BOTM BUDDY READ FEBRUARY
From the dramatic redbrick facade to the sweeping staircase dripping with art, the Chelsea Hotel has long been New York City’s creative oasis for the many artists, writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and poets who have called it home—a scene playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead are determined to use to their advantage. Yet they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to putting up a show on Broadway has nothing to do with their art, and everything to do with politics. A Red Scare is sweeping across America, and Senator Joseph McCarthy has started a witch hunt for communists, with those in the entertainment industry in the crosshairs. As the pressure builds to name names, it is more than Hazel and Maxine’s Broadway dreams that may suffer as they grapple with the terrible consequences, but also their livelihood, their friendship, and even their freedom.
Spanning from the 1940s to the 1960s, The Chelsea Girls deftly pulls back the curtain on the desperate political pressures of McCarthyism, the complicated bonds of female friendship, and the siren call of the uninhibited Chelsea Hotel.
I am still undecided if I liked this read or not. I may have bailed on it or quickly browsed to the finish had I not been the lead in charge of questions and research for our weekly discussions. I did love all the research and I always enjoy our discussions, but there seemed to be something missing here I just can’t put my finger on it. I do wish there was more on the hotel.
My favorite character was Maxine and most of my fellow buddy read folk did not like her, that’s not unusual. I just felt she was a true person and seemed human. The other character Hazel seemed condescending and self righteous. No thanks. The friendship part I’m not too sure about. I enjoyed reading about The Chelsea Hotel on the side as well as Broadway in the 1940s-50s, the red scare and the lavender scare. IF nothing else I got to read a ton of history I absolutely enjoyed. I am so thankful for the library in these situations as I can get everything I need there to do all the research. Now we are on to March!
I can hardly believe it. MARCH?!
