The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper – 320 pages
ARC from William Morrow Paperbacks and Netgalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
Tildy Barrows, Head Curator of a beautiful archival library in San Francisco, is meticulously dedicated to the century’s worth of inventory housed in her beloved Beaux Art building. She loves the calm and order in the shelves of books and walls of art. But Tildy’s uneventful life takes an unexpected turn when she, first, learns the library is on the verge of bankruptcy and, second, discovers two exquisite never-before-seen dollhouses. After finding clues hidden within these remarkable miniatures, Tildy starts to believe that Belva Curtis LeFarge, the influential heiress who established the library a century ago, is conveying a significant final message.
With a newfound sense of spontaneity, Tildy sets out to decipher the secret history of the dollhouses, aiming to salvage her cherished library in the process. Her journey to understand introduces her to a world of ambitious and gifted women in Belle Époque Paris, a group of scarred World War I veterans in the English countryside, and Walt Disney’s bustling Burbank studio in the 1950s. As Tildy unravels the mystery, she finds not only inspiring, overlooked history, but also a future for herself, filled with exciting possibilities—and an astonishing familial revelation.
My Review: 4 stars
The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper is an incredible story of discovering lost, yet immaculate dollhouses within the walls of a local library. The few dollhouse books that I’ve read haven’t made a lasting impression on me. I can assure you that this one will be different and keep you happily invested.
Tildy, the protagonist, who lives a very static and rote life is now on the hunt for more information about the makers of these dollhouses which seem to have hidden clues within their design. This book really took Tildy out of her normal lifestyle as she seeks answers.
As she digs for answers, she finds herself traveling to Paris, the English Countryside and to Burbank, CA to uncover the mysteries surrounding these dollhouses. There is also another mystery surrounding her mother and why her photo is in one of the dollhouses.
The structure and pacing were well done. I also really liked that Tildy’s POV was written from the third person POV while Cora, the creator of the dollhouses was old in first person. Fans of childhood dollhouses or things in minitures are sure to enjoy this novel.
Quotes I liked:
There’s actually a psychological rationale to explain our affinity for small things: dollhouses offer us a sense of control and imagination. They can provide a feeling of agency. Miniatures allow us to create the world as we’d like to see it.”
“Think of the imagination and sense of adventure that readers employ every time they crack open a book.”
