The Luxe

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The Luxe Bali’s dining area has a large timber plank dining table that can comfortably accommodate ten guests. The dining area offers amazing 360-degree views of the gardens, and the ocean and a fully opening doorway to another deep koi pond and fern garden. There are more outdoor dining areas on the villa’s multiple balconies. The state-of-the-art kitchen next to the main dining area is also a gathering spot with a natural tree edged bar standing on raw hewn marble that overlooks the kitchen and via very large windows the rainforest beyond. The kitchen is fitted out with work benches and floors in spectacular Kashmir gold granite and exceptionally high end fixtures. Cinema Room When reputations are at stake and secrets become a currency, friends turn on friends and no one is safe. Anna Godbersen’s young adult historical novel The Luxe (2007) is the first book in a tetralogy. Set in 1899 New York, it follows two sisters, Elizabeth and Diana Holland, who hail from the elite class of Manhattan. When the sisters’ father dies and his rich legacy suddenly holds no weight, they scramble to stabilize their lives before they fall from high society and are forced to undergo a drastic shift in consciousness. The novel is structured episodically, rotating perspectives between three minor characters, as well as the two sisters who are its central protagonists. This complex, shifting, and non-linear plot serves to produce an anachronistic characterization of the destructive social dynamism of American capitalism’s upper echelons. The book alternates perspectives through a few key players in Elizabeth’s life. Henry Schoonmaker- the fiancé, Diana Holland- the sister, Lina Broud- the maid and Penelope Hayes- the best friend.

Life for Elizabeth isn't easy though, even though all she has to do is sit around and look beautiful. It turns out, since the death of her father, her family is having financial problems and aren't able to keep up the type of lifestyle they are used to living. One thousand dollar gowns, priceless works of art, and trips abroad are a thing of the past unless something can be done to secure the family's place in society before everyone learns of their trouble. Mrs. Holland thinks Elizabeth can save the family by marrying Henry Schoonmaker – New York's most eligible and most sought after bachelor. Claire Broud is Lina's older sister. Claire is a proper maid who relishes the gossip of the upper class and is truly fond of Diana, her mistress. Despite her love of gossip, she is very loyal to the Hollands. Claire is described as having red hair and a pale face. Romantik, Eifersucht, Verrat, Humor und ein opulentes Setting. Ich konnte Die 'Prinzessinnen von New York' nicht zur Seite legen!" CECILY VON ZIEGESAR, Autorin der "Gossip-Girl"-ReiheI don't watch Gossip Girls, so I can't speak to any similarities there - what I was reminded of, though, was Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers. Admittedly, I have read very few books set in 19th century Manhattan, so Wharton's book was the only one I could think of, mostly because it's about four girls from "new money" making their way in the world amongst the British upper class. I highly recommend it, or the TV mini-series based on it. There is a number of public transportation close to The Luxe that residents can make use of. The closest MRT stations are Dhoby Ghaut MRT, Bencoolen MRT, Rochor MRT and Fort Canning MRT. The closest bus stops are located at Dhoby Ghaut Station, School of the Arts, Peace Centre, Sunshine Plaza and Concorde Hotel Singapore. For those with vehicles, the shopping district located at Orchard Road can be easily accessed via Penang Road, Fort Canning Road and Exeter Road in 5 to 10 minutes. The Luxe Bali has a state-of-the-art home theatre room with a high end three-metre projector screen, KEF surround sound speakers and seating by cosy leather recliners to enjoy a comfortable and exciting cinema-like experience. Gym Her instinct was to do some violence to the white-and-gold upholstery that decorated the room, but she had not so lost her head as to want to ruin good brocade. Not yet." The bitch of the book is Penelope, of course - and she's marvellous at it. She's the character you "love to hate". She's the most straight-forward of all the characters, and spiteful, and duplicitous, and you have to admire her tenacity.

Lina was the household maid, but dreamed of bigger things. She felt very selfish and juvenile to me, and never thought of the consequences of her actions.Henry Schoonmaker is the most well-known bachelor on New York's social scene. He is exceedingly handsome and charming, with dark hair that is always neatly pomaded to the right, golden skin, an elegant aristocratic jawline, and dark, worldly eyes. His father, who wants to run for mayor, decides that Henry needs to marry, arranging for him to wed Elizabeth Holland. While at the Hollands' house he becomes infatuated with Diana Holland. Known for his trouble maker's lilt, free spirited, and often spotted with a drink in hand, he has had relationships with many women in New York, including Penelope Hayes.

Overall, I LOVED this book as you can see from my lengthy review. Wow, I actually think this is my longest review, officially beating out my Perfect Chemistry review length. Woo hoo! I am happy to say that I loved the story line and although the writing could have been better in some parts, I loved this book nonetheless. I am currently in the middle of Rumors and boy oh boy are things getting exciting. And even though this is a historical/third person book, I am happy to say how much I loved it all. The Luxe Bali is a fabulous garden estate featuring a private garage and entrance through an amazing rainforest with waterfalls and large pond containing colourful koi. The villa is terraced, with easy wheelchair access provided by a six-person lift connecting all four floors. Large marble floor covered terraces on the oceanside adjoin a white marble pool and a covered timber floor terrace on the peaceful rainforest/koi pond area. The Architect Freedo Taufin of KU DE TA fame designed the villa and the centrepiece being his spectacular open stairway leading to all four floors. A stay at The Luxe Bali is a real once-in-a-lifetime experience, with many amazing spaces and facilities. Living Room

The day after the ball, he proposes to Elizabeth and is accepted (even though her heart belongs to the young coachman, Will, whom her maid, Lina, also loves), because Henry's family has money and the Holland family now has none - which no one know about except them. You have to keep up appearances, after all. This is the day he also meets Elizabeth's younger sister, Diana, and there's something about her that captivates him like no other girl ever has. It's a tangled mess and it's about to get a whole lot messier as Penelope schemes to break up the engagement. Okay, I'll admit that despite being rather anti-girly, I've always had a thing for dresses and period costumes, and the big poofy thing on the cover certainly fascinated me. But it also repelled me: it's just so HUGE and PINK and PUFFY! When I say this felt exactly like gossip girl- I mean exactly like gossip girl. Take this with a grain of salt, because I have never read the books and only watched about half of the first season of the show but to me, these characters were scarily similar: