Here is the eagerly anticipated new novel from a brilliant writer whose last book, Good to a Fault, was shortlisted for the prestigious G... read full description
reviews
Feb 05, 2012
Marleen
rated it: 
The year is 1912 and after the death of their father and baby brother the three Avery sisters, Aurora, Clover and Bella hit the road with their mother to start their career as vaudeville stars.
Flora Avery, the girls’ mother, worked in vaudeville before she married their father and gratefully uses contacts from the old days to get her girls started. But, it is by no means plain sailing.
The world of vaudeville is highly competitive and knows no mercy. If you don’t entertain the audience More...
Flora Avery, the girls’ mother, worked in vaudeville before she married their father and gratefully uses contacts from the old days to get her girls started. But, it is by no means plain sailing.
The world of vaudeville is highly competitive and knows no mercy. If you don’t entertain the audience More...
Jan 29, 2012
Maxine
rated it:
The Little Shadows is a beautifully written coming-of-age tale of three sisters at the beginning of the twentieth century. At a time when moving pictures were in their infancy and television was the stuff of science fiction, vaudeville was one of the few forms of entertainment available and was hugely popular. So, when their father dies, Flora, the girls' mother decides to have them audition as a song-and-dance routine. They are not particularly talented but, thanks mainly to the eldest sister's
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Oct 22, 2011
Ruth
rated it: 
Let me begin by saying that my estimation of this book suffers from two biases. First is the fact that I read Good to a Fault earlier this year and loved its exploration of the complexity of modern life, its depth of characterization, and its choice of a messy and somewhat ambiguous ending. Second is that I am growing weary of historical fiction and annoyed by the fact that almost every major Canadian publisher has released a 'big name author' work of historical fiction this fall - Vanderhaeghe,
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Oct 30, 2011
Marianne
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MY REVIEW
A beautiful poetic novel of what the vaudeville or theatre might have been in historic western Canada and the northwest U.S.A., in particularly Montana. The story follows three girls and their mother after the death of the father as they go into the world their mother knew before she met their father. Each scene and each character is portrayed in vivid colors, both their good attributes as well as the eccentric. Although i don’t know much about the world of actors either then or More...
A beautiful poetic novel of what the vaudeville or theatre might have been in historic western Canada and the northwest U.S.A., in particularly Montana. The story follows three girls and their mother after the death of the father as they go into the world their mother knew before she met their father. Each scene and each character is portrayed in vivid colors, both their good attributes as well as the eccentric. Although i don’t know much about the world of actors either then or More...
Oct 16, 2011
Extremely mixed feelings about this one. It is probably quite good, but I just couldn't get into it. I ended up reading a multitude of books while reading this one, which is a sign that a book is not doing something for me.
That said, one of the reasons why I didn't like it was because I LOVED "Good to a fault." I find that sometimes when I love, love, love one book by an author, it makes it more difficult for me to love other books by them. (See Lynn Coady's "The Antag More...
That said, one of the reasons why I didn't like it was because I LOVED "Good to a fault." I find that sometimes when I love, love, love one book by an author, it makes it more difficult for me to love other books by them. (See Lynn Coady's "The Antag More...
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Jan 19, 2012
Steven
rated it: 
"The Little Shadows," I hoped, would be as fine as "Good to a Fault," but that turned out to be overly optimistic. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this novel, partly for the rich texture of anecdotes and historical sketches that brought vaudeville alive in a western Canadian perspective -- and partly for the colourful plot line that Endicott was able to weave through this book. Almost as fine in its dramatic ups and downs as the "perils of Pauline" style that the vau
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Jan 17, 2012
Dianne
rated it:
This was a charming book. At times a little delicate, although it represented a former time. It's good to slow down and remember that we haven't always lived with TV shows where people make a public spectacle of the private lives.
On the other hand the relationship of the women in the story to men they worked - their need/choice to relate sexually to power figures, for instance, was pretty matter-of-fact and not delicate at all.
I enjoyed reading about the history of vaudeville in th More...
On the other hand the relationship of the women in the story to men they worked - their need/choice to relate sexually to power figures, for instance, was pretty matter-of-fact and not delicate at all.
I enjoyed reading about the history of vaudeville in th More...
Nov 06, 2011
Simone
rated it: 
First I would like to say kudos to Marina Endicott for receiving some very prestigious nominations being first long listed for the Giller and now in the running for the Governor General. These are very important awards and clearly many people have seen something praiseworthy in her characters and writing.
Unfortunately, I was supremely disappointed in this novel. The characters lacked depth and diversity; the sisters were uninspiring and their relationship with each other rather flat More...
Unfortunately, I was supremely disappointed in this novel. The characters lacked depth and diversity; the sisters were uninspiring and their relationship with each other rather flat More...
Nov 22, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
****Please note I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway*******
I feel somewhat bad for only rating this book as okay. I feel guilty that it took me so long to finish reading it, especially after winning it as a giveaway. I thought this book would be more fun than it was, being about the vaudeville era.
The main disappointment was the plodding pace of the book. I put this down after barely a hundred pages to read other things. It dragged on, and didn't really catch my inter More...
I feel somewhat bad for only rating this book as okay. I feel guilty that it took me so long to finish reading it, especially after winning it as a giveaway. I thought this book would be more fun than it was, being about the vaudeville era.
The main disappointment was the plodding pace of the book. I put this down after barely a hundred pages to read other things. It dragged on, and didn't really catch my inter More...
Dec 27, 2011
Lorraine
rated it:
The performance is of three sisters, Aurora, Clover, and Bella, who, with the help of their mother, work to make it in vaudeville. As they move from theatre to theatre, they encounter many interesting characters, some who make a great impact on their lives, some who make only a brief impression.
The story is largely character driven, though upon completion the plot can be mapped out more clearly. I appreciated the sections of the novel, split like a play, as well as the subtitles wi More...
The story is largely character driven, though upon completion the plot can be mapped out more clearly. I appreciated the sections of the novel, split like a play, as well as the subtitles wi More...
Aug 11, 2011
Francine
rated it:
I loved this book as it was not only informative about the time period, something I didn't know much about, but because the characters were engrossing and made you really care about them. Yes there were times when I thought I woulnd't get through it but by the middle of the book I was unable to put it down. I enjoy Marina Endicott's writing and she doesn't disappoint in this novel either. Just hang in there and I promise it is worth it!
Aug 13, 2011
Dawn
rated it:
A slow paced (but not plodding)coming-of-age novel. Unlike many of its ilk, it focuses on not age, but real maturity. Three sisters grow to become women, making all the mistakes young women make, and finally come to a point of understanding and contentment. The timing reflects current social patterns, in that maturity comes long after what most consider "adulthood", and lays out for us the events that bring our heroines to that point... experiences, not age.
It's a nice rel More...
It's a nice rel More...
Aug 09, 2011
Trish
rated it:
The introduction to the characters and to the world of vaudeville was tedious and I put the book down several times, picking up and reading other novels before I finally completed this book. After the first one hundred pages I started to feel involved with the characters and their lives became more interesting to me. This book is informative of an era that is certainly foreign to me but I feel that the introduction could have been cut in half and the plot was never gripping.
Feb 18, 2012
Kirstin
rated it:
Well-developed characters including a whole mix of personalities: it is clear the author spent considerable time creating these people. I especially appreciated the nuances between the sisters--their deep bond but their clear individual spirits.
The book is good and thick with a long enough plot to really develop a story and capture my interest..
Finally, it was a really interesting setting (the Vaudeville theatre world) and time period (pre and during the First World War) abo More...
The book is good and thick with a long enough plot to really develop a story and capture my interest..
Finally, it was a really interesting setting (the Vaudeville theatre world) and time period (pre and during the First World War) abo More...
Feb 16, 2012
Babz
rated it:
It was written sparely but beautifully and the style was a bit abrupt, though the abruptness almost took on a lyrical quality. I found it difficult to get into, whether because of the style or the story, couldn't say, but loved it once I got into it.
Feb 09, 2012
Christine
rated it:
What an awesome book! For lovers of historical fiction, music and the early entertainment world at the turn of the 20th C. I really cared what happened to those girls and their mother! More please!
Jan 02, 2012
Liz
rated it:
Maybe 4 1/2 stars, really. Started slowly but really grabbed me in the end. Vaudeville setting was great, and lots to think about: art, independence and survival, refusing to settle . . . . This is a book that will stay with me.
Nov 12, 2011
Miriam
rated it:
I'm still letting this one settle, because although I enjoyed it greatly, I think it could have been sharper and I'm trying to figure out how. But I really like Endicott's examination of women's lives. She does it deliberately, and while she doesn't have Atwood's bite, she's willing to show the warts. This novels explores a 3 sister vaudeville act, who travel the mostly Canadian Vaudville scene (Winnipeg's Pantages, Orpheum and Walker theatre figure at one point). Women don't have it particula
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Feb 06, 2012
Bruce
rated it:
I was disappointed. Marina's other books have been fabulous. This one focuses on life in vaudeville in the early 20th century. Aurora, Clover and Belle are sisters. The book follows their lives, loves, acts and adventures in the Canadian and US prairies (with brief detours elsewhere). Lots of detail on vaudeville acts, how they come to be developed and changed, theatres, and life on the road. The story just did not grab me and the detail got boring after a while. And one line will stick with me
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Oct 16, 2011
Jenn
rated it:
I found this book very difficult to get into initially. But after the first 50 pages or so, I couldn't put it down.
Aug 23, 2011
Jodie
rated it:
I agree with comments others have made. The story does take some time to fully get into, but once you do get into it, it's hard to put the book down. The story is slow moving, but is an enjoyable read.
Nov 08, 2011
Isabelle
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I LOVED this book. It completely immerses you into the world of vaudeville with deep characters and beautiful prose.
Oct 31, 2011
Sandie
rated it:
I so wanted to love this book. Really. I'm actually giving it 2 1/2 stars. I saw the author at a Chapters event and was truly excited for this book. The main reason for the low rating is that it took me almost 3 weeks to get through this book. I normally read about one book a week. I was still half way through the book and was never really drawn into the story, or lack of I thought.
Jan 27, 2012
Lori
rated it: 
most disappointing
i read 100 pages and had to give up
i could not get into this book, most boring and the characters were so flat
a widowed mother of 3 girls leave the farm life to go to vaudeville where she had spent her younger years
not what i expected and completely different from "a compacted kindness" which i really enjoyed
i read 100 pages and had to give up
i could not get into this book, most boring and the characters were so flat
a widowed mother of 3 girls leave the farm life to go to vaudeville where she had spent her younger years
not what i expected and completely different from "a compacted kindness" which i really enjoyed
Oct 22, 2011
Serendipitous
rated it:
I loved it, but, for one thing...Whatever happened to Mayhew, I really wished his demise would have been included, the more tawdry the better !
