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The Empty Mirror
The Empty Mirror chronicles the parallel lives of Frances Austin and Addie Stanford, two women who come of age in the Roaring Twenties. Born in small-town Pennsylvania, the women independently move to New York City during the wildest years of the Jazz Age. Their trials in business and love reveal the rapidly changing roles of women in society.
Frances and Addie embrace their newfound freedom, exploring Harlem's speakeasies and dance clubs while meeting the luminaries of the literary and theatrical world, including encounters with Harpo Marx, Harold Ross, and Dorothy Parker. However, youthful optimism meets the jarring realities of social and religious convention, and the women struggle to find themselves in the flux dealing with antisemitism and inequality.
The protagonists find themselves in Miami during the historic land boom, which portends financial calamity and the foundering of their dreams for success. The Empty Mirror depicts these turbulent years from two women's perspectives who, despite different backgrounds and upbringings, unexpectedly find common cause in the world.
Frances and Addie embrace their newfound freedom, exploring Harlem's speakeasies and dance clubs while meeting the luminaries of the literary and theatrical world, including encounters with Harpo Marx, Harold Ross, and Dorothy Parker. However, youthful optimism meets the jarring realities of social and religious convention, and the women struggle to find themselves in the flux dealing with antisemitism and inequality.
The protagonists find themselves in Miami during the historic land boom, which portends financial calamity and the foundering of their dreams for success. The Empty Mirror depicts these turbulent years from two women's perspectives who, despite different backgrounds and upbringings, unexpectedly find common cause in the world.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2022
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 10, 2022
A satisfying read, told by an amazing storyteller
I seldom give a novel a 5 star rating but I was captivated by "The Empty Mirror". The characters were well developed and made me care about them. There are several storylines woven seamlessly throughout the book which keep the reader turning pages to find out what will happen next. Throughout the layers we witness women becoming educated and reaching for interesting careers beyond being a secretary or store clerk. Greed and corruption are being perpetrated on the innocents in society to feed the coffers of immoral business men and politicians. And how could this novel take place during the roaring twenties without jazz clubs and speakeasies !
Although I have read several books that deal with antisemitism within the story, I have never read a novel in which a young Jewish person was uncomfortable being Jewish in a predominantly Christian society. I certainly knew this feeling exists among some people, however the way the author treated the subject through the thoughts and feelings of Frances, gave me a greater understanding of why one could feel that way.
I felt very satisfied with the ending and loved the post script that was like icing on a cake.
I highly recommend reading, The Empty mirror.
I seldom give a novel a 5 star rating but I was captivated by "The Empty Mirror". The characters were well developed and made me care about them. There are several storylines woven seamlessly throughout the book which keep the reader turning pages to find out what will happen next. Throughout the layers we witness women becoming educated and reaching for interesting careers beyond being a secretary or store clerk. Greed and corruption are being perpetrated on the innocents in society to feed the coffers of immoral business men and politicians. And how could this novel take place during the roaring twenties without jazz clubs and speakeasies !
Although I have read several books that deal with antisemitism within the story, I have never read a novel in which a young Jewish person was uncomfortable being Jewish in a predominantly Christian society. I certainly knew this feeling exists among some people, however the way the author treated the subject through the thoughts and feelings of Frances, gave me a greater understanding of why one could feel that way.
I felt very satisfied with the ending and loved the post script that was like icing on a cake.
I highly recommend reading, The Empty mirror.
Displaying 1 of 1 review