The Glimmer Palace takes place in Berlin and spans the decades from the turn of the century right up the eve of WWII.Lilly Nellie Apphrodite (dubbed Tiny Lil as a child, known as Lidi during her acting career) is the main character in this novel. The plot centers on Lilly's early years in a Catholic orphanage and her improbable rise to fame as a silent film star. While the action is fast paced, the story is full of improbable twists and turns. I also thought that the ending was extremely disapointing. While I was underwhelmed by the overall story, Colin's writing will keep you turning the pages. ( )

A Rare Glimpse into the Collapse of Berlin between two World Wars
A most in-depth book that takes the reader from the birth of our heroine Lilly Nelly Aphrodite at the very beginning of the 20th century through her years in an orphanage and the poverty of the people of Berlin over the next few decades beginning with WWI. Lilly is orphaned shortly after her birth. The closure of the orphanage leaves the girls vulnerable to all kinds of situations on the streets and in the clubs. Although this book is fiction, it seems so real with an unusual glimpse of a major city’s downfall, it’s wild debauchery, the fight against starvation and finally the fear of being discovered as the wrong ethnic background as WWII begins. The stories are told with the conviction of truth.

Don't get me wrong, the book is not about the wars, they are background, but you will not find battlefield hands on fighting as such; this is very much Lilly's story but one cannot be told without the results of the other.

Lilly attempts to remain aloof from these methods of obtaining money or food, but eventually is discovered as a potential “true” actress. Her history eventually leads her to America but there is an ongoing love story throughout the book that is much of a “star-crossed” lovers story, which brings her back to Germany around 1940. My interest was held as much by the history of Berlin in these terrible times as it was by Lilly’s story. It is not often you will be taken on such a trip through life and I found the book fascinating because of it. I would certainly recommend this book for several reasons and on several levels. The research done is amazingly thorough, and the plot an eye-opener. These were turbulent times in many countries, but we rarely get to see the life on the opposite side. Very well written. ( )

In the first few minutes of the year 1900 Lilly Nelly Aphrodite is born in Berlin, Germany. Her mother is a volatile, unmarried cabaret performer. By the time Lilly is two her parents are dead and she is placed in an orphanage where she will remain until she is in her early teens. Lily does not make friends easily and it is not until the age of about twelve when she makes the one friend who will remain a part of her life in the future, Hanne Schmidt.

Hanne is a new arrival at the orphanage and is a couple of years older than Lilly. She shows Lilly the seedy world of nighttime Berlin, home to cheap cabaret bars called "Tingle-Tangles". The girls begin sneaking out of the orphanage at night to sell flowers in the clubs. When the orphanage is suddenly shut down shortly thereafter, Hanne deserts Lilly and disappears.

As the build-up to World War I begins, Lilly tries to make her way in the world. She finds a job as a maid for a difficult Countess but it is not long before she is assaulted by the husband and must eventually leave. She encounters Hanne again as the deprivations that the war brings begin to set in.

The necessities of life become scarce during the war and especially in it's aftermath, so the residents of Berlin throw themselves into the seedy nightlife of cabaret bars & cinemas. Any escape is preferable to the misery of daily life. It is at a cinema that Lilly meets Ilya Yurasov, a Russian who came to Berlin after the war and plays piano at the theater. He falls in love with Lilly and, with his contacts in the film industry, gets her a job typing film scripts.

From the typing pool, Lilly is discovered. She begins to appear in movies and is an immediate success. But success does not bring the happiness that she thought it would and she is not able to enjoy her new life.

I found this book difficult to get through. The author did a wonderful job with the historical setting of Berlin from 1900-1934, from the glitz and glamour to the starvation and despair. Unfortunately the characters were not very likable. They consistently made poor choices that contributed to their misery and kept them in the bad situations that they found themselves in. It made for a very dark, gritty, depressing novel. I'm sure that this was the author's intent, not all stories have happy endings, after all. But I did not enjoy it, though it was well written and the story was interesting. ( )

Lilly Nelly Aphrodite is born in Berlin at the turn of the 20th century. The daughter of a cabaret performer, Nelly becomes an orphan at a young age. Early on she learns that life can be unfair and cruel, but also surprisingly rewarding when least expected.

Set against the rise and fall of Berlin, Nelly is forced to reinvent herself as she copes with life’s harsh realities. She goes from being a poor orphan, to tingle-tangle bargirl, to ultimately becoming a celebrated film star. Spanning various decades, the author takes the reader on a remarkable journey as she explores friendship, love, and fate.

This is a well-told story with interesting characters and a strong storyline. The unpredictable events will keep you turning the pages. ( )

“The Glimmer Palace” is the story of Lilly Nelly Aphrodite, a young girl born illegitimately to a cabaret performer and a Bavarian count in Berlin in the first minutes of the year 1900. Orphaned before her second birthday, Lilly would have to figure out how to survive Berlin during World Wars I and II.

I thought that Colin portrayed Germany from the first half of the century very well. I felt that I could see Berlin, from its glory before WWI; to the deprivations during the war; to the devestation wrecked by reparations; to the build up of hatred, scape-goating, and Nazi power before WWII.

I would highly recommend this book to people interested in a good story, or wanting a representation of Berlin between the wars. The information about period movies did end up tying in very well towards the middle of the book, so I would also recommend this novel to those who have an interest in early film.

For the full review:
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/2008/0... ( )