Juliana: Book 1 (The Juliana Series)

Juliana comes with an extensive set of notes about the era in which the book is set; the music, the people, the city. It claims the book is from a well-received performance piece. It even comes with book-group suggestions and a bibliography. But what matters is whether the story is a good one and well-told. Either the various themes and subplots raised by a book are presented consistently and resolved, or not. In this case and in almost every instance, the story is incomplete--both in its details and as a whole. Whether or not the book is the first in a projected series has no bearing on how the book ends--in this case, almost literally mid-scene.

As it stands, Juliana is series of character sketches--some interesting, some less compelling. Many of the secondary characters are stock types that only gradually take on more depth: the heavy-set brusque-but-kind bulld*gger; the high-strung theater manager with his bevy of boys and heart of gold, etc. Other characters' stories (Virginia, for ex) are dropped, only to be picked up again as props for the main action. But even accounting for age, Al (Alice) the protagonist is inconsistently-drawn. This is unfortunate given the narration is first-person. Al's interior growth shows far less insight than some of her dialog; and her dialog is strikingly uneven. In one early scene with Max Al shows the emotional savvy of a forty year-old; in the next she's a petulant, oblivious teenager. It continues this way throughout: Al is naive and 'country' long past the time she should have begun maturing--there's just too little growth here, too late.

Even allowing for the slowness of Al's dawning awareness, it's hard to credit the sophisticated Juliana's extended pursuit of her; Juliana is endlessly patient with Al's outbursts, various gaucheries, and self-absorbed denial. Everyone is. (Other characters are always warning Al about Juliana: why? We never actually find out.) Since we have almost no idea what Al looks like (the character hates mirrors--and the author found no work-around for that), and she's not a great conversationalist, it's also hard to understand why, in a city of endless attractions, a character like Juliana would pursue Al for more than a handful of days. Other than a shared propensity for semi-public sex (another questionable characterization, given Juliana's warning Al about not wearing men's clothes in public--clothes Juliana herself has given Al), the characters seem to have little in common save some kind of musical bond that doesn't really come into play until the fourth act.

The plot progresses as haphazardly as the characterization: many encounters here feel almost random. The storytelling is choppy and the book lacks structure. The book ends abruptly with Juliana's unlikely declaration of attachment to Al, which especially considering the fight that came before (and the unnecessary thirteenth-hour info-dump from Max about J's background) seems almost wholly of out character.

I've never come across a series I like more than the Juliana series. I'm a fan of historical fiction, to say the least, but a book about LGBT history? Why hasn't this happened sooner?! Juliana is a beautifull written novel in the first person perspective. It encompasses relatable, deep characters that have personalities you can't help but fall in love with. A country girl is whisked away to the bright lights of New York City and gets more than she is bargained for. Not only does she fall in love with a woman, but WWII rears it's ugly head in America. The implications of both, and the journey Al is thrust into because of it, is an unforgettable read. Reading Juliana is like taking a step through a time machine to 1940s New York, complete with recognizable celebrities, songs, Broadway shows, slang words, fashion, and places. As a member of the LGBT community it is fascinating and a bit scary to remember how terrible it was for gays and lesbians in this time period. If anything, it makes me feel more thankful for our rights today and I salute our predecessors for helping to make these rights possible. If you have the time, Juliana is well worth it!

Amanda Beilfuss

Juliana
By Vanda
Booktrope Editions
ISBN: 978-1513702216
Paperback $20.95 – 376 pages

Some books are born to be screenplays, movies, or miniseries and this is one of them. The place: NYC. The time: during the war years of the 1040s. The people: the cabaret crowd. The images and music that would come alive during the screen version of Julianna would look something like Lady Sings the Blues with a taught jazzy string on the melodies backgrounding the personal narratives and the inhabitants living south of Harlem—Greenwich Village and theater row: actors and theater goers—the social fringe. And the scenes would reveal the true underground stories of gay life during that time period. Because this book has already seen the stage, much of its beauty is already envisioned. And because we are living in a world as divided as it was hidden back in the forties, the underworld of the cabaret and gay scene is front and center as important now as it was then. Ok, where are those Hollywood screenwriters looking for a new script? This one’s too good to pass up. A fast read with good story lines and people who linger with you long after the cover has been closed.

I enjoyed this book for more than one reason. Even though I am not "gay", what Vanda has to say goes further than just the gay community in its appeal. As I read, I found myself cheering for her characters as they helped each other break through the mistaken and often hurtful views of the society around them. It is a well written book and a warm and loving book and I feel that anyone who reads it, no matter who they are, will find themselves able to identify with the characters and in doing so will broaden their own humanity. "Brava" Vanda.

As one of the fortunate cast members whose been entrusted to bring this taboo & unconventional period piece to life -- doing staged readings of this Novel down at The Duplex on Christopher Street -- I must say that Vanda catapults you right into the WWII era and lifestyle of that time quite seamlessly. But, what you could never be prepared for is the underworld of intrigue, mischief and temptation that flows ever so smoothly throughout. I found myself being pulled in immediately into the story, regardless of my knowledge of the Period. I am highly anticipating beginning the next Volume. Kudos to you, Vanda ... just BRILLIANT!!

This book was a delight and a surprise. Aside from the elegant and sublime writing, I became involved with " Al" and her friends from the first page. I am in love with Juliana and I urge readers to embrace and inhale this delectable book

I loved this book!!!!!!!

Juliana is a thoroughly researched period fiction worth the reading. The book brings, in a sensitive way, the underground New York during the WWII.
A fresh-from-the-country girl plunges in the cosmopolitan city and discovers a hidden part of herself. A dazzling, sophisticated woman will bring out her real, unknown feelings. And she will have to face them if she wants to achieve happiness.

I recommend it.

I received this as an ARC for an honest review.

Juliana" is fantastic! Let me assure you, it's not fandom speaking, although I am certainly a fan. It's so well-researched and well-written, I was spell bound. The characters were finely drawn, though I think the author only scratched the surface of Juliana herself. I look forward to the next two books in the series, in which I am assured Juliana will become fully fleshed (so to speak).

Highly enjoyable historical novel set during WW2. Great characters. Can't wait for the next in the series!