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The Glimmer Palace

by Beatrice Colin (Goodreads Author)

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 847 ratings · 168 reviews

In the tradition of Michel Faber and Sarah Waters, a literary historical novel about an orphan girl's journey from poverty to film stardom, set against the grand backdrop of World War I Berlin, the cabaret era, the run-up to World War II, and the innovations in art and industry that accompanied it all.

Big, rich, intelligent, and masterfully written, here is a page-turning...more

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published July 24th 2008 by Riverhead Hardcover

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Jun 29, 2009 Ally rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, literary-fiction

I liked this book but it didn't blow me away.

I was intrigued by the 'look behind the mirror' offered by this story - history, as we know, is written by the victors so it was illuminating to see WW1&2 from a German perspective. It was dark and brooding and full of atmosphere and I loved the characters and found them deep and well rounded.

The reason I haven't scored this book higher than a 3 is that there were a few points within the story that I was desperate to know more historical backgroun...more I liked this book but it didn't blow me away.

I was intrigued by the 'look behind the mirror' offered by this story - history, as we know, is written by the victors so it was illuminating to see WW1&2 from a German perspective. It was dark and brooding and full of atmosphere and I loved the characters and found them deep and well rounded.

The reason I haven't scored this book higher than a 3 is that there were a few points within the story that I was desperate to know more historical background. To provide a few examples, I wanted more accounts of the politics surrounding the reparations after WW1 and how this reduced many Middle Class Germans to abject poverty. I wanted a little more information about the rise of Hitler – Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister was a character in the book that did not realise his full potential, I would have liked him to be better drawn with more depth. I also wanted to know more about the feelings of ordinary Germans towards the Jews and specifics about how good opinion disintegrated via the social engineering and propaganda of the Nazi regime. This was touched on towards the end of the novel, when Colin states that the previously wealthy middle-class citizens noticed how the Jews could still afford to shop in places they could no longer afford but the reasons for this were never fully explored. In short – I was expecting a bit of balance, both of the ‘British’ view of history and of the now saturated ‘holocaust’ genre sphere – it didn’t really live up to my expectations, but perhaps this may not be a politically correct ‘expectation’ for me to have!

I was also a little disappointed by the ending – after a novel of such heartbreak and misfortune I really wanted Lilly to find happiness but that may be the hopeless romantic in me and perhaps Colin was trying to keep a little realism.

It was a really ambitious novel, which was enjoyable to read but could have reached 'Epic' status had it not fallen short in some crucial areas.
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Jan 23, 2009 Teresa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really wanted to enjoy this novel - the whole premise appealed to me, the decadence of pre-war Berlin, the energy of the emerging German film industry set alongside the insidious menace of the Nazi Party seemed an intriguing combination. Indeed, this aspect of the novel is adroitly handled by the author thanks to her assiduous research. Berlin ended up being the most interesting character for me and you really feel its presence as a living, everchanging force, one minute full of gaiety and the...more

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Mar 25, 2009 Cobber rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I hope this book gets made into a film. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did but the author made it so authentic. The sense of atmosphere she creates sends shivers down my spine at how well it was done. A perfect book that I didn't want to end. The main character was really easy to relate to and being set in wartime it added so much tension to proceedings. Really worth a read if you're looking for something different.

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Nov 13, 2012 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites-2012

Lilly's story is a classic Bildungsroman as the reader follows her from the day of her birth, through her childhood and beyond. Throughout the novel Colin weaves in elements of the history of the period to contextualise the things that are happening in Lilly's life and with a particular interest in this period and having studied it previously, I really enjoyed this. As Colin mentioned the Wall Street Crash and the Beer Hall Putsch and other historic events which had huge impacts on the lives of...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Set in Berlin, the life story of Lilly Aphrodite is told against the backdrop of the social and political change that is shaping Germany between 1900 and the prelude to WWII.

Beatric Coline deftly weaves a world so thick with personality the characters positively clamour across the page to tell their story. Told in the omnipotent third person, there are places which coudl jar as the narrator, in a God-like fashion, explains the outcome of minor characters whilst they still cavort before us. This...more

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Jun 25, 2009 Blair rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

I struggled with this a bit at the beginning but went on to discover that it is in fact a fantastic read - very atmospheric and assiduously well-researched, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is even remotely interested in the history and culture of Germany (specifically the city of Berlin). Although I found the author's use of language captivating from the start, my main issue with the early part of the book was that I found it very hard to accept that so many grown...more

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Mar 02, 2009 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

THE Luminous Life Of Lilly Aphrodite (titled The Glimmer Palace in the American edition) is the dramatic, film adaption-ready story of the life of a fictional German orphan girl turned movie star in early 20th century Berlin.

More than just a rags-to-riches tale, it also traces the development of the German film industry, which was once one of the largest and most innovative in the world.

And more impressively, the novel aims to convey the ethos of Berlin during one of the city's most vibrant, des...more THE Luminous Life Of Lilly Aphrodite (titled The Glimmer Palace in the American edition) is the dramatic, film adaption-ready story of the life of a fictional German orphan girl turned movie star in early 20th century Berlin.

More than just a rags-to-riches tale, it also traces the development of the German film industry, which was once one of the largest and most innovative in the world.

And more impressively, the novel aims to convey the ethos of Berlin during one of the city's most vibrant, desperate and tragic times -- the first quarter of the 20th century, after the city was brought to its knees by Germany's defeat in World War I, but before its spirit was broken by the rise of the Nazis.

Our heroine, Lilly, is conceived in the back row of a cinema and is born in the last seconds of the 19th century. She is swiftly orphaned when her cabaret dancer mother, caught in bed with her philosophy student lover, is shot and killed by Lilly's aristocratic Bavarian father, who is subsequently swiftly dispatched by the dying student.

Winding up in an orphanage, she develops a fair amount of Catholic piety while also sneaking out of the grounds late at night with Hanne, her older and more experienced friend, to sell roses in bars or, as they are evocatively named, tingle-tangles.

But this semi-cloistered life could not last forever, and Lilly's brutal entry into the adult world coincides with Germany's entry into the first World War, a debilitating war which would eventually see the nation humiliated and bankrupt.

The effect of war on ordinary Berliners is illustrated in an awful scene in which a horse collapses in the middle of the road and is swiftly torn to pieces by starving women: "No sooner had the horse's head hit the cobbles than a dozen women appeared from doorways and alleyways armed with knives and bowls and cups. They... began to butcher the carcass, sawing through bone and slicing through veins to let the spurt of warm blood flow into their bowls."

Like the city, which soon becomes home to sex clubs and cutting-edge cinema, Lilly must adapt and re-invent herself in order to survive. The story describes the different choices she and Hanne make without passing judgment on their characters, though in the end conventional morality prevails as it is the more innocent Lilly who is discovered by a sensitive Russian director and turned into a film star.

The plot, though absorbing, is also somewhat slow-moving, and Lilly does not actually become a movie star until the last third of the book. Still, the narrative is peppered with references to the events which are to come, giving all that occurs a sad, fatalistic tinge.
For example, fleeting moments of lust felt between men and women in swinging Berlin are followed by an insight into how precious these moments are, given the harsh reality these young people would soon face: "And... months later as they shivered in a trench, those men and boys convinced themselves that they would have given her all their worldly goods in exchange for another kiss."

Strangely, it is when Lilly finally becomes a movie star that the story loses its lustre. After deftly guiding us through our poor heroine's turbulent emotions for so long, the author is somehow unable to convincingly portray Lilly's inner life once the character gains a modicum of security and status.

Meanwhile, the abrupt ending, while managing to pack an emotional punch with an unexpected plot twist, feels somehow incomplete, ending the book just when Lilly's character seems on the verge of an epiphany.

That aside, this work of historical fiction is a richly-rendered journey through a difficult but exciting time and place. As much a portrait of a place as it is of a person, it is pure escapist fantasy as it presents Berlin at its most decadent and most glamorous, a series of intoxicating, hopeful images flickering amidst an ever-encroaching darkness.(less)

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Sep 04, 2008 Carey rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the first few minutes of the year 1900 Lilly Nelly Aphrodite is born in Berlin, Germany. Her mother is a volatile, unmarried cabaret performer. By the time Lilly is two her parents are dead and she is placed in an orphanage where she will remain until she is in her early teens. Lily does not make friends easily and it is not until the age of about twelve when she makes the one friend who will remain a part of her life in the future, Hanne Schmidt.

Hanne is a new arrival at the orphanage and is...more In the first few minutes of the year 1900 Lilly Nelly Aphrodite is born in Berlin, Germany. Her mother is a volatile, unmarried cabaret performer. By the time Lilly is two her parents are dead and she is placed in an orphanage where she will remain until she is in her early teens. Lily does not make friends easily and it is not until the age of about twelve when she makes the one friend who will remain a part of her life in the future, Hanne Schmidt.

Hanne is a new arrival at the orphanage and is a couple of years older than Lilly. She shows Lilly the seedy world of nighttime Berlin, home to cheap cabaret bars called "Tingle-Tangles". The girls begin sneaking out of the orphanage at night to sell flowers in the clubs. When the orphanage is suddenly shut down shortly thereafter, Hanne deserts Lilly and disappears.

As the build-up to World War I begins, Lilly tries to make her way in the world. She finds a job as a maid for a difficult Countess but it is not long before she is assaulted by the husband and must eventually leave. She encounters Hanne again as the deprivations that the war brings begin to set in.

The necessities of life become scarce during the war and especially in it's aftermath, so the residents of Berlin throw themselves into the seedy nightlife of cabaret bars & cinemas. Any escape is preferable to the misery of daily life. It is at a cinema that Lilly meets Ilya Yurasov, a Russian who came to Berlin after the war and plays piano at the theater. He falls in love with Lilly and, with his contacts in the film industry, gets her a job typing film scripts.

From the typing pool, Lilly is discovered. She begins to appear in movies and is an immediate success. But success does not bring the happiness that she thought it would and she is not able to enjoy her new life.

I found this book difficult to get through. The author did a wonderful job with the historical setting of Berlin from 1900-1934, from the glitz and glamour to the starvation and despair. Unfortunately the characters were not very likable. They consistently made poor choices that contributed to their misery and kept them in the bad situations that they found themselves in. It made for a very dark, gritty, depressing novel. I'm sure that this was the author's intent, not all stories have happy endings, after all. But I did not enjoy it, though it was well written and the story was interesting.

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Feb 21, 2013 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

This was a beautifully written book. It tells the story of a contemplative orphan and her life growing up and growing strong through the trials she faces in Berlin during the 1920s. I loved it for two reasons: One, because the character of Lilly was so inspiring; she was a real heroine in the style of Thomas Hardy's Tess D'urberville. I often think 'what would Lily do?' now, when I'm struggling with life. The writing is so descriptive and the detail really stays with you afterwards, while also h...more This was a beautifully written book. It tells the story of a contemplative orphan and her life growing up and growing strong through the trials she faces in Berlin during the 1920s. I loved it for two reasons: One, because the character of Lilly was so inspiring; she was a real heroine in the style of Thomas Hardy's Tess D'urberville. I often think 'what would Lily do?' now, when I'm struggling with life. The writing is so descriptive and the detail really stays with you afterwards, while also helping to build a strong vivid picture of what the characters looked like. It's so good you can actually hear the rattle of the U-Bahn trains as they pass, you can hear the click of Hanne Schmidt's heels running through the dimly lit streets, the faint sound of stockings being torn..

The second reason, it was great to have my eyes opened about what life was like in Germany during the First World War as it had previously not occurred to me what an ordinary German citizen's plight would have been like. Some of the scenes are unforgettable, all the more so for being well-researched and historically correct. I now know more about that time than I did before, and that's only a good thing. One word of warning though- if you are looking for something light-hearted, this is not the novel for you! It is quite shocking at times; tales of furniture being burned, people preferring to die than go another day without food, life-savings becoming worthless etc.

Lastly, I'm endeared to find out that the author herself started writing this book because her nan had worked in Berlin during the 20s and was non too pleased to find her somewhat lacking in the knowledge of the time. I'm so glad she wrote this book. She spread her new found knowledge to her readers through a thought-provoking, intensely readable tale of love, survival, tragedy, betrayal and the pervading theme: unyielding in the face of adversity.

And, I am now a fan of German Poetry. Thank you Beatrice Collins! What a wonderful read. (less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ahh, my favorite genre….historical fiction. I read the first page of this book, closed it, and put it away…not interested. However, I HATE giving up a book when I start it, even when I just read the first page. So I decided to give it another try on the plane to Minnesota. I am so glad l did, as it was one of the best books I have read in a long time.

The Glimmer Palace is set in early 20th century Berlin and includes both world wars. Lilly Nelly Aphrodite was born at the turn of the century and...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I can't exactly pinpoint why I didn't much care for this book. It was overwritten, but so are a lot of early twentieth-century historical fiction books, and this one had some pretty good moments. It's not as ambitious or poignant as it tries to be, but it manages to be pretty interesting.

Must be the characters, I guess. I am so sick of the neglected orphan girl with the ethereal beauty and the quiet but somehow wildly entrancing presence. Can someone please write about an ugly orphan girl? Who...more

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May 12, 2010 Paula rated it 4 of 5 stars

‘The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite’ is the story of Lilly Nelly Aphrodite born on the 1st January 1900 to a cabaret performer and a man known as ‘The Bavarian Lover’. Lilly’s entrance to the world is memorable, not only because of her birth but due to fact her skin was coloured blue because of the blue hand-woven cloth she was wrapped in, then the midwife finds that Lilly is not breathing and is brought back to life by the midwife’s palm smacking her back.

Lilly’s mother does not embrace mothe...more ‘The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite’ is the story of Lilly Nelly Aphrodite born on the 1st January 1900 to a cabaret performer and a man known as ‘The Bavarian Lover’. Lilly’s entrance to the world is memorable, not only because of her birth but due to fact her skin was coloured blue because of the blue hand-woven cloth she was wrapped in, then the midwife finds that Lilly is not breathing and is brought back to life by the midwife’s palm smacking her back.

Lilly’s mother does not embrace motherhood, she loves her daughter but does not have much patience with her, ‘The Bavarian Lover’ is indifferent to both mother and daughter, by the age of 3, following the untimely death of her parents, Lilly is adopted by a couple in the vain hope that Lilly will replace their recently deceased daughter, they even change her name to ‘Dora’, time with her new parents is short and Lilly is sent to St Francis Xavier Home for Orphaned Children where she meets her lifelong friend, Hanne, a 12 year old girl forced to grow up fast due to circumstance, as Lilly gets older, Hanne looks after her as much as she can.

As the years past, Lilly grows into a determined and independent young woman, the orphanage closes and Lilly enters the world on her own and her life as stated in the title becomes luminous.

If like me you enjoyed reading about history, you will enjoy this book, Beatrice Colin gives a very in-depth account of Berlin during the 1920s and onwards, the major events in history and the seedier side of Berlin, the places that Lilly and Hanne work, their life experiences, which are at times, very sad, you feel for both characters.

Lily’s life is extraordinary to read, she finds love and losses it, she becomes famous on the silver screen purely by accident but Lilly’s determination makes her succeed.

Lily may be seen as one of life’s victims but she is not a victim, she refuses to be so, she faces everything with determination whilst keeping hope alive.

A great read but at time quite long winded, its subtle in its approach, you become engrossed, very quickly.(less)

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Nov 17, 2011 Rebecca rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I really wanted to like this book more than I actually did. The story line sounded intriguing and I enjoy a good historically based book. I did like some of the imagery that the author had, the descriptions of the orphanage and Lilly's and Hanne's adventures selling flowers was good, and the description of the affect of the war on Berlin was very fascinating. There aren't many accounts of the war from the German point of view so it was an interesting perspective to read. Other than that the book...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Brandi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, books-for-grown-ups, hardcover-feedback, ya-book-club-a-z

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I like books that take place during notable times, but told from a perspective that doesn't get as much attention. Lilly lives in Berlin, born at the turn of the century. Through Lilly we get to experience both World Wars from the point of view of a German citizen. On top of that, we get an inside look into the cabaret clubs and the early film-making processes.

Colin also uses an interesting device when introducing characters or revisiting characte...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Shonaigh Mudie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourite-reads

A well researched book that is rich in detail and it's descriptions. The author, Beatrice Colin consults a relative whom had roles in the film industry in 1920-30's Germany. This is the story of the life of the heroic Lily in early 20th century Germany. It follows her life, trials and tribulations with love, friendship, war and poverty. . She begins her life as an orphan and then becomes one of Germany's most loved stars. She works on the burlesque scene and finds fame. It is an absorbing read f...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Siobhán Eloise ✿ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, favorites

I absolutely fell in L O V E with this book, the whole concept of it kept me hooked until the very end. It is one of those books that when you pick it up you just can't seem to put it back down again, I ended up reading it within 9 hours.

It's about an orphan called Lilly who we see develop throughout the book to become a thriving young lady in the busniess of film which in Germany 1930's/40's were a massive success with bringing about fresh new supporters of the Nazi party. As it's set in Berli...more

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Aug 10, 2010 Christi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-group, 2010

What can I say? I’m a sucker for these coming of age stories that incorporate history and rich details of scenery which often times correlates with the mood of the particular scene. Beatrice (a favorite name of mine, by the way) does a great job of writing details about Berlin in the early 1900’s before WWI and leading up to it. Often times I felt the oppression and greed of the characters she was writing about and then later the contrast of poor dirty working class Germans with the prosperous f...more

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Sep 20, 2009 KarenLee rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who like historical fiction and are interested in the beginnings of the film industry.

Recommended to KarenLee by: I found this through reading the blurbs on first reads.

Shelves: first-reads, book-i-own

This is a fine historical novel of an illegitimate child born at the turn of the century and orphaned at age 2, who grows up to become a movie star in early german films. The child is named Lilly Nelly Aphrodite by her mother, a cabaret star. She is raised in an orphanage from age 3 until the orphanage is closed when she is 11. She comes of age between the two world wars and as I know little about this time period, I appreciated the historical information. I thank the author for the research she...more

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Sep 04, 2011 Monika rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Beautifully written story with in-depth research apparent within the narrative and structure.

I particularly liked the character integration within the history of German film making, how UFA was created and why... The narrative allows for German pre-war history and the life under the last Kaiser, then what travails for the German people after the demise of the aristocracy, the class system, the Great War and what horrors it brought the German people. And gives light on how something so abhorrent...more

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Jan 28, 2009 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another historical fiction. This one is WWI Germany leading up to the start of WWII, intergrating factual events, dates and people, but focusing on a fictional young orphan girl. It's a story of loss and betrayal, Lilly's search for herself while she is alone in a world that is being torn apart by war; her only friend appears and disappears out of her life constantly and demeans herself to make ends meet, but ironically is Lilly's only source of stability. It follows her as she starts to make so...more

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Aug 09, 2009 Rosemarie rated it 4 of 5 stars

An engrossing novel about the life and times of Lily Nelly Aphrodite, born at the start of he 20th century in Berlin, who lives hand to mouth in an orphan asylum, a series of slum apartments, and in Berlin and Hollywood as the star of the emerging movie industry. Think "Cabaret." An engrossing read about the time between the moment the 20th century begins until Hitler takes power, this novel is meticulously researched and deliciously well developed with accurate and beautifully crafted passages...more

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Nov 14, 2010 Joanna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I absolutley loved this book.
Kept me reading long into the night. Tragically romantic and sad. One womans struggle through world war 2 in Berlin.
Highly recommended.

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Mar 17, 2013 Gemma Webb rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There's nothing that luminous about Lilly Aphrodite's life, abandoned orphan, domestic servant, munitions worker and tingle tangle girl. For all this novel's literary aspirations (it's got italics! there are flash forwards for minor characters!) this is a predictable rags to riches to...? tale. The period detail, especially the despair and seediness of Berlin during WWI and after, is convincing but as a character Lilly remains somewhat vapid and reactive to events so it's hard to really care. So...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Virginia rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best historical fiction books I have ever read. With a WWI Berlin background it weaves a fascinating story of an orphan who eventually becomes a movie star. The characters are very interesting and the plot is riveting. It kept me guessing right up to the end and it just seemed so real that I really had to keep reminding myself it was fiction. The war and its after effects are always in the background, but this novel deals with the German people and how politics affected them n...more

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Sep 11, 2009 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a gorgeous and devastating book. The advertised material makes this novel sound like a fun romp. However, it takes place in Germany at the turn of the 20th century and travels through the life of its protagonist into Hitler's rise. I knew little about the travails that lead to the power of the Nazi's. I recommend this book with the caveat that there was much sadness and depravity in this history and you must be prepared to read about how that translated into the life of a child without...more

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Aug 22, 2009 Sarah Kelsey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: quit-reading-it, chicklit

Bought this while on vacation. It's a rambling story about the German cinema, focusing on Lilly Nelly Aphrodite. If you're interested in the historical aspects of the development of cinema in turn-of-the-century Germany, you'll love this. For me it was like flipping through my neighbor's scrapbook; it holds a passing interest but I'm not likely to remember anything about it once I put it down and walk away. I gave up on this book about 100 pages from the end, skipped to the end, read the last tw...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, historical-fiction

Kind of surprised to see how bad some of the reviews for this are, as I enjoyed it a lot. I'm trying to be more sparing with my five-star ratings (I'm quite generous with my ratings tbh) but couldn't think of anything I disliked about this enough to knock off a star. It was a page-turner. Oh yeah, it's also been published as The Glimmer Palace, I guess because The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite is a bit of a mouthful. I found it lurking in a discount book place for a couple of quid and, never...more Kind of surprised to see how bad some of the reviews for this are, as I enjoyed it a lot. I'm trying to be more sparing with my five-star ratings (I'm quite generous with my ratings tbh) but couldn't think of anything I disliked about this enough to knock off a star. It was a page-turner. Oh yeah, it's also been published as The Glimmer Palace, I guess because The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite is a bit of a mouthful. I found it lurking in a discount book place for a couple of quid and, never having heard of it before, decided to buy it because the cover was pretty. Nice when that works out!

This is set in Berlin from the turn of the century through to the end of World War II. For someone who isn't particularly interested in cinema history, nor a fan of silent film, I found the movie theme surprisingly compelling. If you are a fan of these things I imagine you'll enjoy it even more. The lead character, in the final part of the book, becomes a famous silent movie star, and so throughout the book are little snapshots of the burgeoning film industry, especially in Germany. It quite subtly pervades the book - for a long time Lilly's struggling to survive and has absolutely nothing to do with the movie industry, but little references to movie theatres, cabarets and nightclubs keep sneaking in. I know zero about any of that so it was interesting to pick up an idea of what was going on then, and it was an unusual way to ground the events of the book in history. The blurb on the book made me think she was going to become a glamorous burlesque star before her big break in film, which I was looking forward to, but that really doesn't happen. I can't hold that against the book itself, but be warned if you're only reading the cover spiel.

One thing that I think might turn people off this book is the impersonal narrative style. The narrator is speaking from a distance so you don't really get inside the characters' heads or even get close to them. For me, that actually made me feel more connected with the characters and events because I felt like I was reading a biography of some faded silent film star, and Collins would occasionally veer off for a paragraph or two to tell us what will happen to a minor character in the future, the way you would find in a biography. I could believe that Lilly had been a real person, and that's what made it work for me.

Overall a good read, something a bit different for me.(less)

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Sep 27, 2011 Tracey rated it 1 of 5 stars

The Glimmer Palace tells a dual story of Lilly, born in Berlin on the eve of the 20th century, and of Berlin itself, struggling and shouldering its way along in fits and starts through one world war and into the beginning of the next. Despite Colin's careful, skilled interweaving of historical fact with Lilly's fiction, I found the tale deeply disappointing. Lilly gets slammed by one tragedy after another from infancy onward, suffering loss and deception at every turn. Struggling to hang onto th...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Bxrlover rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-tree-died-for-nothing

I am truly baffled by how this book has managed to garner such consistently high ratings. Being a huge fan of both Michel Faber and Sarah Waters, I fell hook, line and sinker for the GR synopsis, but to liken The Glimmer Palace with anything either of them wrote is a gross overstimation of of Colin's writing abilities. A more apt comparison would have been the disastrous "Perfume:The Story of a Murderer" by Patrick Süskind, or "The Bells" by Richard Harvell.

The writing is overwrought and simplis...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Simay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Simay by: Leanna (Daisy Chain Books)

Shelves: favorites, historical-fiction

This book was a great finish to 2010. It takes place in 20th century Germany and has a lot of historical content as well as a lot of personal stories. The main character is Lilly Nelly Aphrodite, whom we follow throughout the book, starting from the day she was born. I can sum it up like this: she grows up in an orphanage, then she has to leave when the orphanage is closed down, and then she becomes a movie star. And, of course, there are quite a bit of people who walk in and out of her life alo...more

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About Beatrice Colin

After writing poetry in my teens I started to write and perform songs with my band. I became a journalist and then started writing plays for BBC Radio. My first book Nude Untitled was followed by The Disappearing Act. The Glimmer Palace (The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite in the UK) took about five years to write. My new novel, The Songwriter is set in New York in 1916-20 and is published in Mar...more

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The Glimmer Palace

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