Helpful Score: 12
Keeping in mind that this book is historical fiction and not a biography, it is a fantastic account of Mary Todd Lincoln. I was constantly looking up things while reading this book, and found all the names and dates and events were fact, but Newman expertly took all these facts and created a story around them. If you are looking for something more biographical, Newman writes this at the end of her book:
"I am indebted to Jean Baker's excellent biography, Mary Todd Lincoln, which both informed and inspired me. Anyone interested in an entirely factual account of Mary's life should read this book."
But if you are looking for read that will tug on your heart and inspire you and ARE looking for fiction, not a biography, you HAVE to read this!
"I am indebted to Jean Baker's excellent biography, Mary Todd Lincoln, which both informed and inspired me. Anyone interested in an entirely factual account of Mary's life should read this book."
But if you are looking for read that will tug on your heart and inspire you and ARE looking for fiction, not a biography, you HAVE to read this!
Helpful Score: 2
Mary Todd Lincoln sat front and center to one of America's deepest tragedies, but has received little focus from historians and novelists alike. This novel, which attends to accurate history, shows us her inner self and life. While most know of her insanity and commitment, few imagine how she came to that point or what her perspective on that might have been, and this Ms. Newman does with excellent and believable acuity. I found it hard to put this book down, and found myself forgetting that it was historical fiction as opposed to history proper.
Helpful Score: 2
This was absolutely one of the best reads. I loved it, loved it, loved it. How fast those 600 some pages flew by. I hated to give the book up but i have a rule--"share the good, i can't keep more than a small white bag will hold" I read so many things i did not know about Mary Lincoln and truely was in awe. She had "issues" and many of them. She also seduced her husband in a time when it was not very lady like to approach a man in such a manner. She was a horder and they were poor and i do believe she tried very hard to keep up appearances when it was the last thing on Mr Lincolns mind, but as women of that time so often did they thought of what others would think of them rather than just be happy as you are. Mary was placed in an mental faculity near where i live, but i am not so sure she belonged there. Today her "issues" would of been dealt with much differently. I believed she suffered from some great depression and insecurites from living poor. I believe she was a woman of her own mind and went after what she wanted. If she had lived now instead of then, and gotten modern help, she could most likely of "Rocked The World".. This was as an exceptional novel.
Helpful Score: 1
Really got my attention at first then waned. The book tends to be very interesting in spots then gets a bit boring. I liked it but I wouldn't read it again.
Helpful Score: 1
Fascinating book full of historical detail and giving a sympathetic portrait of a complex individual. I was pulled into the story right away.
Helpful Score: 1
Mary is the story of Mary Todd Lincoln, married to Abraham Lincoln. It is historical fiction based on facts. I really enjoyed this book. Mary's life was fascinating. It made me very curious about what was truth and what was reality especially the relationship between her and the president and her and her son. This is a must read and would make really good discussion for a book club.
Helpful Score: 1
This book made me want to learn more about Mary Lincoln. It was a very good read. Considering she lost three children and saw her husband shot in front of her, some of her actions that were thought insane may have been caused by fear and trauma. The medication she was given for change of life and insomnia were unbelievable. I think Mary Lincoln was a very misunderstood woman who was very lonely and felt unloved.
Helpful Score: 1
Book was well written and probably most of it factual, but it was hard to imagine Lincoln being as depressed as the author noted. It was one that you had to finish even though you knew what the outcome would be. I would recommend as a note of Civil War history and the troublesome life of Mary Todd Lincoln.
Helpful Score: 1
Hard to put this book down. I felt like Mary was a friend and I couldn't get her life experiences out of my mind. AS I read it, I wondered how much was fiction and how much was fact. That led me to do some looking into the author and different reviews of the book. Having gotten into the Lincoln's person life, I want to find other non fiction books to read on both Lincoln's. The book also was an interesting commentary on culture at that time in our history.
This novel is well-researched and definitely puts the reader in the "head" of Mrs. Lincoln. It's a poignant tale.
This was basically an interesting read and I feel that I now know more about Mrs. Lincoln then I probably should. The book is historical fiction based on many actual events. I think that as a general barometer of what life was like at that time this is a good account. But I have a hard time believing a lot of the material. My enthusiasm began to dwindle about midway through the novel, after the assasination. In my opinion the author portrayed Mrs. Lincoln as a shopoholic nutjob with a cantankerous louse of a son. The book gave me the desire to know more truths about this woman that suffered many tragedies in her life. Overall it was a compelling read.
Very interesting.A little long for my taste.
Fascinating story of Mary Lincoln, who I think is one of the most misunderstood women in history. She endured the deaths of three of her four sons, and the assassination of her husband. She surely did have 'issues' but she was treated horribly by her only surviving son, Robert. This story is told in the first person, from the time of the death of her mother when Mary was only six to her time spent in Bellvue, where she was sent after being found 'insane'.
An excellent historical novel concerning an individual seldom discussed at any length.
A very good read.
A very good read.
I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. It was a wonderful read and very interesting.
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this type of book!
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this type of book!
I loved this one - the first time I've read anything even close to sympathetic in regard to Mary Todd. Had me researching away, which for me is the mark of good historical fiction.
