Rare Objects

A Novel

By: Kathleen Tessaro

Narrated by: Susan Bennett

In Depression-era Boston, a city divided by privilege and poverty, two unlikely friends are bound by a dangerous secret in this mesmerizing work of historical fiction from the New York Times bestselling author of The Perfume Collector.

Maeve Fanning is a first generation Irish immigrant, born and raised among the poor, industrious Italian families of Boston’s North End by her widowed mother. Clever, capable, and as headstrong as her red hair suggests, she’s determined to better herself despite the overwhelming hardships of the Great Depression.

However, Maeve also has a dangerous fondness for strange men and bootleg gin—a rebellious appetite that soon finds her spiraling downward, leading a double life. When the strain proves too much, Maeve becomes an unwilling patient in a psychiatric hospital, where she strikes up a friendship with an enigmatic young woman, who, like Maeve, is unable or unwilling to control her un-lady-like desire for freedom.

Once out, Maeve faces starting over again. Armed with a bottle of bleach and a few white lies, she lands a job at an eccentric antiques shop catering to Boston’s wealthiest and most peculiar collectors. Run by an elusive English archeologist, the shop is a haven of the obscure and incredible, providing rare artifacts as well as unique access to the world of America’s social elite. While delivering a purchase to the wealthy Van der Laar family, Maeve is introduced to beautiful socialite Diana Van der Laar—only to discover she’s the young woman from the hospital.

Reunited with the charming but increasingly unstable Diana and pursued by her attractive brother James, Mae becomes more and more entwined with the Van der Laar family—a connection that pulls her into a world of moral ambiguity and deceit, and ultimately betrayal. Bewitched by their wealth and desperate to leave her past behind, Maeve is forced to unearth her true values and discover how far she’ll to go to reinvent herself.

Susan Bennett's Voice My 1st Choice

Great story that touches on life in general & I live that even in the present era, things aren't really much different. of course, my personal opinion is that Susan Bennett has the capability of making a boring book a very exciting novel!

Boston, circa 1932

The strongest element of this book is the setting, Boston, 1932-33. There are some lovely discriptions of the ethnic community where Maeve lives with her Irish mother and Italian neighbors. Even though the story was a little over-long (a trim by an editor would have helped ) I enjoyed this one. Excellent narration by Susan Bennett.

Worthwhile!

Hated for it to be over but thought the ending was well done. Felt rather the sense of justice done.

The whole book was worth the very last line

Excellent characters, excellent story, real struggles and development. I was immediately caught up in the cultures and the clashes of Boston, high society and Irish immigrant conflict.

Didn’t want it to end!

This was an absolutely fantastic book. I loved the start and characters so much. The narrator did an expert job bringing every character to life. So sad it had to end!