Grace of the Empire State: A Novel

This book was riveting ... see what I did there? No, seriously, it was riveting. I couldn't put this book down. We all have an idea of what the Depression was like for the common folk, but no book that I've read so far has captured it so clearly. The research that went into this book was outstanding.

The story is about twins, one a man and one a woman, their mother, a younger and ill sister, and several other families. Grace, our main character, was born to be a dancer, but circumstances intervene, and she finds herself the first Rosie the Riveter on the Empire State Building. Can you imagine working on a building like that without the safety mechanisms we have in place now? There is no net, no anything as far as safety goes. But Grace show more did it and even saved a life while doing so.

Life is not easy for Grace's family, nor was it easy for many other people, but horrors just keep piling up on Grace's shoulders. And just when you, the reader, think things can't get any worse, they do. But never fear, life eventually becomes better and there is even romance in the air!

I highly recommend this book for those who like strong, capable women and like learning a bit about the era's history. This would be perfect for book clubs.

Bravo for this debut novel.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Gallery Books/Simon Schuster, the author, and NetGalley show less

High in the sky!

All I could think of was that iconic photo of workers sitting on a steel girder way above New York as the Empire State building was being built.
It’s after the Wall Street crash and finding work is difficult. Grace O’Connell and Patrick her twin are fortunate. He’s employed on the Empire State, as part of a four man crew, placing beams and riveting them together. Grace is employed as a dancer. She’d previously trained as a tight rope walker and dancer in the circus her father had sent her to for training.
Only when Pat injures his arm , and the club Grace works at closes down, the obvious, despite Grace’s fears, happens. (The problem is the other men would lose their jobs without the full team.) Thus Grace’s show more dilemma. It’s a cutthroat world.
Grace takes her brother’s place, dressing as a man.
There’s danger—of being exposed, of falling, and other complications. One workman has it in for her brother and Grace bears the brunt of his aggression.
We’re introduced to a variety of characters, one being a fellow dancer Edie who tries her hand at Marathon Dancing. Needless to say in these scenes all I could think of was the movie They Shoot Horses Don't They.
A very different story with action taking place high in the sky, above the streets of New York, filled with the desperation of the times.
I was glued!

A Galley ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. show less

Grace of the Empire State is a solid historical fiction debut that has heart as well as an interesting story of the time. It was a fun, fast read that offered a new aspect in stories about 1930s New York.

As you’d expect, 1930 New York is a difficult place to find and keep work. Grace and her family are no exception. Grace’s job as a dancer is terminated as nobody has the money to go out. The family’s luck turns for the worse when her twin Patrick injures himself and can no longer work on the construction of the Empire State Building. It’s a dangerous but lucrative job due to the pay, but if Patrick doesn’t work, nor do the rest of the men in his team. Over a weekend, it’s decided that Grace will go up in his place and work show more with Seamus, Frank and Joe. Joe is cold to Grace and openly doubts that she can work so high off the ground. But Grace learns quickly, and her previous job in a circus comes in handy at the strangest of times. To try to keep her sister well, she has no choice. But people are starting to get suspicious and the truth will come out in the strangest of ways. It’s a month that the O’Connell twins won’t forget, as it changes their lives forever.

The story is easy to follow, but very focused on Grace preparing for her new job for the first third. I was worried that this was going to be repetitive, but the plot widens to include love, loss and sickness as well as a glimpse into the lives and Frank and Joe’s Italian family. It’s a lot stronger and the pages flew by after that. Although there were no women working on the building, Tizzard has imagined a ‘what if’ that is quite plausible as well as highly entertaining. There is enough detail to imagine the New York that Grace and Patrick live in, but the story doesn’t get lost in description. The plot is foremost here, and it reminded me a little of Kate Thompson’s The Little Wartime Library in that respect. The characters were well done, particularly the Italians who didn’t fall back on stereotypes but were fleshed out as individuals (who just happen to have great taste in food). The second half takes in some of the sad realities of the Depression era, as well as how various people acted.

This is an entertaining story that would be good for a midweek or holiday read. It is fun, but doesn’t demand anything more than enjoying the story.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com show less

Thoroughly enjoyed this book about a strong and brave woman who put aside her fears to take care of her family. The characters were engaging and you rooted for them to do well and be successful. The narrator, Erin Bennett, did a wonderful job with the various accents of the immigrants who made New York City the vibrant place it was and is. This a fantastic book for historical fiction fans looking for non-war based books and amazing women.

Oh wow! What a great story!! I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but i was not entirely convinced that I would love it. That changed the further I got into the chapters. By the end, I was so wrapped up in the story, I didn't realize what was going on around me. It was nail biting, spine tingling, and ultimately a truly inspirational read.

Please do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book. I promise you will be cheering for Grace by the end.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. I will be on the lookout for more wonderful tales from Ms. Tizzard!