Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose
New York, 1924. Twenty‑four‑year‑old Jenny Bell is one of a dozen burgeoning artists invited to Louis Comfort Tiffany’s prestigious artists’ colony. Gifted and determined, Jenny vows to avoid distractions and romantic entanglements and take full advantage of the many wonders to be found at Laurelton Hall. But Jenny’s past has followed her to Long Island. Images of her beloved mother, her hard-hearted stepfather, waterfalls, and murder, and the dank hallways of Canada’s notorious Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women overwhelm Jenny’s thoughts, even as she is inextricably drawn to Oliver, Tiffany’s charismatic grandson. As the summer shimmers on, and the competition between the artists grows fierce as they vie for a spot at Tiffany’s New York gallery, a series of suspicious and disturbing occurrences suggest someone knows enough abo
My Review: 4 stars
Tiffany Blues unspools the mystery of artisan Jenny Bell’s life. Jenny moves to New York City to pursue a life as an artist after being chosen to attend Laurelton Hall’s artist colony, started by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the first Design Director of Tiffany & Co. While studying here, Jenny finally begins to open up and let color into the shadows that she’s hidden behind for so long.
Much of the book is spent uncovering the past that Jenny has spent eight years hiding in. The reader wonders if she can reach her full potential and grow as an artist, while still being clouded with dark memories. The theme running through the entire novel is about the power and beauty of art. The author taught me so much, yet never bogged me down in the technicalities of the art world. The use of descriptive language and how Jenny uses colors to describe feelings and objects was captivating and helped combine history, art and romance in a fast-paced story.
Although the book had a bittersweet ending, I felt it wrapped up too quickly. We spend the majority of the story wondering if Jenny’s secrets would stay hidden, but the climax of the story occurred with only a few chapters left. There wasn’t much time to wrap your head around the explosive revelations of the end before the novel was coming to end. There is no doubt an immense amount of research went into this novel; kudos to the author!
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