I want to start by stating when I signed up to read this as part of the Book Club Bash, I had not realized I had at one point begun to read it last year when it came out. The opening scene turned me off and I was not interested in reading about a male protagonist at the time mainly, from what I can remember, because of the way she does character building. I did not like Alex at first so I had put it aside and never did finish it. Boy I could not have been more wrong, the beginning may bother you like it did me the first time and again this is all because of how Ms. Domovitch does her character building. Just one example of this is how she uses the experiences of the past to develop the experiences in the future for the group of players within the pages of Scorpio Rising. My advice? Push on through the first two or three chapters you will not be disappointed.
There are two main protagonist and a few supporting characters in this who come together in a type of blended montage of old and new. Ms. Domovitch writes in alternating narratives and with the all the characters having such strong voices it is easy to follow. The narratives blend and weave back and forth, their stories each seeming to have the flavors of different literary pieces from the past, almost a classical feeling. And with the story's setting from the era of early 1940's America and France to the early to mid 1960's it gives it an edge of those paperbacks you would find around the summer rental growing up (if you are my age which is mid-40's).
Alex comes from a horrific childhood which he did not let set him back in his dreams in fact he uses these experiences as a way to catapult and keep them solidified throughout his advanced schooling to be an architect. Despite his mother being a prostitute who would practice her trade while he tried to sleep in his own bed, in the same room, he ended up achieving one dream, to finish school and move across the bridge and into Manhattan where his dreams rose above the tallest buildings and beyond. However he never was quite able to rid himself as many of us have experienced in our lives, of all the dirty remnants of the past. Damaging his ability to have any lasting or healthy relationships with women, which will end up biting him back hard in the end, it ends up doing the opposite to his ambition. His drive was strong and at the expense of repeating another reviewer, I to had the feeling of Mad Men, which makes sense since it is set to be in the expanse of the 1940'so the early 60's, however for me it reminded me more of the 1970's era. There was a sense of the disco mentality, but I am wondering if the feeling was due to his lack of being able to connect emotionally with not just women but anyone. The 70's were all about the "me" no one made connections on an intimate level. It was a rebellion of the 60's love fest where you love everyone and the beginning of the love myself, not thy neighbor. I am taken to the backseat of the car at the beginning scene to "Saturday Night Fever" where in the end his exclamation of, "what was your name again?" comes to mind.
Brigitte gave me the same feeling I had when I read a novel years ago based on the early life of Coco Chanel. It had the same feeling of rising from the bottom and entering into a world from nothing to become something and shining. Like Alex, she took what she had from a broken home, quite literally in fact and had to overcome her misconceptions and warped sense of relationships due to the abuse from her step-father and abandonment of her mother. Through her rebirth she ends up not only being able to cope but nearing the end of her this part of the series, end up being an influence to so many with her art.
Bridgette's story is still at the beginning, at least for me, and her character is not as strong as Coco's (and she will not go on to spy for Nazi Germany either) but as with Coco in the 20's she created style as she moved upward with experience, talent and age. Bridgette has many facet's and aspects which I have yet to really come to terms with, though I think this has more to do with the fact of the author having her past come back to haunt her constantly. Alex also has his past beginning to bite him in his nether regions but it has yet to be addressed fully in this novel, he first in the Scorpio Series.
The story builds into a strong and tall tale, structurally sound and full of bright colors where there was once the water-color mix of brownish grey; a 2 year old's blend of everything in her small white palette to an exquisite use of oil's used in a striking presentation of strength, beauty and grace. Each character becoming more and more complex as they gain not only life experience, but reclaim their damaged existence by creating their own futures. When they meet it can be described as a multimedia collage in narrative voices, some convoluted weaker sub-plots which stand up within the story due to the stronger "medium" of the main characters and presented on a global canvas.
My main issues are it took to long to get to the point, though a solid read, and one I could not stop reading once I was able to plug my way through all the back stories, was it ended with way to many ribbons and trails left untold and unfinished. I hope they are wrapped up in the second and final book, and considering our cliff hanger they will. Another issue is how easily Alex seems to give up his dream, but... perhaps he does not? No one knows until they pick the second one up, The Sting of The Scorpio (available on Amazon).
I highly recommend this as a not only a great book club read, but also one that would be great over the holidays when visiting those wonderful families we oh so miss each year and when we get there we need to find a bit of escape. This would be a grand way to escape the chaos of the holidays.
Reminiscent of Jeffrey Archer or Barbara Taylor Bradford novels, Monique Domovitch’s Scorpio Rising tells the separate tales of two wounded young people in the 1950s, one in America, one in France. The reader knows from the start they’re destined to meet, and the moment young Alex enters an architectural competition culminating in Paris there’s an eager sense of anticipation. But the path to meeting, even the path to survival, is strewn with challenges. In Brooklyn, 12-year-old Alex dreams tall buildings and decides to break the same sexual rules his mother flaunts. Meanwhile in Paris Brigitte Dartois stumbles from abuse of one kind to another, earnestly trying to believe in herself and her future. Alex is goal-driven, Brigitte strives for hope. But both know the shape of the art they want to create. And when they finally meet, both quickly recognize kindred spirits and true love.
Yes, it’s a love story, eventually. But it’s more than a romance. The cities of New York and Paris come to life, the cultures of architecture, fashion and art display their light and darker sides, and the era of the 1950s resonates with nicely woven details of everyday life. The writing is pleasingly fast and clear—no lingering looks, no hot breaths of passion and desire, nor even angst-driven depictions of the sexual misconduct that’s wounded this pair.
The timelines of the stories fit neatly together as the chapters progress, one in Alex’s world, one in Brigitte’s, leaving no confusion and keeping the reader turning pages faster and faster towards the end. And then, as everything’s resolved, there’s that final preview of further troubles awaiting, just in time to remind you there’s a sequel out there. Quick reading, no temptation to skim, flawed but attractive characters, and a well-told tale, this is one I have no trouble recommending.
Disclosure: I received a free ecopy in exchange for my honest review.
Diverse cultures intertwine as Monique Domovitch sets the stage for a very spectacular read. Set in the 1940's, the book catapults us into the lives of Alex Ivanov and Brigitte Dartois, two people who have no idea, as of yet, that they exist within each others worlds. Told between the perspectives of each of the characters, we're able to glimpse their triumphs and defeats, their loves and their losses, and the determination that rumbles throughout their very cores as they seek to establish themselves within the worlds they live in.
Alex, the son of a Russian immigrant, is intent on claiming the best of what the world has to offer. He's not content on being ordinary and dreams of achieving the success that his parents never had. Setting aside his insecurities, he sets off to stake his claim, intent on making his name known through out the highest circles. All the while, he makes sure his mother is comfortably provided for. Despite the fact that there are those who seek to drag him down, he's determined to show everyone that he can make the best of what he's given and immerses himself in every task he undertakes.
Brigitte Dartois' life has never been easy. Losing her father at the age of thirteen, she feels a tad embittered by the fact that her mother has remarried so quickly. Her faith in those around her is further tested when her stepfather commits injustices against her every chance he gets. When her mother accidentally discovers her new husband within her daughter's bed, she finds herself on the streets with nothing to her name and no money within her pockets.
Flitting through life and adjusting to changes as they come along, Alex and Brigitte refuse to accept the cards they have been dealth. Their only goal is in achieving a better future - the drive that spurs them on, something we can all definitely relate to. It's hard to settle for the mediocre when something better sits around the corner.
Soon their paths unexpectedly intertwine. Alex finds himself intrigued by the beautiful woman and knows he has to stake his claim on her somehow. Brigitte, on the other hand, has her reservations about losing herself to a man she barely knows. Yet the call of the heart is hard to ignore. Little by little, the ice begins to melt and she finds herself feeling things she never knew were possible.
As they give in to the passions harbored deep inside, they realize they have nothing left to lose. Acceptance is sometimes hard to come by but with the love of another anything is possible. Yet little do they know, the ghosts of the past can sometimes come back to haunt you.
I truly enjoyed this book very much and am so looking forward to reading it's counterpart soon. Monique is quite the storyteller and she draws you in to her story from the very first page. So much so, you find yourself so immersed within the book that it's hard to put down.
Reviewed by Anne B. for Readers Favorite
Scorpio Rising by Monique Domovitch is book 1 in The Scorpio Series. Upon the pages of this book a drama concerning the lives of two distinct individuals is played out. This is the story of a young boy and girl on separate journeys to better their lives.
Russian descent, Alexander Yvanov was born in Brooklyn. His father left as soon he was born. With a mother who prostitutes herself to put food on the table. Alex was determined to n
Climb his way to success and become a successful architect.
Brigitte Dartois' childhood was difficult. She lost her father at an early age. The beautiful teenager loved to draw. After her father remarried, her step-father repeatedly raped her until her mother caught them. She tossed Brigitte out on the streets. Brigitte was determined to achieve a better life despite the obstacles she must overcome. She was only sixteen years old when she discovered she was pregnant; she debated whether to have an abortion, put the baby up for adoption or to keep the child.
Eventually Alex and Brigitte meet and must decide between success and a lift together.
I found this book quite enticing and very difficult to put down. In fact I read it in one morning. The lead characters Brigitte and Alex are quite captivating and work well together. Domovitch is a master of characterization, even developing the cast of secondary characters. This would make a great movie. This plot has it all drama dealing with life in general, greed, and deception. This book plays on the readers emotions, with an ending that leaves the reader ready to jump into the sequel. If you enjoy a good drama, this is the book for you.
Anonymous
Posted October 20, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
