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lecrockett's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you William Morrow / HarperCollins for the ARC!
Gina, a young Italian girl on the brink of womanhood, steps onto the Boston shores excited for the future of opportunity ahead of her. The first American she meets, and whose story forever entangles her own, is Harry Barrington, son of the wealthy Herman Barrington and leader of the Barrington town just outside of Boston's city limits. Her eagerness to learn everything and headstrong, forward-thinking personality, mixed with Harry's studious and philosophical endeavors, bring these two together. Thus begins a whirlwind romance and a daring adventure in the uncertain, politically unrest future.
Although it was a great opportunity to read about the interesting view points and backstory for what brought Alexander Barrington's parents together, this book felt a bit unnecessary. In The Bronze Horseman, the first of the Alexander and Tatiana epic romance trilogy, the reader discovers Alexander's true American identity, that his parents were Italian and American, that they fled America for Russia due to their political beliefs, and that nothing turned out the way they expected. While it was fascinating reading this prequel to the trilogy -- who wouldn't be curious about how the parents of favorite beloved characters met and fell in love? -- it felt long and indulgent.
"Long" is really saying something, too. The Bronze Horseman and the other two books are tomes, really fitting the Russian stereotypes for epic romances. This book, however, was rather thin, and I still felt lulled to sleep. I'm sure if I brushed up on my American history, or cared more about politics, I could find some enjoyment from this novel. Unfortunately, the characters felt flat. I did not love them like I loved Alexander and Tatiana. I did not feel the love and connection between Gina and Harry. It was heartrendingly disappointing.
I believe what Simons gave the reader in The Bronze Horseman was enough of a story for Gina and Harry and should have been left at that.
Gina, a young Italian girl on the brink of womanhood, steps onto the Boston shores excited for the future of opportunity ahead of her. The first American she meets, and whose story forever entangles her own, is Harry Barrington, son of the wealthy Herman Barrington and leader of the Barrington town just outside of Boston's city limits. Her eagerness to learn everything and headstrong, forward-thinking personality, mixed with Harry's studious and philosophical endeavors, bring these two together. Thus begins a whirlwind romance and a daring adventure in the uncertain, politically unrest future.
Although it was a great opportunity to read about the interesting view points and backstory for what brought Alexander Barrington's parents together, this book felt a bit unnecessary. In The Bronze Horseman, the first of the Alexander and Tatiana epic romance trilogy, the reader discovers Alexander's true American identity, that his parents were Italian and American, that they fled America for Russia due to their political beliefs, and that nothing turned out the way they expected. While it was fascinating reading this prequel to the trilogy -- who wouldn't be curious about how the parents of favorite beloved characters met and fell in love? -- it felt long and indulgent.
"Long" is really saying something, too. The Bronze Horseman and the other two books are tomes, really fitting the Russian stereotypes for epic romances. This book, however, was rather thin, and I still felt lulled to sleep. I'm sure if I brushed up on my American history, or cared more about politics, I could find some enjoyment from this novel. Unfortunately, the characters felt flat. I did not love them like I loved Alexander and Tatiana. I did not feel the love and connection between Gina and Harry. It was heartrendingly disappointing.
I believe what Simons gave the reader in The Bronze Horseman was enough of a story for Gina and Harry and should have been left at that.
sitibbetts7o's review against another edition
2.0
Are y’all okay????? I’m super concerned for everyone who still romanticizes Alexander and tatiana.
I enjoyed the Bronze Horseman series because I thought the writing and world building was decent even if the MCs were extremely toxic.
This book was boring af. Just a couple of whiny MCs who are bland and bland and bland.
Where was the editor? This book should have been a short story. And the back of my copy said it was steamy? I think I read two very short sex scenes. No complaints from me with that, but compared to her other books…. Two pages of sex scenes in nothing. (Pages 600-700 of BH were redundant and constant sex scenes lol).
Also there was no reason this couple needed a weird age gap. It’s like the author likes her romances to be a little gross.
I enjoyed the Bronze Horseman series because I thought the writing and world building was decent even if the MCs were extremely toxic.
This book was boring af. Just a couple of whiny MCs who are bland and bland and bland.
Where was the editor? This book should have been a short story. And the back of my copy said it was steamy? I think I read two very short sex scenes. No complaints from me with that, but compared to her other books…. Two pages of sex scenes in nothing. (Pages 600-700 of BH were redundant and constant sex scenes lol).
Also there was no reason this couple needed a weird age gap. It’s like the author likes her romances to be a little gross.
dona_livrota's review against another edition
1.0
Bem, nem sei por onde começar. Que desilusão. Sou grande fã da Paullina Simons e da sua trilogia Tatiana e Alexander. Children of Liberty é a primeira parte da prequela da trilogia. Narra a estória de Gina e Harry, os pais de Alexander, como se conheceram e apaixonaram. Este livro peca pela falta de empatia com as personagens. Se por um lado Gina mostra alguns traços de Tatiana, por outro Harry é um pãozinho sem sal. A estória dos pais de Alexander, que nos é dada a conhecer ao longo da trilogia, tinha todos os ingredientes para dar um excelente livro. No entanto, não passa de um livro medíocre. “Encher chouriço” é a frase que acho mais adequada para descrever Children of Liberty. Uma prequela a ser escrita tem que ser muito boa, se não não vale a pena nem publicar nem ler.
dajaf's review against another edition
3.0
I když člověk ví, jak knížka dopadne, i tak jsem ke konci netrpělivě otáčela stránkami, jak to vlastně celé skončí. Škoda jen, že se do té doby neděje nic zajímavého. Jelikož mě knížka začala bavit teprve na konci. Autorka se hodně soustředí na společnosti, politice a problémech lidí v dané době. Tyto pasáže mě opravdu nebavily, občas jsem si připadala, že čtu jen knížku dějepisu. Jako zarytá fanynka "jezdce" musím říct, že mě celkově kniha docela zklamala.
Celkově slabší 3*
Celkově slabší 3*
libbypaynton's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beckylej's review against another edition
3.0
Gina's father longed to bring his family to America but it wasn't until after his death that his wife and remaining children were finally able to make the journey. Upon their arrival, the family meets Ben Shaw and Harry Barrington, two young men who come to their aid as new immigrants. Ben is immediately drawn to Gina, but it's Harry who will capture her affections in this new world.
I couldn't help comparing this to Adriana Trigiani's The Shoemaker's Wife for obvious reasons. In reality, other than the romance aspect, they are very different books.
I love the historical context in Children of Liberty: Ben and his bananas (and the Panama Canal), early Massachusetts, and the constant friction between Gina and her family with regards to proper behavior. She shines as a headstrong and willful girl who seems to have the best of intentions. All in all, Children of Liberty is a wonderfully atmospheric historical tale and one that no doubt has only begun - while I have heard that this is just part of their story, it was quite clear that even considering The Bronze Horseman we haven't seen the last of Gina and Harry. It's equally clear that their future is going to be rocky.
I couldn't help comparing this to Adriana Trigiani's The Shoemaker's Wife for obvious reasons. In reality, other than the romance aspect, they are very different books.
I love the historical context in Children of Liberty: Ben and his bananas (and the Panama Canal), early Massachusetts, and the constant friction between Gina and her family with regards to proper behavior. She shines as a headstrong and willful girl who seems to have the best of intentions. All in all, Children of Liberty is a wonderfully atmospheric historical tale and one that no doubt has only begun - while I have heard that this is just part of their story, it was quite clear that even considering The Bronze Horseman we haven't seen the last of Gina and Harry. It's equally clear that their future is going to be rocky.
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
2.0
From the first line, I knew this wasn't my book. Tell-not-show is my reader-ly pet peeve, especially in historical fiction, and the opening chapters felt heavy with telling. I ended up DNFing this book at 104 pages as I just couldn't stand Simons' writing style.
Set in 1899, Sicilian Gina -- on the cusp of turning 15 -- emigrates to the US with her mother and older brother. Upon landing in Boston, they meet Harry Barrington and Ben Shaw, Boston brahmins who manage apartments for newly arrived immigrants (they're the nicest slumlords in history). Ben is hot for Gina, but we the reader know Harry secretly wants her, five year age difference, economic status, and cultural backgrounds be damned. (Also, this is a prequel to Simons' wildly popular Tatiana and Alexander books, featuring Alexander's parents. Even without having read those three books, I had a hunch where this was going.)
Actually, I can't say for certain that's what happened, having stopped just one hundred pages in, but Simons isn't subtle with her set up nor the way she unfolds the story. Gina is childish but winsome, exaggeratedly naive and yet unconsciously sexual; she skips up church stairs but also rebelliously unpins her hair during a candlelit dinner with the two strange men she just met. She's a sweet, naive 14 year old who relishes rendering men speechless.
Ben Shaw is related to Robert Gould Shaw, and for any reader who doesn't know who he is, Simons stops just short of describing him as Matthew Broderick in Glory. Harry Barrington (who, I admit, I kept calling Harry Barry in my head) is cold and bemused and aloof, unimpressed with Ben's hot interest in Gina, telegraphing to all their eventual getting together-ness.
Simons infodumps by having Ben and Harry do this frenetic bantering thing -- which was exhausting -- but Gina finds it delightful, of course. It gave great historical context to early 20th century Boston, but it felt so unnatural and forced, I couldn't shake the feeling of getting a lecture.
In addition to the characters, I found Simons' writing style to be off-putting: she has this weird joke-y commentary thing going on with Harry's scenes, while we're omniscient third person with Gina. From a dinner with Harry and company:
And from the aforementioned candlelit dinner with Gina, her brother, and Ben and Harry:
I will say, she makes her characters big and bold and strong, and if you like those flavors in your fiction, you might enjoy this one. For me, everyone grated, so much so, that by page 64 I was counting down those last forty as I worked my way to one hundred.
Set in 1899, Sicilian Gina -- on the cusp of turning 15 -- emigrates to the US with her mother and older brother. Upon landing in Boston, they meet Harry Barrington and Ben Shaw, Boston brahmins who manage apartments for newly arrived immigrants (they're the nicest slumlords in history). Ben is hot for Gina, but we the reader know Harry secretly wants her, five year age difference, economic status, and cultural backgrounds be damned. (Also, this is a prequel to Simons' wildly popular Tatiana and Alexander books, featuring Alexander's parents. Even without having read those three books, I had a hunch where this was going.)
Actually, I can't say for certain that's what happened, having stopped just one hundred pages in, but Simons isn't subtle with her set up nor the way she unfolds the story. Gina is childish but winsome, exaggeratedly naive and yet unconsciously sexual; she skips up church stairs but also rebelliously unpins her hair during a candlelit dinner with the two strange men she just met. She's a sweet, naive 14 year old who relishes rendering men speechless.
Ben Shaw is related to Robert Gould Shaw, and for any reader who doesn't know who he is, Simons stops just short of describing him as Matthew Broderick in Glory. Harry Barrington (who, I admit, I kept calling Harry Barry in my head) is cold and bemused and aloof, unimpressed with Ben's hot interest in Gina, telegraphing to all their eventual getting together-ness.
Simons infodumps by having Ben and Harry do this frenetic bantering thing -- which was exhausting -- but Gina finds it delightful, of course. It gave great historical context to early 20th century Boston, but it felt so unnatural and forced, I couldn't shake the feeling of getting a lecture.
In addition to the characters, I found Simons' writing style to be off-putting: she has this weird joke-y commentary thing going on with Harry's scenes, while we're omniscient third person with Gina. From a dinner with Harry and company:
"...The bananas need to be collected, appraised, counted, packaged and crated. Someone has to do all this."
"And someone has to make the crates," Herman said, seeing the nails because all he carried was a hammer.
"First they have to procure the lumber to make the crates," Orville cut in, seeing the nails because all he carried was a hammer.
"Absolutely," Ben agreed, who carried a number of tools with him. (p71)
And from the aforementioned candlelit dinner with Gina, her brother, and Ben and Harry:
He kicked the chair again, harder. She looked over at him. What, she mouthed with irritation. He gestured to her hair with his eyes.
You want me to tie up my hair, she rhetorically mutely asked him. Fine, here you go. Raising her hands to her head, she pulled out all the pins and laid them on the table, in front of her plate. ... (p37)
I will say, she makes her characters big and bold and strong, and if you like those flavors in your fiction, you might enjoy this one. For me, everyone grated, so much so, that by page 64 I was counting down those last forty as I worked my way to one hundred.
tanyaborck's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. I would recommend it for an easy holiday read - a good pick up and put down book.
margreads's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 out of 5..rounding up to a pretty generous 3 out of 5
I have been a fan of Paullina Simons for many years now. For a long time I was a moderator on the now defunct message boards and met a few people who are now my offline as well as online friends, I have lined up to get my books signed, I have pushed her books onto other readers and other fangirlish behaviour. I loved books like Red Leaves and Girl in Times Square and especially the Bronze Horseman trilogy, particularly The Bronze Horseman and Bridge to the Holy Cross. I devoured those two books in the space of two very long nights, and so when I heard that Paullina Simon's next book was going to be the story of Alexander Barrington's parents (Alexander being the main male character in The Bronze Horseman trilogy), I was super, super excited.
Some times it doesn't pay to get super, super excited.
The book opens on the eve of the 20th century. Gina Attaviano and her brother Salvatore along with their mother have just made the journey from Italy to their new life in America. It was to have been a journey that the whole family made but their father and older brother unfortunately didn't survive long enough to see their dream come true. The family land in Boston and there they are met by two young men who offer them lodgings before they journey on to the immigrant town of Lawrence, 20 miles away, where they will be living and working.
To hear more of my thoughts about this book head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013/02/children-of-liberty-by-paullina-simons.html
I have been a fan of Paullina Simons for many years now. For a long time I was a moderator on the now defunct message boards and met a few people who are now my offline as well as online friends, I have lined up to get my books signed, I have pushed her books onto other readers and other fangirlish behaviour. I loved books like Red Leaves and Girl in Times Square and especially the Bronze Horseman trilogy, particularly The Bronze Horseman and Bridge to the Holy Cross. I devoured those two books in the space of two very long nights, and so when I heard that Paullina Simon's next book was going to be the story of Alexander Barrington's parents (Alexander being the main male character in The Bronze Horseman trilogy), I was super, super excited.
Some times it doesn't pay to get super, super excited.
The book opens on the eve of the 20th century. Gina Attaviano and her brother Salvatore along with their mother have just made the journey from Italy to their new life in America. It was to have been a journey that the whole family made but their father and older brother unfortunately didn't survive long enough to see their dream come true. The family land in Boston and there they are met by two young men who offer them lodgings before they journey on to the immigrant town of Lawrence, 20 miles away, where they will be living and working.
To hear more of my thoughts about this book head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013/02/children-of-liberty-by-paullina-simons.html