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A review by mstormodolge
The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abé
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This honestly doesn't fit the theme of anything lol but I've kinda lost the plot on that this month anyway so who cares. I read this because Tmo recommended it which is honestly crazy and makes it clear she doesn't know what I normally read lol.
this was honestly a super interesting read purely because of the history in it, and the research that the author did was very clear throughout the writing. this wasn't someone writing historical fiction, this was someone paying honor to a very delicate time in history and the ways that it effected those who were close to the titanic. I think by the story following Madeline throughout her whole time knowing her future husband was a really nice touch. I dunno, I've got a headache and the third graders I'm with today are trying my slight grasp on reality lol, like I don't think I can explain it as clearly as I want but I really enjoyed that the romance was the whole of it because it meant that the grief was so much bigger than you intend. With her being the 'second Mrs. Astor' there is differently a complicated relationship within her marriage and their society- ugh I don't know how to say this. basically, and bluntly: I like that this whole thing is a fuck you to the idea that she only loved him for his money. like, I dunno how much the author actually knew her protagonist or interviewed her, but it's killer to me that throughout the whole story love is the key part and not money- the money is just something that tries to divide them more than anything.
I loved the dog, Kitty, and I loved her sister. all the characters were really fleshed out and I don't know if that's because they were, like, real people that was easy to research or if that came just with personal thought from the author.
It was a sad read, too, but I really liked how the author set up the start of chapters to be her writing to her son because it made it feel more real and tangible.
I dunno, maybe no sleep and subbing children is not a good mix lol but it was a good read. I don't think I'll ever get a physical copy or read it again, but if anyone asked for a historical romance or a book on the titanic I'd lead them here.
this was honestly a super interesting read purely because of the history in it, and the research that the author did was very clear throughout the writing. this wasn't someone writing historical fiction, this was someone paying honor to a very delicate time in history and the ways that it effected those who were close to the titanic. I think by the story following Madeline throughout her whole time knowing her future husband was a really nice touch. I dunno, I've got a headache and the third graders I'm with today are trying my slight grasp on reality lol, like I don't think I can explain it as clearly as I want but I really enjoyed that the romance was the whole of it because it meant that the grief was so much bigger than you intend. With her being the 'second Mrs. Astor' there is differently a complicated relationship within her marriage and their society- ugh I don't know how to say this. basically, and bluntly: I like that this whole thing is a fuck you to the idea that she only loved him for his money. like, I dunno how much the author actually knew her protagonist or interviewed her, but it's killer to me that throughout the whole story love is the key part and not money- the money is just something that tries to divide them more than anything.
I loved the dog, Kitty, and I loved her sister. all the characters were really fleshed out and I don't know if that's because they were, like, real people that was easy to research or if that came just with personal thought from the author.
It was a sad read, too, but I really liked how the author set up the start of chapters to be her writing to her son because it made it feel more real and tangible.
I dunno, maybe no sleep and subbing children is not a good mix lol but it was a good read. I don't think I'll ever get a physical copy or read it again, but if anyone asked for a historical romance or a book on the titanic I'd lead them here.