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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
Cora Cash is the catch of her day. She is wealthy, beautiful and intelligent. Her mother wants her to gain a title, something Cora really cares nothing about, but her mother dictates her life, so off to England they go in search of a husband for Cora.
As Cora gets drawn deeper into the English aristocracy, she finds that not is all what it appears. She has to struggle to keep her head above water, and not sink to the level which those around her are trying to draw her into. When Cora meets her duke, she falls in love with him, but she is not sure if he really loves her, or her money. The story here is a great one, as Goodwin weaves through the names and families with an intimate knowledge of both, even though most of the characters are fictional, they are given life on these pages.
Interesting look into the lives of the rich as they struggle to find what they consider suitable partners for their children, as well as the story of the coming of age of Cora, the main character, as she struggles for what she wants, what her mother wants, and what the world expects of her. It follows her from a selfish brat to the thoughtful wife and mother.
As Cora gets drawn deeper into the English aristocracy, she finds that not is all what it appears. She has to struggle to keep her head above water, and not sink to the level which those around her are trying to draw her into. When Cora meets her duke, she falls in love with him, but she is not sure if he really loves her, or her money. The story here is a great one, as Goodwin weaves through the names and families with an intimate knowledge of both, even though most of the characters are fictional, they are given life on these pages.
Interesting look into the lives of the rich as they struggle to find what they consider suitable partners for their children, as well as the story of the coming of age of Cora, the main character, as she struggles for what she wants, what her mother wants, and what the world expects of her. It follows her from a selfish brat to the thoughtful wife and mother.
Cora Cash was the wealthiest American girl in 1893, one of the nouveaux riche determined to marry into 'old' money or at least that was her mother's plan. Sent to England to find an aristocratic husband Cora finds herself thrust into the path (quite literally) of Ivo, the ninth Duke of Wareham. Cora is gregarious and spoilt, Ivo is moody and abrupt, yet Cora seals her fate by falling in love. Cora has no idea what type of family she's marrying into, her mother-in-law takes pleasure in seeing Cora fail, Ivo seems unreachable and it's not until Cora start unearthing some disturbing truths that she starts to understand him. Will it be a happy ever after ending or will Ivo's secrets catch up with him?
Her novel was published in August 2010 so can claim to be first in the American-hieress-Cora-saves-estate as Downton Abbey was first aired in September 2010. The stories are nothing alike apart from the name Cora and the fact that American money saved an old English family.
I really enjoyed this story, the descriptions of the totally over the top rich Americans (hummingbirds after dinner and illuminated dresses using new fangled electicity) were fascinating. I liked Cora's character, at first she came across as a spoilt brat but she was intelligent, headstrong and loved with a passion. I particularly liked the scenes with her maid Bertha and how she treated her like a friend, I found that most telling. In fact, I wanted to know more about Bertha, her life story sounded so interesting, smattered tantalisingly throughout the story. I'd be happy to read a spin off book about her side of events and how she ended up being ladies maid to such a rich family. I found Ivo's character harder to determine, he was very mysterious, almost two-dimensional. Even towards the end when we learn more about his motivations, I still found it hard to like him.
The story of family secrets reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, although Daisy's novel wasn't as intense and was a much lighter read.
Her novel was published in August 2010 so can claim to be first in the American-hieress-Cora-saves-estate as Downton Abbey was first aired in September 2010. The stories are nothing alike apart from the name Cora and the fact that American money saved an old English family.
I really enjoyed this story, the descriptions of the totally over the top rich Americans (hummingbirds after dinner and illuminated dresses using new fangled electicity) were fascinating. I liked Cora's character, at first she came across as a spoilt brat but she was intelligent, headstrong and loved with a passion. I particularly liked the scenes with her maid Bertha and how she treated her like a friend, I found that most telling. In fact, I wanted to know more about Bertha, her life story sounded so interesting, smattered tantalisingly throughout the story. I'd be happy to read a spin off book about her side of events and how she ended up being ladies maid to such a rich family. I found Ivo's character harder to determine, he was very mysterious, almost two-dimensional. Even towards the end when we learn more about his motivations, I still found it hard to like him.
The story of family secrets reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, although Daisy's novel wasn't as intense and was a much lighter read.
I picked this up at Goodwill, and really liked it. It is about Cora Cash, who Cora in Downton Abbey is sort of based on, and it gives us a look into her as a young woman. The whole idea of American heiresses marrying European nobility (who are sometimes poor!) is fascinating.
Really horrible book. I could barely read it with all the grammar mistakes that flooded it. I actually took pictures of some parts and sent it to my friends, and they said "how could this possibly make it all the way through publishing?!"
The plot was okay. At the end there was supposed to be all these shocking twists and turns, but honestly, it was unsurprising. I had figured it out since the beginning, so it was nothing shocking. I was expecting at least SOME sort of shocker, along with the information that it seemed to me we had been already told, but there was nothing! This book is really quite laughable.
I really don't recommend it.
The plot was okay. At the end there was supposed to be all these shocking twists and turns, but honestly, it was unsurprising. I had figured it out since the beginning, so it was nothing shocking. I was expecting at least SOME sort of shocker, along with the information that it seemed to me we had been already told, but there was nothing! This book is really quite laughable.
I really don't recommend it.
Finally, I've finished this book! When I first started reading "The American Heiress," I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the characters, the setting and the different cultural perspectives offered throughout this book. At times, the details may seem to be a bit unimportant and just too much, and there does seem to be a lot of "fluff" that can be unnecessary but still very interesting. Although this book was a really great read, I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. For those obsessed with Downton Abbey or the upper-class American and English societies of the Gilded Age, this is definitely a book to add to your to-read list!
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I admit that I'm a sucker for late-19th-century/early 20th century settings, so I was bffs with this book before even starting it. The detail was wonderful, the story was somewhat lacking in depth but moved along nicely, and the "who thinks what/who's right, who's wrong" propelled the story without making you want to tear your hair out. As for the denouement at the end, I keep thinking about it and I don't know that the character in question should have bought in, although in that place and time it was probably realistic that the person would--just maybe not as wholeheartedly. Yet Goodwin does a good job with the teeter-totter tensions of duty, love, money, and title, all complicated by the constrained actions, speech, and traditions of the time.
I actually enjoyed this more than I should have. Terrible terrible start especially with such outrageous scenes that never would have happened in the 19th century. I wanted a different Jane Austen experience and I thought I could get that with the American Heiress but it didn't live up to my expectation because Ivo (the main guy) was definitely no Mr. Darcy of any sorts. I did like Cora eventually and some of the minor characters. The plot actually became interesting and this became a page turner until after the "climax". It was indeed an enjoyable read but one I would never need to read again.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Do you imagine that I actually want to kiss you? But I must practice. There is someone I need to kiss tonight and I have to do it right." Cora shook with determination."
Geez. This was definitely not up my alley. Within the first ~20 pages, the heiress Cora Cash is kissing her maid and insulting her in the same breath. In the next ~10 pages, her mother's face is ravaged by fire from her light-up dress. In the subsequent 80 pages, Cora hits her head and gets engaged. That's where I stopped.
One thing that really bothered me was the characters' calling the dukes and duchesses by their titles. "Duke" and "Duchess", I mean. "The Duchess Winthrop" or whatever would've been fine, if repetitive. But the mother especially calls Ivo "Duke" which is just annoying.
There also didn't seem to be a definitive story. All I could really get was that a rich heiress' mother wants her to have a title, so she crosses the pond to pimp out her daughter to prospective suitors. The servants' love story could've been an interesting subplot, but from what I read, it wasn't really explored all that much/well.
And the freaking names. Cash? Really? The RICHEST FAMILY IN AMERICA is named CASH?! I was actually somewhat triggered by that.
All in all, this was just a very boring book. I didn't feel that the characters were well-developed. I got almost 150 pages in and I had no idea what the darling duchess looked like. I was incredibly bored and wouldn't read this again.
Geez. This was definitely not up my alley. Within the first ~20 pages, the heiress Cora Cash is kissing her maid and insulting her in the same breath. In the next ~10 pages, her mother's face is ravaged by fire from her light-up dress. In the subsequent 80 pages, Cora hits her head and gets engaged. That's where I stopped.
One thing that really bothered me was the characters' calling the dukes and duchesses by their titles. "Duke" and "Duchess", I mean. "The Duchess Winthrop" or whatever would've been fine, if repetitive. But the mother especially calls Ivo "Duke" which is just annoying.
There also didn't seem to be a definitive story. All I could really get was that a rich heiress' mother wants her to have a title, so she crosses the pond to pimp out her daughter to prospective suitors. The servants' love story could've been an interesting subplot, but from what I read, it wasn't really explored all that much/well.
And the freaking names. Cash? Really? The RICHEST FAMILY IN AMERICA is named CASH?! I was actually somewhat triggered by that.
All in all, this was just a very boring book. I didn't feel that the characters were well-developed. I got almost 150 pages in and I had no idea what the darling duchess looked like. I was incredibly bored and wouldn't read this again.