A novel offers a dramatization of the life of a groundbreaking Italian architect.
In 1899, Pietro Belluschi is born in Ancona, “the Elbow” of Italy, a town that seems fossilized in the amber of history. (“The town got its name from ankón, Greek for elbow.”) His family moves to Rome when he is a young boy. He is stirred by the city’s cultural and artistic treasures but aspires to achieve something new and impactful, “to do something, to really shake things up, contribute to society.” After he’s wounded in World War I, he studies engineering at the University of Rome—it’s the only course of study that prominently figures drawing, his love. He wins a scholarship to study architecture at Cornell University in upstate New York. Belluschi eventually lands a job as a draftsman at A.E. Doyle & Associates, an inauspicious professional start. But he makes a reputation for himself, especially for designing the Equitable Building in Portland, Oregon, a striking structure wrapped in aluminum and among the first to be completely air conditioned. Unfortunately, the Pan Am building in New York City, his most iconic work, is subject to a “storm of criticism” and makes him something of a pariah in his field. Parker vividly brings to life Belluschi’s ambitions, which seem less driven by a specific artistic ideology and more by an unyielding attentiveness to the demands of his clients. Nevertheless, his artistic vision is a distinctively modern one, driven by a desire for functionality and the pragmatic exploitation of technology. The author’s prose is unfailingly lucid, if dramatically unliterary—often the book reads less like a novel than a biography. Still, Belluschi’s remarkable combination of pragmatism and artistic ambition is intelligently rendered, as is the historical context, especially the 20th-century development of architectural ideas. This is an informative introduction not only to Belluschi’s important work, but also the state of modern architecture.
An edifying look at a major architect and the time he inhabited.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-947431-46-1
Page Count: -
Publisher: Mentoris Project
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Categories: HISTORICAL FICTION | GENERAL FICTION
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BOOK REVIEW
A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.
43
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Exes pretend they’re still together for the sake of their friends on their annual summer vacation.
Wyn Connor and Harriet Kilpatrick were the perfect couple—until Wyn dumped Harriet for reasons she still doesn’t fully understand. They’ve been part of the same boisterous friend group since college, and they know that their breakup will devastate the others and make things more than a little awkward. So they keep it a secret from their friends and families—in fact, Harriet barely even admits it to herself, focusing instead on her grueling hours as a surgical resident. She’s ready for a vacation at her happy place—the Maine cottage she and her friends visit every summer. But (surprise!) Wyn is there too, and he and Harriet have to share a (very romantic) room and a bed. Telling the truth about their breakup is out of the question, because the cottage is up for sale, and this is the group’s last hurrah. Determined to make sure everyone has the perfect last trip, Harriet and Wyn resolve to fake their relationship for the week. The problem with this plan, of course, is that Harriet still has major feelings for Wyn—feelings that only get stronger as they pretend to be blissfully in love. As always, Henry’s dialogue is sparkling and the banter between characters is snappy and hilarious. Wyn and Harriet’s relationship, shown both in the past and the present, feels achingly real. Their breakup, as well as their complicated relationships with their own families, adds a twinge of melancholy, as do the relatable growing pains of a group of friends whose lives are taking them in different directions.
A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9780593441275
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
Categories: ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
61
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The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Categories: ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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