Fortune's Rocks Author:Anita Shreve Amazon.com — Hester Prynne never had it so good! The year is 1899, and Olympia Biddeford, the headstrong daughter of a Boston Brahmin family, has decided to test the limits of her cloistered world. Spending the summer at her father's New Hampshire estate, the teenage heroine of Fortune's Rocks is entranced with the visiting salon of artists, writ... more »ers, and lawyers. She's especially captivated, however, by John Haskell, a charismatic physician who ministers to the blue-collar community in the nearby mill towns. This middle-aged Good Samaritan hires Olympia to assist him as a nurse, and their collaboration soon evolves into a fiery love affair. Alas, it's only a matter of weeks before this passionate exercise in managed care is exposed--with disastrous consequences for the young, impregnated heroine. Even her adoring father now considers her "an overplump sixteen-year-old girl whose judgment can no longer be trusted," and insists that she break off her relationship:
"There is nothing more to be said on this subject," he says. She bites her lip to keep from crying out further. She holds the arms of her chair so tightly she later will have cramps in her fingers. She will refuse to obey him, she thinks. She will accept his implied challenge and set off on her own. But in the next moment, she asks herself: How will she be able to do that? Without her father's support, she cannot hope to survive. And if she herself does not survive, then a child cannot live."
In the end, Anita Shreve's seventh novel is a polished, supremely entertaining variation on Wuthering Heights, with Olympia and Haskell sitting in for Catherine and Heathcliff. The author did some meticulous research for her New England background, which gives this study of one particular wayward woman some extra historical heft. Some readers may find the plot twists a bit pat. And despite Olympia's efforts to be an independent woman, she overcomes her trials largely as a result of her family's wealth and station, which takes the edge off Shreve's feminist message. Still, Fortune's Rocks is a romance in the classic sense of the word, and should be enjoyed as such, unless the reader is absolutely allergic to happy endings.
This book is one that once you start it, it is impossible to put down. The story revolves around a teenage girl in the beginning of the 1900,s who is mature beyond her years. We learn of her sexual awakening, tragedy mixed with poignant undying love. Love the author, as always, and loved this book, in particular.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this novel-the descriptions in it are beautiful to say the least, and the story line was very intriguing. I highly recemend this book, its a very good read!
Oh...so GOOD! I couldn't put it down once I got into it. Olympia is quite the woman for the late 1800's, early 20th century! This is a great work of fiction. Very enjoyable. Quite a story!!!
I LOVED this book. It was heart wrenching and romantic--but the female character was smart and lively. It is an intelligent book set at the turn of the 20th century at a seaside resort town in New England.
This book is such a page turner! I had read it about 5 years ago, and just remembered I like it. I read it again last month and absolutely loved it! Anita Shreve is a gifted writer, it is one of those books you close and say "where was I?" It totally transports you. A definite read for the winter!
This book is not literature, but it's haunting none the less. How can you make a case for pedophilia? There is no way, but the author takes us into the minds of two people who are caught up in a passion that seems so right to them, nothing else matters. From the perspective of the reader, it's a moral morass. Reminds me of the situation in "L'Immoralist," though that, of course, IS literature.
Another wonderful book by Shreve. This story takes place at the same location as Sea Glass, but earlier, at the turn of the century. This book had an excellent, consistant pace, moving the story along nicely through all its 450 pages. Shreve mixes personal stories and the politics of the day (labor issues, immigration, class, religion) for a compelling story.
This is the sequel of "The Pilot's Wife" which was an Oprah's book club selection. This series takes place in coastal Maine and the descriptions make me want to get in my car and drive there.
Another good one by Anita Shreve. This one is a bit different than some of her other novels. It has a bit of a victorian, Edith Wharton-ish feel about it, but still very interesting. Great characters, surprising twists to the story.
I really loved this book. It starts out slow but picks up speed and I could hardly bear to put it down to do the things I had to do. I couldn't wait to get to the end, but I didn't want it to end either! This was my first Anita Shreve read and it won't be my last...she is GREAT!
