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Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (2009)

by Chris Greenhalgh(Favorite Author)

3.14 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1594484554 (ISBN13: 9781594484551)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Riverhead Trade

review 1: The blurb on the back of the book says, in part, "As Stravinsky enjoys a new burst of creativity, Chanel brings forth her own revolutionary creation---the perfume Chanel No. 5. But when their love threatens to overtake work, family and life, the couple must consider whether their relationship can survive." Had I written the blurb it would have said, "At the cusp of the roaring '20's in Paris, a rich supporter of the arts Coco Chanel, an orphan in a society of class, rose to change women's wear forever. Igor Stravinsky, a composer whose success was not yet firmly established moved with his family from their Russian home due to the Russian Revolution. Living meagerly, Stravinsky depended at times on the benevolence of patrons. "One such patron was Chanel who invited the f... moreamily to her newly renovated estate west of Paris. "Here Chanel and Stravinsky began a torrid (hot and heavy)love affair in the study area of Chanel's home where Stravinsky composed on his own piano, works that continue to delight the public to this day. "All this under the watchful eye of Stravinsky's ill wife, housekeepers and children. "Was it lust, love or friendship? Did they inspire each other? Who knows???" The writing is somewhat flowery, romance in tone but it seemed forced just like the words written by the Penguin editors...love? Hummm, good question. But what's love got to do with it anyhow? I seldom wear perfume but ordered the smallest bottle of the iconic Chanel No. 5. (Years ago I wore it regularly. I love it.) But I have yet to put a composition by Stravinsky on the CD player.
review 2: The timing of this read was perfect, as the 100th anniversary of the premiere of "The Rite of Spring" is this Wednesday. The affair at the heart of the novel may or may not have happened, but the author did a good job of creating the characters and the setting for the story. I didn't know a lot about either of their lives, so I appreciated that part, but I am not a fan of adulterous relationships, real or not. less

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