Title: Lucky Us
Author: Amy Bloom
First published January 1, 2014
256 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781400067244 (ISBN10: 1400067243)
Rating: 3.22
Overview
When Eva’s stepmother dies, her mother suggests they visit her father’s home to see if they can find anything of value. Lucky Us by Amy Bloom is a beautifully crafted novel that takes us on a journey with Eva and her sister Iris as they search for fame and fortune in 1940s America.
Iris dreams of becoming a star, and her ambition takes them from small-town Ohio to the bright lights of Hollywood. Along the way, they encounter a cast of memorable characters, navigate through scandals and betrayals, and survive the perils of war.
From jazz clubs to golden mansions, Lucky Us is a thrilling and resonant story about the creation of a family and the joys and challenges that come with it. With gorgeous writing and unexpected events, this novel is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about the resilience of the human spirit.
About the Author
Amy Bloom, a prolific author, has written several critically acclaimed novels and short stories that have captured the hearts of readers worldwide. Her bestselling book, White Houses, has been featured in the New York Times.
Additionally, she has been recognized by the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award for her works Come to Me and A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You.
Bloom’s writing has been featured in several anthologies, including The Best American Short Stories and The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction, and has been published in various publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and Vogue. She has also won a National Magazine Award for her contributions to the literary world.
With her diverse range of writing styles and subject matter, Bloom continues to inspire and captivate readers with her words.
Editoral Review
Lucky Us by Amy Bloom is a stunning work of fiction that explores the lives of two sisters as they navigate through life in the 1940s during World War II. Bloom is a critically acclaimed writer, and Lucky Us is no exception to her excellent writing style.
The novel’s themes of love, family, and identity are interwoven with historical events, making it a must-read for history enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates beautiful prose. Set in Ohio, the novel follows Evie and Iris as they try to make a life for themselves after their parents’ separation.
The story begins with Evie moving into her father’s house in Ohio, where she meets her half-sister Iris. The sisters, who are a study in contrasts, form an unbreakable bond that will guide them throughout their lives.
Together, they journey to Hollywood, New York, and London, encountering different people, experiences, and challenges that will test the limits of their sisterhood. One of the strengths of the novel is Bloom’s ability to create vivid, fully-realized characters.
Evie and Iris are complex, flawed, and immensely relatable, and the reader cannot help but root for them. Bloom skillfully weaves together the different storylines, moving seamlessly between characters, times, and places.
The novel’s pacing is perfect, keeping the reader engaged from the first page to the last. Another strength of Lucky Us is its historical accuracy.
Bloom has done a phenomenal job of researching the time period and incorporating real-life events into the story. The novel explores the issues of racism, homophobia, and gender discrimination that were prevalent at the time, making it timely and relevant to today’s society.
However, there are a few flaws in the novel. The ending felt somewhat rushed and anticlimactic, and some of the subplots felt underdeveloped.
Additionally, some of the characters, especially the ones that appeared in the later parts of the novel, felt one-dimensional. Overall, Lucky Us is a beautiful, moving, and unforgettable novel that will stay with the reader long after they finish it.
It is a powerful testament to the strength of sisterhood and the resilience of the human spirit. Fans of Bloom’s previous works, such as Away and White Houses, will not be disappointed.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves historical fiction, beautiful writing, and memorable characters. Rating: 4.5/5
