historical novel with memorable female character
587217
Like most of Lee Smith's novels, this is excellent. It reminded me of "Jane Eyre", the classic British novel about an orphan girl who faces tremendous challenges in her life. It may also remind you of "Gone with the Wind", with the post-Civil War setting (except that the Ku Klux Klan in this story have no redeeming qualities at all- which is more accurate), and the amount of suffering experienced by the heroine. The first part of the story, Molly Petree's childhood, is really the best- it is haunting. The rest of it is nearly as good. At one point Molly writes "I gave it my whole heart. I would do it again." That also describes how I feel about this book. Smith clearly did a great job with her research to make this story feel so real.
797855
I love reading historical novels, but have mostly concentrated on English, French, and Italian history. This book about Spain is as good as Jeanne Kalogridis or Philippa Gregory's books. It's a book about a very strong woman, Queen Juana (also called Juana the Mad), often misunderstood, who is betrayed by almost everyone she cares about. As they say, "It's good to be the King" (or Queen). I don't think so! Their lives are never their own, women are pawns in the chess game of control, and fortunes can change in an instant. Very readable and interesting book, though I almost tired of how often she was screwed over and manipulated.
3229647
This is an intellectually rewarding historical novel whose leading character is a young woman from an influential family who wants to contribute to the British war effort at the beginning of World War II by teaching children then driving an ambulance. She experiences love, loss, injury, and difficulties with her family for her choices. We are witness to the hardships of soldiers in Malta. The author based some of the events on what happened to an actual participant in the war.
4875277
I love it when historical novels give me a window into a certain time and place, and MRS. POE took me back on a wonderful journey to 1840s New York City, where we get to walk the cobblestone streets, enter the brownstones, and take part in the literary salons with famous notables of the day like Whitman and Melville.

The novel is a fascinating look at Edgar Allen Poe in light of his nightmarish marriage to a young and sickly wife who was also his niece! But the real heroine of the novel is Frances Osgood, a struggling authoress and mother of two who was abandoned by her philandering husband. Shes a surprisingly endearing character, even as she gives in to the temptations of her attraction to the married Poe. Lynn Cullen does a great job portraying a tortured relationship triangle between three main characters wrestling with the conflicting demands of desire and duty. This is one of those books I kept returning to like it was an old friend. I was sorry to reach the end and part ways.
2926397
Berne's skillful portrait of two sisters--Cynthia, the narrator, who feels a kinship with the forgotten sisters of famous writers whose lives she records for her "Sisters in History" series (e.g., Lavinia Dickinson and Mildred Keller), and capable, beautiful Frances, her father's favorite and the far more polished of the two--raises fascinating questions about each of the two women and the other members of their family.  Cynthia's version of events--both in the present and, especially, in the past--becomes increasingly unreliable as the novel progresses, creating wonderful suspense.

  Cynthia reminded me of the narrator in Zoe Heller's examination of a complex female friendship, What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal (which is a wonderful novel--something to check out if you enjoyed this one!).  Both characters ingratiate themselves with the reader very successfully at the outset: Cynthia, for instance, is a lonely, self-sufficient but somewhat desperate woman whose recently kaput affair with a married bookseller makes us feel for her in the presence of her antique-collecting, soup-making, genuinely kind and good and more physically lovely older sister Frances.  Cynthia's work, writing historical fiction of sorts for preteen girls, requires her to sugarcoat the less palatable aspects of authors' lives and personalities in order to tell a good story.  Thus, in both her personal and professional lives, Cynthia seems to be thwarted in significant ways.

  As the novel progresses, though, the two aspects of her life seem to be less sadly coincidental and more reflective of one another.  Both personally and professionally, Cynthia (whom Frances calls, perhaps tellingly, "Cynnie") tells stories.  She revels in her role as a shaper of information, at one point doling out precious morsels about Mark Twain's unattractive traits and his daughters' travails with something like glee and at others telling stories about her convalescent mother and impatient father--tales whose verity we ultimately come to question.  The most suspenseful scenes in the novel come toward the end, when, after misbehaving at Thanksgiving dinner, Cynthia contemplates an action that would constitute a huge betrayal of her sister and then sits idly by while a family heirloom literally goes up in flames.  These scenes precede a climax that, if it feels a bit "unsolved," also seems realistic.  Like the books she writes for young girls, Cynthia maintains control of her own story--at least in some small way--until the end.

  Berne excels in creating memorable characters and settings.  Her narrator evolves over the course of the story from a sympathetic also-ran to a sinister presence that reminds us of how deep resentments in families can lie.
4233794
Phillipa Gregory has a real knack for making ancient history vivid and alive, and this new book of hers is no exception. In 15th century England, at the time of the Cousins War to take the throne, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, was the most powerful man in the land, but unfortunately he had no son or heir. So he concentrated on his daughters, Anne and Isabel, determined to make one of them Queen of England. We first meet the sisters as delightful little girls, especially Anne, who hardly knowing what was happening to her, was married at 14 to a royal duke. But she was soon widowed and married again to another king-to-be, this time  a man she loved and admired. However, her beloved father is killed in battle, her mother placed in sanctuary (really house arrest), and her dear sister and confidant, Isabel, married to the enemy. Although Anne does her best to cope and be a loyal wife and mother, the court is so filled with intrigue and betrayals, political conspiracies and worse, mere survival takes all of Anne's wits and cunning. But survive she does, although in the process she loses the last of her innocense and much of her kindness. She also loses her precious only son, Prince Edward, and fails to get pregnant again. Through it all, however, Anne remains likeable, if not always admirable as she tries to adjust to circumstances beyond her control in this never-ending battle for power. In addition to Anne, all the characters in the story are vividly drawn, and with its lush descriptions and page-turning suspense this is history made vivid and palatable as the kingmaker's dream finally comes to fruition when, against all odds, his daughter Anne becomes Queen of England.
3040431
This book is based on two real characters who were early abolitionists and women's rights advocates.  The main characters were so interesting.  One, a rich slave owners daughter and the other a slave.  Sue Monk Kidd takes poetic license and creates a moving story and at the same time gives incite into the lives of slaves and their owners.  It also shows how a person can rise from adversity and their expected role in life.  The writing is rich in detail, the characters are real and we can sympathize with them.  The story is inspiring.
Anyone, especially women, who enjoy historical novels will enjoy this book.
4185193
Beautifully written, fast moving for a book with a lot of historical details. The reader feels a bond with the women of the story and wants to find out more about each character.
847942
This setting for this book is Pennsylvania in the early 20th century and centers on the Morgan sisters. Violet is twenty-five and engaged to her sweetheart Stanley who is studying law in Philadelphia. Lily is sixteen and pregnant. Because an unwed pregnancy is not only frowned upon but can also seriously affect a young woman's future prospects for a good marriage, family, and respectability, Violet agrees to accompany Lily to a home for unwed mothers in Philadelphia. There Lily can give birth, surrender her illegitimate child, and go back to her home in Scranton with no one the wiser about what she has gone through. Her virtue will remain intact and it is assumed that her life will go on as planned. While in Philadelphia, Violet becomes close to Mother Mary Joseph who runs the home. She also comes to know Dr. Peters who cares for the expectant mothers and who the reader will learn has an interest in eugenics.
This novel advances five years with one sister married and the other engaged. The social mores of the time are brought forward as the sisters keep their secret in the atmosphere of restrictive social codes and perceived morality as they struggle to maintain their relationship with one another.
I loved this book. The author did a great job contrasting the sisters who were very different in personality and temperament, but she also did a great job with character development that was very satisfying.  She also created Scranton as a rough place that had a moralistic public persona and a sharply contrasted reality. As the story developed and  became both deeper and more compelling, it also became increasingly difficult to put it down.
While this is such an artful and well told story, I might risk minimizing this as the perfect summer read or a 'beach book'. However put, this is a lovely book that tells a thoughtful and interesting story that is perfectly framed in its time period.
446954
This is quite an impressive first novel from Actress Jessie Burton. Not only has she written a compelling page-turner, but you also get an interesting glimpse into life in Amsterdam during the late 1600s, where gold and success are worshipped right alongside strict, fundamental Protestant values.

Petronella (Nella) is just 18 years old, the newly married wife of an older and very successful Amsterdam merchant, living in a house full of mysteries. First, there is her husband Johannes, who is often away working and appears to have little physical interest in his much younger wife. There is Marin, Johannes' single sister who runs the house, is involved in her brother's business affairs, and keeps to a room full of maps, exotic objects and foreign items not typical of the interests of women. Then, Cornelia, the cook and maid, who appears unusually forthright in the way she speaks to her employers. Also, Otto, a slave Johannes has rescued and brought to live in the house. And finally, the Miniaturist -- a phantom woman who crafts magical miniatures with fine details that appear to predict future events.

As Petronella struggles to build her life as a married woman and figure out her proper place in the house and in Amsterdam society, she has to both uncover the secrets of those around her, as well as stand up to Amsterdam's powerful guilds and town officials.

Part mystery, part historical novel, this is one fascinating and creative story.
3438085
I very much enjoyed this book.  Its set during the time of Mary Stuart and Scotland of the time is very well portrayed with all its charm, grit, blood, splendor and cruelty by the author.  Its written to be understandable by modern readers, of course, and pretty well done save for an occasional lapse in language usage.  The main characters are interesting, especially the flower reader, Rinette.  She is in service to Mary of Guise who, on her deathbed, entrusts her with a silver casket filled with information about the local nobility (that obviously can give you power over them), plus some mysterious prophecies by Nostradamus.  She is told to hide the casket and hand it over to the young Queen, Mary, when she gets to Scotland.  Of course, it turns out to be not as easy or simple as that.

Some spoilersRinette runs off to marry her childhood sweetheart, Alexander Gordon, and they are happy for a time.  She, however, forgets her promise and tells her husband about the casket and problems ensue as her connection to it becomes known and everyone is vying for her to give it to them instead of the Queen.  Then, her husband is murdered and she withholds the casket until Queen Mary can find his killer.  This is followed by some budding romance between her and Nico (a charming rogue in service to the Queen), but its not really the focus of the story.  Instead, Rinette is caught up in danger, both in trying to protect herself, her loved ones, and the casket and in having to withstand the chancy whims of the young, beautiful Queen and various court intrigues that revolve both around the Queen, the nobility, and Rinettes lands and future.

There are a few gory scenes and you very much live Rinettes horrid experiences with a man she is forced to marry, but its tastefully done overall.  The descriptions of how she reads people and the future with flowers is fascinating and she is a strong character I very much fell in love with.  I ended up not being able to put this book down until I finished it.  Highly recommended.  Im interested now in reading more by this author.
737575
I think I've found my favorite fiction genre--that of independent, strong-willed women stuck in a time warp where their intelligence, ambition and true love are not taken seriously yet they challenge traditional thinking to be themselves. Sibylla, living in the mid-1800s, marries to escape; moves to Morocco; falls in love with another man; succeeds in the trading business; discovers the deceit of her husband; and promises to keep her family together despite hurtful gossip, strict cultural rules and her own long-held secrets. This book and central character reminded me of a similar story--"Sisi: Empress on Her Own" by Allison Pataki, another historical fiction book with complex family relationships set in European countries. Both women struggle with love and hardship, but discover what is truly important along the way.
3227289
Rarely have I been so moved by an historical novel. The author presents the characters in such a realistic manner that the reader immediately forms a kinship with them all. The young women who become lifelong friends after sharing the horrors of war demonstrate the strength and compassion of the women of the "greatest generation." The author has captured the unique personality of each of these women with regards to their backgrounds and heritage. So well done that I'm going back and reading it again!
3710035
A fast-paced and engaging historical read. I love historical fiction about real historical figures. Sarah Barthel did a great job of incorporating an oft-ignored historical figure in Mary Lincoln and bringing her to life in a unique way apart from her role as First Lady. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters throughout this book, especially Mary Lincoln. Barthel does an excellent job of recreating a sanitarium of the time period, complete with the introduction of the various residents and some of the reasons they were placed there. Even in creating a character who does not speak, Barthel's development of the relationships between Isabelle and the fellow residents of Bellvue was very well-written. All of Barthel's characters are unique and well-drawn. Her descriptions of the town, the clothing, and the societal culture paint an excellent historical picture for the reader.
I would recommend this book to any historical fiction fan, and to anyone looking for a good mystery. With themes of friendship, loyalty, and a touch of romance, it is a delightful read.
4973798
Susan Wiggs always knows how to write a powerful novel that one enjoys losing oneself in reading.  I enjoy "historical fiction" multi-generational novels with their combination of history, characters, secrets/ discoveries and romance.  Camille is a single mom, a widow, who has basically become afraid of life's adventures, preferring a quieter, more controlled pace. She is known for photography and restoring old film, which brings her into discovering her Father's family history in WW II in occupied France. Along the way, she has to learn to open her heart to romance with Finn, a Naval history professor and archivist.  Old Cameras hold the key to the past.
Dealing with grief, loss, a teenager being bullied,  a father who is in cancer remission, Camille has a difficult time with changes, anxieties, and opening herself up to second chances in love, and to resuming her adventures and career with photography.  Easy story to relate to.
2271929
This story manages to fit neatly into four genre categories and does it amazingly well!  While reading, my imagination portrayed the story in black and white form with dashes of color, mostly red, which is significant to the gay character. This is not due to a lack of development, but rather should be taken as a compliment to the author's talent to imprint emotions into the scene without directly stating or over dramatizing. I felt a connection to each character and grew to care about them all, even the `bad' guys because their humanity coupled with history sparked a touch of sympathy. The lead character is an inspirational female, not for her overtly heroic antics, but for her ability to cope and face challenging situations. Thematically, the story builds on many levels, and for me the most convincing is the sense of bravery. Every character at some point and to some degree shows bravery and compassion, which makes this a moving and deeply human historical tale worth exploring.

I don't want to give anything away, but the ending was a bit too easy of an escape especially given the power of the foe the lead character faces. However, I am eager to read A Night of Long Knives (sequel,#2) to see where it picks up.  Perhaps my questions or reservations will be answered. Please take into consideration I'm really picking to find one small flaw. I almost hate to mention it because the book was craftily constructed and I do not wish to tarnish this jewel!
3841032
I didn't know how much I liked this book until near the end.  It was not an "I can't put it down" book, until about the last 1/4.  But it was engaging, and entirely readable, if a tad slow in the middle.  I was looking for an engrossing, historical fiction novel NOT set in WWII (almost all I could find for awhile), and that was not an insipid romance novel.

What a refreshing find!  I liked how the author wrote in Lizzie's voice, in the more formal manner of the time, and yet it was still easy to read.  Many times, when the writing is historically true to the era, it is stilted and hard to "get into."  But this was not the case with this book.  The narrative and dialogue flowed easily, but still seemed to echo how they would have spoken at this time (I have no expertise in this - but it felt true).

I also truly appreciated the lack of gratuitous sex.  It seems that lately, current authors must describe these scenes in graphic detail, even when it is wholly unnecessary to the story and the characters.  This author was able to convey the great love the characters felt without describing these scenes at all (which would also be true of the character's narration - she would never have discussed such things!).

There are scenes that make you want to cry (I did, once), and the occasional "laugh out loud" moments.  I enjoyed that it kept my attention but that I actually COULD put it down - until about the last 1/4, when I did not want to.  But overall, it is just a lovely read.  The character development is wonderful and you truly get to know and love these women.

If you are currently looking for a lovely historical fiction novel, I recommend this one.  If you love the American Revolution time period, even more so.  If you like novels about strong women, and slightly flawed but noble heroes (women and men), this is also a good choice.