This book has been wildly popular on PBS, and sometimes, I think that can be misleading.
I am writing this review for others like me who started the book and wondered "Why am I so bored?" I did finish the book. I tend to do that hoping it will get better. I put the book down and started looking for reviews about this book. I found one review here on PBS and it praised this book and this author. I was even more confused. So I did what most of us should or could do; I checked out the reviews from Amazon. It was good to find that I was not alone.
Here are a few things to consider: It reads like a history book. We begin in 1860, and Lincoln is elected. Our dress maker is making dresses for a Mrs. Davis? Do you know your history? Who is this woman? ;) Well, for some reason this woman leaves Washington and heads back south. hmmmm..... the plot thickens... Our dress maker begins to work for Mrs. Lincoln.. and then we have this bloody war, and a few battles and all these generals on all sides and we are told who wins and the number of losses. Bored yet? Then spoiler alert Lincoln is killed, Yes, He dies in the end. Ok actually page 221.
This is were the book starts to get better as you get more into the relationship with the dressmaker and the Widow Lincoln. Still mildly dull, but a fresh story at least I dont know how it ends.
Also from reading the reviews, I learned, that Jennifer Chiaverini = JC, actually took most of the story, word for word, from the book Behind the Scenes written in 1886, by our dressmaker. JC stated she wrote or updated the book for the modern reader. I think that holds true. As it goes more into what happens to the dressmaker, because she wrote the book.
Overall, I guess I learned a few things, There was this one statesman by the last name of CHASE in the book. Yep that Chase Bank guy. What a scoundrel! I also found it interesting that the civilians would go out and watch the battles from a hill.
Over all if you dont want to read Behind the Seams, this book would be a good choice. If you have better things to do, dont feel like you missed the book of the year because you didnt. I think there are better books out there about this topic.
In general, I would say skip this book unless you like the dramatization/ fictionalization of historical stories or really like Abe Lincoln. I think history buffs would be bored and offended.
I am writing this review for others like me who started the book and wondered "Why am I so bored?" I did finish the book. I tend to do that hoping it will get better. I put the book down and started looking for reviews about this book. I found one review here on PBS and it praised this book and this author. I was even more confused. So I did what most of us should or could do; I checked out the reviews from Amazon. It was good to find that I was not alone.
Here are a few things to consider: It reads like a history book. We begin in 1860, and Lincoln is elected. Our dress maker is making dresses for a Mrs. Davis? Do you know your history? Who is this woman? ;) Well, for some reason this woman leaves Washington and heads back south. hmmmm..... the plot thickens... Our dress maker begins to work for Mrs. Lincoln.. and then we have this bloody war, and a few battles and all these generals on all sides and we are told who wins and the number of losses. Bored yet? Then spoiler alert Lincoln is killed, Yes, He dies in the end. Ok actually page 221.
This is were the book starts to get better as you get more into the relationship with the dressmaker and the Widow Lincoln. Still mildly dull, but a fresh story at least I dont know how it ends.
Also from reading the reviews, I learned, that Jennifer Chiaverini = JC, actually took most of the story, word for word, from the book Behind the Scenes written in 1886, by our dressmaker. JC stated she wrote or updated the book for the modern reader. I think that holds true. As it goes more into what happens to the dressmaker, because she wrote the book.
Overall, I guess I learned a few things, There was this one statesman by the last name of CHASE in the book. Yep that Chase Bank guy. What a scoundrel! I also found it interesting that the civilians would go out and watch the battles from a hill.
Over all if you dont want to read Behind the Seams, this book would be a good choice. If you have better things to do, dont feel like you missed the book of the year because you didnt. I think there are better books out there about this topic.
In general, I would say skip this book unless you like the dramatization/ fictionalization of historical stories or really like Abe Lincoln. I think history buffs would be bored and offended.
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