The Golden Hour is a 2019 historical fiction novel by Beatriz Williams.
 | |
| Author | Beatriz Williams |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | William Morrow & Company |
Publication date | July 9, 2019 |
| ISBN | 9780062834751 |
Plot
editThis article needs a plot summary. (August 2023) |
Reception
editThe Golden Hour was well received by critics, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, who hailed it as "a fresh twist on the WWII love story, with a narrator who practically demands Myrna Loy come back to life to play her in the movie."[1]
NPR's Denny S. Bryce called the novel "a refreshingly bittersweet read" that "brims with mystery and danger" and highlighted Williams's characters, saying they're "complex, daring and intriguingly human."[2] While the novel included various historical homages, Bryce indicated feeling "a bit shortchanged at times" due to the lack of prominent figures such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.[2] Despite wishing for these adjustments, Bryce concluded that the novel was like "fresh taffy. Warm, salty, a little bitter, and sweet — it pulls the reader in steadily without breaking apart."[2]
Publishers Weekly started their review by highlighting how the main characters' stories, which take place in different decades and locations, "are cleverly intertwined."[3] They concluded by writing, "Readers will appreciate the wartime espionage that keeps the suspense high."[3]
In addition to comments similar to those in the reviews above, Booklist's Martha Waters noted that "the depiction of [...] postpartum depression is a particularly refreshing, albeit heart-wrenching, element of [the] story."[4]
Library Journal's Jane Jorgenson noted that "the plotting is a bit of a slow burn," but "Williams's deft hand with characterization and emotionally connective storytelling pays off for readers in big ways."[5]
St. Louis Post-Dispatch also reviewed The Golden Hour.[6]
References
edit- ^ "The Golden Hour". Kirkus Reviews. 2019-04-13. Archived from the original on 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- ^ a b c Bryce, Denny S. (2019-07-14). "'The Golden Hour' Is A Refreshingly Bittersweet Read". NPR. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ a b "The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams". Publishers Weekly. 2019-04-19. Archived from the original on 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
- ^ Waters, Martha (2019-04-01). "The Golden Hour". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- ^ Jorgenson, Jane (2019-05-24). "The Golden Hour". Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- ^ Levins, Harry (2019-07-13). "World War II tale jumps to unlikely place in Beatriz Williams' novel". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-08-26.