Play Book Tag discussion

The Dakota is a castle-like apartment building on 72nd Street off New York City's Central Park. Historically it has been home to many artists, actors, and musicians, including John Lennon, who was murdered in the archway of the building in 1980. It is visually recognizable as The Bramford, the apartment building where Rosemary's Baby takes place. But back in the 1880's the Dakota was the middle of nowhere.

The novel begins in 1884, when Sara Smythe is brought from London to New York City by Theodore Camden, one of the architects. Impressed by the level of service she provided at the hotel she worked in England, he wanted her to be the “manageress” of this brand-new, remote apartment building. In a dual storyline set one hundred years later in 1985, Bailey Camden is a poor relation of the Camdens. Having been fired from her interior decorating job, Bailey gets an opportunity to renovate her cousin Melinda’s apartment in the Dakota.

I liked the way the author paired the history of a landmark building with the imagined lives of those who might have lived or worked there. I enjoyed structure of a dual narrative with alternating time periods. I felt like it might have benefited from more in-depth character development. The best part of the story for me was the way Fiona Davis skillfully brought her New York City setting to life, especially the details of New York's Gilded Age.

I enjoyed the book and think it would appeal to fans of New York City historical fiction. It was my first novel by this author and I look forward to reading another.

Absolutely agree - needed more character development but the history of NYC both in Gilded Age and 1980sb and especially the Dakota itself was top notch.