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proseamongstthorns 's review for:
The Doll Factory
by Elizabeth Macneal
I am so thankful that the book club I joined chose this as their book for the month; I would never have picked this one up otherwise. It is 100% nothing I look for in a book: historical fiction, romance and the Victorian period *shudder*. And yet, I couldn't put it down.
The Doll Factory was devoured in one day. Each time I put it down, my fingers itched to pick it up again. Despite me approaching it negatively, it won me over in the first two chapters. This historical fiction/romance set in the Victorian era had so many interesting layers to it. There was a very interesting feminist discourse throughout with the roles of women (and their expectations) explored and compared to that of the males in Victorian society. There was the scientific, industrial and technological developments occurring. And a dark and twisted criminal element.
Perhaps the most interesting part, for me, was not the strange Silas Reed but the art world that Iris finds herself within. During my university course I studied a module on Victorian Art and Literature, which involved us looking at the Pre-Raphelite Brotherhood and Ruskin - both of whom feature in the novel. I found this engaging and my prior knowledge made me feel involved in their story.
I could sing The Doll Factory's praises for days. It was a book I never wanted to finish. Leaving Iris and Louis behind was difficult for me and I wanted desperately to return to their story and read on. Macneal carefully crafted characters that were funny, rude, misunderstood, tragic, loved and disliked. Even characters who appear only in the background. mere supporting roles, seem fully fleshed out and real.
No matter what genre you find yourself drawn to usually or the genres/tropes you tend to avoid, The Doll Factory is one you need to pick up. Regardless of you attitude, it will win you over and pull you into a love story unlike any other I've read. Macneal has done the unthinkable - she's coaxed me into giving three of my least favourite genres a 5 star read. Even worse, I want to go back to that world again.
The Doll Factory was devoured in one day. Each time I put it down, my fingers itched to pick it up again. Despite me approaching it negatively, it won me over in the first two chapters. This historical fiction/romance set in the Victorian era had so many interesting layers to it. There was a very interesting feminist discourse throughout with the roles of women (and their expectations) explored and compared to that of the males in Victorian society. There was the scientific, industrial and technological developments occurring. And a dark and twisted criminal element.
Perhaps the most interesting part, for me, was not the strange Silas Reed but the art world that Iris finds herself within. During my university course I studied a module on Victorian Art and Literature, which involved us looking at the Pre-Raphelite Brotherhood and Ruskin - both of whom feature in the novel. I found this engaging and my prior knowledge made me feel involved in their story.
I could sing The Doll Factory's praises for days. It was a book I never wanted to finish. Leaving Iris and Louis behind was difficult for me and I wanted desperately to return to their story and read on. Macneal carefully crafted characters that were funny, rude, misunderstood, tragic, loved and disliked. Even characters who appear only in the background. mere supporting roles, seem fully fleshed out and real.
No matter what genre you find yourself drawn to usually or the genres/tropes you tend to avoid, The Doll Factory is one you need to pick up. Regardless of you attitude, it will win you over and pull you into a love story unlike any other I've read. Macneal has done the unthinkable - she's coaxed me into giving three of my least favourite genres a 5 star read. Even worse, I want to go back to that world again.