Thursday, July 5, 2012

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

The main portion of this book focuses on a five-week period: the time Cora Carlisle spends chaperoning young Louise Brooks (the woman who will become a silent film icon) from Wichita to New York City to attend a summer session at a renowned dance studio.  This is the story of a woman finding herself.  Cora wants to accompany Louise for her own secret reason, to find out about the family she never knew.  Yet what Cora finds in New York City is herself.

I found the characters and how they lived within the constraints of their times fascinating.  What these people risk to find happiness is both frightening and admirable. 

The Popular Fiction Book Discussion group will be discussing this title at the Bridgewater Library on Tuesday, August 21st at 7pm.