The Lions of Fifth Avenue

As in her novel The Address, in The Lions of Fifth Avenue two stories set in different time periods revolve around a single building in New York City, and critical plot elements depend on details of the architecture. In The Address the building was the Dakota. In Lions it’s the New York Public Library. And in both books, the characters are so well drawn, believable, and empathetic, that you forget the artificiality of the structure and get caught up in the intersecting plot lines.

This book grew on me, quickly. After a slow start, about halfway through the characters came alive and I literally couldn’t put it down. This was true for both of the story lines, 1913 and 1993.

This book covers two time periods – 1914 and 1993 – set at the New York Public Library. In 1914 Laura Lyons is trying to break out of the typical stereotype of mother and wife common at that time. She has her own dreams,
career ambitions, and explores changes to her sexual preferences as she hopes to make a difference in the world. The resulting conflicts coincide with mysterious thefts of rare books from the famous library where her husband is Superintendent. The job comes with a perk – an apartment within the library for his family. In 1993 Laura’s granddaughter is a librarian at the New York Public Library and the same type of mysterious rare book thefts are taking place again and she is a suspect. The plot revolves around tying the two thefts together and the fallout of the two families caught in the mystery. I just never really bought in to the conflicts. It seemed there was always a disconnect with the characters actions that seemed a little off. Some parts of the book were interesting but overall I’d not give it a hearty recommendation.

I’ve read all of Fiona Davis’ books and they end the same way for me: characters and storylines that fizzle out and can’t hold their own against the interesting historical subject matter. The New York Public Library carries this one.

Spoilers ahead. What was the significance of the beginning, with Laura encountering the homeless woman by the stone lions? Nothing! No storyline there. There was no character build-up anywhere, with sudden, dramatic character changes that directly affect the story (referring particularly to Jack and Harry – where did that come from?). We never learn why Pearl refused to talk about her life with Laura (we only assume parts of it), nor is there any storyline written with her and Laura moving to London. That would’ve been interesting and might have explained a lot. Sadie was an annoying know-it-all-character that just always “happened to be there” but never mentioned she was the granddaughter of Laura, who just happened…right. Then Robin dropped out of the sky, and Harry suddenly reappeared, and we get a rushed story there that doesn’t make any sense. Of course, Sadie figured it out. Disappointing and a “wrapped up too easily” ending. Great historical elements, as always, but the story could’ve been so much better.

I could hardly wait for this to come, and I wasn’t disappointed. This is similar to her other books, in that it is set in a famous New York building (the library) and takes place in two related time periods. Laura Lyons is married to the library superintendent, and they live in an apartment inside the library. She wants more out of life than she has, so she strives to become a journalist and becomes involved in the women’s movement of the early 1900’s. In the meantime, valuable books begin to disappear, and her husband’s job is threatened. In the 1990’s, Laura’s granddaughter Sadie Donovan is curator of the library’s Berg Collection, and a series of thefts occur on her watch. Are they related to the previous thefts? This is a wonderful look at the library as well as a fascinating mystery. I read it in two days and wish there was more.

AT THE END OF MY DAY, WHEN THE TV IS TURNED OFF, I LOOK FORWARD TO A GOOD BOOK. SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, I’VE BOUGHT HUNDREDS OF BOOKS FROM AMAZON. . . 99% OF THEM WERE GREAT OR AT LEAST GOOD. . . GOOD ENOUGH TO KEEP ME UP PAST 10PM TO GET TO THE END OF A CHAPTER. IT IS A RARE OCCURRENCE WHEN I STOP READING MID-WAY. STORIES THAT START IN ONE GENERATION AND THEN JUMP BACK AND FORTH TO ANOTHER ARE NOT MY FAVORITE AND YET I’M SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THEM. I, TOO, WASN’T INTERESTED IN THE LESBIAN FACTOR BEING BROUGHT INTO THE STORY. IF I WANT TO READ A LESBIAN STORY I WILL. COULDN’T FINISH THIS ONE I’M AFRAID. I WAS HAPPY TO LEARN OF THE APARTMENTS IN THE LIBRARIES IN NYC, THOUGH. SOMETHING I’VE NEVER KNOWN. ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER READING.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member