paperback
382 pp
published, 2007
advanced reader's edition, 'not for sale'

Synopsis

I have been standing on the side of life, watching it float by. I want to swim in the river. I want to feel the current.

So writes Mamah Borthwick Cheney in her diary as she struggles to justify her clandestine love affair with Frank Lloyd Wright. Four years earlier, in 1903, Mamah and her husband, Edwin, had commissioned the renowned architect to design a new home for them. During the construction of the house, a powerful attraction developed between Mamah and Frank, and in time the lovers, each married with children, embarked on a course that would shock Chicago society and forever change their lives.

In this ambitious debut novel, fact and fiction blend together brilliantly. While scholars have largely relegated Mamah to a footnote in the life of America’s greatest architect, author Nancy Horan gives full weight to their dramatic love story and illuminates Cheney’s profound influence on Wright.

Drawing on years of research, Horan weaves little-known facts into a compelling narrative, vividly portraying the conflicts and struggles of a woman forced to choose between the roles of mother, wife, lover, and intellectual. Horan’s Mamah is a woman seeking to find her own place, her own creative calling in the world. Mamah’s is an unforgettable journey marked by choices that reshape her notions of love and responsibility, leading inexorably ultimately lead to this novel’s stunning conclusion.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

mailed to Poobah1 - enjoy!!

Oh MrJiggs, Thank you so much for the lovely books. What a nice surprise to come home to after my first day returning to work following vacation. I look forward to getting into this one (and the nice little book of rhymes too.) Best wishes and thanks again for you kind generosity.


-Poobah1

Sometimes its just my mood but I must say, this is the most enjoyable read I've dug into for a long while! My book club toyed with reading it last fall and we pushed it aside for some reason. Then I haven't heard much about since but it looked intriguing and I added it to my TBR list. I am so glad MrJiggs offered this up to me after finding it on my wishlist. It grabbed me from the first word and I COULD NOT put it down. I will recommend this to many. What interesting, eccentric, wonderful characters. I live not far from Taliesin though I've never seen it. I'm on my way now. Cool book! Thank you so much MrJiggs!!!!! I'm big on wild releasing but I don't really feel I can wild release this one. I'll sit on it a bit before deciding what to do. I'm savoringgggggggggg.

Well, now this copy has been read by two more of my book club members. They are not (sadly) interested in BookCrossing at this time...so, no journals written. However, we did have a lovely holiday book club meeting last evening as well as a brisk discussion on this book. It was rated 6.5 - 9 by all 8 members which is quite a rave review for our group. This book offers a lot in terms of discussable material...feminism, adultery, suffrage movement, arts, high society, and a HUGE twist at the end. All in all it is one of my top reads in 2008 and I will recommend it to many. My plan is for this copy to go to my sons girlfriend who is studying interior design right in the area this story is based. I hope she can get to it sometime between her busy schedule and the holidays. Thanks again to MrJiggs for the wishlist RABCK.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I loved this book L. I hope you enjoy it no matter when you get to it. If your Mom hasn't already read it in her book club - she should :o)

Merry Christmas...it's great to have you home!

My boyfriend's mother gave me this book because I'm an Interior Design student. I thought the book was very boring with too many details until the end...I'm glad I pushed through and finished it!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy! :)