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There are currently 19 member reviews
for The Roaring Days of Zora Lily
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Wanda T. (Wilmington, DE)
The Roaring Days of Zora Lily
A young woman, Sylvia, who works at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History is getting costumes together for the Hollywood Glamour Exhibition. While working on the costume for the final film worn by Greta Garbo, designed by Michele Clemente who was a well known designer of the 20's and 30's, a tag falls off the costume revealing another name, Zora Lily. Who was Zora Lily? An so the life of Zora Lily begins. It's a story of dreams, ambition, heartbreak and happiness.
I enjoyed following Zora through her fun times, struggles and heartaches but in the end she gets her well deserved recogniton. As you read this book you are immediately drawn into Zora's life and the excitement of the roaring 20's as well as a captivating cast of characters!
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Susan R. (Julian, NC)
Coming of Age
This historical fiction book is very well written and researched. It's a dual timeline book but not really. The modern day part of the story is only about 10 of the novel to introduce Zora and the mystery surrounding her at the beginning and the result of the research at the end. Most of the story is about the transformation of a quiet shy poor girl who takes in sewing to becoming a well known designer who manages to find love along the way while constantly fighting her feelings of not being good enough no matter what success she was having.
In 2023, Sylvia is a conservator for the Smithsonian. She is in charge of a group working on a presentation of the clothes worn in a movie that came out in the 1920s. Every piece of clothing had to be perfect which meant repairing tears and sewing sequins back on. When she is working on a dress worn by Greta Garbo in the movie, the label of the dress designer falls out and she sees the name Zora Lily under the tag. This is enough to make her want to research who Zora Lily was and why her name is on the movie dresses.
We first meet Zora in 1924. She lives an improvised life with her mother, alcoholic father and 6 siblings. She spends her days repairing dresses with her mother even as she dreams of designing dresses. One night her friend Rose talks her into going out to a club and it begins to change Zora. She enjoys the freedom and when she gets a job as a nanny for a rich couple, she sees how rich people live. The more she is around people other than her family, the more she is sure that she needs to follow her dreams and become more self-reliant. Her ambition even takes her to Hollywood but is the fame worth losing her family and her dreams? She has to make major decisions about what she really wants out of life and whether the cost of the dreams is worth making them come true.
I loved the character of Zora. She remained true to herself even when she was put into difficult situations. Her family remained her touchstone and she was always happiest when she was with them. Her romance is really exciting even though I was never sure of what the outcome would be and if there was too much difference between Zora and Harley to keep them from having their happily ever after.
The other thing that I found exciting about this book was the description of the clothes. The clothes Zora designed for the women in the clubs and for a Hollywood movie and how her experience made her an even better seamstress and designer. I ended up goggling a lot of the fashion from this time in history so that I could picture what was being described.
This book is a tremendous coming of age novel full of fantastic characters and descriptions of lots of beautiful clothes. I highly recommend it!
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Linda S. (West Linn, OR)
The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar
I thoroughly enjoyed The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar. The setting is Seattle, Washington, 1924. The characters are quite likable and the abundant sections of dialogue make for easy, interesting reading. Most of the novel is focused on the goals and aspirations of the young adults, especially the narrator, Zora, who faces many challenges as she acquires skills and knowledge in her desire to become a clothing designer and business owner. We share her struggles and hard work along with the support and encouragement of her friends and family as she sets out to learn the trade. I especially enjoyed the clothing descriptions and how ladies' fashions were designed and constructed in this era. Along with some romance, life during prohibition, and society's prejudices in the 1920's, the story moves along quickly and keeps the reader's interest. The high point of the novel for me was the ending. It touched me emotionally, tied up the story beautifully, and made me happy.
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Cheryl W. (Zimmerman, MN)
A favorite for 2023
The story starts in 2023 when Sylvia, a Smithsonian curator discovers a label under a famous designers dresses from 1920's. Her question is, "Who the hell is Zora Lily?" Sylvia does her research and this the beautifully written story of Zora Lily's life. My best book of 2023!
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michele
Zora Lily
The story opens in 2023, when Sylvia, a costume conservator with the Smithsonian Museum of American History, finds a hidden tag on one of the dresses to be displayed, and asks “Who the hell is Zora Lily?”
The author then takes us on a wonderful journey through the 1920s in Seattle. Zora’s life is not easy, helping her mother earn money through sewing and mending, and watching after her younger siblings. But she has dreams, and despite setbacks, she won’t give up realizing them. With her best friend Rose encouraging her, Zora begins going to the clubs downtown, seeing a world foreign to her, one that eventually opens doors and opportunities.
This was a book I couldn’t stop reading. I’ve read other books set in the 1920s but Salazar painted a vivid picture of the times....the speakeasys, prohibition, poverty and wealth. And her characters were real. I particularly liked that she told Zora’s story and then came back to 2023 and finished Sylvia’s story. The ending was perfect. Highly recommend.
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Becky T. (Apollo, PA)
Dazzling!
Lesser than, ambition, Roaring 20s…
1924 - Zora, from an impoverished Seattle family of nine, helps Mother with the sewing she takes in. Zora has a reputation as "bring a magician with a needle." Her wildest dream would be to become a designer and to own a boutique.
2023 - While restoring / repairing film costumes for the Hollywood Glamour Exhibition at the Smithsonian, Sylvia finds the name Zora Lily under the designer label. Just who could this unknown be?
A tale of the burdens of poverty and pulling oneself up by "the bootstraps to start on a better path."
ARC — available on Oct 3, 2023
Author paints a vivid snapshot - easy to imagine the characters, locations, fashions, and clubs. Story & characters feel real and relatable. Very descriptive writing. Ex: "Pale green like the beginning of spring…" (Too many good quotes to mention…)
Breathtaking story and a great ending!
I highly recommend! I will look for author's previous books!
This will likely be in my top 5 for 2023!
Thank you to Book Browse & Harper Collins for this great read! Hats off to Noelle Salazar! Thank you!
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Linda A. (Palo Alto, CA)
Jazzy Lady
The Roaring Days of Zora Lily is a riveting story about a young Seattle woman who recognizes her passion and skills for costuming and couture dress designing and makes good on them. From a disadvantaged background, she is cautious but determined to gain independence and recognition for her one-of-a-kind creations. A disillusioning experience in Hollywood requires great courage and fortitude to continue despite the disappointing setback. Forging ahead, she meets some influential people with helpful advice and connections. She also falls in love with a man who she feels is above her station and could not possibly be interested in her.
It is quite by accident that Lily's talent becomes the focus of a Smithsonian exhibition 100 years later. And all will be revealed.
Having grown up in Seattle, I loved the references to familiar locations. It made this very readable story even more so.
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