Book Review: The Chaperone

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publisher’s Description:

Only a few years before becoming a famous actress and an icon for her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita to make it big in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle is a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip. She has no idea what she’s in for: Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous blunt bangs and black bob, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will change their lives forever.

For Cora, New York holds the promise of discovery that might prove an answer to the question at the center of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in a strange and bustling city, she embarks on her own mission. And while what she finds isn’t what she anticipated, it liberates her in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of the summer, Cora’s eyes are opened to the promise of the twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive.

The Chaperone is a great work of historical fiction. From what I could gather with some quick Googling, Moriarty’s version of Louise Brooks and the events in her life that are represented in the book are factually accurate, which I appreciated. I liked how Louise influenced Cora in some positive ways and was not just a one-dimensional trouble maker as she could have been easily portrayed. The author did a great job of capturing the inner struggle that Cora feels as the times are changing around her and she has to decide if and how much she is willing to change with them.

Even though Louise Brooks is the famous, real-life character in this book, the focus of this book is Cora. I couldn’t believe how many times the author surprised me in telling Cora’s story. Her upbringing, her marriage, her life after she came back from New York – the development and evolution of Cora’s character was truly amazing. I don’t want to say too much more because I really enjoyed going on Cora’s journey with her and letting her continue to reveal unexpected aspects of her life to me as the book went on. (I’ve noticed that some of the other reviews of this book out there on the web are very spoilery so be careful out there!)

This is the first book of Moriarty’s that I’ve read and I highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book. Check out the other tour stops:

Tuesday, May 1st: Sophisticated Dorkiness
Wednesday, May 2nd: bookchickdi
Thursday, May 3rd:From Left to Write
Friday, May 4th:Rayment’s Readings, Rants and Ramblings
Monday, May 7th:Frenzy of Noise
Thursday, May 10th:Bewitched Bookworms
Friday, May 11th:The Well-Read Wife
Monday, May 14th:Fire and Ice
Tuesday, May 15th:Book Journey
Wednesday, May 16th:Babbling About Books and More
Thursday, May 17th:Workaday Reads
Friday, May 18th:Verb Vixen
Saturday, May 19th:Midnight Book Girl
Wednesday, May 23rd:Kritters Ramblings
Wednesday, May 23rd:Misbehavin’ Librarian
Thursday, May 24th:Literate Housewife
Friday, May 25th:Paperspines
Monday, May 28th:Sassymonkey Reads
Monday, May 28th:Never Too Fond of Books
Tuesday, May 29th:Picky Girl
Thursday, May 31st:An Unconventional Librarian
Friday, June 1st:The 3 R’s: Reading, ‘Riting, and Randomness
Friday, June 1st:An Avid Reader’s Musings
Date TBD:The Compulsive Reader

The Chaperone will be released on June 5th. You can pre-order it at:
Amazon Kindle Store Powell’s Books