An atmospheric jaunt to the free love and drug induced haze of the 60’s.  

 

Longing to break free from her dour country existence, Claire moves to London and seeks out the “It” crowd.  It’s not long before she’s swept away to Marrakesh where she meets Talitha Getty.  At a turning point, Claire must decide who she really is at her core.   

 

I wanted to get lost in Claire’s transition from country mouse to fully aware and enlightened adult.  But the evolution felt stifled and laced with immaturity.  The juxtaposition between old Claire and the one that wanted to break free didn’t feel natural, and I constantly questioned her sensibilities. Ultimately, Claire required a knight in shining armor, which left me feeling deflated and frustrated with that same old trope.   

 

To this day, Talitha’s bohemian style resonates and her fashion legacy looms large.  And while the book does portray her magnetism and charisma, I felt as though this novel pigeonholed her into a persona, leaving out the core of who she actually was.  

 

To the degree that the characterization and coming of age aspects didn’t work, the atmosphere and opulence of Marrakesh and the execution of the 60’s lifestyle absolutely DID.  

 

The decadence of the Getty’s compound is laid bare in gorgeous detail.  I felt as though I were traversing the grounds in all its bold splendor.  

 

Likewise, the parties and gatherings, which rightfully include Yves Saint Laurent, brought me into the circle, giving me a firsthand look into the forbidden.  Green well portrays the catalyst for the drug and sex induced haze of the sixties while envisioning it as both alluring and a warning.     

 

The atmosphere of this book allowed me to time travel to an otherwise impossible time and place.  And that was a win for me.  

This made for a great buddy read!  The discussions that @rachellelovesbooks and I had elevated my enjoyment of this book.  

 

Many thanks to @hanoversquarepress and @htpbooks for this #gifted copy.