Author:Fiona Davis

Publisher: Dutton

ISBN: 9781524742010 (trade paperback)

I was excited to read The Address as I'm familiar with The Dakota, the apartment building made famous by John Lennon's having lived and died there. But that is just a tidbit, a mere mention in the story that focuses on two fictional women involved with the building, 100 years apart.

I wanted so much more than a story that just kind of happens to be set there. I wanted a story about the building itself, its actual history (some is there, but I found it difficult to ascertain what, exactly, was truth and what was fiction. I know that's true of most historical novels, but it's not my favorite thing.) And while the author does write about some of the geography surrounding the building back in 1884--who knew?--it's not enough. And considering just how much has changed about that section of Central Park West, it would've been so interesting to read about those changes.

I guess my expectations were too high. After all, the title led me to believe that the story would be about the building and its surrounds, perhaps from the beginning to today. I was hoping for stories about the different inhabitants, the quirks, the secrets...everything we'd want to know if we were standing outside wishing for a peek behind the curtains. If the story was to be historical, I'm sure the author could have found juicy stuff about the original occupants, the folks who took a chance and moved to be part of a new idea: a luxury apartment house with an in-house tailor, a baker, maids and more. But even as a novel, this disappoints. Too much about two women, not enough about The Address and all that happens in and around such a famous building.

Davis is a fine writer; I just think she missed the potential of this subject.

Fiona Davis began her career in New York City as an actress, where she worked on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in regional theater. After getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she fell in love with writing, leapfrogging from editor to freelance journalist before finally settling down as an author of historical fiction. She's a graduate of the College of William & Mary and is based in New York City. Some of her other titles include The Masterpiece and The Doll House.