Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson: A review

 

In her latest book, Kate Atkinson gives us 1920s London. It was a fraught time and place with a multilayered society full of drugs, the sex trade, mob wars, and the posh clubs that were the center of it all. Overseeing all that was Nellie Coker, Ma Coker.

Nellie was the shrewd owner of a string of nightclubs. When we first meet her, she has just been released from a stay in prison. Even so, though she exists in a dangerous world and has enemies all around, she is the queen of all she surveys. 

Nellie was indeed Ma to six duplicitous children who, in addition to all of her business interests, kept her on her toes. We see many of the events through the eyes of the eldest child, Niven.  He is a rather enigmatic character, home from his recent service in World War I. His character was essentially forged by his experiences in that war, especially his time in the Somme.

In addition to Nellie and Niven, there are a multitude of other characters, almost too many to keep track of, but Atkinson is a pro and she gives each of them a unique voice which helps the reader to make connections and keep them all straight. 

Although it is eight years after the end of the Great War, England is still recovering and the frenetic nightlife of Nellie's clubs helps the patrons to forget, at least for a little while. There are hostile forces all around, many of whom would take Nellie's empire from her if they could, so in order to protect the empire and continue to provide for her children, with no husband there to help her, she must be on constant alert.  

There is so much here, it is really difficult to summarize it all in a brief review. Atkinson has obviously done much research on this period and she paints a vivid and memorable picture of post-war London. It is a compelling storyline that completely absorbed me from beginning to end. In fact, my initial rating on the book was four stars, but on reflection, I really can't think of any good reason to take away a star. Five stars it is!   

Comments

  1. Lark November 30, 2022 at 2:44 PM

    I do love that 1920s setting, though I usually associate it with New York, not London, for some reason. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersNovember 30, 2022 at 3:52 PM

      It must have been a very interesting time in both cities.

      Delete
  2. David M. Gascoigne,December 1, 2022 at 5:55 AM

    Five stars! I will forward this title to Miriam.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CathyDecember 2, 2022 at 1:59 PM

    I've had my eye on this one because Atkinson has never disappointed me, so it's good to see it get five stars from you.

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersDecember 2, 2022 at 2:09 PM

      She's never disappointed me either and this one was right up to her high standards. I've noticed that it is appearing on lots of "best of 2022" lists that have been coming out this week. It'll be on mine as well.

      Delete
  4. thecuecardDecember 6, 2022 at 3:32 PM

    Excellent Dorothy. Glad that this novel delivered. I think post-WWII London-set books are usually quite fascinating so I am curious about this one and would like to read it.

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersDecember 6, 2022 at 3:38 PM

      I suppose any post-war setting has a built-in drama to it and the post WWI depicted in this book certainly did.

      Delete

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