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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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:
Yes
The fact it is based on a true story makes this book even more incredible than one could think it is. Madame Dumon't story is set in the Wild West U.S, which can be really entertaining. And it was!
Simone Jules, who goes on to become Eleanor Dumont is at the heart of this novel. After her (upper class) family perishes in a fire, she leaves her old life behind, inheritance, fiance and all, and creates a new life for herself elsewhere, to make sure no one ever finds her. Penniless, she starts doing little jobs, until one day, she introduces a new card game to the local folks : vingt-et-un. Quickly, everyone loves the game, and this strong French-speaking woman who deals the cards.
From then on, the story is so rich! There is always action around Madame Dumont. From bar to bar, to travelling a lot, to owning her own establishement, her life certainly hasn't been dull. I thought it was a great way to write a bout how one can easily lose everything, and start over again, over and over again. It's a show of resilience, that you can always get back up. Honestly, that topic is still relevant today, and it resonated in me a lot! Many of us struggle with jobs, not really knowing what we want to do with our lives. But as long as you care about something, there will be a way to keep going. There's always something out there for everyone. Plus, once you've lost everything, you can only look forward instead of back.
Eleanor Dumont is truly a strong character in that way. She never gives up, even after losing everything and her loved ones, repeatedly. She didn't let men step on her when she started dealing cards, when she created a whole empire around her and her vingt-et-un game. She fought fate and the patriarcal system and racism when those weren't too much of a thing. There's no way not to like this character. This novel, and her story should definitely be more known, so I hope you will pick up this book one day!
The only thing that bugged me off about this book is the real Madame Dumont. After finishing the book, I did some research about her. As it turns out, all the bad stuff about her has been omitted in the book. She did some questionnable things in her life (I'll let you Google it, her story is cool to read though), and in the book, she is only portrayed as a good, resilient person. Maybe the novel could have had even more depth by showing the flaws of the character, and the shady things done by the real person.
It still is a very cool book to read, that will propel you in the Wild West era alongside a badass woman!
Simone Jules, who goes on to become Eleanor Dumont is at the heart of this novel. After her (upper class) family perishes in a fire, she leaves her old life behind, inheritance, fiance and all, and creates a new life for herself elsewhere, to make sure no one ever finds her. Penniless, she starts doing little jobs, until one day, she introduces a new card game to the local folks : vingt-et-un. Quickly, everyone loves the game, and this strong French-speaking woman who deals the cards.
From then on, the story is so rich! There is always action around Madame Dumont. From bar to bar, to travelling a lot, to owning her own establishement, her life certainly hasn't been dull. I thought it was a great way to write a bout how one can easily lose everything, and start over again, over and over again. It's a show of resilience, that you can always get back up. Honestly, that topic is still relevant today, and it resonated in me a lot! Many of us struggle with jobs, not really knowing what we want to do with our lives. But as long as you care about something, there will be a way to keep going. There's always something out there for everyone. Plus, once you've lost everything, you can only look forward instead of back.
Eleanor Dumont is truly a strong character in that way. She never gives up, even after losing everything and her loved ones, repeatedly. She didn't let men step on her when she started dealing cards, when she created a whole empire around her and her vingt-et-un game. She fought fate and the patriarcal system and racism when those weren't too much of a thing. There's no way not to like this character. This novel, and her story should definitely be more known, so I hope you will pick up this book one day!
The only thing that bugged me off about this book is the real Madame Dumont. After finishing the book, I did some research about her. As it turns out, all the bad stuff about her has been omitted in the book. She did some questionnable things in her life (I'll let you Google it, her story is cool to read though), and in the book, she is only portrayed as a good, resilient person. Maybe the novel could have had even more depth by showing the flaws of the character, and the shady things done by the real person.
It still is a very cool book to read, that will propel you in the Wild West era alongside a badass woman!
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-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