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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Based on the life of Aimee Crocker, an heiress to a vast fortune, the book details her life from a teen to her death. Crocker was a world traveler and famous for her sexual exploits, experimentation, and scandal. She married many times, and had affairs with many others. She also imagined a spectre who would advise or warn her of impending events.
I was hoping for more from this book, but I was bored reading it.
Aimee (neé Amy) Crocker was one of the most colorful American heiresses of the late 19th, early 20th centuries. With her menagerie of husbands, penchant for mysticism, and riotous parties, any book attempting to portray her is a daunting undertaking. However, Greer Macallister masters this intriguing woman’s life, in this glittering historical fiction.
This book was wonderful. Sprinkled with the spooky & mysticism, colorful just like Crocker’s life was, and fast-paced (again, like Crocker’s life), Macallister didn’t shy away from the flamboyance of Crocker’s life. Macallister provided context and filled in the gaps (fictionally, of course) for how this larger-than-life lady navigated the world.
Crocker would be easy to “write off,” pun intended, due to her extravagance, wealth, and “kooky” proclivities. However, Macallister made her real - a real person, with loves, losses, pain, successes, and so much more. With American heiresses, they were often villainized characters in newspapers, much like modern celebrities, but who were people. Macallister brought that humanity, without sacrificing the woman defying society’s expectations.
One beautiful note to add is the epigraphs Macallister includes from Crocker, herself. It really lends Crocker’s personality to the book, and is a sweet homage to a woman who defied society and played by her own rules.
This book was wonderful. Sprinkled with the spooky & mysticism, colorful just like Crocker’s life was, and fast-paced (again, like Crocker’s life), Macallister didn’t shy away from the flamboyance of Crocker’s life. Macallister provided context and filled in the gaps (fictionally, of course) for how this larger-than-life lady navigated the world.
Crocker would be easy to “write off,” pun intended, due to her extravagance, wealth, and “kooky” proclivities. However, Macallister made her real - a real person, with loves, losses, pain, successes, and so much more. With American heiresses, they were often villainized characters in newspapers, much like modern celebrities, but who were people. Macallister brought that humanity, without sacrificing the woman defying society’s expectations.
One beautiful note to add is the epigraphs Macallister includes from Crocker, herself. It really lends Crocker’s personality to the book, and is a sweet homage to a woman who defied society and played by her own rules.
In the 1880s, it became clear that Aimee Crocker was a force to be reckoned with. When she was ten years old, she inherited $10 million. As she grew, this free-spirited woman shocked the public and the media who loved to write about her. A series of marriages didn't stop her from traveling the globe and experiencing life on her own terms. Intrigued by spirituality, a fortune teller predicted that she would have thirteen husbands. Aimee's journeys to India, Japan, Paris and beyond offered her thrilling adventures and an ongoing pursuit of love and lust.
Greer Macalister's novel The Thirteenth Husband is inspired by the life of heiress Aimee Crocker, a woman most people have probably never heard of. I appreciated Aimee's defiance against societal norms, although many of her actions were too over-the-top to truly like her. Since the book is based on a real person, this is not the fault of the author as the story is well presented. I'm glad to have read it and have since sought more info online. Macallister presented many of Aimee's exploits into her story yet amazingly, even more sensational behavior didn't make it into the book. Fans of historical fiction about strong, resilient women may want to check it out.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book in advance.
Rated 3.5 stars.
Greer Macalister's novel The Thirteenth Husband is inspired by the life of heiress Aimee Crocker, a woman most people have probably never heard of. I appreciated Aimee's defiance against societal norms, although many of her actions were too over-the-top to truly like her. Since the book is based on a real person, this is not the fault of the author as the story is well presented. I'm glad to have read it and have since sought more info online. Macallister presented many of Aimee's exploits into her story yet amazingly, even more sensational behavior didn't make it into the book. Fans of historical fiction about strong, resilient women may want to check it out.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book in advance.
Rated 3.5 stars.
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcohol
In "The Thirteenth Husband," Greer Macallister paints a mesmerizing portrait of the enigmatic heiress Aimee Crocker, whose life was a whirlwind of wealth, scandal, and independence in the late 19th century. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Macallister brings to life the captivating journey of a woman who defied societal expectations at every turn.
Aimee Crocker's adventures take readers on a captivating journey across continents, from the bustling streets of San Francisco to the exotic landscapes of the Far East. Macallister's evocative prose and attention to detail immerse readers in the opulence and intrigue of Gilded Age society, where Crocker's larger-than-life persona commanded attention at every turn.
Despite her flamboyant exterior, Macallister skillfully peels back the layers of Crocker's character to reveal the complex woman beneath the surface. Through Crocker's scandalous marriages, audacious exploits, and unwavering independence, Macallister explores themes of identity, resilience, and the pursuit of happiness in a world that often sought to confine her.
"The Thirteenth Husband" is more than just a historical novel; it is a compelling exploration of one woman's quest for freedom and fulfillment in a time of immense societal upheaval. Macallister's meticulous research and engaging storytelling make this book a captivating read from beginning to end, leaving readers spellbound by the indomitable spirit of Aimee Crocker and her extraordinary life.
Aimee Crocker's adventures take readers on a captivating journey across continents, from the bustling streets of San Francisco to the exotic landscapes of the Far East. Macallister's evocative prose and attention to detail immerse readers in the opulence and intrigue of Gilded Age society, where Crocker's larger-than-life persona commanded attention at every turn.
Despite her flamboyant exterior, Macallister skillfully peels back the layers of Crocker's character to reveal the complex woman beneath the surface. Through Crocker's scandalous marriages, audacious exploits, and unwavering independence, Macallister explores themes of identity, resilience, and the pursuit of happiness in a world that often sought to confine her.
"The Thirteenth Husband" is more than just a historical novel; it is a compelling exploration of one woman's quest for freedom and fulfillment in a time of immense societal upheaval. Macallister's meticulous research and engaging storytelling make this book a captivating read from beginning to end, leaving readers spellbound by the indomitable spirit of Aimee Crocker and her extraordinary life.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
funny
informative
inspiring
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
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Easiest 5 stars!⭐️
This was a surprise. I loved it. Smart historical novel based on true characters.
Didn’t know much going in- so I was pleasantly surprised to find thay Amy Crocker was a true badass woman who wanted to live and experience everything of life. While making mistakes on the way…the journey is a good one!
This was a surprise. I loved it. Smart historical novel based on true characters.
Didn’t know much going in- so I was pleasantly surprised to find thay Amy Crocker was a true badass woman who wanted to live and experience everything of life. While making mistakes on the way…the journey is a good one!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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