Having heard this book described as a romance, that was what I was expecting. I think a better definition of this book would be a "love story", as considering a book a romance usually conjures up the narrow definition of what the romance genre is usually comprised of - two people who fall in love and get married (almost always), but especially, live happily ever after. Well, this story fits only one part of the definition - the h/h in this story are certainly in love, but will there be a happily ever after? So, this story sort of took me by surprise, but once I got over that, I did enjoy this book very much. Besides, there are plenty of other characters who do get their HEA, and even Susannah does get a sort-of HEA, so I guess it sort of fits into the romance genre.
This is an excellent book, exceptional in every way. Eva Ibbotson has a way with words, and a way of describing her characters, that every scene, every person, comes vividly alive in your mind. I even found myself nodding or exclaiming aloud, I even started to argue out loud with a character - I really forgot that these were not real people!!! It's also bright and funny, and exceptionally easy reading. Although I tend not to enjoy books that are outside of the narrow definition of the romance genre, I found myself surprised at how much I really did enjoy this book.
"Madensky Square" is set in Vienna in 1911, and as for time and place, it is an excellent choice. Susannah, the heroine of our story, is the proprietess of a dress shop, another excellent plot device as we get to hear about all the fashions pre-war, and all the woman who shop at this exclusive store, and all their human foibles - just delicious. This story is set just before the First World War which changed Europe forever, and we get to live in the beautiful and cultured Vienna for as long as we are reading this wonderful story, as Ms. Ibbotson brings that era and the sense of the time vividly alive to her readers.
Every one of the characters she created are as real as real could be, and will remain in my head for a long time. There is Susannah herself, the narrator of the story, her assistant Nini who lives with her (don't ask me how that happened, Susannah says), and who is both a bloody revolutionary and a connoiser of fashion (and Ms. Ibbotson plays up that irony to the hilt), there is the child piano prodigy who plays across the square, there are simply so many funny and memorable characters... but my especial favorite is Edith Sultzer - you simply have to read this book - just for her story alone it is worth it. Most of this book is just full of little gossipy asides about all the people in it - just delicious!
Eva Ibbotson's style reminds me slightly of Maeve Binchy, one of my favorite writers. Ms. Binchy writes about old Ireland, Ms. Ibbotson writes about old Vienna - but in many ways, there are a lot of similarities between the books - they both write about vivid, memorable characters, that lived and breathed and worked so very long ago. Of course, they are very different authors, so don't expect too much of a similarity (especially if you don't like Maeve Binchy, you can disregard this part of the review).
This was a four star for me, as opposed to a keeper, because first of all, it really didn't have a completely happy ending (I know, it wasn't supposed to!!!), and second, I personally don't like a story narrated in the first person, it spoils the story for me. But there's really not that much difference between a four star and a five star rating anyway, except for the preference of the reader, so don't let that discourage you. |
Madensky Square Books In Print, Audio Books.