The Lions of Fifth Avenue: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)

As in her novel The Address, in The Lions of Fifth Avenue two stories set in different time periods revolve around a single building in New York City, and critical plot elements depend on details of the architecture. In The Address the building was the Dakota. In Lions it's the New York Public Library. And in both books, the characters are so well drawn, believable, and empathetic, that you forget the artificiality of the structure and get caught up in the intersecting plot lines.This book grew on me, quickly. After a slow start, about halfway through the characters came alive and I literally couldn't put it down. This was true for both of the story lines, 1913 and 1993.

This book covers two time periods - 1914 and 1993 - set at the New York Public Library. In 1914 Laura Lyons is trying to break out of the typical stereotype of mother and wife common at that time. She has her own dreams, career ambitions, and explores changes to her sexual preferences as she hopes to make a difference in the world. The resulting conflicts coincide with mysterious thefts of rare books from the famous library where her husband is Superintendent. The job comes with a perk - an apartment within the library for his family. In 1993 Laura's granddaughter is a librarian at the New York Public Library and the same type of mysterious rare book thefts are taking place again and she is a suspect. The plot revolves around tying the two thefts together and the fallout of the two families caught in the mystery. I just never really bought in to the conflicts. It seemed there was always a disconnect with the characters actions that seemed a little off. Some parts of the book were interesting but overall I'd not give it a hearty recommendation.

I could hardly wait for this to come, and I wasn't disappointed. This is similar to her other books, in that it is set in a famous New York building (the library) and takes place in two related time periods. Laura Lyons is married to the library superintendent, and they live in an apartment inside the library. She wants more out of life than she has, so she strives to become a journalist and becomes involved in the women's movement of the early 1900's. In the meantime, valuable books begin to disappear, and her husband's job is threatened. In the 1990's, Laura's granddaughter Sadie Donovan is curator of the library's Berg Collection, and a series of thefts occur on her watch. Are they related to the previous thefts? This is a wonderful look at the library as well as a fascinating mystery. I read it in two days and wish there was more.

I've read all of Fiona Davis' books and they end the same way for me: characters and storylines that fizzle out and can't hold their own against the interesting historical subject matter. The New York Public Library carries this one.Spoilers ahead. What was the significance of the beginning, with Laura encountering the homeless woman by the stone lions? Nothing! No storyline there. There was no character build-up anywhere, with sudden, dramatic character changes that directly affect the story (referring particularly to Jack and Harry - where did that come from?). We never learn why Pearl refused to talk about her life with Laura (we only assume parts of it), nor is there any storyline written with her and Laura moving to London. That would've been interesting and might have explained a lot. Sadie was an annoying know-it-all-character that just always "happened to be there" but never mentioned she was the granddaughter of Laura, who just happened...right. Then Robin dropped out of the sky, and Harry suddenly reappeared, and we get a rushed story there that doesn't make any sense. Of course, Sadie figured it out. Disappointing and a "wrapped up too easily" ending. Great historical elements, as always, but the story could've been so much better.

Another homerun by Fiona Davis! I loved everything about this book. Of course, the setting at the New York Public Library was incredible and I really enjoyed learning about the history of this magnificent and important building. Davis is deft at interweaving storylines and she did it again with the stories of Laura and Sadie. I've not yet been disappointed by any of Davis' books and her fans will love this one!

When you love books, reading a book about the love of books, well, it doesn’t get much better than that. Written in a dual narrative, beginning in the early 1900s in New York City, a young family has the distinct pleasure of residing in a tucked away apartment in the New York Public Library. The one and only. He, as the superintendent with a promising literary career ahead of him. She, with grand plans to attend the Columbia School of Journalism in its debut year, while holding down the fort tending to their children. Eyes wide open and arms ready to embrace the world that lies ahead. This is Fiona Davis’s novel THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE.Fast forward to the 1990s, an accomplished young woman is pursuing her dream career as a curator at the very library where her grandparents used to reside. She lives and breathes rare books. However, her life outside of these hallowed halls is fraught with turmoil, just as her grandmother experienced all those years ago.Overseeing an important collection or telling a story comes with significant responsibility, as both women come to find out. As well as a price.THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE explores family dynamics, women seeking independence and exploring the brave new world of feminism. An unputdownable literary mystery.

I chose this rating for all the wonderful characters in this book. Each onewas beautifully depicted and intriguing on every page. The storyline betweenthe decades gave so much history to the novel. The descriptions of the librarymade you feel like you were inside it's walls. A very easy read....couldn't put itdown. So very pleased that I found this while watching GMA's book club segment.A great novel. Enjoy!

I’m at 60% mark on kindle and struggling. I don’t understand the great reviews. I find it boring and the characters lack any real depth.I’m looking for reasons not to read which is a very bad sign. I will finish it but I’m not relishing the prospect !! Not recommended.

Fiona Davis has done a nice job of telling the story of the library in two timelines. First is the story of Laura and Jack Lyons c1914 and their children Harry and Pearl. Jack is the superintendent of the building while devoting most of his spare time to the writing of a novel. Laura craves a mission of her own and studies journalism at Columbia. It was a time of great foment for the New Woman and many of the concerns these pioneering women had are still current, for example: wouldn’t true equality mean that men share the domestic load and not assume decision making power? The second timeline involves their granddaughter Sadie in the 1990’s. Sadie is a curator of the Berg collection in the library and as she works on a new exhibition she faces a similar set of thefts as happened in her grandparents’ time. She herself is a suspect and must work hard to uncover not only the identity of the real thief but many old mysteries surrounding her family. At times the characterisation of the people involved is a little pedestrian but overall it’s an interesting story of a precious and valuable institution with some good insights into human nature.

Just finished The Lions of Fifth Avenue. Had heard a lot about it but it was the @bakingbookworm review that clinched it for me.This is a beautiful story of two women, Laura and Sadie, decades apart whose lives and those of the ones they love are centred on the goings on at the New York Public Library. Both women, particularly Laura, chafe against the societal restrictions placed upon them as women in the home and workplace. Both stories are interesting, especially Laura’s, and the descriptions of the library are gorgeous. The two time periods work very effectively and show the consequences that decisions can have decades later. It is also fascinating to see how the role of women has slowly evolved since the early 1900s to the 1990s.If you love books, libraries, and well-depicted female characters, this book is for you. Beautifully done.

I won’t describe the plot as others have. The story is quite captivating but as a real librarian I could poke large holes in the plot. Then I found at the end that the author did her research at a different library. The idea that a librarian 1994 is flitting around consulting a car catalog is silly and just not true for the NY Public Library which had an online computer system for years. Computers are just not in keeping with the tone of the story.

Another in the series of novels focussed on famous New York buildings. This time the fabulous New York Public Library. The story moves across time zones to bring together strands of a family history closely connected to the Library. Engaging.