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kiminindy's review against another edition
5.0
marvelous. i listened to this on audio book. i had also listened to mrs lincolns dressmaker just a few months ago and this was a wonderful "sequel". jennifer chiaverini brings the characters to life in her writing. you really don't want the book to end.
jbeen21's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to the Goodreads First Reads giveaways program for a copy of Jennifer Chiaverini’s novel, “Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival.”
I couldn’t wait for this book to arrive in my mailbox. Chiaverini’s fiction had been on my “to-read” list for years, and winning a copy of her most recent historical fiction novel was such a thrill. Unfortunately, after admiring the beautiful, high-quality cover of the book, settling into bed and reading the first few chapters, I knew, with a sinking feeling inside, that I just didn’t have the inclination to proceed with the story. Over the course of the next week or so, I grudgingly returned to the pages, hoping that some event or character would spark my interest for the long haul. But the characters just weren’t appealing, the “rivalry” between protagonist Kate Chase and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln was merely a minor happening, and the many military battles were so mired in historical detail that this potentially-fascinating Civil War-era novel was a disappointment. Hopefully, Chiaverini’s earlier historical novels, such as “The Spymistress” and “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” have more to offer.
I couldn’t wait for this book to arrive in my mailbox. Chiaverini’s fiction had been on my “to-read” list for years, and winning a copy of her most recent historical fiction novel was such a thrill. Unfortunately, after admiring the beautiful, high-quality cover of the book, settling into bed and reading the first few chapters, I knew, with a sinking feeling inside, that I just didn’t have the inclination to proceed with the story. Over the course of the next week or so, I grudgingly returned to the pages, hoping that some event or character would spark my interest for the long haul. But the characters just weren’t appealing, the “rivalry” between protagonist Kate Chase and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln was merely a minor happening, and the many military battles were so mired in historical detail that this potentially-fascinating Civil War-era novel was a disappointment. Hopefully, Chiaverini’s earlier historical novels, such as “The Spymistress” and “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” have more to offer.
jbeen21's review
2.0
Thank you to the Goodreads First Reads giveaways program for a copy of Jennifer Chiaverini’s novel, “Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival.”
I couldn’t wait for this book to arrive in my mailbox. Chiaverini’s fiction had been on my “to-read” list for years, and winning a copy of her most recent historical fiction novel was such a thrill. Unfortunately, after admiring the beautiful, high-quality cover of the book, settling into bed and reading the first few chapters, I discovered that I just didn’t have the inclination to proceed with the story. Over the course of the next week or so, I grudgingly returned to the pages, hoping that some event or character would spark my interest for the long haul. But the characters just weren’t appealing, the “rivalry” between protagonist Kate Chase and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln was merely a minor happening, and the many military battles were so mired in historical detail that this potentially-fascinating Civil War-era novel was a disappointment. Hopefully, Chiaverini’s earlier historical novels, such as “The Spymistress” and “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” have more to offer.
I couldn’t wait for this book to arrive in my mailbox. Chiaverini’s fiction had been on my “to-read” list for years, and winning a copy of her most recent historical fiction novel was such a thrill. Unfortunately, after admiring the beautiful, high-quality cover of the book, settling into bed and reading the first few chapters, I discovered that I just didn’t have the inclination to proceed with the story. Over the course of the next week or so, I grudgingly returned to the pages, hoping that some event or character would spark my interest for the long haul. But the characters just weren’t appealing, the “rivalry” between protagonist Kate Chase and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln was merely a minor happening, and the many military battles were so mired in historical detail that this potentially-fascinating Civil War-era novel was a disappointment. Hopefully, Chiaverini’s earlier historical novels, such as “The Spymistress” and “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” have more to offer.
gwalt118's review against another edition
4.0
I stumbled across this book, thanks to my local librarian. I was looking for a different historical fiction novel that wasn't available, but my librarian didn't want me to leave empty handed. I told her I enjoyed historical fiction that focused on women and I was looking for a different era than WWII (because I already have a couple of those on my TBR list). She asked me if I had heard of Jennifer Chiaverini. I mentioned that I was looking forward to Chiaverini's Resistance Women, but I hadn't read anything else by her. I perused Chiaverini's books for a bit before landing on this one for a seemingly silly reason. As soon as I read the first phrase of the jacket flap - "Kate Chase Sprague was born in in 1840 in Cincinnati, Ohio" - I was sold. Why? Well, because I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio too and I had never heard of Kate Chase Sprague. I had heard of her father, Salmon P. Chase, because the Northern Kentucky University Law School is named after him. Nevertheless, I didn't know much about him. I was superbly intrigued to read this book.
I enjoyed it immensely. It's dense with history, beginning in 1858 and ending in 1865. These are the years of the Civil War, and I found it fascinating to examine the historical and political events of this time period through the eyes of the Chase family, notably Kate. In some ways, Kate is Mrs. Lincoln's rival, as the title suggests. However, the book is not about that rivalry as much as the jacket cover led me to believe. It's really about the choices that the Chase family made during the Civil War era - positive and negative, beneficial and destructive, unnoticed and extremely notable. I enjoyed learning how and why Salmon P. Chase never became president, although many believe he would have been a great one.
Kate chose to marry William Sprague, who was known as the "Boy Governor" of Rhode Island. Chiaverini did a wonderful job writing the tumultuous development of their relationship, and I was reminded how differently affection, love, and the concept of marriage was cultivated 160 years ago. Their relationship is not a prominent piece of the story until the last third of the novel, but it certainly affects the remainder of Kate's life, as we learn in the Epilogue.
I relished in the story of Kate, a woman who was certainly born before her time and who society forced to attempt to live out her ambitions through the work of men. At one point, Kate's sister Nettie jokes that she should run for Congress. I chuckled because one could certainly argue that she could have been a great one. For a woman who lived at a time when women could not even vote, Kate Chase Sprague had a large impact on the political workings of the time period, chiefly through assisting the work of her father.
This book is long and parts of it are dense with history, but I never once thought about abandoning it. It is a wonderfully fascinating story of a woman who we don't hear about in history books, but one who is certainly important. On an upcoming visit to Cincinnati, I will be certain to visit the grave of Kate Chase Sprague, who is buried with her mother and father in the beautifully spacious and serene Spring Grove Cemetery.
I enjoyed it immensely. It's dense with history, beginning in 1858 and ending in 1865. These are the years of the Civil War, and I found it fascinating to examine the historical and political events of this time period through the eyes of the Chase family, notably Kate. In some ways, Kate is Mrs. Lincoln's rival, as the title suggests. However, the book is not about that rivalry as much as the jacket cover led me to believe. It's really about the choices that the Chase family made during the Civil War era - positive and negative, beneficial and destructive, unnoticed and extremely notable. I enjoyed learning how and why Salmon P. Chase never became president, although many believe he would have been a great one.
Kate chose to marry William Sprague, who was known as the "Boy Governor" of Rhode Island. Chiaverini did a wonderful job writing the tumultuous development of their relationship, and I was reminded how differently affection, love, and the concept of marriage was cultivated 160 years ago. Their relationship is not a prominent piece of the story until the last third of the novel, but it certainly affects the remainder of Kate's life, as we learn in the Epilogue.
I relished in the story of Kate, a woman who was certainly born before her time and who society forced to attempt to live out her ambitions through the work of men. At one point, Kate's sister Nettie jokes that she should run for Congress. I chuckled because one could certainly argue that she could have been a great one. For a woman who lived at a time when women could not even vote, Kate Chase Sprague had a large impact on the political workings of the time period, chiefly through assisting the work of her father.
This book is long and parts of it are dense with history, but I never once thought about abandoning it. It is a wonderfully fascinating story of a woman who we don't hear about in history books, but one who is certainly important. On an upcoming visit to Cincinnati, I will be certain to visit the grave of Kate Chase Sprague, who is buried with her mother and father in the beautifully spacious and serene Spring Grove Cemetery.
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
2.0
This was… not good.
This book had extremely clunky prose. How it info-dumps the events of the civil war and speed runs through various moments of Kate Chase’s life makes this book a slog to get through.
This book had extremely clunky prose. How it info-dumps the events of the civil war and speed runs through various moments of Kate Chase’s life makes this book a slog to get through.
cari1268's review against another edition
3.0
I learned a lot reading this book! It made me want to get back into Team of Rivals. I genuinely enjoyed the historical information.
However, as a narrative this didn't work. The book should be titled, Salmon P. Chase: As Seen Through His Daughter's Eyes. Kate Chase very much felt like a mechanism to provide information on her father. Very little of this book is actually about her.
The only part that focused on Kate was her romance. I kept rooting for her to break up with William Sprague and late, I was hoping he died young.
3 Stars.
However, as a narrative this didn't work. The book should be titled, Salmon P. Chase: As Seen Through His Daughter's Eyes. Kate Chase very much felt like a mechanism to provide information on her father. Very little of this book is actually about her.
The only part that focused on Kate was her romance. I kept rooting for her to break up with William Sprague and late, I was hoping he died young.
3 Stars.
gr8kait's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
100pagesaday's review against another edition
3.0
This is a thorough examination of the adult life of Kate Chase, daughter of Salmon P. Chase. Salmon was the U.S. Treasury Secretary under Abraham Lincoln. Kate was a rising socialite during this time and hoped to one day be First Lady herself; Kate was intensely involved in her father's political life and his run for the Presidency. Much to the chagrin of Mary Todd Lincoln, many found Kate's life, fashion and political musings far more interesting thus creating a long-standing rivalry.
This was another outstanding woman in history who I was very glad to get to know more about. However, this book seemed to me to read more like a biography and at times was a little difficult to get through. Granted, Kate Chase was very involved in her father's politics and the story is set within the government at the time of the Civil War, so we are taken into the political decisions of the time. I've never been one for all of that. I actually found myself most interested in Kate's courtship and marriage to the 'Boy Governor' of Rhode Island, William Sprague. His characterization within the book was engrossing, perhaps because he was an alcoholic or because of the secrets he kept, William came off as almost bi-polar. William and Kate's relationship was as gripping as watching a train wreck. I was also compelled to see how Mary Todd Lincoln was portrayed. There are actually not many interactions between Kate and Mary since Mary avoided Kate at all costs, this disappointed me a little since I thought Mary would have a bit more of a role in the book. However, Kate and her friends do call Mary 'Her Satanic Majesty' and other fun nicknames throughout.
A good book to read if you want an in-depth portrayal of Kate Chase's life, but this was a little heavy for me and almost seemed as a slightly romanticized non-fiction.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
This was another outstanding woman in history who I was very glad to get to know more about. However, this book seemed to me to read more like a biography and at times was a little difficult to get through. Granted, Kate Chase was very involved in her father's politics and the story is set within the government at the time of the Civil War, so we are taken into the political decisions of the time. I've never been one for all of that. I actually found myself most interested in Kate's courtship and marriage to the 'Boy Governor' of Rhode Island, William Sprague. His characterization within the book was engrossing, perhaps because he was an alcoholic or because of the secrets he kept, William came off as almost bi-polar. William and Kate's relationship was as gripping as watching a train wreck. I was also compelled to see how Mary Todd Lincoln was portrayed. There are actually not many interactions between Kate and Mary since Mary avoided Kate at all costs, this disappointed me a little since I thought Mary would have a bit more of a role in the book. However, Kate and her friends do call Mary 'Her Satanic Majesty' and other fun nicknames throughout.
A good book to read if you want an in-depth portrayal of Kate Chase's life, but this was a little heavy for me and almost seemed as a slightly romanticized non-fiction.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.