The Flamboyant - Hardcover

Carlson, Lori Marie

3.16

43 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0066210682 ISBN 13: 9780066210681

Publisher: HarperCol, 2002

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Set in the 1920s and 1930s, The Flamboyant tells the life story of Lenora Demarest, an American beauty intent on achieving fulfillment as the first aviatrix in her adopted country of Puerto Rico.

Born in 1900, on the cusp of sweeping change in American society, Lenora grows up in a quaint lakeside village in western New York State in the company of her adoring parents and their intellectual friends, After her mother's sudden death, she accompanies her grief-stricken father, Dr. Henry Demarest, to a lush hacienda on the northern coast of Puerto Rico. Over the next decade, they turn their tropical estate into a successful grapefruit plantation, and Henry remarries.

Meanwhile, Lenora is courted by a dashing American aviator who awakens in her a passion for flying, and a gentle, wealthy Puerto Rican entrepreneur who stops at little to win her affection. In love with both men, Lenora nevertheless confounds her family and friends by her reactions to these very different suitors.

Inspired by the life of a historical figure, and set against the vibrant backdrop of colonial politics, The Flamboyant traces the inner life of a quintessential modern woman -- spirited and determined to live out her dreams. In language that captures the great natural splendor of rural New York as well as the Caribbean, it also evokes, in exhilarating colors, the magic of early aviation and pays tribute to an American heroine ahead of her time.

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About the Author:

Lori Marie Carlson was born in Jamestown, New York. She holds an M.A. in Hispanic Literature from Indiana University and has taught at several universities. Carlson is also the author of seven books for young adults, including the acclaimed Cool Salsa. The Sunday Tertulia is her first novel. She lives in New York City.

From AudioFile:

When Lenora Demarest meets dashing aviator George Hansen at the turn of the century, she decides she wants to fly. Anna Fields reads the account of this young aviatrix as she travels between her lives in New York and Puerto Rico, spanning almost twenty years. The story itself is beautifully written, with lush prose describing the flora and fauna of Lenora's surroundings. Oddly, though, for such an interesting life and engaging tale, Carlson tells the story largely without drama or passion, leaving Anna Fields little with which to demonstrate her range. Despite this, Fields does an impressive job, struggling only with her portrayals of the American men, who often sound nasally or stiff. Other than that, the book is worth a listen. H.L.S. � AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright � AudioFile, Portland, Maine

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