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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
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.
I usually like historical novels (I was history major in college, after all) but this one just didn't do it for me. I enjoyed the beginning of the book, when Jule was still with the family. Seeing how hers and Julia's relationship progressed and their vastly different perspectives on it was very interesting. It was also fascinating to see how Julia viewed slavery and actually saw it as beneficial for the slaves. Although this enraged me it also gave me some insight into how people thought about the issue and justified it.
The war years made up the bulk of the book and they seemed to drag. I am not sure exactly why that was. Once Jule was gone it was just much less interesting. I enjoyed the relationship between the Grants and it definitely seemed loving but I would have liked it fleshed out a bit. I think that would have helped. I would have also liked more about the Grant presidency and their life afterwards.
The war years made up the bulk of the book and they seemed to drag. I am not sure exactly why that was. Once Jule was gone it was just much less interesting. I enjoyed the relationship between the Grants and it definitely seemed loving but I would have liked it fleshed out a bit. I think that would have helped. I would have also liked more about the Grant presidency and their life afterwards.
An interesting read, although it definitely dragged at places and yet felt too rushed in others. An interesting glimpse into the life of a pretty fascinating historical figure, though.
I enjoyed this book immensely.
I am not very knowledgeable about the Civil War, I've never really read a great deal about it. I picked this book up on a whim at the library, I thought the story looked interesting.
This book is all about Mrs. Grant, her relationship with her maid, and her relationship with her husband. I loved the story, and I might have to read more about the Grants and the Civil War.
I am not very knowledgeable about the Civil War, I've never really read a great deal about it. I picked this book up on a whim at the library, I thought the story looked interesting.
This book is all about Mrs. Grant, her relationship with her maid, and her relationship with her husband. I loved the story, and I might have to read more about the Grants and the Civil War.
Since I really know nothing about Ulysses S. Grant, but absolutely love the time period, this was a very enjoyable read for me. Based on its title, it is about Mrs. Grant and her childhood slave, Jule, but she really doesn't play as large a part as General Grant. It was a well written and enjoyable story.
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Have you read Ron Chernow’s tome on Ulysses S. Grant? I have, and when I saw there was a historical fiction book about his wife and her slave, I had to check it out. That’s right: the leader of the Union army married a woman whose family owned slaves. That should make for interesting reading, right?
Chiaverini admits “Although the lives of Ulysses and Julia Grant are well documented, almost nothing exists about Jule beyond a few brief mentions in Julia Grant’s memoirs . Thus her life as depicted in this story is almost entirely imagined .” That should be great for the reader, because it gives the author more freedom in their writing.
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule should be the story of Julia Dent Grant and her slave, Jule, who grew up together and were inseparable during those years. However, this book is more about the Grants than Jule, more specifically Julia Grant. By most accounts, she was a good woman, and is frequently mentioned as one of the best first ladies the United States has ever had. She had flaws, and they are shown throughout the book, which to me, makes her more real.
There’s a lot of following Ulysses Grant around as he goes to war and is stationed in different cities. What amazed me in both Chernow’s book, Grant, and this book is how close the Grant children were to the fighting. Going to visit Grant while he’s in the middle of a battle? I can’t imagine doing that these days.
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule really takes off for me after Jule leaves Julia Grant and escapes slavery and makes her way to Washington D.C. to make a life of her own. I wanted more Jule at that point, but instead got more of the Grants since it was the height of the Civil War. Their paths to Washington are vastly different, and the fact that they knew the same people made this book all the more interesting.
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule is a good read, if you can get past the historical inaccuracies, which are usually found in historical fiction novels. Ulysses S. Grant was no saint, as I know from reading Grant, but Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule depicts him that way.
I’m enough of a fan of the writing of this book that I’ll be picking up the Lincoln books, Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker and Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival, as well as the newest book that came out in June, Mrs. Lincoln’s Sisters, as soon as I can.
Join our Facebook page Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews or join the group of the same name.
Have you read Ron Chernow’s tome on Ulysses S. Grant? I have, and when I saw there was a historical fiction book about his wife and her slave, I had to check it out. That’s right: the leader of the Union army married a woman whose family owned slaves. That should make for interesting reading, right?
Chiaverini admits “Although the lives of Ulysses and Julia Grant are well documented, almost nothing exists about Jule beyond a few brief mentions in Julia Grant’s memoirs . Thus her life as depicted in this story is almost entirely imagined .” That should be great for the reader, because it gives the author more freedom in their writing.
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule should be the story of Julia Dent Grant and her slave, Jule, who grew up together and were inseparable during those years. However, this book is more about the Grants than Jule, more specifically Julia Grant. By most accounts, she was a good woman, and is frequently mentioned as one of the best first ladies the United States has ever had. She had flaws, and they are shown throughout the book, which to me, makes her more real.
There’s a lot of following Ulysses Grant around as he goes to war and is stationed in different cities. What amazed me in both Chernow’s book, Grant, and this book is how close the Grant children were to the fighting. Going to visit Grant while he’s in the middle of a battle? I can’t imagine doing that these days.
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule really takes off for me after Jule leaves Julia Grant and escapes slavery and makes her way to Washington D.C. to make a life of her own. I wanted more Jule at that point, but instead got more of the Grants since it was the height of the Civil War. Their paths to Washington are vastly different, and the fact that they knew the same people made this book all the more interesting.
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule is a good read, if you can get past the historical inaccuracies, which are usually found in historical fiction novels. Ulysses S. Grant was no saint, as I know from reading Grant, but Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule depicts him that way.
I’m enough of a fan of the writing of this book that I’ll be picking up the Lincoln books, Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker and Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival, as well as the newest book that came out in June, Mrs. Lincoln’s Sisters, as soon as I can.
It took me a little while to really get into this story... The author was moving through the years and events with great haste, and I didn't like it as much as I liked her other novels. But then, despite the passing of the years, I found the story's rhythm, and appreciated the skill in which the author was able to take the enormous events of the lives of three people, find a fluent story within those many years, and leave me wiping away many tears, as the book drew its final conclusions - and me quite thankful for the experience.
I actually had a hard time getting into this one. Once Jule ran away and the story was a little more split up I got into it more. I think I was disappointed because it seemed like it would focus more on the relationship Mrs. Grant had with Jule but it's basically her love story with Ulysses, which isn't a bad thing just wasn't what I was expecting.
I so wanted to really like this book as I had really enjoyed the author's book "Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker". But sadly this book really didn't have enough depth to make it more than a meh-read. I don't deny that the Grants had a good marriage and that Julia Grant was a nice person. But this was too much of a fairy tale telling of their life. Chiaverini glossed over or barely touched on events in their lives that were controversial or problematic. It would have been more interesting to read if she had explored how certain events, such as the allegations about Grant's drinking problem,had affected Julia & their marriage with more profundity. Also the story of Jule became uninteresting. The author really could have developed the story line of Julia & Jule better. It read with little emotion.
Really enjoyed this book and felt I learned more about the Civil War.