 comments
blurb
Librarybelle
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
This post contains spoilers
show me

7. McCarthyism plays a massive role in this novel. Do you think McCarthyism made romantic and friendly relationships dif­ficult? Why or why not? If so, what were the complications and the conse­quences of having a relationship? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Link in comments to a PBS American Experience page on Joseph McCarthy and McCarthyism

mcctrish I think connections can be found between McCarthyism and Trumpism today. It is really hard to overlook that kind of awful in a person 10h
Jerdencon @mcctrish I agree! So many times I was reading about McCarthyism it felt like I was reading about the ICE raids and it made me sad on how the world doesn‘t ever learn. 9h
Deblovestoread I agree! There are so many similarities. History continues to repeat itself. 1h
6 likes3 comments
blurb
Librarybelle
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
This post contains spoilers
show me

6. “Maxine‘s bravery in the square, as well as now, with the major, astonished Hazel. She wished she were that brash. But she wouldn‘t dare question an authority figure. Always the understudy, in life as well as in art.” How does Hazel transform throughout the novel, and does the word “understudy,” which she considers to have negative connotations, change in meaning as well? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

blurb
Librarybelle
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
This post contains spoilers
show me

5. How do Hazel and Maxine subvert or conform to 1950s expectations and gender roles? ~from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

blurb
Librarybelle
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
This post contains spoilers
show me

4. What did you think of Charlie and his desire to join the FBI? How do you think his relationship with his father shaped his am­bitions? Were you rooting for him and Hazel? Why or why not? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

mcctrish Charles totally bought into the idea that communism was wrong and his country was true and righteous and wanted to fight on the side of good. Then he learned countries are ruled by men and they are not always promoting good. I rooted for them so hard 10h
Deblovestoread I wanted them to work it out. Hazel lost everything. 2h
6 likes2 comments
blurb
Librarybelle
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
This post contains spoilers
show me

3. When Maxine flubs her lines on opening night, her career doesn‘t suffer, but Hazel‘s does. Why do you think that is? How would you have reacted in Hazel‘s situation? Do you think she has a right to be bitter about the suc­cess of Wartime Sonata‘s revival, or should she be grateful? ~from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

mcctrish What a double edged sword this was - I would totally have been so upset with Maxine and so bitter but the bitterness did really impact Hazel‘s life and that just made it feel a waste 10h
Jerdencon I feel like Maxine doing that set the trajectory of Hazels life… it wasn‘t just a quick fix it had long term repercussions. 9h
Deblovestoread I love Broadway musicals but don‘t know enough about what decides a closing. Up until Maxine‘s purposeful errors the buzz was positive, it seemed extreme that the actress erroring would shut it down. 2h
5 likes3 comments
blurb
Librarybelle
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
This post contains spoilers
show me

2. If Maxine had not made the tragic choice she did, do you think she and Hazel would have renewed their friendship? If you were in Hazel‘s shoes, would you forgive Maxine? Why or why not? ~ from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon Im not sure they would have ever gone back to the way they were. Hazel was very head strong and not sure she would have completely forgiven Maxine. 9h
Deblovestoread Maxine‘s choice changed Hazel‘s life trajectory. It would be hard to forgive it. 2h
6 likes2 comments
blurb
Librarybelle
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
This post contains spoilers
show me

1. I enjoy Davis's works because she focuses each story on a landmark in New York City. For this novel, we visit the Hotel Chelsea.

Have you visited the Hotel Chelsea? Do you want to visit after reading this book?

Links in comments to an interview in which Davis details her reasons to feature the Hotel Chelsea, as well as the history of the hotel from the hotel's website. #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

mcctrish I totally want to visit it someday 10h
Jerdencon I actually have been in the lobby of the hotel (I live in NYC). It‘s been redone and is very artsy and cool. I need to go back now that I‘ve read the book. I have eaten at El. Quiojte several times - they have the best sangria! 9h
Deblovestoread Would love to visit some day. I, too, like the setting of Davis‘s novels and getting an intimate look at historical buildings. 2h
5 likes4 comments
review
Sargar114
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
post image
Pickpick

We follow the friendship of Hazel and Maxine. They met on a USO tour at the end of WWII. The core of the story takes place during the McCarthy witch-hunt of communists in the entertainment industry. I listened to this on audio and I didn‘t care for the narrator for Maxine, even though I really liked the character. I enjoyed the story overall even if it got a little cheesy at times. But didn‘t really love the end. Read for #literarycrew

Librarybelle Glad you liked this! 2w
Sargar114 It was a fun listen @Librarybelle Good Pick! 2w
12 likes2 comments
review
mcctrish
The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis
post image
Pickpick

I inhaled this on audio! I wasn‘t expecting to get it so fast for June‘s #literarycrew but here we are. I loved it. Please note I am a total grudge holder just like Hazel! It‘s a ♋️ 🦀thing. Also my vendetta against rabbits continues. I planted 2 cucumbers in my garden instead of my raised beds and I thought one had succumbed to cooler than usual temps BUT NO, it‘s the goddamn rabbits. This was was so healthy and alive this morning 🤬🤬🤬

Aims42 Ugh!! Those pesky rabbits 😡 So rude!! 1mo
AnnCrystal
Oh no! 🌱🥺 But they're too cute 😜🐇💝.
1mo
sarahbarnes These types of shenanigans are beyond infuriating!! 😡 1mo
See All 10 Comments
Librarybelle This is a good one by Davis—glad you liked it! 1mo
mcctrish @Aims42 so rude 1mo
mcctrish @AnnCrystal I see Monty python-esque rabbits- there is no cuteness 1mo
mcctrish @sarahbarnes 👎🏻👎🏻 1mo
mcctrish @Librarybelle I hope I can remember 1mo
Aims42 @mcctrish 🤣🤣🤣 (RE: Monty python-esque rabbits) (edited) 1mo
AnnCrystal @mcctrish 👏🏼😂🧐🤔. 1mo
44 likes10 comments