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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik
3.5***
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: A Novel of the Vanderbilts.
Alva Smith and her sisters are left with nothing but their good reputation after the Civil War. William Vanderbilt’s family is wealthy but not accepted by New York’s premier families. A marriage between the two might improve both families’ spot in society. It’s a false hope, however. But Alva is determined. She uses her husband’s money to build new and lavish mansions, hosts her own grand balls, works to found the Metropolitan Opera House, and to ensure that her children achieved the stature she deemed appropriate.
She was no shrinking violet … she was a Steel Magnolia. Intelligent, cagey, and fiercely independent. Faced with a betrayal, she moved forward with a scandalous strategy. It was a courageous move, but she was determined. Among the causes she championed was suffrage for all women.
I thought Fowler did a great job of bringing this fascinating woman to life. Of course I had heard of the Vanderbilts, but I knew little of Alva’s background or of her political causes before reading this.
Barrie Kreinik did a fine job of performing the audiobook. I found her interpretation of Ava and the many other characters believable. This is the second book set during the Gilded Age that I’ve listened to this month, and I admit that I got a bit confused at times, thinking that an episode in the story of Jennie Churchill was part of Alva’s story. That’s my fault, not the book’s or narrator’s.
3.5***
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: A Novel of the Vanderbilts.
Alva Smith and her sisters are left with nothing but their good reputation after the Civil War. William Vanderbilt’s family is wealthy but not accepted by New York’s premier families. A marriage between the two might improve both families’ spot in society. It’s a false hope, however. But Alva is determined. She uses her husband’s money to build new and lavish mansions, hosts her own grand balls, works to found the Metropolitan Opera House, and to ensure that her children achieved the stature she deemed appropriate.
She was no shrinking violet … she was a Steel Magnolia. Intelligent, cagey, and fiercely independent. Faced with a betrayal, she moved forward with a scandalous strategy. It was a courageous move, but she was determined. Among the causes she championed was suffrage for all women.
I thought Fowler did a great job of bringing this fascinating woman to life. Of course I had heard of the Vanderbilts, but I knew little of Alva’s background or of her political causes before reading this.
Barrie Kreinik did a fine job of performing the audiobook. I found her interpretation of Ava and the many other characters believable. This is the second book set during the Gilded Age that I’ve listened to this month, and I admit that I got a bit confused at times, thinking that an episode in the story of Jennie Churchill was part of Alva’s story. That’s my fault, not the book’s or narrator’s.
cjeanne99's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Alva Vanderbilt Belmont was a remarkable woman who accomplished many things for her time. The story follows her time from near destitution after her father's illness and loss of income - through her marriage and divorce from William Vanderbilt an subsequent marriage to Oliver Belmont.
Her greatest contribution was her work for women's suffrage and involvement in the National Women's Party. I would have appreciated a little less about her daughter Consuelo's romantic liason's and a little more about Alva's life after the death of her second husband. Fowler took great care to focus the story on Alva herself, and recognition of how New York City society treated women in the early 20th century - but left me wanting more.
Her greatest contribution was her work for women's suffrage and involvement in the National Women's Party. I would have appreciated a little less about her daughter Consuelo's romantic liason's and a little more about Alva's life after the death of her second husband. Fowler took great care to focus the story on Alva herself, and recognition of how New York City society treated women in the early 20th century - but left me wanting more.
jhblahut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
b_dav1s's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
4.0
The title of this novel is a little bewildering: Alva Smith Vanderbilt was certainly not a well-behaved as the title would have you believe. Alva's southern family was bankrupt by the time she received "marriageable" age--she and her sisters were rationing food while they waited and hoped that Alva would make an advantageous marriage. With the help of her friend the Brazilian heiress Consuelo Yznaga, Alva marries William Vanderbilt, the younger son. The Smiths may be broke, but they are an old established family while the Vanderbilts are new money.
Alva understands the expectations. Her sisters have been saved from becoming ladies' companions or governesses and her role is to elevate the Vanderbilts in society.. She is creative and uses their money in ways that make old-money New York grind its teeth with envy. William is a pleasant guy and gives her free rein to do what she needs to do to raise the Vanderbilts in society's eye.
Alva plays the long game, and she understands that the marriage her daughter Consuelo makes will be the most important piece of her strategy. Consuelo must marry the most eligible bachelor in the world, the Duke of Marlborough.
Then, Alva divorces William and marries a family friend. She tries to mend her relationship with her daughter who is miserable in her marriage. Consuelo will ultimately achieve the kind of independence that eluded her mother although Alva does pretty darn well for a woman of her era. Not so well-behaved after all.
It's hard to imagine the Vanderbilts as strivers, but here they are. "A Well-Behaved Woman" is an inside look at America's Golden Age from the most privileged position.
Alva understands the expectations. Her sisters have been saved from becoming ladies' companions or governesses and her role is to elevate the Vanderbilts in society.. She is creative and uses their money in ways that make old-money New York grind its teeth with envy. William is a pleasant guy and gives her free rein to do what she needs to do to raise the Vanderbilts in society's eye.
Alva plays the long game, and she understands that the marriage her daughter Consuelo makes will be the most important piece of her strategy. Consuelo must marry the most eligible bachelor in the world, the Duke of Marlborough.
Then, Alva divorces William and marries a family friend. She tries to mend her relationship with her daughter who is miserable in her marriage. Consuelo will ultimately achieve the kind of independence that eluded her mother although Alva does pretty darn well for a woman of her era. Not so well-behaved after all.
It's hard to imagine the Vanderbilts as strivers, but here they are. "A Well-Behaved Woman" is an inside look at America's Golden Age from the most privileged position.
fowlerkg's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Lacked nuance, was very superficial in its imagination of Alva Vanderbilt’s life. Her suffrage advocacy was largely left out except for the afterward and authors note.
trudyd's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time getting through this book. I found it dry. It seemed to go on and on without purpose. It is definitely a book that I could imagine a professor listing as required reading on a syllabus.
fatfemmequeer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0