Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford Book Review

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford Book Review

The lowdown from Goodreads

Publication Date September 12, 2017

For twelve-year-old Ernest Young, a charity student at a boarding school, the chance to go to the World’s Fair feels like a gift. But only once he’s there, amid the exotic exhibits, fireworks, and Ferris wheels, does he discover that he is the one who is actually the prize. The half-Chinese orphan is astounded to learn he will be raffled off–a healthy boy “to a good home.”

The winning ticket belongs to the flamboyant madam of a high-class brothel, famous for educating her girls. There, Ernest becomes the new houseboy and befriends Maisie, the madam’s precocious daughter, and a bold scullery maid named Fahn. Their friendship and affection form the first real family Ernest has ever known–and against all odds, this new sporting life gives him the sense of home he’s always desired.

But as the grande dame succumbs to an occupational hazard and their world of finery begins to crumble, all three must grapple with hope, ambition, and first love.

Fifty years later, in the shadow of Seattle’s second World’s Fair, Ernest struggles to help his ailing wife reconcile who she once was with who she wanted to be, while trying to keep family secrets hidden from their grown-up daughters.

Against a rich backdrop of post-Victorian vice, suffrage, and celebration, Love and Other Consolations is an enchanting tale about innocence and devotion–in a world where everything, and everyone, is for sale.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford Book Review

One of my favorite books is The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I really enjoyed hearing all about the Chicago World’s Fair. When I saw the premise of Love and Other Consolation Prizes, I knew it had to give it a go.

A Raffle for a Baby

Did you know a baby was raffled off at the Seattle World’s Fair? I sure didn’t. I found it hard to believe & so did the author, Jamie Ford. Check out this interview with Bookpage to learn more about his inspiration in writing this novel. Reading is more enjoyable when I learn about an author’s thought process behind the words.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes follows an imagined version of the raffled child, Ernest. Readers learn all about him. We travel with Ernest on his way to America. As Ernest makes his way through life in Seattle, he experiences hurt, love, loss & hope.

A Span of Fifty Years

I love how Jamie Ford switches between the past & the present. This writing style gives the story a bit more mystery, which I quite enjoy. We know the older Ernest is taking care of his wife, but I wasn’t sure who exactly he married. It also seems like there is a great deal of information Ernest doesn’t want his daughter to find out. Of course, this means my nosy self wants to know every juicy detail!

True story- I read half of his book & set it down for months. There’s no good reason why other than I got tied up and distracted. The thing is, Ernest and Seattle stayed with me during the time I was waiting to finish Love and Other Consolation Prizes. As soon as I picked the story back up, I was again transported to Ernest’s story. I think that speaks to Jamie’s talent as a storyteller.

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book! If you’re looking for a great book club read, Love and Other Consolation Prizes is a winner! The story is filled with history & a beautiful story. Readers can’t ask for much more.

Special thanks to Jamie Ford, Random House – Ballantine Books & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JAMIE FORD

My name is James.

Yes, I’m a dude.

I’m also the New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet—which was, in no particular order, an IndieBound NEXT List Selection, a Borders Original Voices Selection, a Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection, Pennie’s Pick at Costco, a Target Bookmarked Club Pick, and a National Bestseller. It was also named the #1 Book Club Pick for Fall 2009/Winter 2010 by the American Booksellers Association.

In addition, Hotel has been translated into 35 languages. I’m still holding out for Klingon (that’s when you know you’ve made it).

My second novel, Songs of Willow Frost was published September 2013.

My latest novel, Love and Other Consolation Prizes, will be published September 12, 2017.

On the personal side, I’m the proud father of more teenagers than I can keep track of. Yep, it’s chaos, but the good kind of chaos.