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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved the way the author used historical facts and fiction to create such an intense novel. The devotion of the Grants to each other shines through. This book has inspired me to do some research into the lives of the Grants. Great read!
I'd been wanting to read this for awhile. I've always had a fascination with history and enjoy historical fiction. I was looking forward to learning more about both Grant and his wife Julia as well as exploring the dynamic of a daughter of a slave owning family marrying the man who helped end slavery forever. And I was incredibly disappointed. I found the story to be shallow and the characters flat. Although I knew only the basics of their story, and nothing of the time of the Grant presidency, this book left me no better informed than I was before. Lacking details and lacking description and lacking depth of character, this book (from an author whose other series I love dearly) just wasn't very good at all in my opinion.
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule was more about the relationship between Ulysses and Julia Grant. They married for love in spite of their parents objections and were truly partners throughout their marriage. The book was written as though I was in the room with the characters. Highly recommend.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
This is my second attempt to read one of this author's books, albeit in an audio format as opposed to print. I didn't get far in my first attempt, when I tried to read Mrs. Lincoln's Rival. A lot of times when I couldn't get into a printed book, I would try reading the audio format. Usually I have better luck, but not this time. Yet again, I was bored out of my skull.
From what I was able to listen to, I very much liked the character of Jule and thought her very interesting and would have loved to have heard more of her story. Julia Dent, on the other hand, was so insipid that I just could not go on. And the silly concept that Julia could see the future in her dreams? Please, spare me.
Very disappointed.
From what I was able to listen to, I very much liked the character of Jule and thought her very interesting and would have loved to have heard more of her story. Julia Dent, on the other hand, was so insipid that I just could not go on. And the silly concept that Julia could see the future in her dreams? Please, spare me.
Very disappointed.
Virtual Mount TBR 2022: book #24
I have to say, this was a long book that felt like it took forever to get through. Usually, I love Jennifer Chiaverini’s books, but I did not love this one. Did I like it? Sure.
I was a little misled by the title - it definitely should have been titled Mr. and Mrs. Grant because they were definitely the focus (no spoilers, just a fair warning.) The story was pretty good and you could tell it was well-researched.
I have to say, this was a long book that felt like it took forever to get through. Usually, I love Jennifer Chiaverini’s books, but I did not love this one. Did I like it? Sure.
I was a little misled by the title - it definitely should have been titled Mr. and Mrs. Grant because they were definitely the focus (no spoilers, just a fair warning.) The story was pretty good and you could tell it was well-researched.
I enjoy this author but this book was not her best work. Maybe she tried to cover too much history but it never got in depth. You never really got inside Mrs. Grants head or saw how her attitude about slavery changed. She often appeared uninformed and a bit ditsy.
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Downside to this book is there were no historical notes highlighting the author's research into the history of the Grant family. However, based on what I know about the Civil war and President Grant, a lot of it was factual.
That being said, it's a rare book that makes me tear up and the gradual decline of president Grant and the acceptance process for Julia Grant really struck a chord with me. Chiaverini does a stupendous job exploring the depths of a good marriage and its impact on one's outlook on life and entire being.
The juxtaposition of the slaveholding family of Julia to Grant's abolitionist family was a fact that I hadn't known before. From the progress of Julia's perspective of slavery to her late-in-life friendship with Jefferson Davis' widow, in this trying time of American politics, this book gave me a sliver of hope that there is more common ground than we might suspect.