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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
I picked this up after finishing “The Guilded Age” on HBO and in anticipation of Downton Abbey’s new movie. If you love those, this book is for you. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, as the accents vary and Katherine Kellgren did a supremely wonderful job reading it. Only gave four stars because the ending is wrapped up too quickly in my opinion.
Great characters.
Terrifically woven tale. Characters were well defined. The plot was ever so slightly twisty in the end. Well done on many fronts.
Terrifically woven tale. Characters were well defined. The plot was ever so slightly twisty in the end. Well done on many fronts.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
At times this was a difficult read because the male characters were so incredibly manipulative but called it love. But I didn't feel attached to any characters, so I reacted to this perpetual manipulation with a roll of my eyes rather than heartfelt frustration.
If you enjoyed Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, then this is the book for you! This story is based on American heiress, Cora Cash, whose character is loosely based on Consuelo Vanderbilt, a real life American Heiress who married the 10th Duke of Marlborough in 1895. While it took a little bit for me to get into, I ended up flying through it and quite enjoyed it!
I was recommended this book by a friend. While I enjoyed the strong writing and the US vs UK symbolism, the anticlimactic ending knocked off a star. 3 stars.
Aaack. Loved it all. Readable Downton Abbey. Highly recommend!
A good beach or rainy weekend read. Very Downton Abbey-esque
So I started this book, expecting this:
And there was some satisfaction and some disappointment. Sure the heroine was more Bella Swan than lady Mary Crawley, which is where it seems most people found issue with the book. One has to remember three things, though when thinking about this. First: Downton Abbey is fiction, shocking and hurtful as that may be to hear. Second: Downton Abbey takes place more than 20 years after the setting of The American Heiress, and times have most certainly changed. Third: Women back then simply did not have any way to defy the sort of husband that is portrayed in this book.
Women back then basically laid back and “thought of England.” Blue bloods certainly didn’t marry for love and indiscretions ran rampant. As a wife you provided the heirs and beautiful parties and kept your mouth shut. As much as my modern sensibilities wanted to rail against the misogynistic Victorian system of marrying the daughter off to someone to gain status, then basically telling her to suck it up, I have to admit that this matter, at least, was historically accurate.
If you’re looking for a Victorian love story with a truly happy ending and a pinch of feminism, don’t read this book. If you want something light and entertaining, with a heroine who isn’t really ever that heroic, go for it.
And there was some satisfaction and some disappointment. Sure the heroine was more Bella Swan than lady Mary Crawley, which is where it seems most people found issue with the book. One has to remember three things, though when thinking about this. First: Downton Abbey is fiction, shocking and hurtful as that may be to hear. Second: Downton Abbey takes place more than 20 years after the setting of The American Heiress, and times have most certainly changed. Third: Women back then simply did not have any way to defy the sort of husband that is portrayed in this book.
Women back then basically laid back and “thought of England.” Blue bloods certainly didn’t marry for love and indiscretions ran rampant. As a wife you provided the heirs and beautiful parties and kept your mouth shut. As much as my modern sensibilities wanted to rail against the misogynistic Victorian system of marrying the daughter off to someone to gain status, then basically telling her to suck it up, I have to admit that this matter, at least, was historically accurate.
If you’re looking for a Victorian love story with a truly happy ending and a pinch of feminism, don’t read this book. If you want something light and entertaining, with a heroine who isn’t really ever that heroic, go for it.