⋙ Download Free Belle Cora Phillip Margulies Books

Belle Cora Phillip Margulies Books

Download As PDF : Belle Cora Phillip Margulies Books

Belle Cora Phillip Margulies Books

A tough book to rate! I'm not one to write reviews but I had high hopes for this novel and it does deliver but collapses past midway toward the end. The first part of the book is riveting (I loved the first 1/2 to 2/3) but after she meets Cora, it goes down hill steep. While I was captivated by her character and story which was so developed in the beginning, the rest of the book went flat. It was just details and no further development. I didn't care about him - I didn't think his character was developed. I didn't "feel" him as I had felt her. And even she disappeared to me after a while. And while I was totally invested in her - what a life she lead! - I became disappointed and disillusioned. I tried - as I really wanted to hang with it and hoped it would pick up - but became totally bored and put it down. A very rare move for me.

A great writer and story - what happened? To me, it seemed like two different books and two different writers. Wish it it was consistent till the end.


Tags : Amazon.com: Belle Cora (9780307476036): Phillip Margulies: Books,Phillip Margulies,Belle Cora,Anchor,0307476030,Historical - General,Historical fiction.,AMERICAN HISTORICAL FICTION,Biographical,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Literary,FICTION Romance Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction-Historical,FictionBiographical,GENERAL,General Adult,Historical fiction,United States,historical;historical fiction;prostitution;san francisco;bordello;madame;women in history;american historical fiction;1800s;1850s;california;gold rush;romance;historical fiction books;historical romance;romance books;historical fiction novels;romance novels;love;literary fiction;alternate history;fiction;novels;fiction books;historical novels;literature;books fiction;realistic fiction books;books historical fiction;historical romance books;england;saga;marriage;civil war;american revolution,historical; historical fiction; prostitution; san francisco; bordello; madame; women in history; american historical fiction; 1800s; 1850s; california; gold rush; romance; civil war; saga; historical romance; literary fiction; marriage; historical fiction books; 19th century; drama; biographical fiction; historical fiction novels; historical romance books; romance novels; fiction; romance books; fiction books; literature; england; historical books; 18th century; american revolution; royalty; relationship books; love

Belle Cora Phillip Margulies Books Reviews

I really liked this book. Belle Cora was a facinating person; I would have liked to have sat down and drank a glass of tea with her (or rather a glass of whiskey!) What makes this a good read is that a person can learn so much about San Francisco and the underbelly of the poor that were the main-stay( the beginning) of that area. Belle Cora is a wickedly funny sarcastic, smart-ellic woman who was cursed to be beautiful and payed for it. I get the left-over feeling that the choices she made in her young life were not as bad as she made them out to be. One way or another, she'd have been a sucessful whore-House Madam!
I loved this book of the Madam Belle Cora. It was such a fascinating look at a part of American history with characters that came to life on the page. Belle Cora -- or Arabella Goodwin -- did not have an easy life and yet despite that she defines the modern woman. She picks herself up and makes her own way in the world. Like most of us she loves with all of her heart and experiences losses.

As I closed the cover on this 600-page book, I was wiping away tears. Margulies orchestrated an emotional ending to the "true story" of a remarkable woman.
I enjoyed this book from page 1. The writing is spectcular, beautiful without calling attention to itself. I was engrossed by the historical setting (19th century New York and California, during the Gold Rush era). One of the most enjoyable and poignant sections concerned the huge religious investment in the end of days during the era, when thousands of people gave away their posessions and prepared for the Rapture, only to have to go back to work the next day. I hadn't realized while reading that it was based on a real person, and that knowledge added savor to my experience after the fact. I eagerly look forward to Marguiles' next book.
Life can throw all of us some horrible situations, some people more than others. I felt sorry for our main character, as i always do when woman need to use sex to survive. In those days and still, sadly and ridiculously, if a woman is more sexual than others, or is caught in a bad sexual situation, or both, she is blamed for it. Men in the same situations are not blamed. In this area, men and women are in no way equal. Her life is just another example. At first i got involved but then the story just became depressing. So i am not sure what to review exactly. The writing is easily readable,but not great literature. Many things occur both good and too often awful, so this novel is not boring. For me it was just too deadening and sad...
This novel is a fully realized portrait of an American female's coming of age from the 1830's through the 1860's. Arabella's experiences in New York City; rural, upstate New York; and a boomtown San Francisco are wound round with the gritty personal , social, and political details of the period. The characters mirror the language, beliefs, gender roles, and major events of the historical period. The author has taken special care to write about the complexities of human motivation and emotion so that the actions of individuals can be at the same time affirming and destructive, cynical and romantic, religious and secular, plaintive and triumphant. The novel's dialogue and descriptions are balanced and integrated so that it flows easily on the waves of its intricate plot. It's hard to imagine a better historical novel, highly recommended.
I picked up this book because it was recommended by Edward Rutherfurd, one of my very favorite historical novelists. I wasn't disappointed.This book has got everything in it that will make you want to keep reading till it ends.

It is rich in historical detail. The cities of New York and San Francisco in the early 19th century are the sparkling scenes of most of the action in the book. Sandwiched in between them the heroine grows up in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. The author appears to have researched all three areas thoroughly and he presents them vividly.

Characterization. The heroine of the book is a highly practical and realistic young woman who has a series of difficult and painful adventures and finally chooses a course through life that brings her success, money and some happiness. She displays a wry and acerbic wit in the beginning part of the novel and I was disappointed when that part of her character seems to disappear in the second half.

Never a dull moment. There are so many events, twists and turns in the heroine's life that at one point I started to think it was almost too much. But .... there is no question that these events kept me reading and they were always interesting. At times, it reads a bit like an old serial novel but who ever said those serial novels were bad?

Introspection. There is a bit of insight every now and then The heroine is writing her life story from the wisdom given in very old age and she frequently surprises the reader with tiny bits of philosophy. Nothing too heavy, but enough to give depth to her character and make you put down the book for a second or two.

I really enjoyed every page of this! It is a cut or two above a lot of the historical fiction potboilers that are hitting bestseller status on -- well worth your time and attention.
A tough book to rate! I'm not one to write reviews but I had high hopes for this novel and it does deliver but collapses past midway toward the end. The first part of the book is riveting (I loved the first 1/2 to 2/3) but after she meets Cora, it goes down hill steep. While I was captivated by her character and story which was so developed in the beginning, the rest of the book went flat. It was just details and no further development. I didn't care about him - I didn't think his character was developed. I didn't "feel" him as I had felt her. And even she disappeared to me after a while. And while I was totally invested in her - what a life she lead! - I became disappointed and disillusioned. I tried - as I really wanted to hang with it and hoped it would pick up - but became totally bored and put it down. A very rare move for me.

A great writer and story - what happened? To me, it seemed like two different books and two different writers. Wish it it was consistent till the end.