BOOK REVIEW- Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Having just finished this book, I admit that I was touched by its emotional ending.  Even though I knew the historical ending, I was impacted by the author's moving rendition.  Nancy Horan created an interesting fiction novel based on some real events that happened at the turn-of-the-century.  Horan's Mamah Cheney, Frank Lloyd Wright's mistress, is a fascinating and tragic figure. It was obvious to me that Horan was as in love with Lloyd as her heroine Mamah.  I sensed her hero worship throughout the book.  She paints him as a charismatic imperfect man, but a true genius.  The details she gives about his work are well-researched, but at times feel like a college lecture.  I was much more interested in her portrayal of Germany just prior to WWI and her accounts of the women's movement at the time in Europe.

What was most interesting to me was how well she captured the moral standards of the times.  She did a fine job of painting how shocking a divorce was in 1907 and how few rights women actual had.  It made me glad that I did not live in that era. Further, I laughed at how little the press has changes in a century.  The way the reporters hounded Frank Lloyd Wright, were the same as the way the press follows celebrities today.  Horan's reporters hung out on the drive and used false pretenses to get into Wright's house.  They followed his children to school and peeked in the windows at his wife.

I would recommend this book to those that enjoy historical novels, romantic stories and are interested in architecture.  I did find it long winded at times, but overall it was enjoyable and certainly informative.  I now have a desire to see more of Wright's work.