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There are currently 22 member reviews
for Cartier's Hope
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Celia P. (Melbourne, FL)
The Curse of the Hope Diamond?
This story takes place in the Gilded Age. Women could not vote and were treated as second class citizens in the journalistic world. To make a name for herself, Vera Garland intended to expose the story of the Curse of the Hope Diamond as false. On the way there, love and betrayal take precedence.
I thought the story line unique. Not as much historical fiction as I would have liked. Still good.
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Barbara G. (Dallas, GA)
Cartier's Hope
This all encompassing novel covers the topics of family, suicide, death, blackmail, homosexuality, abortion, uncover reporters, aliases, love, theft, fraud, women's rights, police brutality, high society, underprivileged, and superstitions.
Although I truly enjoyed this novel, it just had too much going on. It is well written and contains some historical aspects as well as being, at times, a romance novel.
I enjoyed receiving this ARC in return for a fair review.
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Judy B. (Santa Fe, NM)
A Good Story
I found this book excellent reading. I have always enjoyed the history behind the Hope Diamond and Mr. Cartier and wondered about the truth behind the diamond's history being a jeweler's daughter! Is it really possible to have bad luck just owning a particular "rock"?? The story in this book is about that possibility! The characters are well portrayed and interesting: a young "modern" woman and her family-mother, father, and sister. The young Russian jeweler working for Mr. Cartier! It was a good, well written story!
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Margaret R.
Cartier's Hope
Good historical fiction teaches at a gut level and Cartier's Hope does not disappoint. As we follow our main character, a woman with two identities, one inherited the other invented, through the streets, townhouses and tenements of New York City in the early 20th century, our senses and emotions are bombarded with visceral detail. For example, you experience the growing anxiety, then outright terror, of women marching in protest, followed by a group, then a gang, of men taunting them initially with words then with physical brutality.
That said, there is a disappointing glut of stale language, as well, and early in the book my eyes were rolling with sentences like, "...I try to pretend I am not really crying. That what looks like tears are simply snowflakes melting on my cheeks."
There is also a Wikipedia-like narrative when M. J. Rose gives the reader necessary plot information, such as the history of the Hope Diamond. Her fine ability to create realistic dialog fails her when she needs to give us facts.
Overall, this book is a good read and would appeal to many audiences. The mystery, gender issues, emotional appeal, and historical re-creation make it ripe for book club discussions.
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Shirley P. (Colorado Springs, CO)
In Spite of the Cover...
...I enjoyed this book very much. I am a big fan of M.J. Rose's books, and was thrilled to get an advance copy of "Cartier's Hope".
This book differs somewhat from her previous books which usually featured magical/mystical themes like witches/uber-sensitive perfumers, and the like - all of which I liked very much.
This novel features a more prosaic central character of Vera Garland, a member of New York's high society, and Vera's alter ego, Vee Swann, a newspaper reporter in the early 1900's, Vee reports on the underbelly of New York, in the footsteps of Nellie Bly. Vee becomes interested in the alleged curses associated with the infamous Hope diamond recently acquired by the jeweler Pierre Cartier which she has been lucky enough to view as Vera, and is intrigued by the stories told by Mr. Cartier.
This book is well written, as are all M.J. Rose's books, and includes interesting historical facts to add gravitas to the story. To add even more texture, there is a romance factor which complicates Vera/Vee's task in uncovering the truth about the Hope.
About that lurid cover...better suited to a "bodice ripper" than this competent historical novel.
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Janet SC
Cartier' Hope
Very good book! Great character development and details of NYC in the early 1900's.
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Cynthia C. (Chula Vista, CA)
Hope Reigns
This book is set against the lush society of the wealthy NYC society of 1910. The main character, Vera Garland, is in her own way a very modern woman. She happens to be at odds with her leading society matriarch mother, and is also very concerned with those less fortunate. She wants equality for women, and is willing to fight for it.
Vera has a separate identity as an investigative reporter where, in her determination to expose society's ills, often risks her own life.
This book is much more than a story of the 44 carat Hope Diamond, with stories of its supposed curse. Author M.J. Rose gives us a well-written slice-of-life account of the turn of the century elite juxtaposed with those struggling for their lives who live on the fringes.
Rose reminds us that Hope is what we have from one day to the next. Hope is what powers our desires and actions to create better lives for all.
An enjoyable read, filled with intrigue and romance.
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