I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 2.5 Stars
The book is best summed up in this way: Martha didn't want to be First Lady, Abigail was mad at everyone who didn't like her husband, and Dolley liked to party.
I wanted to like this one. I was stoked when I saw it on NetGalley, because I am just as interested in the First Ladies as I am in reading a biography of every president. Unfortunately this one fell short for me and was disappointing. The main issue I have is that it became so repetitive once we moved into the sections about Abigail and Dolley. This was especially problematic because Abigail was given the most coverage. Each woman was not showcased on her own, and their stories did entwine throughout but there is a point when enough is enough. I felt like we are constantly being told about Dolley being social. We get it, she was social. SHE WAS SOCIAL.
Now, I did only read an ARC and not the final copy. I know the book has been published now, but perhaps in a future edition the repetitiveness can be curbed so we can have a clear picture of the women in their time. On a positive note, the use of primary sources was fantastic and helped to really flesh out the women to help us understand how they fit into their roles and supported their husband and his politics.
Shame this one didn't work out so well for you. It sounds like a case of maybe too much book for the amount of material available?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I am not even quite sure what the problem is - though repetition was a huge one. There is a ton of information available on Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, so I am not sure that is the issue. Dolley is the one I was least familiar with, so I am not sure in that regard for her. I don't know what it was, it just did not work for me.
DeleteAbigail probably would have been a politician in her own right were she born two centuries later. Have you ever considered reading a collection of the letters between herself, John, and their mutual friend Thomas Jefferson?
ReplyDeleteShe certainly would have been successful, I believe. I have a collection of their letters on my TBR that I will get to in a while. I have kind of burned myself out on that era and have even DNF-ed a couple ARCs about the period. I need to get out of the Revolutionary War era-funk before I go into something that substantial.
DeleteThe story of the book is really appears so awesome and I love to read the book review. It was interesting to read your review on the book. I am so glad to read the full story. I will get ebook copy for my self. I will get eBooks Download online and read the full story.
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting look at the first of the First Ladies. I am glad you enjoyed the review.
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