City of Flickering Light

By: Juliette Fay

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Juliette Fay - "one of the best authors of women's fiction" (Library Journal) - transports us back to the Golden Age of Hollywood and the raucous Roaring 20s, as three friends struggle to earn their places among the stars of the silent screen - perfect for fans of La La Land and Rules of Civility.

It's July 1921, "flickers" are all the rage, and Irene Van Beck has just declared her own independence by jumping off a moving train to escape her fate in a traveling burlesque show. When her friends, fellow dancer Millie Martin and comedian Henry Weiss, leap after her, the trio finds their way to the bright lights of Hollywood with hopes of making it big in the burgeoning silent film industry.

At first glance, Hollywood in the 1920s is like no other place on earth - iridescent, scandalous, and utterly exhilarating - and the three friends yearn for a life they could only have dreamed of before. But despite the glamour and seduction of Tinseltown, success doesn't come easy, and nothing can prepare Irene, Millie, and Henry for the poverty, temptation, and heartbreak that lie ahead. With their ambitions challenged by both the men above them and the prejudice surrounding them, their friendship is the only constant through desperate times, as each struggles to find their true calling in an uncertain world. What begins as a quest for fame and fortune soon becomes a collective search for love, acceptance, and fulfillment as they navigate the backlots and stage sets where the illusions of the silver screen are brought to life.

With her "trademark wit and grace" (Randy Susan Meyers, author of The Murderer's Daughters), Juliette Fay crafts another radiant and fascinating historical novel as thrilling as the bygone era of Hollywood itself.

©2019 Juliette Fay (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

fun story

love the whole story it kept you going from beginning to end. The friendships the heartaches highly recommend this book to everyone

Really enjoyed this book!

I love historical fiction. I listened to the authors note after the book. Wish I had listened to this first. Although fiction, information was given on which real life people the characters were based on. I purchased another book about some of the true characters mentioned in the book while listening - and this book was recommended in the author’s notes!

In my head....

I can just picture these characters and what they trudged through to make it in Hollywood. I love the after story, as well.
Thank you and keep writing!

An Easy Listen. Good research.

Think of this audio novel as a very good B movie. It was predictable but interesting, heartwarming but not unduly sappy. I liked the care the author put into the characters and the gentle and fairly effective voice of the narrator.

Enjoyed it. A but forced but a good story

Feels a bit like the author tried to fit in too many characters and concepts into one story but I learned a lot and really enjoy it.

Good listen!

I chose this book because I’d finished “The Tumbling Turner Sisters”, had enjoyed it, and so I thought I’d try another one by Juliette Fay. It was interesting and the characters were likeable! It wasn’t anything spectacular but it passed my time in an enjoyable and entertaining way! I loved that Gert Turner showed up as a character in this book & that the storyline with her and Tip (from The Tumbling Turner Sisters) was tied up in this book. If you’re looking for historical fiction about some great friendships, then this is one you’ll like!

Great characters!

A surprisingly lovely and fun read. The author clearly researched this era, and loosely based her characters on real- life legends (to which she attributes traits in epilogue Author’s Note). Perfect narration, restrained but animated. Five stars!

Strong character development.

Interesting historical references. Enjoyed the author's notes at the end. Lots of diversity topics woven into the story reflecting the fact that we have always been a diverse people, just unwilling to acknowledge it or have tolerance and compassion for one another. Enjoyable read/ listen.

Good Story

Very interesting, entertaining and well written. Narration was great. Loved all the historic details intertwined in the story.

enjoyed this book

it was a bit of a slow start for me but once it got going I was hooked. I was so invested in the characters. It gave me The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo vibes. definitely recommend