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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
This book was ok. To be plugged as "if you're missing downton abbey, you'll love this book" is a bit far fetched.
Although I find it hard to describe why, I found the prospect of this book more interesting and intriguing than the book itself. I think, probably, the biggest drawback for me was that I couldn't find it in me to connect with any of the characters - none of them, I found, were portrayed good enough to really get a good sense of them - it was all rather superficial, even the main character.
Delightfully entertaining. This book is not a literary work of art, but it sure is fun to read :) if you like turn of the century stories, this is a good one with lots of clothing and castles to imagine the grandeur of.
It took me quite a while to get into The American Heiress. A friend lent it to me since she loves it, but man at first I couldn't figure out why. It opens with Cora before she leaves for Europe to try and buy a title. Really her mom is the one who wants that. She is rich so they can pretty much do what they want, though they have to be proper and go about it the right way.
At first I really wasn't enjoying this book. I hated everyone and not in a good way. I didn't care what happened to anyone. Cora's mom is a nightmare, though I did enjoy the tragedy at the party in the beginning. That was kind of awesome, but the rest...not so much. When they got to Europe I still wasn't enjoying it. I found the story really boring and just...not what I like to read. Once Cora and Ivo got married though I started to enjoy it.
Ivo is kind of strange. I couldn't really figure out his mood swings. He would be all great and loving with Cora, then the next minute so cold and distant. He was just all over the place. I know he had a thing with the other girl before he married Cora, but it wasn't clear if it was still going on or not. I didn't really care either way, but by the end I did feel bad for Cora. She went into this marriage for love and she thought Ivo did as well. She really seemed to care about him, but she just couldn't figure out how to make him happy. Since he did have his mood swings she just seems to kept getting smaller and smaller. She lets the servants do whatever they wanted, she let Ivo's mom intimidate her, she just let people walk all over her because she wasn't certain in her new surroundings. She wasn't certain how to make Ivo happy so she just kept shrinking into the background.
I did enjoy the second half of the book. I liked watching Cora settle into her new life. At times I just wanted to yell at her to grow a backbone and do something. I did feel bad for Cora when she finally finds out what has been going on, or what went on before she go married. Teddy shows up again all I love you! Let's run away together and I just was like um okay. I didn't buy that Teddy actually loved Cora ever. Sure he liked her, and maybe he did love her, but Cora definitely didn't love him. I am happy with the ending as it was and really it made me hope that Cora would live happily ever after. So it took a while to get into the story, but then I did enjoy it.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
At first I really wasn't enjoying this book. I hated everyone and not in a good way. I didn't care what happened to anyone. Cora's mom is a nightmare, though I did enjoy the tragedy at the party in the beginning. That was kind of awesome, but the rest...not so much. When they got to Europe I still wasn't enjoying it. I found the story really boring and just...not what I like to read. Once Cora and Ivo got married though I started to enjoy it.
Ivo is kind of strange. I couldn't really figure out his mood swings. He would be all great and loving with Cora, then the next minute so cold and distant. He was just all over the place. I know he had a thing with the other girl before he married Cora, but it wasn't clear if it was still going on or not. I didn't really care either way, but by the end I did feel bad for Cora. She went into this marriage for love and she thought Ivo did as well. She really seemed to care about him, but she just couldn't figure out how to make him happy. Since he did have his mood swings she just seems to kept getting smaller and smaller. She lets the servants do whatever they wanted, she let Ivo's mom intimidate her, she just let people walk all over her because she wasn't certain in her new surroundings. She wasn't certain how to make Ivo happy so she just kept shrinking into the background.
I did enjoy the second half of the book. I liked watching Cora settle into her new life. At times I just wanted to yell at her to grow a backbone and do something. I did feel bad for Cora when she finally finds out what has been going on, or what went on before she go married. Teddy shows up again all I love you! Let's run away together and I just was like um okay. I didn't buy that Teddy actually loved Cora ever. Sure he liked her, and maybe he did love her, but Cora definitely didn't love him. I am happy with the ending as it was and really it made me hope that Cora would live happily ever after. So it took a while to get into the story, but then I did enjoy it.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
I remember watching The Buccaneers ages ago, and liking it. So yes of course I had to try this one. All fiction btw.
Cora Cash, the richest heiress in the world. And what could be better than to get a title with all that money. Yes better go to England and marry into old blood. Well that was her mother's idea.
Cora was spoiled rotten. But she was nice and thought the best of people. And she so followed her mother's lead. Yes she was foolish at times, but I liked her. And being an American heiress was not always easy, the English were stiff with traditions.
So yes duh the title says that she will land a Duke. The drama is her struggle to fit in. Money does not buy everything.
Her husband, I felt like she did, I liked him, I did not understand him.
Good book. And it made me miss Downton Abbey (even if it was not set in the same era, but still!)
Cora Cash, the richest heiress in the world. And what could be better than to get a title with all that money. Yes better go to England and marry into old blood. Well that was her mother's idea.
Cora was spoiled rotten. But she was nice and thought the best of people. And she so followed her mother's lead. Yes she was foolish at times, but I liked her. And being an American heiress was not always easy, the English were stiff with traditions.
So yes duh the title says that she will land a Duke. The drama is her struggle to fit in. Money does not buy everything.
Her husband, I felt like she did, I liked him, I did not understand him.
Good book. And it made me miss Downton Abbey (even if it was not set in the same era, but still!)
I get that for the time period, certain women did not have much aspirations beyond marriage, but is it possible to write an interesting book about a woman who only wants marriage and gets the marriage she wanted?
If it is, it's not this book, sadly.
I read this book because I do like Downton Abbey, as classist as it is. But this is not Downton Abbey - not by half. The intrigue is less than a pinch of salt, and explained by the person doing the intrigue, because the "victim" - Cora is too stupid/naive to figure it out for herself.
The book took far too long to get to where it needed to go, spent too little time on secondary relationships that became primary, and ended hideously.
Did I miss why Bertha was separated from her mother, or was that a thread that just dangled?
I will say, if you're going to read it despite some poor reviews (because if it's your thing, it's your thing), listen to the audiobook. The narrator is very talented and kept me engaged, even if the story didn't really.
If it is, it's not this book, sadly.
I read this book because I do like Downton Abbey, as classist as it is. But this is not Downton Abbey - not by half. The intrigue is less than a pinch of salt, and explained by the person doing the intrigue, because the "victim" - Cora is too stupid/naive to figure it out for herself.
The book took far too long to get to where it needed to go, spent too little time on secondary relationships that became primary, and ended hideously.
Did I miss why Bertha was separated from her mother, or was that a thread that just dangled?
I will say, if you're going to read it despite some poor reviews (because if it's your thing, it's your thing), listen to the audiobook. The narrator is very talented and kept me engaged, even if the story didn't really.
I picked this up specifically because of the blurb on the cover promoting it to Downton Abbey fans. The time period is similar, but not much else. It reminded me more of Brideshead Revisted then Downton, just because of all the angst and need for appearances while still misbehaving. (This is not destined to be a classic like Brideshead.) The characters aren’t very likable, which is another reason I didn’t see a Downton similarity. The main character, Cora, ends up being pretty sympathetic, if not likable, which was surprising because I expected to find her shallow. The best character is Bertha, Cora’s maid, who moves to England with Cora to continue in her employment. She is African-American and gives a unique perspective on the difference between discrimination in the United States and England. Despite the unlikable characters, I could not put it down; the plot kept me enthralled. The details about daily life in the time period are especially enjoyable.
3.5 - was so fun to be swept into the Gilded Age world and setting. I liked Cora and Bertha and the details provided. Could have had a bit more plot and character development for others, but it was really a fun read if you’re a fan of historical fiction and this time period.
I made it about 5 chapters in but had to stop. If it hadn’t been advertised as a story about how Downton Abbey’s character Cora when she was young maybe it could have been ok. But with that future in mind, nothing but the names and location made sense. I honestly wonder if the author has even watched more than one or two episodes of Downton. I know that sounds rude, but I can’t think of any other explanation.
Well, I just don't know what to do with this one. On the one hand, I didn't really like any of the characters, I didn't really buy the ending, and the whole Bertha sub-plot felt too Benetton ad PC to me. On the other hand, I got totally absorbed by it so apparently it wasn't that bad?