The Secret of the Nightingale Palace: A Novel

The real beauty of this novel comes from Goldie's recounts of the past, and of her life spent in San Francisco during the s. Anyone familiar with history during this time period can already guess that since Goldie has possession of a Japanese art collection, she must have had Japanese acquaintances during this time period that were most likely affected by racism and discrimination after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in As a reader, you can only imagine the potential horrendous outcome of Goldie's story - and of her Japanese friends.

Anna's persona takes a turn for the better when she meets this man, and I'll refrain from saying anything more to prevent spoilers. Even the ending of The Secret of the Nightingale Palace is surprising and pleasing - I couldn't have predicted the outcome, or imagined a better ending. Overall, this novel is an exquisite treat that you'll remember for the days, or months, that follow. Don't miss out on this one! For more book reviews, visit http: Feb 02, Kim Fay rated it it was amazing. I love following the career of my favorite authors. I read Dana's first book, "House on Dream Street," about her time in Vietnam in the early s, not long after I myself returned from living there.

It was the first memoir I'd read about post-war Vietnam that felt genuine to me With each book she went on to write, I appreciated the new ways she made me look at a country I love very much. Then she departed from the Vietnam-centric subject mat I love following the career of my favorite authors. Then she departed from the Vietnam-centric subject matter with "The Secret of the Nightingale Palace," and I wondered - will I like it as much as her other books?

The answer is yes! Sachs writes with a unique sense of compassion for culture in the case of this novel, Jewish and Japanese culture, which have much in common, as her characters reveal. The story of a grandmother Goldie and her adult granddaughter Anna traveling across the country to return a piece of art the grandmother was given to take care of by a Japanese friend at the start of WWII, this could be called a family tale.

But it's more than that. The novel shines a light on how far apart the last few generations are in terms of experiences and in terms of mindset. It is a book filled with misunderstandings, but these misunderstandings are essential for the characters to finally, in the end, understand one another. As is always the case with Sach's books, this is a lovely novel, with writing that reminds me of how a gardener cares for her flowers, tending them, nurturing them, and then stepping back and giving them the space to bloom. Jul 06, Amazon rated it really liked it.

Yesterday was the sort of Sunday that Seattle loves to inflict on its inhabitants, so dark that my lamps were on all day and the rain trickled on and off in an annoying drip. I picked up a book that I had been meaning to read for a week, fell into it, and stayed there until bedtime--The Secret of the Nightingale Palace is that sort of book. This morning I woke up haunted by its heroine, simply because I'd never encountered her in fiction before.

Surprisingly and originally, center stage wasn't ta Yesterday was the sort of Sunday that Seattle loves to inflict on its inhabitants, so dark that my lamps were on all day and the rain trickled on and off in an annoying drip. Surprisingly and originally, center stage wasn't taken by the young widow, but the year-old grandmother.

Goldie pops into life on the first page and it's clear that she isn't the typical matriarch; if Anna "had known it was her grandmother calling, she would not have answered at all. At the onset of World War II, Goldie was given a portfolio of priceless Japanese prints to keep safe for a friend who faced internment.

Now she wants to return them to her friend's brother, who owns a large antique business on the opposite coast--and what Goldie wants, Goldie gets. What begins as a simple road trip novel is soon usurped by Goldie's story, Goldie's style, Goldie's secret. The story folds back into San Francisco of the s, where a smart and charismatic young woman finds her footing in one of the city's leading department stores.

She falls deeply in love with a man she can't have and has the brains to go on with her life without him. She educates herself in deliberate ways. She's too smart for that. And she's smart enough to never tell everything she knows--her inner life remains wrapped in Armani and Jean Paul Gaultier until the last page of the last chapter. Nothing in this delightful novel is exactly what it is expected to be. The Nightingale Palace itself is an elegant joke, Goldie's successful first marriage is based upon an unspoken truth, the reason for her cross-country odyssey with her granddaughter becomes almost irrelevant as the trip progresses.

What is always marvelously clear is Goldie's allure, undimmed by age. By the time she is done, everyone who meets her is cognizant of how love of life can keep a woman vibrant, attractive, and a force of nature well into old age. Oct 10, Jennifer rated it it was ok. Or rather, its characters frustrated me. The story and plot were quite good, and kept me interested despite the nasty grandmother and her emotionally stuck grandaughter. Sometimes personal character details were introduced, but didn't really add to the story; Goldie's twisted feet - why mention them so much?

I already understood she was poor, and I already understood she was insecure, so their continual mention was unnecessary. Anna's waffling about her husband's ring also seemed unnecessary. Even with these heavy-handed hints, I still felt like I was missing out on other details. I wanted more about Henry and Goldie - when did they get back in touch?

And why was Goldie such a bitch? Not my fave characters. Bummer, because it's a good story. View all 3 comments. Mar 24, Nada rated it it was ok Shelves: Review first published on my blog: Goldie and Anna were close during Anna's childhood, and yet, they have been estranged for five years since Anna entered into a marriage Goldie did not approve of. Now, Anna is a widow, and Goldie has asked for her help in a cross country journey to return artwork to an old friend. Through this journey, the reader learns of Goldie's past Review first published on my blog: Through this journey, the reader learns of Goldie's past and of Anna's past.

The reader discovers many secrets not shared and a story that intermingles with the story of the Japanese in the United States during World War II.

The story had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it started to encompass way too many elements and became a bit like reading a soap opera. Betrayals both real and perceived. It becomes a story with too many emotional elements such that for me, it lost its reality. Apr 13, Sara rated it liked it. It was a little odd in parts and it took me awhile to engage fully. I think in some ways the author tried to stuff too much into one book.

Grandmother is haughty and granddaughter is mourning a husband who died of leukemia. The parts of the book on her husband and his diagnosis are painful—not in the usual way, but because it was all very ugly. Mar 08, Kelly Hager rated it it was amazing. Based on the summary, you may think "Why do I want to read this? But this is an amazing book, one that completely transcends the "grandmother and granddaughter don't see eye to eye And the summary doesn't even begin to do justice to this book. The writing is gorgeous good luck reading only a ch Based on the summary, you may think "Why do I want to read this?

The writing is gorgeous good luck reading only a chapter or two at a time! Do yourself a favor: Mar 11, Karen White rated it really liked it. This novel doesn't fit neatly into any categories, but I think if you enjoy historical fiction as well as stories about families and relationships between women, it's for you. The major characters are prickly, but they grow on me, especially as I learned more and more of their backstories. I found the way that Anna's husband's illness progressed to be particularly striking. I have a close friend whose mother's life ended in a similar way, with a lot of anger and lashing out at her loved ones, so This novel doesn't fit neatly into any categories, but I think if you enjoy historical fiction as well as stories about families and relationships between women, it's for you.

The Secret of the Nightingale Palace by Dana Sachs

I have a close friend whose mother's life ended in a similar way, with a lot of anger and lashing out at her loved ones, so it resonated with me. Sep 19, Allison rated it really liked it Shelves: What a nice story. At first, I wasn't that interested in the flash backs, but soon, they came to reveal details I wanted. One thing I liked about the book was how the author shared the story indirectly - it's a refreshing way to experience a book. The other thing I enjoyed was unraveling the truth of a history. There's the facts, and there's what we let people know, and the differences between the two can be significant.

Lastly, I like how bits were dropped that became significant later, like "y What a nice story. Lastly, I like how bits were dropped that became significant later, like "you can learn something from anyone" - the last scene showed what she learned from Marvin, which was an unexpected surprise. Apr 20, Maria rated it liked it Shelves: Loved the premise, loved Goldie. The storytelling started off promising, but lost some of its luster in the last third or so of the book. Would be a good read on a long trip I would think. The s portion of the story was probably my favorite part.

Knowing our family history is such an incredible gift.

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This story was told so lovingly and joyfully AND honestly. I have fallen in love with Goldie Anna and Henry Mar 16, Maria rated it it was amazing. I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 4. Just how well do we really know the members in our family and our background?

Likable characters, good dialogue and plenty of emotional angst, make this an unforgettable tale. Balancing a mixture of history and the perspective of I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. Balancing a mixture of history and the perspective of the present and the past, this tale captured my attention and never let go. Dealing with her husband's recent death, Anna Rosenthal is surprised when she receives a call from her grandmother Goldie.

Estranged for over five years, Anna doesn't know if she's up to dealing with Goldie, but because she's family, she knows she doesn't really have much of a choice. Only once in New York, she finds herself agreeing to travel cross country to San Francisco. It seems her grandmother has a collection of valuable Japanese art which needs to be returned to a long lost friend. Goldie Rosenthal has spent her life protecting her family's secrets. A widow herself, Goldie is deeply private, independent and somewhat mysterious.

She also knows she's the only one in the family who might be able to help Anna cope with her loss and get on with her life. Will sharing the secrets of her past, help Goldie give Anna a way to handle the future? The scenes between Anna and Goldie are well written, though occasionally emotionally difficult to get through. While a generation, and lifestyles apart, both women are independent, opinionated and stubborn. Especially Goldie, who's set in her ways.

The Secret of the Nightingale Palace

While Goldie grew up poor and made herself into the wealthy woman she is today, Anna has spent her life trying to atone for her middle class life. It's only as Anna learns of her grandmother's past, and the people that helped shape it, that Anna realizes life always marches on. I really enjoyed how Ms.

Sachs brings both women together by sharing the past. As their journey to San Francisco ends, will what Goldie shares shape the woman Anna needs to become? You'll have to read The Secret of the Nightingale Palace to find out. I know I enjoyed it and I think you will too.

Mar 29, Karen Blinn rated it really liked it. This is a fun book about a cross-country trip in an old Rolls Royce made by an five-year-old grandmother and her thirty-five-year-old granddaughter. Grandma Goldie summoned Anna, her granddaughter, to New York City to drive her to San Francisco, ostensibly to return a set of Japanese prints to their rightful owner. Anna and Goldie had been estranged for the past five years when the summons arrived. Anna's husband, Ford, of whom Goldie never approved, had died of leukemia.

The first section o This is a fun book about a cross-country trip in an old Rolls Royce made by an five-year-old grandmother and her thirty-five-year-old granddaughter. The first section of the book consists mostly of sniping between Goldie and Anna about Ford, and it gets rather tiring.

After they finally hit the road, the book starts to gel with flashbacks from Goldie's past in early 's San Francisco. She was close friends with a Japanese girl and fell in love with her brother. For the most part, the flashbacks are what make the book although the ending, which takes place in the present, really has a big surprise.

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Goldie is quite a character. One keeps hoping that Anna will pull herself together and get on with her life, but five years and two weeks is not long enough to fix all that ails her. Nonetheless, it's a good read once you get going. Stick with it and enjoy. Jan 24, Jennifer rated it liked it. Anna, still grieving over the death of her husband drives her also widowed grandmother, Goldie, across the country from New York to San Francisco.

They have been estranged, and the first part of the journey emphasizes their differences and the reasons they may never completely reach an understanding. An enthralling story of love and passion and Hollywood glamour. News of the World. The Girl Who Came Home. The Witches of New York. The View From Here. If You Lived Here. How to write a great review. The review must be at least 50 characters long.

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