I am pleased to announce that my declaration of disdain for modern fantasy last week hasn't spurred any pitchfork-wielding, fairy-loving Sarah J Maas fans to chase me through town. I had to laugh a little bit when my husband. He loves to read but isn't necessarily "up" on the latest book-related trends, so when he read last week's column, scrunched up his face and said, "People really love those books, Allison. Maybe prepare for an angry mob of fairy fans to come knocking?" They never did, and for that I am grateful and maybe just a teensy bit disappointed that there wasn't at least a DM from the Fairy-love Fan Club or something. Sigh. At any rate, my pick this week deals with historical fiction rather than fantasy and I think that you will like it.
"Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?" by Crystal Smith Paul begins with the death of famous movie star, Kitty Karr. When she leaves her fortune to the St. John sisters – three young, wealthy, Black women who are all famous in their own right – everyone is wondering why. I'm not sure what it is, but the glamour and scandal of Old Hollywood always make a great story. There is such allure in stories where things look shiny and perfect on the outside, but underneath the surface, nothing is as it seems.
While sorting out Kitty's affairs and dealing with drama in her own very public life, mostly circling a cheating fiancé and a controversial social media post, Elise St. John comes across something in Kitty's journals that changes everything she ever thought she knew about Kitty and herself. As she digs deeper, Elise learns that Kitty's life was not as it seemed at all.
The book switches between two timelines and several characters, unfolding into a multi-generational saga that historical fiction lovers won't be able to put down. The mix of old Hollywood and modern showbiz is so interesting that after it was over, I was diving down a rabbit hole of research. Even though Kitty Karr is a fictional character, and "Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?" is a fictional story, the topics covered within are very real and weren't covered by our history classes growing up. You might be surprised to find out how common the themes of this book are throughout Hollywood history; I know I was. I don't want to spoil the story, so I am keeping it vague here, but I encourage you to pick up this book and find out more.
That's it for this week. Keep reading and let me know if you've picked up any of the books I have mentioned in my Book Report lately. As always, I am rambling and reading my way through Instagram @allison.the.reader just about every day and I want to hear your take on my picks.
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