Review:
Title: A Mad, Wicked Folly
Author: Sharon Biggs Waller
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: January 23rd, 2014
Format: Hardback
Source: Library
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance
Blurb:
Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl. After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?
Thoughts: I picked up a copy of A Mad, Wicked Folly a couple weeks ago from my local library. I was not familiar with the author nor the premise, but had seen it floating around other book blogs and decided to give it a try. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, which there isn’t a lot of in YA. I was very excited to embark on Vicky’s story.
At the beginning of the book, there is nothing particularly unique about Vicky’s story. She is just another teenage girl who doesn’t mind breaking the rules every once in a while. I was temporarily worried that his would be another sort of coming of age story. It was, but not really. Vicky stays true to herself and her own ideals, but recognizes the consequences, unlike protagonists in other novels.
I was impressed with Vicky’s dedication to her art; it made her a very humble character, despite her aristocratic background. I did get frustrated with Vicky, frequently in regards to her relationship status. There isn’t a love triangle in this novel, per say. It is more a representation of the life that she wants and the life that her parents want for her. She doesn’t have conflicted feelings when it comes down to just the two men.
While I enjoyed all the aspects regarding the suffrage movement in Britain, (and it was certainly historically accurate), Vicky’s involvement felt disjointed and unconnected to the rest of the story. I almost feel like the author was trying to broaden Vicky’s personality and it backfired.
Lastly, I thought that the plot of this book was a little boring and was quite slow. However, I was surprised at the end by the choices that Vicky makes. It clearly portrays the development in her character along with bringing the book to a striking conclusion.
In Other Words:
A Mad, Wicked Folly is not your run of the mill historical fiction novel. Vicky is a jovial protagonist who takes the story in unexpected directions. Although the pace is slow, the character development is certainly rewarding. Readers who enjoyed The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen might be pleased with this novel as well.
Dust Jacket Ramblings:
There are many things that I like about this cover: the font, the girl in the dress, and the background of historical London. However, together it looks unfinished. I disliked that The London drawings are not colored like the sky and the dress. It makes the girl in the model stand out unattractively.
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