Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan
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Book Reviews of Loving Frank: A Novel
Book Review: A Woman, not the Lover of a Famous Man
Summary: 5 Stars
Loving Frank is a novel about a woman, rather than a novel about a famous man and his lover. The entire novel illustrates Mamah's view of her relationship to Frank Lloyd Wright. Should she leave with her lover? Did she abandon her children? Will her sister forgive her? Should she doubt herself when Ellen Key, the philosopher changes course? Should she stay with such a flawed man? How to win her children back?
I'm tired of stories told about the lovers and wives of famous men. Most of them portray the importance of the woman to the man and his career. They go on about how the men gained by their lover's support, then cheated on them, but the woman will always love them because she can't help it. In the course of stories about famous men the women important to them so often turn out to be fawning empty vessels.
I only started this book, because it was required of my book club. So I was so relieved to find that from the beginning it is a story about Mamah. Her relationship with Wright is compounded by his amazing and compelling personality and talent, but they do not make her into a hollow character.
So read away at this great story of a woman in love. And thank you to Nancy Horan for bringing Mamah to life.
Book Review: Best Debut novel I have read
Summary: 5 Stars
I gave this Debut effort by Nancy Horan a try because of A life long interest in Frank Lloyd Wright (for more on Mr. Wright's life I recommend Many Masks: A Life of Frank Lloyd Wright). This ambitious work is a fictional accounting of the life of Mamah Cheney. After being hired by Cheney's husband to design a family home, Wright had a scandalous affair With Mrs. Cheney that wrecked both their marriages. This might seem like the plot of a romance novel, but believe me this book is not a romance novel! Cheney is portrayed as an educated woman struggling with her independence against the conventions of a time period when woman were for bearing children and keeping the home fires burning--to be seen but not heard!
Frank and Mamah both leave their respective families to live together and travel the world, then eventually settle in Wisconsin. Wright's bigger than life personality is adequately displayed by the author, but the real story here is Maham who lost much in her quest for self realization and also in perusing her love for Wright. Her life is tragically cut short which makes for a difficult ending, still reading about this amazing woman, who was a head of her time makes for fascinating reading.
Book Review: Loving Frank
Summary: 5 Stars
This book has so many different facets that have kept me thinking about it every day since I finished reading it. On one level is the topic of architecture. I have never had any particular interest in that other than to appreciate looking at beautiful buildings; I have lived within an hour of Spring Green, Wisconsin, for 28 years, have been there many times, and have never visited Taliesen. Now I can't wait to go there, and to also seek out other buildings that were designed by Wright. I feel that the author was able to communicate the architect's reasons for designing structures the way he did, as well as his passion for his art. I was also shocked to learn that I had never known about the history regarding the events that took place at Taliesen over the years. Even more shocking, none of my "native Wisconsin" friends knew of these events, either.
On a completely different level are the moral and philosophical issues that are raised by the actions of the various characters. Definitely food for thought and reflection, and certainly fodder for many a discussion among fellow readers of the novel.
Book Review: Right On Wright
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a love story fraught with uncertainly, public wrath, and all the elements of drama. The love relationship between Mameh and Frank is a case where life is greater than fiction. Yet, it takes a great skill and imagination for an author to breathe life into the characters and events, and Horan has done so with grace and lyrical fluidity. Frank Lloyd Wright was a figure larger than life. It took a woman like Mameh to challenge him and make him also a better man. As this great architect sought to be himself and live a life of truth and beauty, the educated Mameh, a writer who spoke several languages also learned the meaning of freedom. However, being a feminist (before the term was familiar) and loving Frank came with the ultimate price, first with the loss of her children whom she had to leave behind, then the painful public scandal, and finally, the greatest price of all as she paid with her life.
A fabulous book that is hard to put down.
Talia Carner, author,
Puppet Child and China Doll
Book Review: You will walk in her shoes for better or worse!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love the escape of historical fiction. Reading this book was like living another life (or at least seven years) with these characters. They are not always loveable, but they seemed very authentic to me. If you are very judgemental about extra-marital affairs, it may be hard to even like these characters. But if you allow yourself to fall into step through the mundane and tragic, you will never forget this one!
Personally, I fell in love with Mamah. Some reviewers despised her because she seemed to leave her husband without justification. To me, that is the one of the most intriguing actions of a woman in her time. She might have had more cause for desertion in real life, but I chose to see her as someone who couldn't pretend to love her husband as much as she loved Frank. I wish that the author would have given us more insight into their private love affair, but considering all that Mamah gave up and endured, it must have been a powerful connection.
Highly recommended for those who love a good cry!