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A review by mbenzz
A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
3.0
This book started out really strong for me. I've read a bit about the Vanderbuilts in the past, so I kind of knew the story going into it, but I thought the author did a great job of giving voice to Alva, a woman of superior morals who lead Guilded Age Society with her extreme wealth and opulence.
Unfortunately, around the half-way point, I started to rapidly lose interest. Around 60% I skimmed the remainder of the book.
I can't exactly put my finer on what it was that caused me to lose interest...maybe reading over and over again about this one family that has inherited so much wealth that they just keep building more and more ostentatious homes and summer "cottages" started to lose it's charm. Alva's problems became trivial and ridiculous to me. The hierarchy of the Social Ladder, and maintaining ones position was just so silly, that I started to really dislike the entire family.
Overall, if you're interested in this particular family or the Guilded Age in general, then I absolutely recommend this book. It's extremely well researched and written, and definitely a great addition to this genre. However I personally just started to tire of it. I used to love Guilded Age novels, but it's been a LONG time since I picked one up. Maybe now that I'm older and more experienced in life, I find it all so obnoxious. The society, the ridiculously large 'homes', the clothing, the rules...no thanks. I do want to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this, though. Much appreciated!
Unfortunately, around the half-way point, I started to rapidly lose interest. Around 60% I skimmed the remainder of the book.
I can't exactly put my finer on what it was that caused me to lose interest...maybe reading over and over again about this one family that has inherited so much wealth that they just keep building more and more ostentatious homes and summer "cottages" started to lose it's charm. Alva's problems became trivial and ridiculous to me. The hierarchy of the Social Ladder, and maintaining ones position was just so silly, that I started to really dislike the entire family.
Overall, if you're interested in this particular family or the Guilded Age in general, then I absolutely recommend this book. It's extremely well researched and written, and definitely a great addition to this genre. However I personally just started to tire of it. I used to love Guilded Age novels, but it's been a LONG time since I picked one up. Maybe now that I'm older and more experienced in life, I find it all so obnoxious. The society, the ridiculously large 'homes', the clothing, the rules...no thanks. I do want to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this, though. Much appreciated!