The story takes place in London during the 1850′; the setting is a familiar place to return to in literature for those who’ve read a lot of classics. The story has multiple characters all with compelling backstories and fascinating story arcs. There is Iris and her twin sister Rose who work in the doll factory the book is named after. However, Iris aspires to be an artist, something unheard of at that time. She agrees to model for Louis in exchange for painting lessons and over time they start feeling for each other. Albie is a street urchin who does all kinds of work, including taking animal corpses to a taxidermist called Silas. Albie’s perspective shows the shadier side of London. Silas’s perspective is the darkest for he develops an obsession for Iris that only grows as the story continues.
The book truly transports the reader to the setting and the author’s attention to detail makes the tale more immersive. Her writing is simple but it draws the reader in and each perspective has a charm of its own, no matter how dark. The book is also a lesson both in history and art for readers for you feel you learn so much. It’s a good book to read slowly, though you’ll be tempted to race through it.
How critics view the book:
“A sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art and obsession,” said Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train
“A stunningly confident first novel with a real sense of period and place . . . thoroughly engrossing,” said author Ian Rankin
