Mary
by Janis Cooke Newman
published
2007
edit
binding
621 pages
isbn
description
Historical Fiction. Written as a journal while in the mental hospital she was committed to after her husbands murder. reflecting on her life.
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 407)
Read in February, 2008
Yeah, I enjoyed this book, but when I think back on it not a lot sticks with me. I found it an interesting tale of a first lady we've heard of so much due to being wife to one of the most influential and great president's the U.S. has seen today, but yet we don't know much about. There are many things that made this book a unique and fun read.
One thing was that we got a new view on the Civil War. Many books are written about either soldiers or slaves, occasionally family members of those ...more
One thing was that we got a new view on the Civil War. Many books are written about either soldiers or slaves, occasionally family members of those ...more
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
A disturbing-but-sympathetic fictionalized-but-mostly-historically-accurate account of the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, arguably the most maligned first lady ever (including a little-known affair). I hope it brings her some long-overdue good press.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
1 comments
Read in March, 2007
I am glad I got this book from the library instead of buying it.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
The subject is intriguing - who was Mary Lincoln? What was her family life like? The writing and final contruction left me disappointed.
First, the book is much much too long. I understand from the author's note, that the original manuscript was 900 pages! So I can understand why trimming it down to about 620 is an accomplishment. The editors could have, and should have, gone further - at least 200 more pages could have come out. Particularly the many pages, devoted to redundant themes and n...more
First, the book is much much too long. I understand from the author's note, that the original manuscript was 900 pages! So I can understand why trimming it down to about 620 is an accomplishment. The editors could have, and should have, gone further - at least 200 more pages could have come out. Particularly the many pages, devoted to redundant themes and n...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
recommended to KelliAnn by:
Rachel Olsen
I absolutely loved this book. Although it probably would get more like a four from the average rating, it pulled me in so deeply that I found myself sobbing at various points and being furious and upset at other times. Throughout it, I was overwhelmed with the immense sense that I am completely in love with my husband and baby. This is a historical fiction told from Mary Lincoln's point-of-view, and by the end you feel like you know her completely. I wish there was some information from the auth...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
historical fiction fans
This is a novelization about Mary Todd Lincoln. It is told as though she was writing her memoirs while institutionalized and is a series of well done flashbacks to her life in between talking about her days at the institution and trying to get herself released. It is interesting because it is much debated whether Mary was actually mentally ill (or if she was, if she was deranged enough to require institution) or if her son was just embarrassed by her actions which he deemed inappropriate for a...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2007
This was enjoyable. It really was. Portrayed in this mammoth novel, Mary Todd Lincoln is a woman whom you find yourself pitying in the most painful fashion. I found myself admiring her for her honesty one moment and knocking my head at her self-delusions the next. The awful, haunting losses she experiences make her crazy thoughts seem reasonable. This to me was the craziest part. After reading a few passages undisturbed, I realized that this character believed that new Belgian curtains an...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
recommended to Jessica by:
BC1
I'd give this more of a 3.5, I do really need half stars. I defaulted to the higher end because the book was well written. I can't say I liked her as a character throughout much of the book, but I think in the end I felt more compassionate towards the poor shopping choices she made...as for the affair, different story. I think the glance into women that ended up in asylums during that period is quite frightening. This is why today husbands have equal power instead of power over women. And l...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
I don't normally gravitate towards historical fiction, but this came highly recommended and I don't regret reading it. In this novel, we follow the life of Mary Todd Lincoln from age six until her death. Her life is nothing short of both fascinating and tragic. A woman ahead of her time in many ways, she was also driven to compulsion and to extremes of emotion--all in an attempt to fill a void from her childhood's lack of affection. Much of the novel takes place in an insane asylum where Mar...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
Initially fascinating (especially in the portrait of Abe Lincoln), the book made the point early and often that Mary's compulsive acquisition was fueled by sexual and emotional frustration, therefore making it someone else's fault (if only Abe had trusted in sexual passion, if only her son hadn't been such an odd person who feared his mother as dangerous and out of control), really. That part was too easy, too hammered on. But all in all a good book. Offers a great portrayal of America's early p...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
all
I enjoyed this book as it seemed the author was very even-handed in her telling of MTL's life.
I cannot vouch for it's accuracy but felt you were able to glimpse the real limits set upon women at this time. Despite being very loved by her husband,Mary was required to suppress much of her true feelings.
Whether she was unstable simply by nature or nurture is hard to decide but throughout it all she remains a fighter in some senses. But in the end you wonder if she ever was fighting for a nob...more
I cannot vouch for it's accuracy but felt you were able to glimpse the real limits set upon women at this time. Despite being very loved by her husband,Mary was required to suppress much of her true feelings.
Whether she was unstable simply by nature or nurture is hard to decide but throughout it all she remains a fighter in some senses. But in the end you wonder if she ever was fighting for a nob...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2008
recommended to Kim by:
Julianne
I love historical fiction - and this one was great. 705 pages - a little too long for my taste. She could have chopped off 200 pages and I still would have loved it.
After reading this book I had originally thought that Newman gave a pretty unbiased look into the life of Mary Lincoln. However, the more research I do, I am finding that she may have been quite forgiving of some of Lincoln's many behavioral and emotional flaws. Although she did write at length on Lincoln's "insane" beha...more
After reading this book I had originally thought that Newman gave a pretty unbiased look into the life of Mary Lincoln. However, the more research I do, I am finding that she may have been quite forgiving of some of Lincoln's many behavioral and emotional flaws. Although she did write at length on Lincoln's "insane" beha...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
I really liked this book, as it provided a history lesson at the same time as it entertained me. I really disliked her son Robert though - yet she still wanted his love.
I was frustrated by what was considered "hysterical" acts by women during this time and that women should not concern themselves with politics. All of that drove me crazy to read about, but since that was a sign of the times it's good to have a reminder of how far we've come.
I think Mary was a little obsesse...more
I was frustrated by what was considered "hysterical" acts by women during this time and that women should not concern themselves with politics. All of that drove me crazy to read about, but since that was a sign of the times it's good to have a reminder of how far we've come.
I think Mary was a little obsesse...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
A marvelous book that has really drawn me into the life of the Lincoln family. Never much thought about man who freed the slaves, but have come to find out he was a troubled man with a great emotions. His wife was definately OCD, and troubled herself, but not enough to be put away. After reading what she endured I think how hard it would be to not be depressed and troubled.
Women really had no where to turn or freedom to control their own lives. That is hard to accept and understand conside...more
Women really had no where to turn or freedom to control their own lives. That is hard to accept and understand conside...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
someone interested in history
well don't know whether I liked her anymore but the book does make you understand her in the context of the times she lived in. Shows she was not simply a drama queen who enjoyed buying things and putting them in debt. Mary was very political,strong, and independent in a time when that was not accepted for a woman. Got to admit though, the "sex" between her and old Abe might have been TMI although it demonstrated her passion and how she had to constrain all parts of her life. USA ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
Committed to an insane asylum by her oldest son, while in the midst of grieving her much-beloved husband, President Abraham Lincoln, Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln began the memoir of her life as a girl, a wife and first lady, and as a widow forced to make the case for her own sanity. While her behavior is compulsive, and her despair deeply felt, was Mary Todd Lincoln insane? Janis Cooke Newman’s historical novel leaves us questioning the historical portrait that has been painted of this ambitious, ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Historical Fiction lovers/US hist. fiction
This is great historical fiction written from Mary Todd Lincoln's pov, 10 years after President Lincoln has been assassinated & she's been committed to an institution.
I LOVE this book. It is really good and gripping, shows Abraham Lincoln in a different light and takes place (w/ Mary journalling the stories) beginning with a 6 year old Mary, meeting Lincoln/courting, Lincoln's beginning law/political career, through the Civil War and all of Lincoln's presidency. Quite a "view" ...more
I LOVE this book. It is really good and gripping, shows Abraham Lincoln in a different light and takes place (w/ Mary journalling the stories) beginning with a 6 year old Mary, meeting Lincoln/courting, Lincoln's beginning law/political career, through the Civil War and all of Lincoln's presidency. Quite a "view" ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I enjoyed this book. IT was interesting to learn more about Mary Todd Lincoln. I always just assumed that she was an amazing woman, not really kinda crazy, passion obsessed, and a compulsive shopper. She really was a weird lady, I found myself wondering how Pres. Lincoln put up with her half the time. She did really love her children though, which I admired. All in all a very good read. I thought there was some definite adult content in the book, just as a heads up.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
A novel based on the life story of Mary Lincoln. Written in the style of an autobiography set in the later years of her life in an insane asylum, this book tells the gripping and tragic tale of love, loss and the insanity (or perceived insanity) that comes from losing three sons and a husband, the later being murdered right in front of her. I really enjoyed this book and now want to read more of the real story of Mary's life. I definitely would recommend this book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
I really enjoyed this book in spite of the fact that I cringed MANY times at the choices Mary made.
Despite its length I didn't feel like it was a slog to finish. In fact, I found myself sitting down for a couple of minutes and getting sucked in.
I normally prefer European fiction/history. I enjoyed this book enough that I'm seriously considering picking up the biography of Mary Todd Lincoln that Newman sites in her Acknowledgements.
Despite its length I didn't feel like it was a slog to finish. In fact, I found myself sitting down for a couple of minutes and getting sucked in.
I normally prefer European fiction/history. I enjoyed this book enough that I'm seriously considering picking up the biography of Mary Todd Lincoln that Newman sites in her Acknowledgements.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
