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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
Atrocious grammar. That being said, I was curious enough to see how things unfolded that I read all 400-something pages. The characters developed better than I had hoped for. If literally anyone had proofread it, it would be a solid 2 stars.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this book on CD and, while it made my commute pass more quickly, my overall impression is ho-hum. None of the characters, save Cora Cash's maid, Bertha Jackson, were very likable. And the story was too-often bogged down in details that were unnecessary. I believe that Daisy Goodwin is a wonderful writer - her descriptive language is remarkable - but this book needed some serious editing. There's an incident at the beginning of the book, for example, in which Cora's mother is disfigured by fire during a ball held at her home in Newport, Rhode Island. I kept waiting to see the reason for adding the accident, how it might develop the character. Yet she never changed. Beginning to end she was stuck-up and interested only in her own reputation and in how her daughter's life reflected on her. In other words, it was a pointless incident and could have been deleted without affecting the story in any way.
I would be interested in reading Goodwin's future efforts, as I think she shows promise as a writer. But they wouldn't be at the top of my list.
I would be interested in reading Goodwin's future efforts, as I think she shows promise as a writer. But they wouldn't be at the top of my list.
Trite, and boring, it's a re-do of "The Buccaneers" without the skill or heart. Total disappointment.
I'd also give this 3.5 stars. Perfect to tide me over until the next season of Downton Abbey but nothing truly remarkable. I ended up listening to this on audio, which was perfect for driving around town and fantasizing that they would visit Downton.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story takes place when American girls were going to Europe to find a titled husband. Many of the girls were wealthy in their own right. Cora's mother is determined to find her a Duke to marry. Of course, she finds one who is a duke and is willing to marry Cora. Everything is wonderful for a while and then things come up which cause some problems for Cora and Ivo.
2/5
Oh man... I would like to put it out there firstly that I tried to like this book. I kept an open mind about all the main characters for at least the first half of the book, and I kept justifying to myself that the time period and society were interesting enough to make up for the lack of plot in this book (hint: they weren't). The real sucker punch was that, had the book ended well, I could have humored myself enough to raise my rating up to 3 stars. Instead, I got the opposite of what I wanted.
The biggest issue with this book was the characters. Cora wasn't necessarily unlikable but she was borderline too stupid to live. I thought she would at least go through some amazing development throughout the book but if anything her character only grew weaker. Ivo was just, in general, the worst. There was no rhyme or reason to his actions and behavior. Bertha, Cora's lady's maid, was like the one shining light in the abyss (and even then, she had her weak character moments as well). I liked Teddy well enough, and same goes for Sybil and Reggie, but we didn't see them enough for that to have any impact. Everyone else was quite annoying.
In terms of the plot, I just kept waiting for things to happen. It was like the story took off quite quickly (I was shocked to see how quickly Cora found herself a titled husband), was parred down to everyday activities for half of the book, and then in the last 50 pages things went manic again. I was actually quite excited when the action picked up towards the end, only to be MASSIVELY disappointed by the ending-
In short... the writing in this novel was fine and the premise was good, but the inexplicably annoying characters and poorly handled plot killed the potential it had in my eyes. Comparing The American Heiress to Downton Abbey (due to setting alone) is an insult to a masterfully crafted and entertaining television show.
Oh man... I would like to put it out there firstly that I tried to like this book. I kept an open mind about all the main characters for at least the first half of the book, and I kept justifying to myself that the time period and society were interesting enough to make up for the lack of plot in this book (hint: they weren't). The real sucker punch was that, had the book ended well, I could have humored myself enough to raise my rating up to 3 stars. Instead, I got the opposite of what I wanted.
The biggest issue with this book was the characters. Cora wasn't necessarily unlikable but she was borderline too stupid to live. I thought she would at least go through some amazing development throughout the book but if anything her character only grew weaker. Ivo was just, in general, the worst. There was no rhyme or reason to his actions and behavior
Spoiler
(even with his weak sob story/explanation at the end of the book, there was nothing to redeem or make sense of his absurd bipolarity)In terms of the plot, I just kept waiting for things to happen. It was like the story took off quite quickly (I was shocked to see how quickly Cora found herself a titled husband), was parred down to everyday activities for half of the book, and then in the last 50 pages things went manic again. I was actually quite excited when the action picked up towards the end, only to be MASSIVELY disappointed by the ending-
Spoiler
let me get this straight... the message of the story is forgo your own happiness and peace of mind to be with someone who "needs" you? Where was Ivo when Cora needed him for 7 months of her pregnancy?? At least we get a glimpse of Teddy being a man who made sacrifices in turn for Cora, not letting her put in all the effort in their relationship. And the fact that things were going to be come to such a thrilling end only for Cora to get talked out of running away is incredibly anti-climatic. Oh, not to mention she thought for a moment Ivo was there to push her over the cliff. I REPEAT: PUSH HER OVER THE CLIFF. And she still chose to stay with him.In short... the writing in this novel was fine and the premise was good, but the inexplicably annoying characters and poorly handled plot killed the potential it had in my eyes. Comparing The American Heiress to Downton Abbey (due to setting alone) is an insult to a masterfully crafted and entertaining television show.
Substance wise The American Heiress does not have a lot to offer, however it was a very interesting, well written and well researched novel. I didn't think I would find it entirely memorable but I found myself thinking about it a lot after I finished it which is the mark of a good book. Historically American heiresses did sometimes marry into the European aristocracy and I think that Goodwin rightly explored some of the problems they may have encountered doing so. The main problem is that the main character, Cora, is not inherently likable and her maid, who is, is not fully explored enough.
Bertha, Cora's maid, is the most interesting part of the novel, I think it would have been better if it had been written entirely from her perspective as an African American maid in England. Bertha, having served Cora's family for many years in the States, was allowed a lot of opportunities in Europe that would have been closed to her in the States due to her color. This, along with more through thought into Bertha's motivations for her decisions would have made a far better story.
Bertha, Cora's maid, is the most interesting part of the novel, I think it would have been better if it had been written entirely from her perspective as an African American maid in England. Bertha, having served Cora's family for many years in the States, was allowed a lot of opportunities in Europe that would have been closed to her in the States due to her color. This, along with more through thought into Bertha's motivations for her decisions would have made a far better story.