Friday, June 04, 2010

Book Review

She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell is set in 1891 New York City. Clara is 17 and about to start her first season as a debutante a year early because her aunt wants her to get the DeVries heir. Clara's best friend, Lizzie, also is debuting a year early because her mother wants her to get the DeVries heir! They plan to share the heir until he picks who wants to marry. Clara dreads debuting. She would rather go to college than learn all the social graces. Plus, she has to wear a corset that makes her have an eighteen inch waist when she's origianlly a twenty-two inch waist!!! Her aunt makes her wear it 24/7 so she has to be ingenious in figuring out ways to sleep. Clara eventualy falls in love, but not with the heir. Should she defy her parents wishes and marry for love? Or should she marry the heir like her father and aunt planned as revenge?

I really really loved this book!!! I could not put it down. I enjoyed all the tidbits of what being a debutante was like and how corsets cause a lot of serious health problems. I hadn't even heard of some of them! You could tell that this was a well researched book. Clara felt so alive to me. Siri Mitchell gave her such depth you couldn't help but feel like you knew her. This is the first book I've ever read by this author, and I definitely plan on reading more. 

I recieved this book free from Bethany House as long as I review it.

4 comments:

mil/mom/kat said...

I must say this book sounds very interesting. I've never read much fiction but it would be good to learn about life in this time frame.

Maria said...

It was so good!!! I didn't want it to end.... :-) I went to Family Christian and got 3 bargain books and used my coupon, too. I really wanted more books b/c I've been feeling sick so I was happy to get them cheap! :-)

Megan said...

I like the sound of this one too!

Cathy and Family said...

How did the ultrasound go? Do we get to buy cute baby clothes in pink or blue? And Happy Birthday Ben!

Cathy