The Grand Design- A Novel of Dorothy Draper by Joy Callaway
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Web ID: 1677835816 reviews
Lovely historical novel rooted in real life
This beautifully researched historical novel brings to life the story of Dorothy Draper, one of America’s most iconic interior designers. Set between 1908 and 1946 at the opulent Greenbrier resort, the novel weaves themes of love, ambition, and societal constraint into a compelling narrative of self-discovery and creative determination. Also a good shot of feminism! Callaway’s attention to historical detail and emotional nuance adds depth to a story that celebrates resilience, originality, and the courage to design a life beyond expectations. It's an inspiring read for fans of historical fiction and women’s stories rooted in real-life achievement. Thank you Harper Muse for the arc copy on Netgalley!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Excellent Historical Fiction
It took a while for me to get invested in this story 'The Grand Design' by Joy Calloway, however it really grew on me about half way through and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a historical fiction novel about the legendary interior designer Dorothy Draper, her work, her loves and life. To be honest I had no idea who Dorothy Draper was until I looked up the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia and saw her amazing designs. Her use of color is is fantastical and even though so much of it is so over the top, it works beautifully. Now I have to go there! The story was well told. Dorothy was a wealthy heiress who wanted more to life than just being a coddled wife and mother. She was always trying to buck the system and by all intents and purposes she did. She was driven and it shows in her beautiful accomplishments and work. I listened to an audio version of this book and the narrator was very good. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars. Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Muse Audiobooks | Harper Muse for a chance to listen/read an ARC audio version of this book. This is a review of the audiobook.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Greenbrier Resort and Dorothy Draper
I thought that the story showed very well how women at the turn of the 20th century were supposed to find a suitable husband and raise a family. The idea of having a business was just not entertained The focal point here is Greenbrier Resort where the Vanderbilts, Abercrombies, Tafts and other notables at the time would vacation. In 1908 Dorothy falls in love with the exotic Enzo. I found the different time lines confusing, like I was missing a plot point from 1908 to the 1940s. The romance wasn't really a romance and I didn't really know anything about Dorothy's friends and I didn't like Dorothy much. To me she was selfish, arrogant and insecure. I thought Warren seemed like a nice guy and deserved better than Dorothy. Then there was Enzo, the race car driver, who had to get married. It didn't feel like a great love story, just a summer dalliance. The story has different time lines, one is 1908, then in the 40s after the war. I found that confusing and things seemed to be left hanging. I thought I would try the audio book but ended up reading. When the narrator tried to do a male Italian accent I cringed. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for providing me with a digital copy.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Good Historical Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 Stars (Good) Setting: Primary Location- The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia; Time Periods- 1908 (Edwardian-era high society) and 1946 (post-WWII America) Genre: Historical Fiction; Biographical Fiction The Grand Design by Joy Callaway had so much potential—strong historical roots, a fascinating real-life figure, and the always-enchanting backdrop of The Greenbrier. I was especially drawn in by the dual timelines: young Dorothy, full of longing and defiance in 1908, and seasoned Dorothy, boldly breaking societal rules in the 1940s. I appreciated the contrast and the continuity in her character. That said, while the premise and setting were captivating, the story itself felt uneven. The pacing lagged in parts, and the romance in the earlier timeline didn’t resonate as deeply as I hoped. Dorothy Draper’s trailblazing life should’ve leapt off the page, but at times, it felt like the narrative was more focused on the wallpaper than the woman. I wanted more depth, more emotion, and less description of drapery. Still, the book shines when it touches on the struggle of being a woman with vision in a world built to contain her. I loved seeing Dorothy return to The Greenbrier with determination and courage, determined to make a mark—on its walls, and on history. This was a story I wanted to love. In the end, I liked it—but didn’t quite fall head over heels. #thegranddesign #booked_this_weekend
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Ahead of her time
Loosely autobiographical story of Dororthy Draper and the Greenbriar Resort starting in the early 1900s. She stayed there as a young girl, and later, as a decorator redesigned it and brought it back after it had been used during the war as a hospital and internment for political prisoners. Being a decorator back then was not typical for a woman. Dorothy was a wealthy heiress: a woman having a profession wasn't done. The story is a love story for Dorothy and for the resort as a special place. Royalty, actors, actresses, political greats and the wealthy all enjoyed staying there, with all of their secrets. I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. #TheGrandDesign #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #HarperMuse #HistoricalFiction #JoyCallaway
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Strong woman character
Dorothy is a rebel! She has divorced her husband and has started the first ever design firm in America. Dorothy has now been tasked to restore some of the elegance to her old stomping ground, The Greenbrier. And she must do her best work. Her design firm is on the rocks and she needs this job to keep her and her employees afloat. I love a novel based on a true story and Dorothy is an amazing woman. But, I felt like something was missing in the story. It is very well researched, however, it is just a bit slow and maybe a bit redundant in places. But, I am so glad I read it. I love to learn about women who decide not to follow the conventional and Dorothy definitely did life her way. She is smart and hardworking and she changed her stars! Need a good historical fiction novel with a strong woman you probably never heard of…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today! I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Historical Fiction Biography of Dorothy Draper
The Greenbrier Resort is a piece of historical fiction that tells a partially imagined account of the life of famed interior designer, Dorothy Draper. The Greenbrier remodel is considered her crown jewel and in this work of fiction, the author imagines why the Greenbrier was so special to Draper. This story includes well researched historical information as well as an engaging storyline that is created from the author and not based on history. This story is told in dual timelines. It is not a mystery or thriller and the pace is meandering, just like the Southern atmosphere you'll find in this book. We move back and forth in time between teenage Dorothy whose parents are pressuring her into a marriage and grown Dorothy who has bucked everyone's expectations of her and become a successful, if not quirky, business owner. This book was really well done. I could not put it down and read it in one weekend. I enjoyed the imagined story that seemed like it could have been based on real life. I loved getting into the mind and heart of Dorothy Draper and seeing how her life circumstances had influenced her work and mindset. I felt like there was a clear distinction between young Dorothy and elder Dorothy and felt like the author did a great job of expressing this well. Honestly, please don't read this book if you're going through a hard time. The entire tone of the book is pessimistic and melancholy. I thought it was written well and this feel was perfect for the story and the book. But it will just bring you down and make you sad. The book does end on a happy note, but it is so long coming, that it really just depressed me! That being said, I would highly recommend this book. I love learning about the interior life of prominent women. This is not a blatant support for any political or social system, but shares openly what life was like during the timeline of Dorothy Draper's life. It doesn't sugarcoat her faults, but it also highlights her strengths. I highly recommend this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A story about an old hotel and resort!
In 1908. Dorothy Tuckerman’s family stay every summer at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. This year her parents are putting pressure on her to court and marry Warren Abercrombie and the only feelings Dorothy has for him are as a friend. Fiorenzo Rossi a handsome Italian racing car driver is staying at the resort with his uncle and suddenly Dorothy’s contemplating taking a different path to the one her parents have planned for her. Will she do what her parents and society expect of her or will Dorothy throw caution to the wind and follow her heart! In 1946. Dorothy Draper is a divorced mother and she’s started her own interior design business. The Second World War has ended, she has been given the job of transforming the Ashford General Hospital or the Greenbrier Resort into a luxury hotel. The old resort where she stayed with her family years ago is gone, in it's place is a larger building and it needs a lot of work. The dual timeline story follows Dorothy from being a young debutante, a woman who has been through a war, the great depression, a divorce, and is now a career woman. After her marriage ended, a way of keeping her mind off her problems was to surround herself with bright colors and she found it exciting styling a new room and now she has to do this for an entire hotel, with a budget and she’s feeling the pressure. Dorothy needs the commission from this job to keep her business afloat and she doesn't want to have to fire her dedicated staff. Dorothy has a vision, using some original fixtures and furniture and her new innovative ideas. I received a copy of The Grand Design by Joy Callaway from HarperCollins Focus in exchange for an honest review. Prior to reading this book I had never heard of Dorothy Draper, she’s an inspirational woman and a pioneer in modern interior design. If you like historical fiction about architecture, old buildings and decorating them, I highly recommend this well written book and five stars from me.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com