Christina McDowell

I learned something new: Cave Dwellers. It's a group of influential power players in DC which dates back from their ancestors who built their status in the city with money, power and control. Parts of this book brought back memories from the days when I worked in the wealthy area of the city with big mansions, expensive cars, white privileged, power and the works. One person warned not to get too close as it could lead to a deep depression.

The book brings the ugly to the surface: white supremacy - the words many want to ignore.

It begins with one of the mansions in an influential neighborhood of DC which is on fire. The news reported that one of the wealthiest families was tortured and burned inside. This actually happened in 2015. In the fictional story, Elizabeth Bartholomew (known as Bunny) reacts strongly to this horror and does her own investigation at 17 years old. After the family was murdered, "everything about their legacy was questioned." When Bunny turned 18, her parents handed her a $100,000 check which she wanted to use to make things right from what happened.

The reader finds in the pages: racial prejudice, sexual abuse, elite attitudes and power plays. One said, "survival in this town requires playing chess and playing it well." Of course, image is important to this white class of influential club members with hidden secrets. However, it's the new generation that tries to make sense of America, the rich.

The most interesting part of the book for me was the Author's Notes. In a few pages, she reveals her passion to write this story based on her life history. I'm looking forward to what's next.… (lisätietoja)

The Cave Dwellers by Christina McDowell takes the reader to Washington, DC for a close-up look at the so-called elite denizens who populate a city always in transition. The politicians may come and go but the upper-crust just keep on living their self-involved little lives, as they always have. We observe several families living life in their bubble, looking down on anyone who is not one of them. Their children are growing up with the same arrogance, in their private schools. The author knows of which she writes about as she grew up in the rarified air of Washington. As I read this book, I realized that this high society is made up of selfish, unkind and despicable people whose sole purpose is to pursue the same tired existence, generation after generation. The characters are the driving force in The Cave Dwellers, most of them being as horrible people as they can be. The more you read, the less you like them. There seems to be a lack of a storyline though, making this a somewhat difficult read. Thank you to Simon & Schuster, NetGalley and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.… (lisätietoja)

I wanted to love this book, it had so much promise. But, the story was slow, writing wasn’t the greatest, and it ended just as the story was getting good. Overall, it was disappointing.

Washington, DC; old money, hidden secrets, racism, privilege, backstabbing, sex and drugs, not to mention cover-ups. The author brought her first-hand knowledge of the area to this book, almost to the point where I don’t have to read her memoir! What starts with a brutal murder of an elite Washington family, seems to get lost in the other dynamics of the old money families. The children, while aware of their privilege and the blatant racism, really do nothing about it and know that Daddy will get them out of any trouble they find themselves in. I would have loved to see one of the children stand up to the injustices they were seeing. Not much character development, but I guess if you are threatened with losing your bankroll at a young age, it might be overwhelming. Sad state of affairs. Political statement made (reiterated), but no solutions offered.

Thanks to Ms. McDowell, Galley/Scout Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.… (lisätietoja)