Forever Amber (Rediscovered Classics) by Kathleen Winsor
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Book Reviews of Forever Amber (Rediscovered Classics)
Book Review: Bruce Carlton is a cad!
Summary: 5 Stars
Kathleen Winsor scores on three points with Forever Amber: plot, descriptive ability, and emotional involvement. Her plot is Dickensian, weaving in and out of the Plague, the Great Fire of London, and the personal catastrophes of one gutsy girl named Amber. Her inventiveness is utterly satisfying, and whenever the time came that exhaustion compelled me to put the book down and go to bed, I usually had to peek ahead to find out what troubles lay just ahead.As for descriptive ability, her style should be taught in writing classes. Effortlessly she sets the scenes; the reader never has to strain to picture the action. As most reviewers have noted, her knowledge of history is amazing, and highly instructive, much better at reconstructing the past than a straight history book, so whether you want to be or not, you'll find yourself educated about the seventeeth century when you've finished the book.
And you know a book is good when you find yourself emotionally involved with the outcome. When you finally reach the last page, you won't say, "Well, that was good" --you'll wail, "Bruce Carlton, YOU CAD!!"
I must also note that the much-touted "raciness" of the book does not exist. In fact, the very first "sex scene" of the book is so subtly included that I didn't even realise it had happened until the characters' subsequent remarks implied it. Her skill here is impressive too, and allows one to read the book without the distraction of titillation.
Good plot, good writing, good book--read it.
Book Review: A Classic of Historical Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this novel way back when and have reread it several times over the years. It never ceases to amaze me. Amber is at once ruthless, ambitious, determinded to survive and prove to the love of her life that she is now good enough for him. Her love for Lord Carlton and the lengths she goes to pursue him have a singlemindedness of purpose that is at once ironic and tragic. Had the circumstances of her birth become known she would have almost certainly have married him.
That she never knew her birthright, and he wouldn't marry beneath him, have always held a certain sadness...what if....quality for me. The writing is so vivid that you can almost smell the flames of the Great Fire of London, and the stench of the plague wagons. The characterizations of Charles II and the corruptions of his court make them practically leap off the page. The triumphal entry of the restored Charles II to London has to be read to be believed. The intrigues and characters surrounding his court (most of whom are Amber's enemies) are as vivid as you can get without actually having been there.
Amber very much reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara of Gone with the Wind fame. And like Scarlett, one is left hanging, wanting more. Will Rhett ever return, will Amber's passage across the ocean to be reunited with Bruce Carlton ultimately destroy her?
This is truly a classic of historical ficton.
Book Review: I never thought I could love a heroine more than Scarlett O'Hara
Summary: 5 Stars
I was totally carried away with a book that was written in 1944 and still lives today.
Amber St. Claire is a woman out of her time whose will and determination can match any man's. When this book was recommended to me, I thought nothing can compare with "Gone with the Wind.":But Amber is actually more relentless in getting what she wants. Not everything Amber does would be considered politically correct by many readers yet she has the same strength of purpose of letting nothing stand in her way as does Scarlett O'Hara.
Both women are invincible. Both will use any man or situation to get what they want. Yet I couldn't help liking them, worrying about them and identifying with them as they went through their struggles, that in each in her case, reflected their time in history. Scarlett lived in the South during the Civil War in America. Amber's adventures took place in 1660 during the Restoration period of Tudor England. She suffers through the Plague and the Great Fire of London.
This was definitely an I-can't-put-it-down-book for me. I love stories that bring me into history in the time and place when they happened. I love a heroine like Amber who make me wonder, would I do what she did if I was faced with the same circumstances?
Louise Cabral
Author~Teacher~Speaker
[...].
Book Review: Forever Amber? Forever Amazing!
Summary: 5 Stars
Amber is a beautiful character. I love her mission - to get what she wants- what ever the cost and support her totally. This is a fabulous period of history and I am facinated by many of the characters, especially the Villiers. The Villiers are my ancestors and while reading this book, I did not always know who to support; Amber, George, Barbara? George and Barbara? Usually I was rooting for Amber. I love Charles (II) - he is so intelligent, and witty.
Bruce must be the biggest T****R ever written about! How DARE he not love Amber - when she saves his life and in effect, destroys her own for him, just to have him trample over it - off to the middle of no where!
Almsbury is lovely. He is probably my favourite fictional male character because he is sweet, amusing and loving. I would adore being in a relationship with him! He is the one person who keeps Amber sane in the turmoil that is her life.
I will forever rue the fact that Amber was never told that she was aristocracy. Her life could have been happy - as opposed to horrendous.
I think that this is an amazing book - a must-read for all romantics, hsitorians, and people with an interest in fashion or architecture. I am a 15 year old book-worm. READ FOREVER AMBER!
Book Review: Forever Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
It truly is time that this book was considered to be a classic! Of course it's ridiculously long and passionate, but Forever Amber has to be one of the most compulsive reads ever. The ending robs the reader of that frantically needed happy ending when we realise that Amber will never be anything more to Bruce Carlton (the sexiest man ever to exist in literature)than a humble peasant, although, agonisingly, we, the readers know that Amber is so much more. The book probably could be shorter and yet, i didn't want it to end. Who didn't want Amber to cause chaos in America? If you liked GWTW then you would love this- i would also recommend 'Through A Glass Darkly'. Forever Amber also has to be one of the greatest historical novels ever written- the authenticity of characters is heightened by the careful web of real figures and events from history with an epic love story entangled like a document rather than a narrative. This is a book that if the reader enjoys, shall never leave them. The ending in particular invokes the audience to continue believing and hoping in Amber's quest to win Bruce Carlton. To summarise, Forever Amber is a twisted, passionate, addictive, living tale that embodies every possible theme, character and love that you could imagine.