The Luminous Life of Lily Aphrodite
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Review
'Huge, beautiful 2008 novel...there's confidence in its scope and ambition that's very rare indeed in debut novels'
(The List )'The novel is full of atmosphere...very convincing" "excellent characterisation...the whole story resonates with life. I Loved it" "Irresistible" "If your book club wants an unusual story with plenty to discuss, then this is the book for them'
(New Books )'The storytelling is masterful and the language magical'
(Sunday Times )'A transfixing concerto of intrigue, passion, desperation, intrigue, love, heroism and tragedy'
(Easy Living )'Intricately plotted and filled with memorable characters, Beatrice Colin's gorgeous novel is a lush delight that perfectly captures the spirit of Berlin ... compelling'
(The Gloss )'Colin's descriptions of Berlin are as vibrant and alive as Lilly and the rich cast of characters around her'
(Scotland on Sunday )'An exceptional novel . . . Colin is an entertaining storyteller'
(Sunday Herald )'Bold, solid and clever'
(Herald )'A big, plush velvet cushion of a book'
(The List )'Deftly captures the era's sense of frenzied invention and seductive promise. Born on New Year's Eve in 1899, Lilly is the incarnation of this toxic mix of glitter and despair. Over the course of nearly half a century, as troops parade through Berlin and bread lines erupt into riots, she is transformed, almost accidentally, from Tiny Lil, the unwanted baby, to Lidi, one of Germany's most celebrated film stars . . . Colin . . . writes with a supple, whimsical charm. [The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite is] absorbing in its . . . authenticity'
'As moving as it is smart, this tough-minded extravaganza had me from page one . . . a dazzling tale of survival in the urban wilderness' (Emma Donoghue, author of the bestselling SLAMMERKIN )
'Written with intelligence and shimmer, [The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite] transports the reader to Berlin in the first part of the twentieth century. Colin's heroine, Lilly Aphrodite, is as rich, alive, and dangerous as the city she inhabits; and as the novel progresses, Berlin's history becomes her own.' (David Ebershoff, author of The Danish Girl and The 19th Wife )
'There are few characters as beguiling as the incomparable Tiny Lil. And Colin tells her riveting story--and the enthralling story of pre-war Berlin--breathlessly and triumphantly.' (Jennifer Gilmore, author of Golden Country )
'A compelling story well told'
'Decadent, tantalising'
(Axis Magazine )'This gripping and darkly seductive novel showcases the glitter and darkness of the Weimar Republic'
(Western Daily Press )'A cartload of tingle-tangle fun'
(Bookmunch )'This absorbing read is both well researched and plushly written'
(Guardian )'Full of suspense, this is an all-feeling novel, seductively and dramatically told'
(Daily Mail )'A sparkling array of Germany's most flamboyant characters ... intelligent, bold and passionate, this is a beautifully written book'
(Good Book Guide )Product Description
As the clock chimed the turn of the twentieth century, Lilly Nelly Aphrodite took her first breath. Born to a cabaret dancer and soon orphaned in a scandalous double murder, Lilly finds refuge at a Catholic orphanage, coming under the wing of the, at times, severe Sister August, the first in a string of lost loves.
There she meets Hanne Schmidt, a teen prostitute, and forms a bond that will last them through tumultuous love affairs, disastrous marriages, and destitution during the First World War and the subsequent economic collapse. As the century progresses, Lilly and Hanne move from the tawdry glamour of the tingle-tangle nightclubs to the shadow world of health films before Lilly finds success and stardom in the new medium of motion pictures and ultimately falls in love with a man whose fate could cost her everything she has worked for or help her discover her true self.
Gripping and darkly seductive, The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite showcases all the glitter and splendour of the brief heyday of the Weimar Republic, and the rise of Hollywood to its golden age. As it foreshadows the horrors of the Second World War, the novel asks what price is paid when identity becomes unfixed and the social order is upended.
There she meets Hanne Schmidt, a teen prostitute, and forms a bond that will last them through tumultuous love affairs, disastrous marriages, and destitution during the First World War and the subsequent economic collapse. As the century progresses, Lilly and Hanne move from the tawdry glamour of the tingle-tangle nightclubs to the shadow world of health films before Lilly finds success and stardom in the new medium of motion pictures and ultimately falls in love with a man whose fate could cost her everything she has worked for or help her discover her true self.
Gripping and darkly seductive, The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite showcases all the glitter and splendour of the brief heyday of the Weimar Republic, and the rise of Hollywood to its golden age. As it foreshadows the horrors of the Second World War, the novel asks what price is paid when identity becomes unfixed and the social order is upended.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this after reading good things about it, and I am so happy I did. This is a wonderful story, filled with emotion, colour and poetic description of even the worst mentionalble fact. Filled to the rim with love, despair, friends and foes, it paints a different picture of the Berlin, and it's two devestating wars, than I knew before. And it has made me want to revisit, both the city and the book.
It is a rather simple story of a girl, orphaned at an early age, and her struggle to survive through childhood years, teen years and eventually growing up to be an incredible woman, and germany's most loved move star.
Written so beautifully you think you can actually smell it's sinful sweetness...
I just recomend it! Read it, enjoy it, savour it!
It is a rather simple story of a girl, orphaned at an early age, and her struggle to survive through childhood years, teen years and eventually growing up to be an incredible woman, and germany's most loved move star.
Written so beautifully you think you can actually smell it's sinful sweetness...
I just recomend it! Read it, enjoy it, savour it!
44 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Luminous Life of lily Aphrodite starts with Lily's birth wrapped in blue material and something of a novelty. She quickly becomes orphaned however and lily's novelty fades as she becomes a child in the Berlin orphanage under the watchful eye of Sister August. Lily's only friend is feloow orphan Hanne and while she has too much experience of the outside world Lily has none, making them an unlikely pairing. Yet as the orphanage closes Lily must face the Berlin that lies beyond the orphanage walls and splitting up from Hanne Lily's real story begins. She quickly develops from a child into a young woman struggling to survive. As Berlin seems to race towards the First World War life revolves around Lily and then sweeps her along. While Lily seems to alway teeter between respectability and poverty, Hanne falls head first into the seedy side of life and the relationship between the two becomes that terrible mix of love and hate displayed by best friends.
Lily is a wonderful character who leads us through Berlin's interwar years, through starvation, inflation, depression and joy. Lily's life reflects that of the city - full of hope and joy then taken over by danger and destruction. Lily's salvation comes from a Russian film director Ilya, who sees her talent and beauty and makes her a great film star.
This is an amazing novel, depicting the German film world and Berlin's 'tingle-tangle' clubs through the experiences of a young woman just struggling to survive in the safest way possible. A book that has to be finished once started and while often sad it is always compelling.
Lily is a wonderful character who leads us through Berlin's interwar years, through starvation, inflation, depression and joy. Lily's life reflects that of the city - full of hope and joy then taken over by danger and destruction. Lily's salvation comes from a Russian film director Ilya, who sees her talent and beauty and makes her a great film star.
This is an amazing novel, depicting the German film world and Berlin's 'tingle-tangle' clubs through the experiences of a young woman just struggling to survive in the safest way possible. A book that has to be finished once started and while often sad it is always compelling.
71 of 87 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This books displays the short but heady days of film making in the Weimar Republic and the climb of Hollywood into its golden age, all foreshadowed by the coming horrors of war. This is accomplished by following the life of Lilly Nelly Aphrodite, orphaned as a baby after both her parents are killed in a lovers quarrel. Her early years are spent in an orphanage and finds herself under the wing of stern Sister August. Here she befriends, Hanne Schmidt teen prostitute. The two woman form a sisterly bond that will last them through their lives from Germany's tawdry night clubs through failed marriages, Lilly's rise to movie stardom in silent films and her love affair with a man who could cost her everything. The Author does a wonderful job of breathing life into his characters and the time period. It was also obvious the author has done extensive research on his subject. I was fascinated to learn about the glamour days of German movie making after World War I through the rise of the Nazi's. German films of the 20's and early thirties were free from censorship and explored sexual themes including homosexuality. It was further interesting to learn how German film making eventually effected American Cinema. In the end however, this is the story of Lilly and the author is able to portray her rough and tumble life that never flounders in sentimentality. Highly recommended! For more excellent historical fiction about the movie industry I also recommend "Misfits Country" Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable brilliantly portrayed in there final movie rolls.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Recommended read of unusual survival and relationships
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I do think it deserves 5 stars. This is the first review that I have written, but I really felt I had to after reading this. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Amy J
Charming, just like its heroine.
The thing with this book is that the author gets you to fall in love with Lily very early on, pretty much like every other character that meets her through the novel. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Pilar
Beware! This is a tragic tale!
*sigh* i bought this book because the title sounded nice and i rather like tales set in the early 1900s. But my goodness did it disturb me! Read more
Published 15 months ago by S. Duke
Stunning - unusual - different - engaging
I have just finished reading this book and I am lost for words to praise Beatrice Colin and her excellent writing. Read more
Published 16 months ago by ginalaliq
An historically accurate historical novel
I feel a bit mean by not giving this five stars, because it was so very nearly there.
A hugely atmospheric novel (it was this, I think, that made it stand out from the... Read more
A hugely atmospheric novel (it was this, I think, that made it stand out from the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Lauren H
Fantastic book
I really enjoyed this book, found the characters engaging, and a great storyline. Fantastic writing and a really gripping story.
Published 17 months ago by LauraJane
Great novel
Really enjoyed this book. Would recommend it highly - fascinaing story, the writing draws you in and creates a world that you can picture really clearly.
Published 17 months ago by Spangles
A book to consider
An evocative poignant, at times amusing, story of Germany pre WW11 - decadence, destruction and survival wrapped in exoticism.
Published 20 months ago by sabibhu
Life is a cabaret old chum...
Fabulous book, absorbing, flows like a dream. If you like the film 'Cabaret' you'll love this, it has the same jest and depth. One you'll press on friends and family.
Published 21 months ago by C. Magowan
The Luminous Life of Lily Aphrodite
Choosen for our book club, all agreed this was the best book we have read to date, totally thought provoking and at times horrifying but captivating.
Published on 18 May 2010 by J. Mackay
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