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 (p.271) 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. p.262 “ you do not know how fortunate you were to lose your husband while you still loved him.” OUCH!So 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 years.")That “affair” with Richard Prince. Next door hotel rooms, her defensiveness about it… so many problems on that front!Why on earth did she marry Sam if she was so opposed to marriage?“I escaped the manacles of motherhood when I remarried.” Another OUCH!Disconnect 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 Club?However, 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 quotes:p. 254 “I find the television seldom engages the mind as fully as it does the eye.” Ha!p. 250 “be my guests for dinner at the airport restaurant. The food is always excellent.” Oh, how things have changed since 1955!Hmmm.. 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.
This is another book that reaffirms my belief in books having the uncanny power of choosing their readers when the time is just right.My gaze has lingered on the tattered spine of A Woman of Independent Means for many months now; I've been perusing my shelf and consistently pausing there, hearing an echo of my sister's voice saying, "I think you'd like it. Here, take my copy." Still, it wasn't until a few days ago that I actually heeded its call. Mortality is a topic every thing and one can relate to. I've been meditating on the subject-- not too morbidly --for the past several weeks. It's interesting that this book happens to be rife with themes of life and its many deaths.Fortunately our heroine, Bess, is the conduit for all of these themes, addressing them in this epistolary novel with a gentle wit and vivacity that is simultaneously encouraging and entertaining. One could view this novel as an out-dated glimpse into the twentieth century American experience, but that is only a cursory explanation. The beauty of this book involves its masterful characterization and well-intended, graciously executed premise. Arguably, an author is successful if readers are compelled to truly feel invested in the characters rendered-- it means that the reader has bonded and become invested in a genuinely intense way. I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried at this book's conclusion...The tears were verging on a deluge when my sister lovingly suggested that I drink some iced raspberry-lime seltzer and wash my face. If anything, I sheepishly regard my tears as a testament to the quality of this work.The love that grew almost unexpectedly for Bess-- this character that simultaneously seemed as foreign and familiar as the bygone days depicted in her life-- made me realize that life, with all of its trauma and loss, impossible beauty and joy, is absolutely an adventure that must be honored to the fullest. If anything, it made me feel thrilled that there are many more books waiting to be discovered, and even more that will call out to me when the time is right.
Do You like book A Woman Of Independent Means (2000)?
This excellent novel, made up of a lifetime's correspondence from a woman to her family and friends running from the turn of the last Century to 1968, is a page-turner in all the best senses of that phrase. I cried at least twice while I was reading this story (an unusual occurrence for me) and couldn't read it quickly enough in order to find out what would happen next.The author is very sneaky in that she gives Bess noble motives but a less-than-ideal way of going about them. She runs a fine thread of control through the lives of her loved ones, and then is truly surprised and hurt when they rebel. I was always interested in Bess, sometimes exasperated by her, but never bored with her. I loved every moment I was allowed to spend in her presence and hated getting to the last page of the book, because it meant that I'd have to say goodbye to Bess and her loved ones.
—Graceann
This was a Mother's Day gift from Megan and James and what a treat it was to read! The author chose to present the story of her grandmother through letters and it was a nice literary device in this case. The women of the story lived through so much history--besides her personal life which was amazing! I always find it interesting to read a person's life as they approach dates I know will be significant and see how they are affected. This woman lived through two world wars, the depression, the influenza epidemic and even the killing of President Kennedy. She lived from horse and buggy days through automobiles and from crossing the ocean by ship to air travel. It is an ideal book for a summer vacation when you've got a few free hours--or it slips into whatever time you can spare. I still think about Bess's resilience and zest for life.
—Petrea
This is a 3 1/2, but I will bump it up to four. I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth's personality, her life story (even if fictional) and great thoughts that are relayed through this book of letters. It's one of those books that one can reread every few years just to remind oneself of the right way of thinking about things! And as I find when reading any book of letters (John and Abigail Adams; The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Society), real or creatively imagined, I find myself longing to write more and better letters. Maybe one of these books will actually turn inspiration into action!This was a lovely read.
—Andrea Homier
