book review by her own design

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     1953, New York City

     Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.

     1918, Tampa

     Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

     Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

     My Review: By Her Own Design is a biographical novel of Ann Lowe, who was the first African American to be a renowned fashion designer. She was most notable for designing the dress of Jacqueline Kennedy. Ann Lowe was born and raised in Alabama. One day in a department store in Dothan, a rich woman noticed Ann’s dress and asked her to make dresses for her daughters. Under her benefactor, Ann was given the opportunity to attend school and fashion her craft. She quickly became one of the most successful designers of her time.

     I had never heard of Ann Lowe so I found this to be a very engrossing read. Ann came from a family of accomplished fashion designers. She had always dreamt of establishing her own shop as a young girl. However, Ann’s childhood was very traumatic. At twelve years old, she married a man that was almost three times her age. He was very controlling and abusive. When the opportunity came her way, she did not hesitate to cease it. Ann worked tirelessly to make her dreams come true. She loved designing and never gave up. She was hardworking, artistic, humble, and had a strong faith in God that would help her through all of her difficulties. Therefore, Ann was a very compelling character. 

     Overall, this novel brought to light a long forgotten figure. I found all the characters to be very complex. However, there were a few graphic scenes in the beginning that made me uncomfortable to read but the rest of the novel focuses on Ann’s relationship with her clients. I loved learning about her designs, especially how she designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s dress. The story was very well-written, and it showed the prejudices that Ann Lowe faced as she strives for success. Ann made many sacrifices to pursue her dream, but her greatest love was her art. By Her Own Design is an enthralling read for fans of the Kennedys because there were a lot of focus on Jacqueline Kennedy before her marriage to JFK. I recommend this novel for fans of The Gown , A Dress of Violet Taffeta, and The Paris Dressmaker !

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register

Written by Piper Huguley Review by Gini Grossenbacher

1953, New York City. In this novel’s first chapters, Ann Lowe faces the consequences of a broken pipe, a ruined wedding dress, and a lifetime of struggle as a Black designer in a majority-white fashion world. Commissioned to design and make the hand-sewn dress for Jacqueline Bouvier’s marriage to John F. Kennedy, Ann and her design team have to start from scratch to re-create the dress in six days. The novel moves to 1907 Clayton, Alabama, where Ann learns about the seamstress trade from her mother and grandmother, a formerly enslaved person. Ann is gifted with the needle at an early age, creating eye-catching features on dresses, such as rosettes that provoke admiration from her mother’s customers, the governor, and the high-society white women who order the important gowns for cotillions and weddings. Ann elopes at twelve with an abusive older man who crushes her dreams of becoming a famous dress designer. Yet, in time she is hired as a seamstress for Mrs. Dempsey Cowan Lee of Tampa, a wealthy citrus magnate with two daughters. From that point, Ann Lowe becomes one of the most famous designers of her era.

The novel’s voice, tone, and dialogue wrap the reader in the world of the Jim Crow South of 1907, and through the enfolding narrative, we experience Ann Lowe’s ups and downs as she leaves all she has known in Alabama and journeys to Tampa with only her fashion designs in her head. This story shows the importance of Ann’s courage and hopes as she encounters cruelty, discrimination, and poverty on the way to uncertain fame. Through it all, Ann never loses her dream, and when she gains the respect and trust of Jacqueline Bouvier, she nearly loses it because of a broken pipe. An essential hidden history brought to life.

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Thursday, June 23, 2022

Review - by her own design.

By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley (Review by Shelley Jomaa)

Rating 4.5 stars

By Her Own Design by Piper Hugely is a fictionalized account of real life designer Ann Lowe, who created the wedding dress of Jackie Kennedy and many other famous dresses. I had never heard of Ann Lowe until reading this book, and I love when a book teaches me a new piece of history. I have been in a bit of a reading slump recently, and this book was just what I needed. With Piper Huguley’s beautiful writing style, beautiful descriptions of design materials, and ability to invoke emotional connection to the characters, this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

As a Black woman born in Alabama, Ann Lowe undergoes many harsh difficulties- everything from racism, domestic abuse, divorce, loss of family, health issues, and financial struggles as she eventually opens her own dress shop. As the only Black student in design school, she is forced to study in a separate room from her classmates. She has to work twice as hard to be taken seriously as a designer and an artist. Despite the many spectacular dresses she designs, she is often not given proper credit for her work. Yet, she is a strong, successful woman who manages to keep her head high and persevere through adversity.

There are so many things I enjoyed about this book. It has strong character development, and we really get to know Ann’s life in depth. My favourite part was the bond Ann has with her family and the “good white people,” as she calls them. The love and support in these relationships is so heartwarming and helped me connect to the story. This is a fast paced story and can easily be read in a couple of sittings. I highly recommend this one.

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The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America's most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.

1953, New York City

Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe's dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.

1918, Tampa

Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann's talent and offers her an amazing opportunity--the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida's society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

BUY THE BOOK

Average rating: 8.06

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Reading Ladies

By her own design [book review] #fashion #ownvoices #bookworm #bookx #blogger #bookblogger #biographical #historicalfiction #byherowndesign.

By Her Own Design is the compelling fictionalized biography of Anne Lowe, a talented designer who didn’t receive public acclaim because of her skin color.

By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Biographical, Fashion, Family Life, Racism/Prejudice, Diverse Read, Own Voices, African-American, Southern Fiction, Alabama/Florida/New York

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary of By Her Own Design:

By Her Own Design is the fictionalized biography of fashion designer, Anne Lowe , an incredible woman forgotten by history. Until now. Taught to sew by her mother and grandmother, Anne demonstrated an interest in fashion design from a young age. As a youngster, her special talent involved making fabric flowers (which she turned into a little business). In an effort to grow up quickly and be taken seriously by her family, she married at twelve. Sadly, this was an abusive marriage and Anne along with her baby left and ended up in Florida as a result of significant encouragement from a wealthy white woman. In Florida,, Anne sewed for the family and gained a reputation with the wealthy society ladies. The story follows Anne’s professional and personal life through many ups and downs as she persevered through a few difficult circumstances and setbacks. Anne was “society’s best kept secret” but this also meant that she didn’t receive the recognition or financial rewards that she deserved. Even designing Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress didn’t bring the notoriety she yearned for. Anne’s faith in God sustained her, and designing dresses brought her immense pleasure and filled her heart with joy. It’s tragic that she didn’t receive the recognition she deserved in her lifetime because of the color of her skin.

My Thoughts:

I found the story of Anne Lowe interesting and compelling for many reasons. For example, despite racism and prejudice, her circumstances, and life’s obstacles, she persevered. At times through creativity and following Plan B and other times through sheer determination. Also, she was devoted to her young son while pursuing her goals. Many of the decisions she made were made with him in mind. She moved, in part, to New York so that he could attend better schools, and she saved money relentlessly for his college education. Anne Lowe had many reasons to be bitter, but she continually rose above that temptation. Overall, the author characterized Anne as a competent, gifted, and thoughtful woman of faith whom we can admire. She was forward-thinking despite hardships and disappointment. I found all these aspects of the story compelling.

Marriage or Career

Women today can have it all, but this wasn’t always true. Often, a woman in the past had to decide which path to follow. Marriage/Family or Career. Anne’s first husband married someone who would take care of him and always be home. He was also abusive, so she didn’t stay long. Husband number two was a better person and was not abusive, but he also became increasingly dissatisfied with Anne’s long hours and devotion to her career. I think they loved each other but she also loved her career and he wanted a more traditional marriage. Even though both husbands knew before marriage that Anne had dreams of her own, they were jealous, felt neglected, and could not cope with Anne”s ambition. Dual-career marriages are more common today, but there are still tensions and negotiations to manage. I imagine that this might be a good book club discussion topic!

Beautiful Ending

I admire an author’s ability to land the ending….in this case to make something thoughtful and beautiful out of the difficult and challenging. My favorite quote (see next paragraph) is taken from the ending..In this heartfelt conclusion, the author truly gives Anne Lowe the honorable recognition she deserves.

Favorite Quote

Some readers might label the white people that helped Anne along the way as “white saviors.” According to this fictionalized account, Anne did not see them this way. In this quote, she speaks of her appreciation for the woman who first saw her and recognized her talent:

“It took one person, one lady with a good heart to see who I was and what I could do in this world…To give me a chance…Mrs. Josephine Lee, my benefactor, helped me, a young woman in a bad marriage with a baby to get out of Alabama. And I knew from that moment when she gave me a $20 bill to buy a train ticket to get from Alabama to Tampa, that the way she had seen me and treated me is the way we should all see and treat one another. For to be able to see someone, to see them as a human being, to see them for what they can contribute to this world, to be a light, to be a force, or an influence in someone else’s life is all that we need….For all of my life…I thought that what I wanted was to be at one of these lovely dinner dances. Now that I’m here, I know that the main thing about this is not the dinner and it’s not the fashion show, it’s that I know that you SEE me, you See what I’ve tried to do all of these years…I see you too.”

Content Consideration: abusive relationship, loss (death of an adult child) and grief, racism/prejudice

Recommending By My Own Design

I hope you can tell that By My Own Design captivated me. I have the highest praise for authors who find the untold stories. I offer my enthusiastic recommendation for readers who appreciate fictionalized biographies about real-life inspirational women. The beginning of the story is difficult to read as twelve-year-old Anne marries someone twice her age. However, if you enjoy themes of beating the odds, self-determination, and pursuing your dreams, you will love this heartfelt and riveting story. I listened to this story and I think the reader did a good job. Thanks to my IRL Book Club for putting this on my reading radar.

Related: Another story about a famous wedding gown you might enjoy is The Gown by Jennifer Robson.

My Rating:  5  Stars

More Information Here

Meet the Author of By Her Own Design, Piper Huguley

Piper G. Huguley’s biographical historical fiction, By Her Own Design: a novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register (William Morrow Publishing) tells the inspiring story of the Black fashion designer of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. By Her Own Design was a Booklist top 100 Editor’s Choice selection for 2022, was named one of the top 100 books of 2022 in Canada by the Globe and Mail newspaper and was selected as the historical fiction winner for 2022 by the American Library Association’s Reading Council.

She is also the author of Sweet Tea, a contemporary romance about food and history (of course) and the author of two historical romance series: “Migrations of the Heart”, about the Great Migration and “Home to Milford College”. Her next historical fiction book, American Daughters (2024), is the story of the decades-long interracial friendship between Alice Roosevelt and Portia Washington, the rebel teenage daughters of President Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington, respectively. She is a literature professor at Clark-Atlanta University and blogs about the history behind her novels at http://piperhuguley.com . She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and son.

Is this fictionalized biography on your TBR or have you read it?

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Very interesting–I’d never hear of her. And what a blast from the past to see The Mike Douglas Show!

I love untold stories! This isn’t an easy one but well worth it.

[…] By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley […]

Wow, I am to intrigued by this one, Carol. I have already added it to my TBR and my library has a copy. I love reading about women who buck the trend and make something of themselves, too bad she never got the recognition she deserved. Wonderful review!

Thanks Carla! It’s a fascinating yet somewhat tragic story. She’s one determined lady! I think you’ll appreciate it. 🙌

[…] most memorable fiction read in June is By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley because I love biographical historical […]

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By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register by Piper Huguley

1953, New York City

Less than a week before ...

Introduction

Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.

1918, Tampa

Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

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Interview with Piper Huguley - BY HER OWN DESIGN

In this interview, Piper and I discuss By Her Own Design, telling Ann Lowe's little-known story, how she went about filling in the gaps of Ann's life, writing biographical historical fiction, why Jackie Kennedy Onassis remains so popular, how historical fiction teaches while also telling a story, and much more.

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In this interview, Piper and I discuss By Her Own Design , telling Ann Lowe's little-known story, how she went about filling in the gaps of Ann's life, writing biographical historical fiction, why Jackie Kennedy Onassis remains so popular, how historical fiction teaches while also telling a story, and much more.

Piper's recommended reads are:

• Jackie and Me by Louis Bayard
• Sister Mother Warrior by Vanessa Riley

Support the podcast by becoming a Page Turner on Patreon .  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here .    

If you enjoyed this episode and want to listen to more episodes, try Natalie Jenner , Judithe Little , Renee Rosen , Adriana Trigiani , and Geraldine Brooks .

By Her Own Design  can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.     

Connect with me on Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter .  

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Piper Gian Huguley

Piper G. Huguley will make her historical fiction debut in June 2022 with By Her Own Design: a novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register (William Morrow Publishing) who was the Black fashion designer of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. She is also the author of Sweet Tea by Hallmark Publishing and the author of two historical romance series: “Migrations of the Heart”, about the Great Migration and “Home to Milford College. She blogs about the history behind her novels at http://piperhuguley.com and lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and son.

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It's Tuesday! In this special episode of Between the Reads I get to share in the release-day celebration of By Her Own Design by author and professor Piper Huguley! Piper spills ALL the historical tea about Black fashion designer Ann Lowe, who designed Jackie Kennedy's wedding gown! Yup. You read that right. *** To watch Ann Lowe's interview on the Mike Douglas show mentioned in our chat, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgZHWvmEqX8&list=WL&index=3&t=2s&ab_channel=NMAAHC *** To read Piper's interview on my blog and get even more behind-the-scenes info on this wonderful historical fiction novel, head over to https://www.readitblacktome.com/spilling-the-historical-tea/ *** If you enjoy this content, please help continue to amplify Black stories by becoming a monthly contributor at https://www.patreon.com/betweenthereads or by making a one-time donation at https://ko-fi.com/betweenthereadspodcast

Please support this independent podcast. Every little bit helps me continue to bring you new and exciting content. By supporting BTR, you'll be helping me continue to amplify and celebrate Black voices. Here are three easy ways to support the show:

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Piper Huguley

Piper G. Huguley will make her historical fiction debut in June 2022 with By Her Own Design: a novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register (William Morrow Publishing) who was the Black fashion designer of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. She is also the author of Sweet Tea by Hallmark Publishing and the author of two historical romance series: “Migrations of the Heart”, about the Great Migration and “Home to Milford College. She blogs about the history behind her novels at http://piperhuguley.com and lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and son.

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Rachel Kushner's new novel 'Creation Lake' is inspired by real-life espionage

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Rachel Kushner's new novel, Creation Lake , has all the makings of a great spy thriller: a cool and unknowable secret agent, a mysterious figure who communicates only by email and a radical commune of French eco-activists. Kushner has said that some of these elements were, in fact, inspired by real-world stories of espionage and her own access to the social and political worlds of activist communes. In today's episode, Kushner speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about the murky boundaries of being an undercover agent–and a writer. To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday

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By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America's most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.

1953, New York City

Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.

1918, Tampa

Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

• Listening Length 12 hours and 44 minutes
• Author Piper Huguley
• Narrator Tracey Conyer Lee
• Audible release date June 7, 2022
• Language English
• Publisher HarperAudio
• ASIN B096YM27XZ
• Version Unabridged
• Program Type Audiobook
• See all details

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Customers find the story engaging, compelling, and interesting. They describe the content as inspiring, fascinating, and a great history lesson. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written, easy to read, and well-thought-out. They also describe the author as phenomenal, distinctively talented, and gifted.

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Customers find the story fascinating, wonderful, and compelling. They say the book is breathtaking and informative. Readers also mention the story is filled with emotions and action.

"...There are many shocking happenings and the author unflinchingly shows us the hurts of racism, in a way that opens eyes to the truth of the past and..." Read more

"This is by far one of the best books I have read . The author did a beautiful job retelling Ann Lowe’s story...." Read more

"...Overall, it was a delightful story that demonstrates survival and the human spirit. It is easy to read and moves quickly. I recommend it." Read more

"... Piper wrote the story so well that I felt I was back in time going through every trial and tribulation and helped stitch a few dresses...." Read more

Customers find the content inspirational, insightful, and educational. They describe the book as a true page-turner that captures the wonder and poignancy of the story. Readers also mention the story is fascinating and encouraging.

"...same time, it’s a great story, a story that is heartfelt, romantic, brave , and—I believe—as close to the full truth as possible...." Read more

"...I am so glad I read this. It is more a story about a resilient , black woman who worked very hard in her art...." Read more

"... Inspirational !" Read more

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-written, easy to read, and fantastic. They also say the author is talented and the dialogue is right on point, capturing southern speech with precision.

"...Bravo Piper Huguley—By Her Own Design is a triumph. The narration is fantastic , too—really brings the times and characters alive.PS. ****..." Read more

"...It is easy to read and moves quickly. I recommend it." Read more

"Piper Huguley provides such a richly written book that it transports you to life with Ann Lowe, a truly amazing woman." Read more

" Very well written book of how one person of color made fashion an art...." Read more

Customers find the author phenomenal and distinctively talented. They say the book embodies the spirit of an amazing seamstress. Readers also mention the book is great, with interesting characters and true to the times. They appreciate the recognition of Ann Lowe's artistry.

"...The book embodies the spirit of an amazing seamstress . I could not put the audiobook down as I cheered Lowe past one hurdle after another...." Read more

"...written book that it transports you to life with Ann Lowe, a truly amazing woman ." Read more

"This author is so incredibly gifted !..." Read more

"...Ann Lowe was such an exceptional woman , and I’m so glad that many more people will now know about her incredible accomplishments...." Read more

Customers find the book beautiful, richly crafted, and glamorous. They also say it's a masterpiece for the ages and the life of Ann Lowe, a groundbreaking African-American fashion designer.

"...Ouch!! Yet the scenes with Jackie are poignant and beautiful ; you will love them and they are perfect for the book...." Read more

"...It has more than a “hidden figure”. It has history, artistry , romance, paternalism, sexism, pathos, child marriage and more...." Read more

"...Ann Lowe was amazing. I googled many of her fashions and they were just beautiful . Glad I read it." Read more

"...Piper Huguley has written a masterpiece for the ages, richly crafted with glamorous detail and unflinching emotion...." Read more

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Book Review: Couples mix in Paris as feminist voices rise in Lauren Elkin’s novel `Scaffolding’

This image released by FSG shows “Scaffolding” by Lauren Elkin. (FSG via AP)

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If you’re a Francophile with an interest in psychoanalysis, Lauren Elkin’s smart and steamy debut novel, “Scaffolding,” may be for you.

Even if you’re just a reader looking for an intriguing story of desire and love among a bright corps of professionals in France, Elkin’s book can be a beguiling puzzle — and a deep intellectual dive.

It features a swinging polyamorous cast, but the erudite Elkin — a Franco-American translator, author and essayist on arts and culture — writes with serious intent.

Set in contemporary Paris, the historic sites and charms of the city provide a backdrop for the narrative, mostly told by Anna, a 39-year-old psychoanalyst. She has had a miscarriage and fallen into depression. Taking leave from work, she finds her own psychiatrist of little help. Her husband, David, a lawyer, is away in London, busy with a long Brexit case.

Enter Clementine. She’s bright, animated, with a young art model’s physique and a zeal for feminist causes. She’s moved into a nearby apartment with her boyfriend, Jonathan, also a lawyer with a heavy workload. She has time to share with Anna.

There are baguettes from a local bakery, much wine and deep, tedious conversations amid cigarette smoke. Over time the melancholy Anna and her bubbly new friend reveal much about themselves and past intimacies.

As their lives become entwined, Anna is besieged by relentless noises of refacing work at her apartment building. Soon scaffolding is raised outside her windows and an invasive cracking and scraping of the blackened outer building crust begins. Meanwhile, inside their apartment, Anna and David finally begin renovating the old, dismal kitchen, expanding and brightening the space with removal of a wall.

The incessant grinding sounds of wrecking and reconstruction reflect the transitioning of the apartment space, but they also serve figuratively as the arc of Anna’s life moves through those rooms.

The novel is often written in spurts of short pages, thoughts and recollections akin to jottings in a journal. Elsewhere the story turns on a century or more of psychoanalytic concepts, mostly from Sigmund Freud to Jacques Lacan.

Many Americans will at least have heard of Freud. But many more will not be familiar at all with Lacan. A Parisian who died in 1981, Lacan interpreted Freud while creating daunting new theories in the field. In “Scaffolding,” Anna wrestles with these dense Lacanian thoughts, and the novel, in a way, hinges on the deeds and misdeeds of his avid followers.

The story is told in three sections. The first and last are set in Anna’s modern Paris, where Clementine and feminist allies furtively post protest signs at night, decrying male abuse and violence against women. The middle section of the book is set decades earlier, in mid-20th century France, when Lacan was alive and viewed as a maestro by his acolytes. The focus here is on the desires and torments of two new characters: Florence, a Lacan follower who wants to have a baby, and her husband, Henry, a paralegal who doesn’t.

The changing of time periods and narrators makes the story resemble a where-does-this-fit puzzle, at times a challenge. But piecing it together in the end is part of what makes “Scaffolding” a pleasure overall — maybe even therapeutic.

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