Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this though it's more of a large romance novel than the meatier historical fiction I thought it was. The historical elements were fascinating and kept me interested.
I enjoyed large chunks of this, and even found parts of it hard to put down, but large parts of it were at best, charming, and at its worst, cloying.
In the beginning it was a fun read. I had been to this house in Newport so I liked imagining the story take place there. But then the characters reeeeeally started to wear on me. Cora, who had previously been clever and strong, was now some idiot weakened in the knees by her husband. And her husband's mood swings. I found it all just annoying.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a slow starter for me but picked up midway through. There were several times when it seemed that Something Big was going to happen and I'd follow my intrigue through page after page, only to discover that The Big Thing turned out to be not that big of a deal after all. Ultimately what we see unfold is Cora's evolution from spoiled rich girl to a proper English lady.
Spoilers here.... I wish we had gotten a more certain idea of what happens to Bertha. It seemed clear that when the moment of decision came, she chose Cora over Jim; but then Jim's subsequent actions made it equally clear that he chose to be with Bertha anyway. I'm not sure we got a final word from Bertha on which path she would take. I do not share Cora's love (or even like) for Ivo and I absolutely did not believe his story at the end. (His explanation for how that cuff link got on the bed sounded absolutely ridiculous.) I believe he sent Charlotte away, for now, but he can't be trusted.
Three stars overall because it was fine, but not something I would recommend.
Spoilers here.... I wish we had gotten a more certain idea of what happens to Bertha. It seemed clear that when the moment of decision came, she chose Cora over Jim; but then Jim's subsequent actions made it equally clear that he chose to be with Bertha anyway. I'm not sure we got a final word from Bertha on which path she would take. I do not share Cora's love (or even like) for Ivo and I absolutely did not believe his story at the end. (His explanation for how that cuff link got on the bed sounded absolutely ridiculous.) I believe he sent Charlotte away, for now, but he can't be trusted.
Three stars overall because it was fine, but not something I would recommend.
‘The American Heiress’ by Daisy Goodwin ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Fiction
Set in the American Gilded Age, American heiress, Cora Cash, marries into the English aristocracy like many of the real American heiresses of the time. Loosely based on the early marriage of Consuelo Vanderbilt, Cora juggles tring to adjust to her new life across the pond while staying American and developing into a young woman.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Set in the American Gilded Age, American heiress, Cora Cash, marries into the English aristocracy like many of the real American heiresses of the time. Loosely based on the early marriage of Consuelo Vanderbilt, Cora juggles tring to adjust to her new life across the pond while staying American and developing into a young woman.
Very easy and great story line. Draws you in until your done.
Biggest beef: a resolute ending that suddenly got nailed down in the last three tracks of the last CD. Some of the characters explanations are suspicious (really, Duke? Then why did you escort the bitch down to the picnic? Hmmm?) and a woman with headstrong tendencies all through the book suddenly accepts her life on other peoples' terms with neither rhyme nor reason. Everybody go home, all is forgiven, let's go to bed.
Up until roughly track 8 on the 9th CD, I was really enjoying the story, the characterization and the intrigues so carefully constructed.
Having said all this, I don't know if there really is an ending I would have been okay with. Does she leave him? Does she stay? Oh hell. Totally impossible.
Up until roughly track 8 on the 9th CD, I was really enjoying the story, the characterization and the intrigues so carefully constructed.
Having said all this, I don't know if there really is an ending I would have been okay with. Does she leave him? Does she stay? Oh hell. Totally impossible.