Grayscale

Book 12 - A book with antonyms in the title

My Life in Black and White by Kim Izzo

This one is a little different. Before purchasing this novel I didn't know who the author was, I didn't even know the book existed.

Basically, I looked on the book challenge and noticed that one of them involved antonyms, so I Googled "novels with antonyms in the title", this is one that I found that looked interesting.

I must confess, I am rather partial to synonyms and therefor do not voluntarily spend much time in the company of antonyms; however, I do enjoy a good ole fashioned black and white film.

The novel begins in Hollywood where the main character, Clara, lives with her husband of (I think) six years. She is a screenwriter/gossip columnist, her mother and grandmother were both aspiring actresses in the Hollywood scene. Her grandmother had a main part in a film noir and then worked as a costume designer all in the 1950s.

Following a dumping and affair, both by her husband, Clara follows him to London, England where he will be producing a new television show. She brings along a suitcase full of her grandmother's clothes from the 1950s.

Not long after Clara arrives in London she is transported back to December 1, 1952. The world is viewed in black and white, the clothes could only be from 1952 and the femme fatale is the only thing on Clara's mind. She finds part of a screenplay written by her grandmother in the suitcase which she brought with her and slowly finishes it on a typewriter discovered in a bush. The story follows Clara's next actions as she tries to change the past to keep her grandmother from dying on December 8, 1952 and get even with her husband for the affair.

The novel is one of those flashback kind of things. (Moma can't stand when television episodes do that.) Clara starts in a police station and then begins to tell the officer about the events which brought her to this moment in time.

I won't say any more, you'll have to read the novel if you wish to find out what happens.

I quite enjoyed the "time travelling" which occurred. I think it would be the coolest thing to visit different ages even for just one day. That probably has something to do with my love of history.

See you in the 50s, this is t-bear signing off