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The Gilded Years
Passing meets The House of Mirth in this “utterly captivating” (Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of The Kitchen House) historical novel based on the true story of Anita Hemmings, the first black student to attend Vassar, who successfully passed as white—until she let herself grow too attached to the wrong person.
Since childhood, Anita Hemmings has longed to attend the country’s most exclusive school for women, Vassar College. Now, a bright, beautiful senior in the class of 1897, she is hiding a secret that would have banned her from admission: Anita is the only African-American student ever to attend Vassar. With her olive complexion and dark hair, this daughter of a janitor and descendant of slaves has successfully passed as white, but now finds herself rooming with Louise “Lottie” Taylor, the scion of one of New York’s most prominent families.
Though Anita has kept herself at a distance from her classmates, Lottie’s sphere of influence is inescapable, her energy irresistible, and the two become fast friends. Pulled into her elite world, Anita learns what it’s like to be treated as a wealthy, educated white woman—the person everyone believes her to be—and even finds herself in a heady romance with a moneyed Harvard student. It’s only when Lottie becomes infatuated with Anita’s brother, Frederick, whose skin is almost as light as his sister’s, that the situation becomes particularly perilous. And as Anita’s college graduation looms, those closest to her will be the ones to dangerously threaten her secret.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Gilded Age, an era when old money traditions collided with modern ideas, Tanabe has written an unputdownable and emotionally compelling story of hope, sacrifice, and betrayal—and a gripping account of how one woman dared to risk everything for the chance at a better life.
Since childhood, Anita Hemmings has longed to attend the country’s most exclusive school for women, Vassar College. Now, a bright, beautiful senior in the class of 1897, she is hiding a secret that would have banned her from admission: Anita is the only African-American student ever to attend Vassar. With her olive complexion and dark hair, this daughter of a janitor and descendant of slaves has successfully passed as white, but now finds herself rooming with Louise “Lottie” Taylor, the scion of one of New York’s most prominent families.
Though Anita has kept herself at a distance from her classmates, Lottie’s sphere of influence is inescapable, her energy irresistible, and the two become fast friends. Pulled into her elite world, Anita learns what it’s like to be treated as a wealthy, educated white woman—the person everyone believes her to be—and even finds herself in a heady romance with a moneyed Harvard student. It’s only when Lottie becomes infatuated with Anita’s brother, Frederick, whose skin is almost as light as his sister’s, that the situation becomes particularly perilous. And as Anita’s college graduation looms, those closest to her will be the ones to dangerously threaten her secret.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Gilded Age, an era when old money traditions collided with modern ideas, Tanabe has written an unputdownable and emotionally compelling story of hope, sacrifice, and betrayal—and a gripping account of how one woman dared to risk everything for the chance at a better life.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2016
1060 people are currently reading
16652 people want to read
About the author
Karin Tanabe
10 books807 followersKARIN TANABE is the author of six novels, including A Hundred Suns and The Gilded Years (soon to be a major motion picture starring Zendaya, who will produce alongside Reese Witherspoon/Hello Sunshine). A former Politico reporter, she has also written for The Washington Post, the Miami Herald, the Chicago Tribune, and Newsday. She has appeared as a celebrity and politics expert on Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and CBS Early Show. A graduate of Vassar College, Karin lives in Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,025 reviews
June 18, 2016
I'm having a difficult time formulating my thoughts on "The Gilded Years." The novel is based on the true story of the first black woman to graduate from Vasser by "passing" as white. The story of Anita Hemings is fascinating and I love this time period: the gas lamps, the tremendous wealth of families like the Vanderbilt's, the customs and manners of the day juxtaposed against severe poverty, racial and gender inequality, lack of modern medicine, etc. there is just something lacking in this novel for me.
While you can tell the amount of research that went into this book, there was a distinct lack of believable motivation for why the characters make certain choices rather than others. Not much is known about the real Anita Hemings, and the author (for me anyway) didn't craft a believable narrative for why the characters do what they do.
Something just doesn't ring true in the overall fiction and while it's a fast read and moves along quickly, I kept thinking all through the book "why would she do THAT? I don't get it." When that happens for me with a novel, I just never get "lost" in the story. I always remember I'm reading a book. Kind of like when you're having a dream and you're almost awake and know you're dreaming (if that makes any sense.). Ultimately, it's just not very satisfying. Sigh. I had really high hopes for this book as I loved the premise. And I just think, meh. Kind of disappointing.
While you can tell the amount of research that went into this book, there was a distinct lack of believable motivation for why the characters make certain choices rather than others. Not much is known about the real Anita Hemings, and the author (for me anyway) didn't craft a believable narrative for why the characters do what they do.
Something just doesn't ring true in the overall fiction and while it's a fast read and moves along quickly, I kept thinking all through the book "why would she do THAT? I don't get it." When that happens for me with a novel, I just never get "lost" in the story. I always remember I'm reading a book. Kind of like when you're having a dream and you're almost awake and know you're dreaming (if that makes any sense.). Ultimately, it's just not very satisfying. Sigh. I had really high hopes for this book as I loved the premise. And I just think, meh. Kind of disappointing.
July 26, 2022
This is a fine historical fiction novel bringing an unknown to me historical character to life, yet the story surrounds her with fictional characters and conflicts.
The premise of passing for white is not unknown to me— I’ve always been both fascinated and saddened by the character in Broadway’s Showboat (which I believe was based on a novel). By the late 1890’s a very, very small number of Ivy League schools were publicly admitting African-American women, but only a handful graduated over the next generation of students. African-American men fared better but still faced a number of challenges even once admitted.
I was fascinated with Anita Hemmings from start to finish— I just felt that the ending was a bit rushed. Or maybe because I just wanted to learn more. Rather the author chose to skip 30 years ahead as the book concludes.
Anita was real and some facets of this book happened— I can’t imagine the pressure she must have been under. She is alternately seen as brave and cowardly for her choices. It is not for me to judge— but I agree that despite the aftermath of the Civil War, this country and Society in general was still ugly (is still ugly) when it came to skin color. Let’s face it- this country has been taking steps forward and backward equally for more than 160 years.
I especially appreciated the notes provided by the author at the end of the book. The real story is equally complicated and I see why she “filled in the blanks and took some creative license” as she shared Anita’s experiences.
Overall, a solid historical fiction book that will stick with me! I appreciated learning about Anita Hemmings and life at a “seven sisters” school at the turn of the 20th century.
The premise of passing for white is not unknown to me— I’ve always been both fascinated and saddened by the character in Broadway’s Showboat (which I believe was based on a novel). By the late 1890’s a very, very small number of Ivy League schools were publicly admitting African-American women, but only a handful graduated over the next generation of students. African-American men fared better but still faced a number of challenges even once admitted.
I was fascinated with Anita Hemmings from start to finish— I just felt that the ending was a bit rushed. Or maybe because I just wanted to learn more. Rather the author chose to skip 30 years ahead as the book concludes.
Anita was real and some facets of this book happened— I can’t imagine the pressure she must have been under. She is alternately seen as brave and cowardly for her choices. It is not for me to judge— but I agree that despite the aftermath of the Civil War, this country and Society in general was still ugly (is still ugly) when it came to skin color. Let’s face it- this country has been taking steps forward and backward equally for more than 160 years.
I especially appreciated the notes provided by the author at the end of the book. The real story is equally complicated and I see why she “filled in the blanks and took some creative license” as she shared Anita’s experiences.
Overall, a solid historical fiction book that will stick with me! I appreciated learning about Anita Hemmings and life at a “seven sisters” school at the turn of the 20th century.
April 23, 2017
Great topic. Disappointing book.
The Gilded Years brings us a fascinating subject: Anita Hemmings, daughter of a mulatto janitor in Boston, graduated from the exclusive female-only Vassar college in 1897, while passing as white. Cum laude student, proficient in seven languages, a coveted soprano, popular and class beauty, she successfully hid her secret until her roommate broke her story near graduation. She was allowed to graduate, but her story and her beautiful photo kept the interest of news media for months.
Fascinating so far, isn't it? Yes. The problem is, the book is not about Anita. Ninety percent of the story is about Lottie Taylor, Anita's super-rich, spoiled yet charming roommate, her rebellious-yet-endearing chenanigans, her clothes, billionaire mansion, gilded New York life and charmed social life. There is gossip, clothes, a love triangle, romantic intrigue. While Anita is occasionally troubled by subjects of race, this is just a minor distraction in this young-adult romance novel.
This still might be fine, since there is plenty of interesting material of the social life of the day. Unfortunately the writing is middle-grade at best. The dialogue is trivial and repetitive, the characters are flat, the situations mundane. Anita's occasional confrontation with her secret is awkward and inauthentic, so is most of the dialogue. There are anachronisms (such as the words genetics and carbon monoxide in conversation), full names and academic exposition in dialogue. The eighth-grade writing is the same for all interactions, which is too mundane to be used by high society and too academic for poor people.
Unfortunately, the wasting of the subject does not stop here. Granted, it is tough to measure up when one is reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X at the same time, because it throws in sharp relief the biggest fault of the book: Karin Tanabe is half-white, half-Asian, and does not have the foggiest idea about the African-American experience. She is a Vassar graduate and is primarily interested in Vassar. Those parts are beautifully researched, but there is nothing about Anita's neighborhood in Roxbury, and the cheerful attitude of her father after working two shifts as a janitor, is cringe-inducingly naive. She could have read the Autobiography of Malcolm X, which includes a colorful section on Roxbury, or other books by African American authors. As it is, Anita's struggle as a black passing as white is white-washed - a white, priviliged woman's romantic idea what it might have been like. No insight there what we could not deduce ourselves.
Overall, I am very disappointed. This could have been so much more. Two stars for the subject selection and the effort.
The Gilded Years brings us a fascinating subject: Anita Hemmings, daughter of a mulatto janitor in Boston, graduated from the exclusive female-only Vassar college in 1897, while passing as white. Cum laude student, proficient in seven languages, a coveted soprano, popular and class beauty, she successfully hid her secret until her roommate broke her story near graduation. She was allowed to graduate, but her story and her beautiful photo kept the interest of news media for months.
Fascinating so far, isn't it? Yes. The problem is, the book is not about Anita. Ninety percent of the story is about Lottie Taylor, Anita's super-rich, spoiled yet charming roommate, her rebellious-yet-endearing chenanigans, her clothes, billionaire mansion, gilded New York life and charmed social life. There is gossip, clothes, a love triangle, romantic intrigue. While Anita is occasionally troubled by subjects of race, this is just a minor distraction in this young-adult romance novel.
This still might be fine, since there is plenty of interesting material of the social life of the day. Unfortunately the writing is middle-grade at best. The dialogue is trivial and repetitive, the characters are flat, the situations mundane. Anita's occasional confrontation with her secret is awkward and inauthentic, so is most of the dialogue. There are anachronisms (such as the words genetics and carbon monoxide in conversation), full names and academic exposition in dialogue. The eighth-grade writing is the same for all interactions, which is too mundane to be used by high society and too academic for poor people.
Unfortunately, the wasting of the subject does not stop here. Granted, it is tough to measure up when one is reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X at the same time, because it throws in sharp relief the biggest fault of the book: Karin Tanabe is half-white, half-Asian, and does not have the foggiest idea about the African-American experience. She is a Vassar graduate and is primarily interested in Vassar. Those parts are beautifully researched, but there is nothing about Anita's neighborhood in Roxbury, and the cheerful attitude of her father after working two shifts as a janitor, is cringe-inducingly naive. She could have read the Autobiography of Malcolm X, which includes a colorful section on Roxbury, or other books by African American authors. As it is, Anita's struggle as a black passing as white is white-washed - a white, priviliged woman's romantic idea what it might have been like. No insight there what we could not deduce ourselves.
Overall, I am very disappointed. This could have been so much more. Two stars for the subject selection and the effort.
Read
March 8, 2016This charming, thoughtful, and affecting book tells the story of the first black woman to attend Vassar. That she attended as a white woman, passing and always at risk of exposure, drives the plot and allows Tanabe to tell a rich, complicated story about race, gender, education, love, and belonging in the Gilded Age. Give The Gilded Years a try if you’re drawn to any of the following: historical fiction, Edith Wharton, the history of women’s colleges, Nella Larsen, passing as a literary device and historical fact, or reading good books.
–Derek Attig
from The Best Books We Read In February: http://bookriot.com/2016/03/01/riot-r...
–Derek Attig
from The Best Books We Read In February: http://bookriot.com/2016/03/01/riot-r...
January 22, 2016
Having received an early copy of this book, I can say without reservation that if you like historical fiction, The Gilded Years is a must read. Anita Hemmings, the first African-American to graduate from Vassar College, has a story that should be widely known, yet until now she has passed through the annals of US History with little fanfare. Thankfully, author Karin Tanabe has made a giant step in rectifying this error of omission with an insightful, poignant novel about one woman straddling two worlds in order to achieve her greatest ambition: an education.
While The Gilded Years thoroughly engaged me, it was difficult to watch the blatant hypocrisy displayed by many characters. Erstwhile friends, teachers, and suitors alike are depicted as being part of an ostensibly liberal world, one in which they give lip service to social justice as if it were a passing fashion, but when confronted with the truth of Anita’s situation, they reveal their inner prejudices (some more virulently than others).
The book is rich in detail, and if you are not familiar with the Gilded Age, Tanabe provides a thorough grounding with her research to see you through. There is an almost cinematic quality to the writing whereby you can imagine scenes as if they were playing in front of you at the movie theatre. I suppose much of that is due to the author’s brilliant dialogue, which sparkles and jumps off the page. For what it’s worth, I’d also like to throw my hat in support for a Bessie Baker sequel! I loved the friendship between her and Anita, and I would be interested to know more about her experiences with higher education, especially since she did not pass while attending Wellesley.
While The Gilded Years thoroughly engaged me, it was difficult to watch the blatant hypocrisy displayed by many characters. Erstwhile friends, teachers, and suitors alike are depicted as being part of an ostensibly liberal world, one in which they give lip service to social justice as if it were a passing fashion, but when confronted with the truth of Anita’s situation, they reveal their inner prejudices (some more virulently than others).
The book is rich in detail, and if you are not familiar with the Gilded Age, Tanabe provides a thorough grounding with her research to see you through. There is an almost cinematic quality to the writing whereby you can imagine scenes as if they were playing in front of you at the movie theatre. I suppose much of that is due to the author’s brilliant dialogue, which sparkles and jumps off the page. For what it’s worth, I’d also like to throw my hat in support for a Bessie Baker sequel! I loved the friendship between her and Anita, and I would be interested to know more about her experiences with higher education, especially since she did not pass while attending Wellesley.
February 7, 2021
3 and a half stars.
“The Gilded Years” is definitely a blend of Edith Wharton (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and Nella Larsen (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... set in 1896-97, in upstate New York, it follows the Wharton playbook of old-fashioned families and their values confronted with the modernization of society, and how that awkward transition makes the personal lives and relationships of intelligent people difficult and often heartbreaking. But it also definitely echoes Larsen’s novellas as its main character is a Black woman passing as white, nursing ambiguous feelings about it and ultimately feeling like she belongs on neither sides of the racial divide.
Anita Hemmings was the first African American woman to graduate from Vassar, who studied there without revealing her racial background. Very little is known about her actual life, besides the fact that she eventually was revealed when someone linked her to her brother Frederick, whose MIT registration identified him as Black. This leaves Karin Tanabe free to speculate on what Anita’s life might have been, and how complicated and stressful her secret was to keep.
The novel opens on the first day of Anita’s final year at Vassar, when she meets a new roommate, the lively Lottie Taylor, from one of New York’s most respected families. Lottie bonds with her immediately, but this puts Anita in an awkward situation: she had been completely under the radar the whole time she had been at Vassar, and suddenly, friendship with Lottie means a much higher profile, which makes her secret much harder to keep. The stakes become even higher and more potentially devastating when she meets a dashing young Harvard man who begins courting her under the impression that she is from the same world as Lottie and her other friends…
You know from the beginning that sooner or later, the truth about Anita will come out and that it will be like a bomb exploding in her life, that friendships will fall apart and that hearts will be broken because of racist and classist prejudices, but Tanabe manages to build that tension in a way that makes the book hard to put down.
Anita’s story is not very well-known, and I feel as if it should be, as it’s a very interesting example not only of the hypocrisy that inevitably comes with racial prejudices, but also one of how complicated it is to navigate a world that is not build for people like you. The stresses and pressures that some people can’t even imagine plague her every day, while she wrestled with her own internal debate about whether what she was doing was an act of cowardice of bravery.
Where the novel loses steam is on the pacing, which can be a little uneven, and the drabness of the prose. Maybe it’s unfair, but I’m used to Edith Wharton’s sharpness when it comes to writing about this particular time and place, and I kept expecting one of her expert jabs – which of course, never came. The story this book contains is important, but the delivery left me wanting just a little bit more... I would still recommend it enthusiastically to anyone interested in the time period and in the history of civil rights.
“The Gilded Years” is definitely a blend of Edith Wharton (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and Nella Larsen (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... set in 1896-97, in upstate New York, it follows the Wharton playbook of old-fashioned families and their values confronted with the modernization of society, and how that awkward transition makes the personal lives and relationships of intelligent people difficult and often heartbreaking. But it also definitely echoes Larsen’s novellas as its main character is a Black woman passing as white, nursing ambiguous feelings about it and ultimately feeling like she belongs on neither sides of the racial divide.
Anita Hemmings was the first African American woman to graduate from Vassar, who studied there without revealing her racial background. Very little is known about her actual life, besides the fact that she eventually was revealed when someone linked her to her brother Frederick, whose MIT registration identified him as Black. This leaves Karin Tanabe free to speculate on what Anita’s life might have been, and how complicated and stressful her secret was to keep.
The novel opens on the first day of Anita’s final year at Vassar, when she meets a new roommate, the lively Lottie Taylor, from one of New York’s most respected families. Lottie bonds with her immediately, but this puts Anita in an awkward situation: she had been completely under the radar the whole time she had been at Vassar, and suddenly, friendship with Lottie means a much higher profile, which makes her secret much harder to keep. The stakes become even higher and more potentially devastating when she meets a dashing young Harvard man who begins courting her under the impression that she is from the same world as Lottie and her other friends…
You know from the beginning that sooner or later, the truth about Anita will come out and that it will be like a bomb exploding in her life, that friendships will fall apart and that hearts will be broken because of racist and classist prejudices, but Tanabe manages to build that tension in a way that makes the book hard to put down.
Anita’s story is not very well-known, and I feel as if it should be, as it’s a very interesting example not only of the hypocrisy that inevitably comes with racial prejudices, but also one of how complicated it is to navigate a world that is not build for people like you. The stresses and pressures that some people can’t even imagine plague her every day, while she wrestled with her own internal debate about whether what she was doing was an act of cowardice of bravery.
Where the novel loses steam is on the pacing, which can be a little uneven, and the drabness of the prose. Maybe it’s unfair, but I’m used to Edith Wharton’s sharpness when it comes to writing about this particular time and place, and I kept expecting one of her expert jabs – which of course, never came. The story this book contains is important, but the delivery left me wanting just a little bit more... I would still recommend it enthusiastically to anyone interested in the time period and in the history of civil rights.
February 6, 2017
Brilliant in its possibilities, unfortunately "The Gilded Years" did not fulfill its potential, aside from bringing attention to the notable story of the Afro-American woman and Vassar graduate Anita Hemmings, beginning in 1897 Although a few post-secondary institutions accepted African-American applicants, Vassar was not among them. With her parents' full blessing, Anita "passed" as white until her last year when her roommate divulged a private detective's findings to the college, just prior to graduation.
The press fallout was huge, and attention merciless. The lattermost chapters of the novel were among the most interesting, dealing with Anita's opportunities and marriage to a light man like her, a medical doctor. In her acknowledgments, the author explained that Anita's great-granddaughter did not know about her roots until that elder's death in 1994.
The narrative could have incorporated that fact somehow at the onset, and created something emotionally and socially significant around the issue of "passing", and its cross generational impact. Instead, this take on Anita Hemmings is one of life during the "Gay Nineties", with girls flirting and trying to be the belles of the social season to attract the most well-heeled husband of the nearby college and her trying to fit in, as inconspicuously as possible. It boiled down to basically a historical romance, a fictitious one, with a white suitor, lots of girly chit chat about the boys and Anita quailing whenever put at risk.
The history is SO worth the time, but this fluff of a novel doesn't do it justice. Two unflattering stars.
The press fallout was huge, and attention merciless. The lattermost chapters of the novel were among the most interesting, dealing with Anita's opportunities and marriage to a light man like her, a medical doctor. In her acknowledgments, the author explained that Anita's great-granddaughter did not know about her roots until that elder's death in 1994.
The narrative could have incorporated that fact somehow at the onset, and created something emotionally and socially significant around the issue of "passing", and its cross generational impact. Instead, this take on Anita Hemmings is one of life during the "Gay Nineties", with girls flirting and trying to be the belles of the social season to attract the most well-heeled husband of the nearby college and her trying to fit in, as inconspicuously as possible. It boiled down to basically a historical romance, a fictitious one, with a white suitor, lots of girly chit chat about the boys and Anita quailing whenever put at risk.
The history is SO worth the time, but this fluff of a novel doesn't do it justice. Two unflattering stars.
July 7, 2016
I've never heard of Anita Hemmings, which is a shame because I grew up an African African woman living so close to Vassar College. I wished for this to have more historical and biographical fiction but the author Tanabe writes so beautifully, I was still very enthralled in the book.I love her style of writing, outside of more personal history of Ms. Hemmings this book was a fantastic read
October 13, 2016
Plot: While the premise was extremely promising, I found the novel to be a little dry. I didn’t mind reading it while I was reading it, but once I put it down, I didn’t bend over backwards to pick it back up. The story is interesting, but I didn’t feel that every scene was necessary and some chapters were a bit frivolous, and I’d find myself skimming as I grew to recognize what wouldn’t be important. That, and there was always a heightened sense of expectation, many times of danger, throughout the book that kept being dashed, and it made the story fall flat at times. Still, it wasn’t a bad read, and it did pick up at the end. I just felt that a premise like this could have been done much, much better.
Characters: I found our leading girl Anita to be rather dry, and while I understand she needed the elements of meekness and modesty to keep her secret hidden, I didn’t always find myself particularly interested in her. The depth of the friendships between the Vassar girls that Tanabe tried to translate through the text didn’t feel very full or fleshed out to me. Anita’s roommate Lottie’s character was intriguing, but a lot of times I tired of her. Most of the time she was the same type of rich, spoiled upper class girl I’d read in other books, and I had been hoping I’d be proven wrong by some twist that never came. Porter, Anita’s love interest, had no depth, and because of that I couldn’t particularly bring myself to care about their relationship, or feel as if it was something Anita should risk her secret for. I did like Frederick, Anita’s younger brother at MIT, a lot. Bessie, Anita’s best friend, was probably my favorite character. They seemed the most real to me, the most interesting, I always felt more engaged in the story when Anita was interacting with them.
Writing: The words could be pretty, but mostly the writing felt dry and stiff and wordy, and I’d begin to skim if a scene got overly descriptive. The dialogue I found to be a bit overloaded with information at times, like a casual conversation between characters would suddenly become a history lesson for the reader. I’ve never read Tanabe’s writing before, so I don’t know if this is her usual style, but it felt as if she was trying to emulate the writing style of books written during the 19th century, which isn’t a bad thing, if that is what she was going for.
Was I satisfied? It was a good read, but my overall thought for this book is “it could have been done better.”
Characters: I found our leading girl Anita to be rather dry, and while I understand she needed the elements of meekness and modesty to keep her secret hidden, I didn’t always find myself particularly interested in her. The depth of the friendships between the Vassar girls that Tanabe tried to translate through the text didn’t feel very full or fleshed out to me. Anita’s roommate Lottie’s character was intriguing, but a lot of times I tired of her. Most of the time she was the same type of rich, spoiled upper class girl I’d read in other books, and I had been hoping I’d be proven wrong by some twist that never came. Porter, Anita’s love interest, had no depth, and because of that I couldn’t particularly bring myself to care about their relationship, or feel as if it was something Anita should risk her secret for. I did like Frederick, Anita’s younger brother at MIT, a lot. Bessie, Anita’s best friend, was probably my favorite character. They seemed the most real to me, the most interesting, I always felt more engaged in the story when Anita was interacting with them.
Writing: The words could be pretty, but mostly the writing felt dry and stiff and wordy, and I’d begin to skim if a scene got overly descriptive. The dialogue I found to be a bit overloaded with information at times, like a casual conversation between characters would suddenly become a history lesson for the reader. I’ve never read Tanabe’s writing before, so I don’t know if this is her usual style, but it felt as if she was trying to emulate the writing style of books written during the 19th century, which isn’t a bad thing, if that is what she was going for.
Was I satisfied? It was a good read, but my overall thought for this book is “it could have been done better.”
June 6, 2016
The research on this book is outstanding. As a reader, I really appreciate when you can tell how hard the author's worked on a book, and how much thought and effort has gone into something, and that's evident here on every single page. The author's attention to detail really adds to the overall story-- references to Anita's childhood, details about clothing, the gas lamps, descriptions of a campus I've never seen-- all this stuff is so subtly placed but so important in general, and she just did a fantastic job with it.
I think Tanabe reveals the secret of Anita being black in the perfect way. It's well placed within the story, and done without fanfare. I think the fact that it's not some panicked, manic scene actually makes it appear as even more potentially harmful to her. She makes it clear that it's not fodder for gossip, but rather something that she feels very shameful about.
This story could've been really tangled and crowded, but I think Tanabe's biggest strength is that she has a firm grasp on it and tells in in a very quiet, fluid way. It's the treatment Anita's story deserves-- it shouldn't have been some scandalous wild story, and she tells it in a way that honors her memory in a really respectful and dignified way.
Tanabe's dialogue is on point, and it's fun to hear her try out different voices.
Additionally, the afterword for this book is beautifully done.
Absolutely one of the best books of the summer and of the year. An important read for everyone.
I think Tanabe reveals the secret of Anita being black in the perfect way. It's well placed within the story, and done without fanfare. I think the fact that it's not some panicked, manic scene actually makes it appear as even more potentially harmful to her. She makes it clear that it's not fodder for gossip, but rather something that she feels very shameful about.
This story could've been really tangled and crowded, but I think Tanabe's biggest strength is that she has a firm grasp on it and tells in in a very quiet, fluid way. It's the treatment Anita's story deserves-- it shouldn't have been some scandalous wild story, and she tells it in a way that honors her memory in a really respectful and dignified way.
Tanabe's dialogue is on point, and it's fun to hear her try out different voices.
Additionally, the afterword for this book is beautifully done.
Absolutely one of the best books of the summer and of the year. An important read for everyone.
May 1, 2017
FABULOUS!!!! I don't read the foreword or the synopsis on the back of books, so I did not realize that this book is based on a true story! Literary license used of course when the author needed to "fill in the blanks". To set the stage..... "The circle in front of Main was crowded with carriages, tired horses, & girls bidding their families goodbye while vying for help with their boxes & suitcase. Before Anita & Caroline had arrived at Vassar as freshmen in 1893." This was a joy to read, but kept you holding your breath waiting to see what would happen next! Has more twists & turns than a road in the Swiss Alps, keeping you immersed & turning pages not realizing how much time has gone by. I loved the descriptions of the hair styles & dress! Was hoping for a sequel to find out about the next chapter in this life of this fascinating central character! ".... the novel that emerges here is an unputdownable and emotionally compelling story of hope, sacrifice & betrayal". Thank you for giving me the chance to read this ARC & write this review.
June 26, 2016
Like other readers, I never knew that Anita Hemmings was the first African American woman to graduate from Vassar college making this a fascinating read. While this was mostly fictional, the story gave you a sense of the harsh reality of Anita's life as she struggled to keep her race a secret in order just to achieve her goal to graduate. What a world we lived in when an African American was not allowed to attend a college just because of the color of her skin which deemed her inferior despite her high academic achievements. It's such a ludicrous thought today, but was a sad reality back then. I enjoyed the storyline the author created for Anita, even the back-stabbing, over spoken Lottie who angered me throughout the book but made this a compelling read
January 17, 2016
Though stories about passing can be fascinating topics, I really wish the author had done the subject of this book, Anita Hemmings, more justice. At a time when there's a cry for more diverse books, it seems as if a lot of authors are just writing anything as a way of tossing their hats in the ring. In the hands of a more caring author, this book would really shine, but Tanabe approaches it from a very vanilla point of view and makes light of the anguish and anxiety one would feel if they were to spend six years passing in prep school and college and eventual separation from one's family.
June 8, 2016
"The Gilded Years" is the story of college senior, Anita. The year is 1915 and it is still quite rare for women to go to college in the first place. Anita is incredibly unique though. She is a black woman passing for a white woman so that she can attend the prestigious Vassar. For the first three years of college, Anita has been incredibly careful not to reveal her true background in order to be allowed to stay at school. Things are threatened by a new roommate and a new love.
I was drawn to this book by the idea of what it meant to pass as another race. Anita realizes the importance of a good education and so she is willing to hide her true self in order to do so. We see how she has to compromise some of her character in order to "pass." One powerful scene in the beginning of the book talks about how Anita is forced to defend Plessy vs. Ferguson, one of the most famous segregation related court cases, in her debate club. It's a hard road to go but education is paramount to her! I was so nervous for her throughout the book as she continued to run into situations that could unmask her.
The writing of the book is good. The author takes a very important subject and infuses characters into the situation to help modern day readers to understand what perils those trying to pass as another race faced every day. The flow of the story works well. There were a few places sprinkled throughout the book where the author did more telling than showing but overall, the story kept me engaged and entertained!
I was drawn to this book by the idea of what it meant to pass as another race. Anita realizes the importance of a good education and so she is willing to hide her true self in order to do so. We see how she has to compromise some of her character in order to "pass." One powerful scene in the beginning of the book talks about how Anita is forced to defend Plessy vs. Ferguson, one of the most famous segregation related court cases, in her debate club. It's a hard road to go but education is paramount to her! I was so nervous for her throughout the book as she continued to run into situations that could unmask her.
The writing of the book is good. The author takes a very important subject and infuses characters into the situation to help modern day readers to understand what perils those trying to pass as another race faced every day. The flow of the story works well. There were a few places sprinkled throughout the book where the author did more telling than showing but overall, the story kept me engaged and entertained!
November 14, 2017
"I did not want to attend Vassar just for myself; I wanted to attend Vassar to show that a Negro woman is just as intelligent as a white woman. That we deserve to be at Vassar, that we deserve to be in every school that admits white women. In my own way, I did that. But William, if I could have attended the school as Negro, I would have."
The Gilded Years was a fascinating and eye-opening fictional account of the life of Anita Hemmings. I could tell the author completed extensive research to write such a believable tale of how Anita chose to pass as white to receive an education. I love that the author included an Afterword which included factual information about all of the individuals discussed in the book and she pointed out where she made some embellishments.
The Gilded Years was a fascinating and eye-opening fictional account of the life of Anita Hemmings. I could tell the author completed extensive research to write such a believable tale of how Anita chose to pass as white to receive an education. I love that the author included an Afterword which included factual information about all of the individuals discussed in the book and she pointed out where she made some embellishments.
January 11, 2019
Based on the true story of Anita Hemings who was the first african-american to graduate Vassar in 1897.
She passed as white while attending this school for nearly four years. Shortly before graduation her roommate discovered her secret.
When Anita married, she and her husband passed as white throughout their lives.
I found her story very interesting although the book was a slow read for me.
She passed as white while attending this school for nearly four years. Shortly before graduation her roommate discovered her secret.
When Anita married, she and her husband passed as white throughout their lives.
I found her story very interesting although the book was a slow read for me.
January 19, 2016
I was completely unfamiliar with the story of Anita Hemmings and am so glad that I was able to get my hands on an early copy of this book. I can't imagine how hard it was for Anita to even get to the point in her education where she passed the Vassar entrance exams, because education for African-Americans was abysmal at the turn of the 20th century, but she did, and managed to stay sane when she passed as white for her four years there.
She has definitely been overlooked as an important figure of the Gilded Age, but I think this book did her story justice and hopefully she'll get the attention she deserves.
She has definitely been overlooked as an important figure of the Gilded Age, but I think this book did her story justice and hopefully she'll get the attention she deserves.
June 25, 2016
Just read this for book club and it broke my heart. In the best of ways. College students today could really take a lesson from Anita Hemmings and how hard she had to fight to get an education. Also the roommate, that roommate. I don't want to add spoilers, but THAT ROOMMATE!!
March 19, 2017
Just finished reading "The Gilded Years" by Karin Tanabe. A sensitively written novel based on the true story of Anita Florence Hemmings. In order to get the superior education she aspired to - Anita (who was olive complexioned) was forced to hide the fact that she had Negro blood in order to be accepted at Vassar. Because she was a brilliant, accomplished, well liked student Anita was allowed to graduate with her class in 1897, despite the fact that her roommate had turned her in to the administration a few months before. Thoughtful, well researched, fascinating history of both what it meant to "pass" and what Vassar was like in that era.
The novel began slowly, the writing a bit awkward but once Tanabe hit her stride she brought the characters, era and setting to life with vivid dialogue, believable motivation and obviously well researched descriptions. Very interesting, too, was the actual story that the author supplied at the end. It gave even more depth to Anita's milieu and logic. And helped to clarify why the author chose to alter the story just enough to highlight Anita's dilemma in having to "pass" without substantially changing the facts. A well executed tightrope walk.
Living near Vassar it was fascinating to read about the customs and traditions of Anita's day. I'm somewhat familiar with the Vassar campus. The descriptions in the book are accurate and helped to envision the action. Highly recommend.
The novel began slowly, the writing a bit awkward but once Tanabe hit her stride she brought the characters, era and setting to life with vivid dialogue, believable motivation and obviously well researched descriptions. Very interesting, too, was the actual story that the author supplied at the end. It gave even more depth to Anita's milieu and logic. And helped to clarify why the author chose to alter the story just enough to highlight Anita's dilemma in having to "pass" without substantially changing the facts. A well executed tightrope walk.
Living near Vassar it was fascinating to read about the customs and traditions of Anita's day. I'm somewhat familiar with the Vassar campus. The descriptions in the book are accurate and helped to envision the action. Highly recommend.
February 21, 2017
I love historical fiction especially when there are truths to the story. I loved Anita's story so much 'The Gilded Years' propelled me to do outside research on the characters. I will admit that this cover doesn't do this book justice. I don't want to give anything away. This is definitely a book that you won't forget and bonus it's a page turner for sure. I'm anticipating Ms. Tanabe's next book.
I'd like to thank Netgalley and Washington Square Press for the opportunity to read and review 'The Gilded Years'.
I'd like to thank Netgalley and Washington Square Press for the opportunity to read and review 'The Gilded Years'.
January 11, 2016
When I heard that Karin Tanabe was writing a book based on the life of Anita Hemmings, I was curious. I knew of the story through my research in women's colleges in the 19th century. Thanks to Edelweiss, I was able to read a galley of the novel which comes out in June of this year. In order to attend Vassar in the 19th century, Anita Hemmings has made the painful decision to pass as white. One of the 1st colleges for women (founded in 1865), Vassar has an unwritten policy of not accepting students of color (unless they are Japanese nobility!). Anita has spent 3 years, studying hard, but still fully participating in college life. Although she tries not to draw attention to herself, she is considered the class beauty by everything, much admired. Her senior, she ends up rooming with Lottie Taylor, a rich heiress from Pittsburgh. Despite her best intentions, she is slowly drawn into Lottie's social circle, spending weekends in NYC, attending the Harvard/Yale football game, falling for a white, wealthy Harvard student Porter Hamilton. Anita's carefully constructed life starts to fall apart when her brother Frederick comes to visit her. While Anita is passing for white, Frederick attends MIT as a negro, although they tell people that he attends Cornell. Lottie takes it upon herself to meet this mysterious brother, and falls for him. When Frederick tactfully turns down her invitation to a school dance, Lottie is not best pleased.
There was a great deal about this book that I enjoyed, particularly the depiction of college life in the 19th century, but I found the writing at times heavy-handed. There was a lot of info-dump that read as if the author had done a great deal of research and she was determined that the reader was going to know it. And there is a great deal of name-dropping that also had a tendency to stop the story cold. Some of the best scenes were intimate two person scenes between Anita and Lottie, or Anita and her brother Frederick as he lectures her about her responsibilities. I was intrigued to read about Anita's friendship with Elizabeth 'Bessie' Baker who went to Wellesley as one of the few negro students at the college. I would have liked to have known more about Bessie and her sister's experiences as negro students at a white college.
Although the term homosexual was used by the late 19th century, I had a hard time believing that upper class women, even those who want to shock, would use it so openly or that they would speculate about the sexuality of their female instructors. Women living together in the 19th century in 'Boston marriages' was not uncommon. Lottie's betrayal at the end of the book seems to come out of nowhere. The author explains that while she used the name of the woman who was the real Anita's roommate, she completely changed her background to make her rich and popular. I would have liked to have seen at least some kind of explanation for why Lottie all of sudden turns on her.
There was a great deal about this book that I enjoyed, particularly the depiction of college life in the 19th century, but I found the writing at times heavy-handed. There was a lot of info-dump that read as if the author had done a great deal of research and she was determined that the reader was going to know it. And there is a great deal of name-dropping that also had a tendency to stop the story cold. Some of the best scenes were intimate two person scenes between Anita and Lottie, or Anita and her brother Frederick as he lectures her about her responsibilities. I was intrigued to read about Anita's friendship with Elizabeth 'Bessie' Baker who went to Wellesley as one of the few negro students at the college. I would have liked to have known more about Bessie and her sister's experiences as negro students at a white college.
Although the term homosexual was used by the late 19th century, I had a hard time believing that upper class women, even those who want to shock, would use it so openly or that they would speculate about the sexuality of their female instructors. Women living together in the 19th century in 'Boston marriages' was not uncommon. Lottie's betrayal at the end of the book seems to come out of nowhere. The author explains that while she used the name of the woman who was the real Anita's roommate, she completely changed her background to make her rich and popular. I would have liked to have seen at least some kind of explanation for why Lottie all of sudden turns on her.
November 2, 2016
More like a 2.5, but I rounded up because I found the idea so interesting. Anita Hemmings was the first black graduate of Vassar. She passed as white for her time there, as black women weren't allowed to attend at the time. Not much is known about her, and this book attempts to understand what her life might have been like.
It's clear the author did a lot of research, and I thought the general idea was really interesting, but I also found the story a bit slow, and didn't feel like a lot of the characters acted believably. So I'm torn. I love books set during the Gilded Age, and I was thrilled that this book featured a WOC main character and delved into what living at that time was like for Anita. But I wish the first half of the book was cut in half and the last 1/4 was doubled, as that was where the story really got interesting to me. Pacing issues aside, I think if you enjoy this era and are interested in Anita Hemmings' story, you would probably enjoy this book.
It's clear the author did a lot of research, and I thought the general idea was really interesting, but I also found the story a bit slow, and didn't feel like a lot of the characters acted believably. So I'm torn. I love books set during the Gilded Age, and I was thrilled that this book featured a WOC main character and delved into what living at that time was like for Anita. But I wish the first half of the book was cut in half and the last 1/4 was doubled, as that was where the story really got interesting to me. Pacing issues aside, I think if you enjoy this era and are interested in Anita Hemmings' story, you would probably enjoy this book.
February 9, 2016
I read the ARC of this book, and I'm surprised that no one here has yet made a comparison to the book Passing by Nella Larsen. Like Passing, The Gilded Years tells the story of two women, Anita Hemmings and Bessie Baker, one who chose to pass for her higher education, and one who did not, attending Wellesley as a black women. The book centers mostly on Anita, but I loved the relationship between these two women, who reminded me quite a bit of Clare and Irene, though during The Gilded Age. I also liked that this book didn't have a "white savior" character like in so many recent books about POCs. Think, The Help.
October 8, 2016
I was really disappointed with this book. I found the subject of a black woman passing as white in order to get a Vassar education intriguing but the delivery was shallow. This could have been an intelligent examination of race relations in our country. Instead it devolved into an insipid dialogue between privileged young women who worried about nothing more substantial than the dress they would wear to the next social outing. I found I could actually skip 60 or 70 pages at a time and have no problem keeping up with the "story". That's the only way I could make myself finish it. I don't think I missed much by skipping through more than 3/4 of it
September 20, 2016
RATING: ★★★☆☆ / 3 interesting stars.
REVIEW: I received this book as part of the Once Upon a Book Club Box (if you haven't heard of it, it's an incredibly fun and interesting take on a monthly subscription box, I highly recommend you check it out www.onceuponabookclub.com). It's based on the true story of Anita Hemmings, a young woman who passed as white to attend Vassar. Of course the story told here is fictionalized, but the facts are incredibly interesting and I'm so glad that I was introduced to this bit of American history that I had never known before.
On to the book! It's probably a bit wrong to say that my favorite character was Lottie (at least for the first half of the book). Have you ever seen the 1966 film The Trouble with Angels, starring Hayley Mills (she's also the girl from the original Parent Trap film)? Well if you have seen it, then Hayley Mill's character was exactly what I thought of when I read the parts of Lottie. Her speech and mannerisms, everything! Energetic, posh, and lighting quick, it added this extra level of fun to my reading experience.
Now Anita Hemmings, on the other hand, was a bit too dull. I know that this is entirely by necessity. She's supposed to be unassuming and avoiding notice, but I'm referring more towards her inner thoughts, which help drive the story forward. It all became slow, dull, and repetitive. Her turmoil and thoughts were restated so many times that I grew frustrated. It's also mentioned that Anita was the great beauty of the college...it's actually mentioned a lot. It seemed like her looks were commented on in nearly every chapter. It became annoying. Her character didn't grow much until the very end, although she was acting slightly more reckless on occasion, but still it was lackluster.
I was much more intrigued by all the secondary characters. They all seemed to have more life to them and a level of unpredictability that eventually became the driving force for the book. In a way that makes sense. Anita was essentially at the whim of others, her life not entirely her own, so the fact that the all the other characters seemed to be driving her story is accurate.
I was constantly torn while reading this book. I would swing from interested to bored and then back again. It made for a very choppy reading experience. But overall I'm still glad that I was introduced to Anita Hemmings and could learn more about her after the book was done.
REVIEW: I received this book as part of the Once Upon a Book Club Box (if you haven't heard of it, it's an incredibly fun and interesting take on a monthly subscription box, I highly recommend you check it out www.onceuponabookclub.com). It's based on the true story of Anita Hemmings, a young woman who passed as white to attend Vassar. Of course the story told here is fictionalized, but the facts are incredibly interesting and I'm so glad that I was introduced to this bit of American history that I had never known before.
On to the book! It's probably a bit wrong to say that my favorite character was Lottie (at least for the first half of the book). Have you ever seen the 1966 film The Trouble with Angels, starring Hayley Mills (she's also the girl from the original Parent Trap film)? Well if you have seen it, then Hayley Mill's character was exactly what I thought of when I read the parts of Lottie. Her speech and mannerisms, everything! Energetic, posh, and lighting quick, it added this extra level of fun to my reading experience.
Now Anita Hemmings, on the other hand, was a bit too dull. I know that this is entirely by necessity. She's supposed to be unassuming and avoiding notice, but I'm referring more towards her inner thoughts, which help drive the story forward. It all became slow, dull, and repetitive. Her turmoil and thoughts were restated so many times that I grew frustrated. It's also mentioned that Anita was the great beauty of the college...it's actually mentioned a lot. It seemed like her looks were commented on in nearly every chapter. It became annoying. Her character didn't grow much until the very end, although she was acting slightly more reckless on occasion, but still it was lackluster.
I was much more intrigued by all the secondary characters. They all seemed to have more life to them and a level of unpredictability that eventually became the driving force for the book. In a way that makes sense. Anita was essentially at the whim of others, her life not entirely her own, so the fact that the all the other characters seemed to be driving her story is accurate.
I was constantly torn while reading this book. I would swing from interested to bored and then back again. It made for a very choppy reading experience. But overall I'm still glad that I was introduced to Anita Hemmings and could learn more about her after the book was done.
February 25, 2017
This story had great potential but, ultimately, I was disappointed. I expected more insight into Anita Hemming's life and what it was like to be a black person passing as white. I felt like I got a detailed accounting of college life at Vassar in the 1890's and the shenanigans of Lottie Taylor, "the roommate" instead. The story is not poorly written, but the author's writing style did nothing to captivate my imagination. I am nitpicking, but I found the use of the terminology "the roommate" to be excessive. The story was interesting enough for me to want to finish, especially the latter half after Anita's secret is revealed, but I expected more.
April 23, 2016
Beautiful book; totally devastated me.
January 12, 2022
Telling the story of Anita Hemming, the first black student to attend the prestigious Vassar college by passing as white, this had plenty of potential to be a gripping historical read. Set in 1897 this story ultimately never grabbed me. It was filled with too much idle chit chat and at times too much concentration on Lottie instead of Anita. This is soon to be released as a motion picture and I suspect it may well work better as a film. My thanks to Simon and Schuster and Better Reading for my copy to read and review. Sadly, not as compelling a story as I hoped it would be.
May 25, 2016
Upon finishing this book, I honestly didn’t know whether I liked it or not.
The pacing left a little to be desired. Some of the most exciting episodes of the plot were abruptly cut short. I respect how ambitious it was to chronicle an entire academic school year, and I also acknowledge that some of the most interesting passages were Anita’s post hoc appraisal of her experiences, but greater attention to balance might have resulted in more impactful storytelling.
I also had a hard time accepting the social preoccupations of a female college student at the turn of the (nineteenth) century. Maybe that is simply the result of my own personal biases, but Anita, a heroine who was risking everything for the sake of her education seemed equally concerned frivolous social graces as she was with navigating the dangerous divide between black and white society. These particular details about her life on campus, though often charming and incredibly engaging, seemed misplaced coming from such a substantial and progressively revolutionary protagonist.
I was initially excited to read this book because it was billed as an exploration of race within a historical context that I had not considered much before. The idea of passing as white seemed like a really interesting way to highlight the artificiality of our social constructions of race. Tanabe’s comments about race were certainly empowering and inspiring (if not a bit sentimental at times), but I’m not sure the book lived up to these expectations of mine.
Then I realized I had the wrong expectations…
I was looking for a story to comment on 21st century race relations by using a late 19th century setting. What I got instead was simply an incredibly sincere character who had fallen victim to her place in time. Anita never wanted to be a champion of her race. She was never meant to be a social metaphor. To expect that from her would be wrong. Anita simply wanted to learn. She wanted her opportunities to be dictated by the limits of her intellect and not by the color (or rather how other people perceived the color) of her skin.
At Vassar, Anita was neither truly white nor black. Her identity was solely defined by her role as a student and her hopes for an educated future. Could some people consider aspects of Anita’s senior year trivial, especially considering the social implications of the secret that she carried throughout her entire collegiate career? Absolutely. But like any young person away at college, Anita let herself get carried away by notions of her future. There’s nothing wrong with that – even coming from a black woman graduating cum laude with the class of 1897. So what could’ve easily turned into anachronistic grandstanding remained an honest and unaffected homage to Anita Hemmings, a character that history all but forgot. Now, thanks to Tanabe’s deft hands, the realm of fiction can at least remember her.
Tanabe’s enthusiasm for Vassar as an alumna is also incredibly evident throughout the novel. I found Tanabe’s pride for her alma mater to be one of the most endearing parts of my read.
*Received as an ARC for an honest review.
The pacing left a little to be desired. Some of the most exciting episodes of the plot were abruptly cut short. I respect how ambitious it was to chronicle an entire academic school year, and I also acknowledge that some of the most interesting passages were Anita’s post hoc appraisal of her experiences, but greater attention to balance might have resulted in more impactful storytelling.
I also had a hard time accepting the social preoccupations of a female college student at the turn of the (nineteenth) century. Maybe that is simply the result of my own personal biases, but Anita, a heroine who was risking everything for the sake of her education seemed equally concerned frivolous social graces as she was with navigating the dangerous divide between black and white society. These particular details about her life on campus, though often charming and incredibly engaging, seemed misplaced coming from such a substantial and progressively revolutionary protagonist.
I was initially excited to read this book because it was billed as an exploration of race within a historical context that I had not considered much before. The idea of passing as white seemed like a really interesting way to highlight the artificiality of our social constructions of race. Tanabe’s comments about race were certainly empowering and inspiring (if not a bit sentimental at times), but I’m not sure the book lived up to these expectations of mine.
Then I realized I had the wrong expectations…
I was looking for a story to comment on 21st century race relations by using a late 19th century setting. What I got instead was simply an incredibly sincere character who had fallen victim to her place in time. Anita never wanted to be a champion of her race. She was never meant to be a social metaphor. To expect that from her would be wrong. Anita simply wanted to learn. She wanted her opportunities to be dictated by the limits of her intellect and not by the color (or rather how other people perceived the color) of her skin.
At Vassar, Anita was neither truly white nor black. Her identity was solely defined by her role as a student and her hopes for an educated future. Could some people consider aspects of Anita’s senior year trivial, especially considering the social implications of the secret that she carried throughout her entire collegiate career? Absolutely. But like any young person away at college, Anita let herself get carried away by notions of her future. There’s nothing wrong with that – even coming from a black woman graduating cum laude with the class of 1897. So what could’ve easily turned into anachronistic grandstanding remained an honest and unaffected homage to Anita Hemmings, a character that history all but forgot. Now, thanks to Tanabe’s deft hands, the realm of fiction can at least remember her.
Tanabe’s enthusiasm for Vassar as an alumna is also incredibly evident throughout the novel. I found Tanabe’s pride for her alma mater to be one of the most endearing parts of my read.
*Received as an ARC for an honest review.
July 11, 2016
I received this book from the publisher in a Goodreads giveaway.
And as such, I feel bad giving this review.
I'm having a hard time putting together my thoughts about The Gilded Years. The premise is fascinating (as is the author's afterword, in which she talks about the real Anita Hemmings and how the author discovered Anita's story). Anita Hemmings, who passed as white, was the first black woman to graduate from Vassar in 1897. (The second black woman to graduate from Vassar would be Anita's daughter, Ellen, in 1927.)
But something was lacking and I just could not get into this novel.
For one thing, the dialogue especially was stilted and robotic. The characters were either underdeveloped or had motivations that made no sense. So many times I found myself asking "BUT WHY WOULD SHE THAT??? THAT MAKES NO SENSE."
You can tell the author did meticulous research for this novel, not only about Vassar during Anita's time but the entire Gilded Era in general, from fashions and pastimes and social conventions to brand names (I'll admit I laughed when a character announced that she was off to purchase "a new Paul E Wirt Fountain Pen and perhaps some more Lautier's Quintessence of Violets"…when is the last time you announced to your friends that you were off to buy Bic Pens and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Eau de Toilette Spray?). Large sections of the book end up just being info-dumps of all this research the author can't let go of (or that the editor couldn't chop).
I feel that Anita Hemmings would've been better served had this been a non-fiction book rather than a novel.
And as such, I feel bad giving this review.
I'm having a hard time putting together my thoughts about The Gilded Years. The premise is fascinating (as is the author's afterword, in which she talks about the real Anita Hemmings and how the author discovered Anita's story). Anita Hemmings, who passed as white, was the first black woman to graduate from Vassar in 1897. (The second black woman to graduate from Vassar would be Anita's daughter, Ellen, in 1927.)
But something was lacking and I just could not get into this novel.
For one thing, the dialogue especially was stilted and robotic. The characters were either underdeveloped or had motivations that made no sense. So many times I found myself asking "BUT WHY WOULD SHE THAT??? THAT MAKES NO SENSE."
You can tell the author did meticulous research for this novel, not only about Vassar during Anita's time but the entire Gilded Era in general, from fashions and pastimes and social conventions to brand names (I'll admit I laughed when a character announced that she was off to purchase "a new Paul E Wirt Fountain Pen and perhaps some more Lautier's Quintessence of Violets"…when is the last time you announced to your friends that you were off to buy Bic Pens and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Eau de Toilette Spray?). Large sections of the book end up just being info-dumps of all this research the author can't let go of (or that the editor couldn't chop).
I feel that Anita Hemmings would've been better served had this been a non-fiction book rather than a novel.
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