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Mary G. (Greensboro, GA)
A Fascinating Insight into a Remarkable Woman
It is hard not to be at least a little curious about the girl from Philadelphia who became an iconic American actress and then a real-life princess. It sounds like a dream life--but Kerry Maher does a wonderful job of pulling back the curtain and showing the real person behind the image.
"The Girl in the White Gloves" is well-researched and well written for the most part. I struggled in the early part of the book with the way she jumped back and forth from Grace at 40 to early parts of her life. I feel the book found its groove when Maher described the progression of her career uninterrupted by leaps into the
…more future.
Maher is a strong voice in historical fiction. And, in "The Girl in the White Gloves," she has given us a fascinating insight into a remarkable woman. (less)I have been fascinated by Grace Kelly for years, so an opportunity to read the advanced copy of The Girl in White Gloves was very appealing to me! And I was not disappointed. This was a great read, full of wonderful stories of the life and loves of this movie star/ princess. What struck me most was the struggles and loneliness Grace endured during her perceived "perfect fairy tale " life. I loved it!
Lucy S. (Westford, MA)
Life behind the curtain....
I enjoyed how the author gave the reader a behind the scenes look into her life beyond her fame. How her family, especially her father shaped her life, her choices and her striving to succeed, as well as her choices in romantic partners. The life she lived had a public and a personal side, not always in sync.
Milda S. (Warwick, NY)
Imagining Grace Kelly
I enjoyed reading " The Girl in White Gloves" by Kerri Maher. I questioned whether the actress really had the affairs that the author depicted. I also question the idea that Grace questioned her own abilities. I am sure that Kerri Maher did her research but she did come to conclusions on her own. The letters between Grace and Prince Rainer are pure fiction to fit the story line. We do not know what was really written.
If you read the book as a fictional biography (which is what it is), it is interesting and entertaining. It is a made up story based on some facts and a lot of imagination. It is not a biography but
…more a novel and as a novel I recommend it. (less)If you are a fan of classic Hollywood films of the 1950s, or if you have always wondered if "fairytale marriages" end happily ever after, this is the book for you. Kerri Maher breathes fictionalized life into one of the most glamorous and talented women of her time. Although I was somewhat familiar with Grace Kelly, the author's work, obviously the result of meticulous research, cast Miss Kelly in a whole new light for me. The novel is well paced and intriguing right to the end. Enjoy!
Jeanne W. (Colorado Springs, CO)
Too Good to be True?
This is a fictionalized book about Grace Kelly aka Princess Grace. Grace had a rough but well-heeled childhood with a father who could never be pleased and a mother who never seems to have stood up for her children. The book starts with Grace as a struggling ingenue and follows her through her marriage to Rainier of Monaco. Details of that 1950s celebrity lifestyle are particularly glamorous. Not to be a spoiler, but wow! This version of her life shows her to be a woman with extremely poor self-esteem who cannot or will not stand up for herself. I don't know how much is based on fact, but if a lot of this is
…more true, Grace Kelly led a pretty sad life and that is absolutely tragic. (less)The author does a reasonably good job of telling the story of Grace Kelly. The biggest weakness was in the writing of her career development; it read like a dry recitation of one play or movie after the next, and one lover after another without much heart or soul. The strength was her depiction of Grace's contentious relationship with her parents (especially her father) and how that impacted her self esteem and all of her romantic relationships, particularly her marriage. The story became deeper after Grace's marriage.
I am a fan of historical fiction that contain flashbacks and non-chronological timelines.
…more However, in this book it seemed to be a gimmick and frequently broke the flow of the story. I fantasized about being the editor who moved chapters back to their "proper" place.
The read was interesting but could have been better. (less)I enjoyed reading this book about Grace Kelly, but I wasn't enamored with it. It started slow for me. I felt the writing was a bit stiff. I appreciated the authors honesty up front about it being a work of fiction and that she added some characters to the story. When you read from that aspect, it's just an enjoyable story about royalty. If it taught me one thing, it's that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Living in the public eye constantly cannot be easy at all, and it's clear that Grace was lonely. I would give this book to a friend to ready with the caveat that it's fiction.
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