A Woman of Independent Means (Download)

Read & Download ✓ PDF, DOC, TXT or eBook Ú Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey

A Woman of Independent Means Read & Download Ï PDF, DOC, TXT or eBook Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey Ú 4 review Read & Download ✓ PDF, DOC, TXT or eBook Ú Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey Early 1900s through the 1960s make her a woman for all ages A deluxe editio. This book is the life story of a woman born in the 1890 s through 1960 s told via her letters to friends and family I did not know this was the book s formats and it took me awhile to get used to The book kept my interest and I read it in 3 days but there were so many things I didn t like about it They all had to do with the heroine I could not relate to her on so many fronts If you don t want to read all my ramblings in a nutshell she was too materialistic too concerned about status and wealth and both her relationships with her husbands were unhealthy both in totally different ways Here s a parital list of her traits and actions that bugged me She was so concerned about her status in the community She constantly rehearsed to newspapers editor s her social prominence p271 She wanted to be friends with her neighbor because he was the newspaper editor and was so proud of her second husband s social progression So negative about her second husband p262 you do not know how fortunate you were to lose your husband while you still loved him OUCHSo concerned that Cousin Josie s will be to her and her father s benefit So much emphasis on her wealth and in her later years on her material things how to divide them among her heirs etc She was so diligent to keep her money separate from her second husbands She even disparaged Sam s connection to her house even though he didn t pay for it as if ownership was the only mechanism to emotional connection p 253 You would think he owned this house instead of just paying board all these yearsThat affair with Richard Prince Next door hotel rooms her defensiveness about it so many problems on that frontWhy on earth did she marry Sam if she was so opposed to marriage I escaped the manacles of motherhood when I remarried Another OUCHDisconnect in story If Sam divorced his first wife because she wouldn t give him children why did he not want children when Bess and Sam married Were her kids enough for him That s never resolved in the story Her first husbands withdrawal from her was so obvious to me but never caught her attention She dismissed it as his dedication to work I kept waiting for her to discover him having an affair I don t feel his emotional physical distance from her was ever resolved in the book That was a big failing for me in the story How could Bess not see that and yet see her second husband s faults so easily To think that the charity you want to be remembered for most to mention on your obituary was the Shakespeare ClubHowever she was rich and could afford to travel I do love to travel but unfortunately I do not have the limitless funds to do it justice I wish the French letters would have been translated No idea what was said in those couple letters Cute uotesp 254 I find the television seldom engages the mind as fully as it does the eye Hap 250 be my guests for dinner at the airport restaurant The food is always excellent Oh how things have changed since 1955Hmmm maybe after all this ranting I should have rated it one star But the writing was fine it captured my attention the book was clean no swear words that I remember that was one of its only saving graces I just despised the heroine

Summary A Woman of Independent Means

A Woman of Independent Means Read & Download Ï PDF, DOC, TXT or eBook Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey Ú 4 review Read & Download ✓ PDF, DOC, TXT or eBook Ú Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey N of the classic novel published in 1978 that spawned a three part TV movie. I tried a book without a single recommendation very scary for me I picked it up at the dollar store or a clearance rack and I fell in love with it The entire book was written in letters over the span of an American women s life late 1800 s 1969ish She was a great character of strength and determination albeit selfish at times Life deals her tragedy yet she often rises and grows from her losses The word independent describes her perfectly a bit like Scarlett O Hara I am not sure if anyone else out there will love this book as I did but I would recommend iti would give 4 12 stars

A Woman of Independent Means Read & Download Ï PDF, DOC, TXT or eBook Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey Ú 4 review Read & Download ✓ PDF, DOC, TXT or eBook Ú Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey The richly woven story of Bess Steed Garner whose trials triumphs from the. Not many books do I read than once This was one I read it about 35 years ago when I was busy raising 5 kids and a husband and it had a big impact on my life I have just reuested it from the library so that I can read it again I can t think of higher praise I could give for any book It was recommended to me by my mother who I believe identified with Bess I certainly saw the comparisons when I read it as did my sisters One reviewer described the story as A portrait of a woman with all her frailties strengths failures and victories combining to prove that living a life is an accomplishment Told through personal letters covering a period of about 60 years it introduced several significant characters without having to keep track of too many The author was skillful with the flow and cohesiveness of the story despite the lack of return letters and I enjoyed this epistolary style One of its strengths was giving the reader the opportunity to read between the lines and see the letter writer s flaws revealed flaws of which the character herself was unaware It made her presence real and authentic Another thing I found interesting was how she described events in her life differently depending to whom she was writing She acknowledges this very human trait in herself when she writes the following by compressing and editing the events of my life I infuse them with a dramatic intensity totally lacking at the time but oddly enough I find that years later what I remember is not the event as I lived it but as I described it in a letter Bess the protagonist was a fully fleshed out sympathetic character I cried when she cried and rejoiced when she rejoiced I understood her struggles between social conventions and personal choices She was not a perfect person and some of those choices were unwise They conveyed a feeling to her children that foreign travel and social status were valued than they She was excited about an article mentioning her in the New York Times than she was about the arrival of another great grandchild In her latter years she did not seem to recognize this choice as the cause of a distance between herself and her childrenMy feelings for Bess veered between deep admiration and frustration admiration for her optimism and determination in the face of all the misfortunes in her life and frustration for her prideful opinions and treatment of others She maintained a fine thread of control in the lives of her children and then was truly surprised and hurt by the distance between her and them as adults The book inspired me to consider the influence and extent and limits of my own words and actions upon the lives of my children and gave me a determination to establish a close relationship with them especially with my daughters There were a few of scenes that were so moving I ll never forget them One of these was a point where she expressed her opinion that a woman needs to have some money of her own Due to circumstances and persons in my own life at the time this was something that had a strong impact Another was a point when Bess realized that if she wanted something done right she would have to do it herself a realization I came to myself at the time I read itThe book clearly gives a social picture of each generation covered The huge historic and cultural changes of the era come alive through Bess s gaze and it s fascinating to see her struggling Her determination and success in handling those things were admirable and inspiringThis is a short read with a good deal of depth There is some humor and the story is wonderful It will touch your heart inspire you and make you think In the words of another reviewer Read it slowly savor it enjoy it and then remember it forever