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There are currently 23 member reviews
for A Certain Age
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Rebecca L. (Torrington, CT)
A Must Read for this Summer!
First I have to say that I just love the cover of this book, its glitz and glamour and it really calls out to readers. The girl on the cover I think is Sophie, she is described at one of the parties in the books wearing a dress similar to the one on the cover. This book has a varied cast of characters but mostly centers around Theresa Marshall, her brother "Ox" (Jay), his fiancee Sophie Fortescue, and Theresa's lover Octavian ("the Boy"). Theresa's character reminded me a lot of Babe from Swans of Fifth Avenue and Tiny from Tiny Little Thing and I really connected with her character the most. After Jay becomes engaged to Sophie, Theresa asks Octavian to dig into Sophie's family just to make sure there aren't any huge skeletons that would mar the family name. Unfortunately this opens a can of worms that will end up drastically changing all of their lives.
Overall I really liked this book. The author did an amazing job of transporting the reader; her description of the scene at the horse track was so well done I felt like I was there with Theresa and Octavian. Honestly I could almost smell the horses. The characters were also very complex and interesting. I really felt bad for Theresa through most of the story. She may have been a difficult person but she was so in love with Octavian and I could just feel her sadness emanating from the book when Octavian started to fall for Sophie. The story line was riveting and had a couple of good twists and turns. I didn't want to put the book down, the story really just draws the reader in. I'm not really sure yet how I feel about the ending. I think that it fit with the story line and it was a touching ending but it left me feeling a little empty I think. I actually feel very similar to how I felt about the ending of Along the Infinite Sea, I'm left feeling a little adrift. Really good story though and a great book. This is definitely going to be a summer must read!
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Elinor S. (Naples, FL)
A Certain Age
Delightful! I loved the characterizations. Beatrix Williams weaves a yarn that made me chuckle. The age old plots kept me absorbed and amused. Will recommend to my book clubs when released!
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Leslie D. (Le Roy, NY)
Witty look at the 1920s New York Upper Crust
The title refers both to setting as well as to character in this entertaining historical novel. Set in 1920s New York City and Connecticut, the story shows off the huge cultural shifts happening after the war but also follows the romantic triangle of the comic opera it's based on (Der Rosenkavalier)—with the mature Theresa Marshall, her WWI flying ace lover Octavian Rofrano, and the lovely and intelligent young Sophie Fortescue, jockeying into new relationships. The story contrasts the old and new and is carried along by a suspenseful murder trial and surprising twists and turns. The gossip column articles interspersed throughout the story add background as well as a genuine feel for the era, and the quotes heading the chapters are a hoot.
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Joane W. (Berlin, MD)
A certain age
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel. The roaring twenties was an exciting era. The character's were realistic and entertaining. It was a story of a bygone time and an intriguing murder. I enjoyed this book
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Julie M. (Maple Grove, MN)
Great Summer Read
Williams' novel starts in a slow simmer as she reveals her characters to the reader before really grabbing them with the plot making it a great lazy summer day read. The author sets the scene exceptionally well and I could almost hear the jazz, taste the gin and feel the excitement of Manhattan in the roaring 20s. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read and liked her previous novels and to those who like a love story with more substance and a bit of a bite.
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Barbara L. (Novato, CA)
A Certain Age
I love books by Beatriz Williams! This book was no exception. This author captures the gilded age in New York so well and brings to life this rarefied, wealthy world and its denizens. We are allowed to enter this world and observe a life that few of us will ever know otherwise. A great treat.
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Linda M. (Lititz, PA)
A Certain Age
I found this book with an enjoyable underlying story which gives you several hints throughout the book but the full story as to who Sophie really is and where her family came from does not come out to near the end of the book. To me, I felt the story might have been told in a shorter amount of chapters than what it took. Overall, I did enjoy the characters and if the first half of the book flowed as fast as the second half did I would have rated the book with 5 stars.
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