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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
At the age of 13, Madeleine Force saw Jack Astor for the first time. Both he and his mother made an impression upon the young girl. Little did she know then that her life would forever change, dramatically. A few years later Jack, who was divorced, quickly became besotted with the beautiful actress and was taken by her athletic prowess. Though she was of the upper class, she was not in the very highest of echelons of which Jack was king. This book details their romance with bits and pieces of living surrounded by wealth as well as the harrowing and tragic sinking of the Titanic which claimed his life.
Jack and Madeleine were 29 years apart but that made no difference to the couple. They married and during their long honeymoon she discovered she was pregnant. Madeleine's joy quickly turned to sorrow as her beloved was killed in the Titanic tragedy. Not only did she lose her husband but her child's father. I cannot imagine the tremendous sorrow and burden she had to bear. Though a historical fiction story, it has clearly been researched well and includes many true details. The diarized dialogue of mother to son is lovely and emotionally crushing.
The Titanic scene is painful and sobering to read about, of course, as it involves real people meeting their deaths. The anguish and terror are unfathomable and the author really captured the atmosphere of the last moments. Those who wish to learn more about Mr. and Mrs. Astor's story ought to read this book. It was fascinating to catch glimpses of their personalities and lives. Their marriage was short but profound.
My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this incredible book.
Jack and Madeleine were 29 years apart but that made no difference to the couple. They married and during their long honeymoon she discovered she was pregnant. Madeleine's joy quickly turned to sorrow as her beloved was killed in the Titanic tragedy. Not only did she lose her husband but her child's father. I cannot imagine the tremendous sorrow and burden she had to bear. Though a historical fiction story, it has clearly been researched well and includes many true details. The diarized dialogue of mother to son is lovely and emotionally crushing.
The Titanic scene is painful and sobering to read about, of course, as it involves real people meeting their deaths. The anguish and terror are unfathomable and the author really captured the atmosphere of the last moments. Those who wish to learn more about Mr. and Mrs. Astor's story ought to read this book. It was fascinating to catch glimpses of their personalities and lives. Their marriage was short but profound.
My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this incredible book.
(1/2 star)
On the surface this seems like it would be a good book. John Jacob Astor, scion of the Astor fortune falls in love with an 18 year-old when he is 47 and the pair marry (his second marriage, her first). Sadly, they are married only a few months before they book a passage on the Titanic and the rest is history: Mr. Astor's now pregnant wife survives the sinking, Mr. Astor does not. A tragic love story right?
No.
A couple of problems with this book that made it just about unbearable to read:
1. The "love" story between the two is no love story at all. They meet, they fall in love practically instantly and then...it takes 135 more pages to get married. What happens in those 135 pages? Nothing. Zilch. Nada. The book got so boring that I could only read one chapter at a time in order to make it through the whole thing. If you're going to write historical fiction about a love story, at least make it interesting!
2. There isn't really a plot in this book per se. The pair meet. They court. They get married. They go to Egypt. Then comes the Titanic. That sums up the book quite well. It has the fatal flaw of being a boring story! And I mean b-o-r-i-n-g!! Mind-numbingly so. You do not care about these two at all.
Is it possible to write an interesting historical fiction book about the second Mrs. Astor? Perhaps. Did this book succeed in doing so? No.
On the surface this seems like it would be a good book. John Jacob Astor, scion of the Astor fortune falls in love with an 18 year-old when he is 47 and the pair marry (his second marriage, her first). Sadly, they are married only a few months before they book a passage on the Titanic and the rest is history: Mr. Astor's now pregnant wife survives the sinking, Mr. Astor does not. A tragic love story right?
No.
A couple of problems with this book that made it just about unbearable to read:
1. The "love" story between the two is no love story at all. They meet, they fall in love practically instantly and then...it takes 135 more pages to get married. What happens in those 135 pages? Nothing. Zilch. Nada. The book got so boring that I could only read one chapter at a time in order to make it through the whole thing. If you're going to write historical fiction about a love story, at least make it interesting!
2. There isn't really a plot in this book per se. The pair meet. They court. They get married. They go to Egypt. Then comes the Titanic. That sums up the book quite well. It has the fatal flaw of being a boring story! And I mean b-o-r-i-n-g!! Mind-numbingly so. You do not care about these two at all.
Is it possible to write an interesting historical fiction book about the second Mrs. Astor? Perhaps. Did this book succeed in doing so? No.
Approachable writing style, though some parts drug on a bit longer than needed. I’d give Abe another shot, and appreciate hearing the story as close to accurate as historical fiction gets to the Titanic sinking.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a beautifully written book. It was a sad read because one knows the end of the story from the start. It made me want to know more about the Astor family as people. Not just as incredibly wealthy Americans during the gilded age. .