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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
informative
medium-paced
One of the best written biographies I've read. Thomas does a great job of focusing on Louisa rather than her husband, as some biographies of First Ladies have done. She does more than gives facts but tells a story of a woman trying to find her voice. At times I wished certain aspects were highlighted more but that may have made this even longer.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I like a good biography and this did not disappoint. I didn't know much about the Adams family before this book much less anything about Louisa Adams. It was a well-written account of an interesting and very full life. I f0und that many of the questions Louisa asked herself about marriage, about a woman's role, about the point of life are still questions that we ask ourselves.
I read a lot of biographies/memoirs, and this was one of the best.
Louisa Adams was a fascinating character, and Louisa Thomas brought her to life wonderfully. There was enough detail to give a good picture of the woman, but not so much as to bog down and bore even the most ardent fan.
This was such an easy, pleasurable read, there were several times I didn't want to put the book down--something I experience with a good novel, but rarely with a biography. This was due in large part to the fact that the book progressed in an easy chronological order, without a lot of flashback and/or shifting time frames, that can be frustrating in other books of this type.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Louisa Adams was a fascinating character, and Louisa Thomas brought her to life wonderfully. There was enough detail to give a good picture of the woman, but not so much as to bog down and bore even the most ardent fan.
This was such an easy, pleasurable read, there were several times I didn't want to put the book down--something I experience with a good novel, but rarely with a biography. This was due in large part to the fact that the book progressed in an easy chronological order, without a lot of flashback and/or shifting time frames, that can be frustrating in other books of this type.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Louisa Adams was the wife of John Quincy Adams, the less popular Adams president and that’s saying a crapton, because nobody liked his dad very much at all. Louisa was the product of an American father and a faux-Aristocratic English mother. She was brought up to be the model wife. This biography traces her life and how she managed to adapt to crazy circumstance after crazy circumstance. Rich, pampered daughter in Europe? Check. Ambassador’s wife in Prussia? Check. Hardscrabble farm wife? Check. Widow? Check. Her life was simultaneously amazing and a sack of shit, yet she persevered and found her voice.
I picked up this (audio)book without having much knowledge about Louisa Adams. I've been cured.
It's full of stories about both her private life--including the number of great tragedies she suffered losing family members--and the public life she led. From Berlin, to Russia, to London, and America, Louisa rubbed elbows with all the great politicians and leaders of the time. And maybe because of the fact that she was so often surrounded by "greatness" (not only foreign leaders, but her president father-in-law and husband, and presidential nominee son), she felt her own inadequacies acutely. Some of them were only imagined and others were personal failings or weaknesses, but many of them were due to her sex and the restrictions that had been placed on her. For example, Louisa was embarrassed by her lacking education (although it was not uncommon for women of the age) and she was often sick or morose (especially at times when she was expected to be little more than ornamental). But when she was given a challenge, such as when she was forced to travel from Russia to London alone with her child during the Napoleonic War, she rose to it.
For me, the biggest takeaway was that while Louisa Adams most certainly lived a spectacular life, and while she certainly helped shape history, her beginnings were inauspicious. She was just like so many other women of her time who were expected to play a limited role in political and public life. The fact that we remember Louisa Adams is amazing, but it makes me mourn all of the other women of the era who also could have made some lasting contributions if they had been allowed.
Overall, this biography did an excellent job of exploring the nuances of Louisa's character, beliefs, and her relationship with John Quincy. Louisa really came alive for me.
It's full of stories about both her private life--including the number of great tragedies she suffered losing family members--and the public life she led. From Berlin, to Russia, to London, and America, Louisa rubbed elbows with all the great politicians and leaders of the time. And maybe because of the fact that she was so often surrounded by "greatness" (not only foreign leaders, but her president father-in-law and husband, and presidential nominee son), she felt her own inadequacies acutely. Some of them were only imagined and others were personal failings or weaknesses, but many of them were due to her sex and the restrictions that had been placed on her. For example, Louisa was embarrassed by her lacking education (although it was not uncommon for women of the age) and she was often sick or morose (especially at times when she was expected to be little more than ornamental). But when she was given a challenge, such as when she was forced to travel from Russia to London alone with her child during the Napoleonic War, she rose to it.
For me, the biggest takeaway was that while Louisa Adams most certainly lived a spectacular life, and while she certainly helped shape history, her beginnings were inauspicious. She was just like so many other women of her time who were expected to play a limited role in political and public life. The fact that we remember Louisa Adams is amazing, but it makes me mourn all of the other women of the era who also could have made some lasting contributions if they had been allowed.
Overall, this biography did an excellent job of exploring the nuances of Louisa's character, beliefs, and her relationship with John Quincy. Louisa really came alive for me.
Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams by Louisa Thomas is first and foremost Louisa Adams' personal story. The writing style is part story with almost a diary-like feel with many personal details. At the same time, this book is all history chronicled with quotes, document excerpts, names, and dates. As a casual, non-academic reader, I find the level of detail a little overwhelming, but I learn a lot about that time in history.
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/03/louisa-extraordinary-life-of-mrs-adams.html.
Reviewed for the Penguin First to Read program.
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/03/louisa-extraordinary-life-of-mrs-adams.html.
Reviewed for the Penguin First to Read program.
LOUISA is a historical read on John Quincy Adams' wife Louisa Johnson Quincy. This book details her life from early childhood through her marriage and family life and widowhood and death. Most people are more knowledgeable about John and Abigail Adams than their son John Quincy and his wife. This read was informative about a little known figure in American history, but I found most of the book dry and dull as if I myself were doing the research for the writer instead of reading the final product. Yes, it gives one many details about early American diplomacy and the hardships of forming a viable republic in an age of absolute monarchical rule, but mostly what we see of Louisa is her complaining and being told to act better by John Quincy, father-in-law John and mother-in-law Abigail. We learn almost equal amounts about the other main characters as we do about Louisa and although that may be appropriate based on the time period, I found the finished product lacking and lackluster.
Reviewed as part of Penguin's First-to-Read program.
Reviewed as part of Penguin's First-to-Read program.