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Silverwood
She was a regal beauty, wife of a wealthy California financier, devoted mother and mistress of Silverwood, her glorious estate. For over half a century she welcomed the social elite, the captains of industry, stars and scoundrels, lovers and opportunists at Siverwood's magnificent gates.
Yet beneath her gracious facade, Ada Prudhomme guarded the secrets of her life with the ferocity of a tigress. To some, she was an imperious beauty...to others, a brilliant actress who concealed a past of murder, deception and tragedy. In this spellbinding novel of passion and suspense, the truth behind the legend of Silverwood emerges in Ada Prudhomme's most fabulous creation, the most daring illusion of her life...herself.
Yet beneath her gracious facade, Ada Prudhomme guarded the secrets of her life with the ferocity of a tigress. To some, she was an imperious beauty...to others, a brilliant actress who concealed a past of murder, deception and tragedy. In this spellbinding novel of passion and suspense, the truth behind the legend of Silverwood emerges in Ada Prudhomme's most fabulous creation, the most daring illusion of her life...herself.
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
3 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Barnes
11 books8 followersJoanna was born in Boston and raised in the same home that her family has occupied since the 1630s. She received a first class education and shortly after graduation, took a summer visit to California where she was offered an acting contract with Columbia Pictures.
Among the twenty plus movies Joanna has made, her favorites include Auntie Mame, Spartacus, The Parent Trap, Goodbye Charlie and The War Wagon. She starred with Peter Falk in the critically acclaimed CBS television series The Trials of O’Brien and was for many years a frequent panelist on To Tell the Truth and What’s My Line as well as her own interview show, Dateline Hollywood. She has appeared on The Phil Donahue Show, The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
While maintaining her show business career, Joanna still managed to find time to return to her first love, writing. Her books include The Deceivers (1970), Pastora (1980) and her most recent novel, Silverwood (1985). Her books have also been printed in Italy, France, England, Sweden, Portugal and Brazil. Her syndicated column, Touching Home, was for many years carried by The Chicago Tribune and N.Y. News Syndicate.
When not at work writing or acting, Joanna has served on the board of trustees of the Chamber Symphony of California and as Editor of the magazine of the Junior League of Los Angeles. In Santa Barbara she actively supports the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Direct Relief International and Camerata Pacifica.
Among the twenty plus movies Joanna has made, her favorites include Auntie Mame, Spartacus, The Parent Trap, Goodbye Charlie and The War Wagon. She starred with Peter Falk in the critically acclaimed CBS television series The Trials of O’Brien and was for many years a frequent panelist on To Tell the Truth and What’s My Line as well as her own interview show, Dateline Hollywood. She has appeared on The Phil Donahue Show, The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
While maintaining her show business career, Joanna still managed to find time to return to her first love, writing. Her books include The Deceivers (1970), Pastora (1980) and her most recent novel, Silverwood (1985). Her books have also been printed in Italy, France, England, Sweden, Portugal and Brazil. Her syndicated column, Touching Home, was for many years carried by The Chicago Tribune and N.Y. News Syndicate.
When not at work writing or acting, Joanna has served on the board of trustees of the Chamber Symphony of California and as Editor of the magazine of the Junior League of Los Angeles. In Santa Barbara she actively supports the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Direct Relief International and Camerata Pacifica.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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March 8, 2011This is the kind of thing I love to read, not exactly a story, but an interesting portrait of a wealthy, socially prominent family that reveals the scandal underneath. The narrative centers around the proud matriarch, Ada Prudhomme whose story is told by those who knew her. She begins in Los Angeles when the westside was an oil field and everything else was ranches. She pulls herself up from nothing and marries well, watches the city come up around her as decades pass. Joanna Barnes did some serious research for this project.
It's a bit sad that this book may be lost and unappreciated by future generations. Obviously not a classic, Silverwood is an impressive historical drama. If you like that sort of thing or LA history, definitely give this book a read. Ask your librarian to get it out of storage for you.
It's a bit sad that this book may be lost and unappreciated by future generations. Obviously not a classic, Silverwood is an impressive historical drama. If you like that sort of thing or LA history, definitely give this book a read. Ask your librarian to get it out of storage for you.
abandoned
August 7, 2017I yield around page 50. Nothing happens, and the alternating narrators telling the story is distracting as all get out. Life is too short, moving on...
October 20, 2023
Very entertaining and well-written book that comes with a message. It's up to you to decide what that message is.
Ada Prudhomme's granddaughter is trying to write a history on her famous grandmother. She asks various people in her grandmother's life to give their point of view. Each chapter is written from a different character's point of view. What emerges are the stories of Ada and her two sons' lives. Ada was a determined woman that began from humble beginnings and when she died, she was a member of high society in good standing. But who was the REAL Ada Prudhomme? The book slowly reveals her life and character and has quite a few twists and turns.
Why didn't I rate the book more highly? Mainly because the book is filled with characters making bad decisions and never learning from their mistakes. If a person manages to stay married, it's usually an unhappy marriage. I will say this. The author doesn't let her characters avoid consequences for their actions. The characters all reap what they sow. It doesn't make for uplifting reading.
Family Corner
Wow. Where do I start? Tons of profanity, saying God's name in vain, and sex (albeit not graphic).
Ada Prudhomme's granddaughter is trying to write a history on her famous grandmother. She asks various people in her grandmother's life to give their point of view. Each chapter is written from a different character's point of view. What emerges are the stories of Ada and her two sons' lives. Ada was a determined woman that began from humble beginnings and when she died, she was a member of high society in good standing. But who was the REAL Ada Prudhomme? The book slowly reveals her life and character and has quite a few twists and turns.
Why didn't I rate the book more highly? Mainly because the book is filled with characters making bad decisions and never learning from their mistakes. If a person manages to stay married, it's usually an unhappy marriage. I will say this. The author doesn't let her characters avoid consequences for their actions. The characters all reap what they sow. It doesn't make for uplifting reading.
Family Corner
Wow. Where do I start? Tons of profanity, saying God's name in vain, and sex (albeit not graphic).
November 3, 2013
Very cleverly written! Almost gave "Silverwood" 4 stars, but I save that ranking for books that have philosophical or psychological depth to them. This novel was simply entertaining - very entertaining! I loved the way the author kept springing surprises - some that you half expected, but weren't certain because you had been led astray before. Did have to go back and forth checking on what various characters said previously, but did not mind doing so - seemed all part of the game the author was playing with the reader. Could say that there is a psychological aspect: how many secrets do people keep about themselves? Is it wrong to do so?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews