I read Roses YEARS ago and loved it. I was so sad to see it end at the time. I never thought I'd get the joy of reading more to the saga Somerset was absolutely wonderful. I didn't want to put it down. I would not say that each 'scene' of the book like some authors. But, it's still vivid and you are captured in every chapter. Given the period of this book (1800s and Civil War) I was dreading reading about slavery and the treatment. I would not say that Meacham romanticized slavery. I think she wrote it in a way to cover all aspects of how slavery was. Amazing history and I wouldn't say that at the end of it I was left feeling I had a huge life lesson. I instead was reminded that family is key and when you have someone at a patriarch or a matriarch that cares about life even when they are gone for their family that your legacy writes itself. Not all of us come from families with plantations. Thank goodness it turns out! Somerset gives the backstory and establishment of the founding families of Howbutker, Texas, whose descendants we’ve already met in “Roses.” It’s rare to have epics like this written nowadays. Fascinating to watch characters age and die, surrounded by major events in this country’s history, but sadly I was never able to feel close to any of them. I felt that by the end, the characters remaining were not as interesting as the ones at the beginning; I was more interested in the start, in the journey to Texas and the families’ setting up their lives in a brand-new Republic. The Toliver “curse” also didn’t pull me in as it had in “Roses.” Favorite quotes: “Sometimes Sarah felt that her effort to put an end to slavery was like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon, but she must do her part. She believed that with faith and perseverance, people seeking to right a wrong would eventually prevail, no matter the odds against them.” “Feelings are neither right nor wrong. They just are.” – Henri Dumont “The only defense against the effects of time is to stay busy.” – Jeremy Warwick
Do You like book Somerset (2014)?
I wish I remembered who recommended this book to me, so that I could kick her in the shin.
—Amb
I couldn't put this book down and was sorry to see it end! Can't wait to read Roses now!
—krystal
Roses was so much better it would be hard to improve. Just didn't have the same feel
—lauren1234
two stars.terrible narrator.unbelievable characters.moving along ...
—hhaussler
