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5th out of 8 books
—
9 voters
Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington
In Mount Vernon Love Story -- famed suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark's long-out-of-print first novel -- the bestselling author reveals the flesh-and-blood man who became the "father of our country" in a story that is charming, insightful, and immensely entertaining. Always a lover of history, Mary Higgins Clark wrote this extensively researched biographical novel and tit...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
June 3rd 2003
by Pocket Books
(first published 1968)
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I can't honestly say that I'm not a Mary Higgins Clark fan, as I've never read any of her other work, but her genre has never appealed to me. This book was an autographed copy that my mom gifted to me for Christmas last year. In the beginning, I was a bit lost, as I didn't clearly remember who was who or the history these characters were involved in. The American Revolution has never been my forte. And I disliked the constant time frame switching. There would be three pages in 1797 and then twen...more
Jan 02, 2013
Mary
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who likes historical fiction
Recommended to Mary by:
Bookmooch
As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, not too much is known about the private life of George and Martha Washington. In Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington, Mary Higgins Clark relies on extensive biographical and historical research to bring George Washington and his life and marriage fully into focus for readers. Dispelling the widespread belief that although George Washington married the wealthy widow Martha Dandridge Custis, his one true love was his...more
This was my first Mary Higgins Clark read. In the forward of the book, Clark indicated her efforts with this biographical novel were to depict the softer side of George Washington. He was far more than the pedantic and humorless first president that history often describes. Clark indicates that all the events, dates, scenes and people characterized in the book are based on verified historical research.
I may not have loved the simplicity of the read, but I did enjoy learning a bit more about Wash...more
I may not have loved the simplicity of the read, but I did enjoy learning a bit more about Wash...more
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I think my mother told me to read this...anyway, I did enjoy it. It had a lot of historical information in it that I didn't know, plus I liked seeing George Washington in a different light.
Review from Publishers Weekly:
Originally published in 1969 under the title Aspire to the Heavens, this slim, muted historical romance is the long-out-of-print debut by America's reigning queen of suspense. As the quasi-biographical novel opens, George Washington is preparing to attend the inauguration of his s...more
Review from Publishers Weekly:
Originally published in 1969 under the title Aspire to the Heavens, this slim, muted historical romance is the long-out-of-print debut by America's reigning queen of suspense. As the quasi-biographical novel opens, George Washington is preparing to attend the inauguration of his s...more
My mom had this book and I grabbed it to read in the car on the way home from visiting her. The writing wasn't great and the story wasn't very fluid but I found the information about George Washington interesting. I hadn't known about his growing up years and also, I liked the idea that George really was in love with Martha and not with Sally Carey, his best friend's wife (like is commonly thought). Mary Higgins Clark tried to incorporate accurate historical info into the book as she made the ca...more
I have read a lot of MHC books. This one is nothing like the others. This one is based on the life of George Washington. No murder or mystery here, just a book about the history of his life--or just small portions of it.
This story describes the private life of George and Martha (or Patsy as he called her). Overall it was a decent read that touched on parts of their lives, when they first met, moving to Mount Vernon, the death of little Pasty and so on. It was a nice read to see how he cared abo...more
This story describes the private life of George and Martha (or Patsy as he called her). Overall it was a decent read that touched on parts of their lives, when they first met, moving to Mount Vernon, the death of little Pasty and so on. It was a nice read to see how he cared abo...more
This charming historical novel was actually Mary Higgins Clark first novel, originally published in 1968 under the title Aspire to the Heavens (this was the slogan often repeated to George Washington as a child by his austere mother, Mary Ball Washington – a slogan by which President Washington certainly lived his life!). It was re-released in 2002 and it couldn’t be a better time!
With our country suffering both the tragic physical attacks of 9/11/2002 and the verbal attacks of those who detest...more
With our country suffering both the tragic physical attacks of 9/11/2002 and the verbal attacks of those who detest...more
This was a pleasant, lightweight, easy reading book. George and "Patsy" as they were presented were charming, likable characters who were easy to identify with and root for. The events of their life were both sweet and bitter, but the story doesn't feel gloomy, despite huge wars, death of children, etc. The biggest complaint I had with it was the painfully obvious flashback scene transitions. I felt like I was watching a bad movie or old TV show, the way the flashbacks were structured. In genera...more
As a child I was an avid reader of biographies, especially of presidents, particularly of Lincoln. I never knew very much about George Washington, he was mysterious to me and I guess based on the little I heard about his reputation for being aloof and taciturn, I assumed that there was not much out there written about him! This is a wonderful story of the personal history of the man, giving some insight to his relationships - with his mother, brother, friends, and Martha (Patsy of course!) and h...more
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I loved this book. I read the series "Prelude To Glory" about George Washington and the Revolutionary War and this just added such a personal touch to such a great man. His life was such a mixture of challenges and blessings.
I was motivated to read this book after my family visited Mount Vernon a month or two ago. The house and grounds are so beautiful, and George Washington's accomplishments, humility, and service to our country are very impressive.
After finding out that this book was fiction and written by a popular murder-mystery author, I worried that it would be trashy and poorly written, and unfairly portray George and Martha Washington as typical shallow, romance-novel hero and heroine.
To my happy surprise, i...more
After finding out that this book was fiction and written by a popular murder-mystery author, I worried that it would be trashy and poorly written, and unfairly portray George and Martha Washington as typical shallow, romance-novel hero and heroine.
To my happy surprise, i...more
May 15, 2013
Diana
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
history
During a recent visit to Mount Vernon, I became intrigued by the love story of George and Martha Washington and wanted to learn more, so I purchased this book in the gift shop. I have read several of Clark's mystery novels, and was surprised to learn that this was actually her first book originally published in the late 1960's. The language is simple, and the plot itself is the story of George and Martha Washington told in flashback as Washington returns home after his two terms as our first Pre...more
I have been perusing my book shelves with a goal to actually choose a book from my extensive collection to read. There is always a new book around the corner to catch my eye, but I am determined to give homage to my old friends who have just been gathering dust.
When my mother died a few years ago, I claimed books from her personal collection. This was one of them. She was a big fan of Mary Higgins Clark. The Mount Vernon Love Story is not the usual mystery genre. It shows a personal side of our...more
When my mother died a few years ago, I claimed books from her personal collection. This was one of them. She was a big fan of Mary Higgins Clark. The Mount Vernon Love Story is not the usual mystery genre. It shows a personal side of our...more
A fictionalized account of the full life of George and Martha Washington based on solid research, but embroidered with motives, conversations and emotions, this account is a bit slow and hard to follow for lower readers. It bounces back and forth because its narrative frame is Washington’s leaving office after his second term as President. Most of the story is told in a series of chronological flashbacks beginning with his life as a youth establishing his relationship with his mother and brother...more
My first time reading Mary Higgins Clark. This is not her usual mystery book. This was her very first book she wrote, a historical fiction about George and Martha Washington. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some really great insights into what the life of George Washington was like. Each chapter in the book is a different time period (it jumps around), so sometimes I had to go back and think about when this was happening. But every chapter, no matter what time period, is filled with a longing to get ba...more
I found this book on the shelf at Mom and Dad's Assisted Living. It was light fun reading. Historical events of the time of George Washington's time are the background for sharing the author's perception of the personalities and lives of George and Martha (called Patsy by George and her family) and their family and friends based on her research. This was actually the first book written by Mary Higgins Clark, first published under the title "Aspire to the Heavens." When it was discovered by Washi...more
A friend recommended this after I gushed about George Washington in my blog. We had a recent visit to Mount Vernon and I fell in love with the first President of the United States of America. This book did not disappoint! Of course, this is historical fiction so who knows what is actually factual. But it's exactly how I like to picture George and his beloved wife, Martha. The only change that would have made it better is for the novel to be a bit longer and end with his death. I would have liked...more
This book has the potential to be a very good book. It could use another re-write. I found it confusing the way the author jumped back and forth between Washington's younger growing up and courtship years and his "my old man" years after his Presidency. The transitions were not easy to make. Several times characters were brought into chapters without having been introduced. Although this was a novel and both times of Washington's life were interesting, I wondered why the years of his presidency...more
Feb 10, 2010
Carolyn C.
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Recommended to Carolyn by:
Bood Group
Mt. Vernon Love Story was our February Book Group selection and Mary Higgins Clark's first novel. A historical fiction based on the lives of George and Martha (Patsy) Washington. I found it interesting to learn more about the "human" side of our Country's founding father and his wife...not to mention some history of the conflicts with indians, the French and the English at the time. A well researched very quick read which I enjoyed very much.
Having read zillions of Mary Higgins Clark's novels......more
Having read zillions of Mary Higgins Clark's novels......more
I hear this one is Mary Higgins Clark's first book...it shows. I enjoy historical novels as much as the next guy but this one just didn't have the oomph. George Washington didn't really feel real. I didn't really get the love story. I wish she had included her references so I could check up on some of her information. Patsy really didn't seem much of a strong character for me. Clark put this thought into Washington's head about Patsy, "Again he was struck by the realization that this was not a w...more
Pleasantly surprised. I was a little annoyed by the way Mary Higgins Clark wrote when I first started reading this book. It was chosen as February's book for Book club in my ward Relief Society and I decided I wanted to start going and supporting the group. I'd never read her books before and her style seemed.....I don't know, I can't remember, but I ended up enjoying the book and the simple love story between George Washington and his wife Martha aka Patsy. It made me want to read his Biography...more
Mount Vernon love story basically told the personal life of George Washington as he grew up. It was a decent book if one likes history books. It was set from when Washington was 9-10 or so, about 1745 and told of accounts there on out. I always wanted George to end up with Sally, who he secretly loved, because it was scandalous and forbidden. It was intriguing to see how George lived before he became a important part of the United States of America. I would recommend this book to anyone who like...more
I love to read is historical fiction so when I became acquainted with the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, I was offered the chance to purchase Mount Vernon Love Story autographed by Mary Higgins Clark. This was her first published novel and this is a re-release of it.
George Washington is such an immortalized figure in American History, that I feel he has just become a stone statue and people don't see him as ever being a real man. Mary Higgins Clark has chiseled away at this rock and revealed a...more
George Washington is such an immortalized figure in American History, that I feel he has just become a stone statue and people don't see him as ever being a real man. Mary Higgins Clark has chiseled away at this rock and revealed a...more
A historical biography based on facts but with fiction added in. I enjoyed learning of the human side of George Washington and Martha. It covers their first meeting and their marriage and love story. I learned many things about them, including that Martha was called Patsy by George and family and friends. I also did not realize how much hardship they endured during their lifetime. It made me appreciate the father of our country and his wife even more. Quick reading.
I read an article about Mary Higgins Clark in the Wall Street Journal. She started out writing about historical characters. I realized I had this book on my bedside. I didn't like it at all--just way too slow. I used to read most of her mysteries, but haven't for several years--too many other good books to read. I thought she was sticking to "a formula" and putting out too many books without a lot of thought to them. But all that to say glad she switched gears to mysteries.
I enjoyed the writing style and the personality that Mary Higgins Clark was able to portray for George Washington and his wife. The love story was enjoyable and I appreciated insights into George Washington's life as he met with various time periods in his life and the relationship of those events with events in his personal life. I didn't know that she was usually called "Patsy" rather than "Martha." And it was interesting to read about G.W.'s relationships with his step-children. 3++
The first book ever written by Mary Higgins Clark. She is well known as a mystery writer so I was surprised to find her first novel was historical fiction. It was originally published in 1969 with the title, "Aspire to Heaven," and later released with this new title. I felt the writing was bland and simple. The title claims it's a love story, but it never felt like that to me until the very end. The Washington's relationship seemed one of friendship and convenience, but not an actual love story....more
This was a very nice story about George and Martha Washington. I learned a lot.....like everyone called Martha Patsy and her kids died before she did. And George didn't like pictures of himself.
All I really knew about them was George was the first President and he had wooden teeth. Oh yeah, and he was some kinda commander or general on a boat.....I just remembered that cuz of that famous picture. I'm sure I learned more in school, but that was a LONG time ago.
It wasn't written like a documentar...more
All I really knew about them was George was the first President and he had wooden teeth. Oh yeah, and he was some kinda commander or general on a boat.....I just remembered that cuz of that famous picture. I'm sure I learned more in school, but that was a LONG time ago.
It wasn't written like a documentar...more
I've read many Mary Higgins Clark mystery novels and loved every one of them. This was not a mystery novel, nor did I expect it to be. This was a bit of historical fiction summarizing the romance between the first president of the United States and his wife.
As one of the first novels published by Higgins Clark, it seemed evident to me while reading that her style was simple and a bit inexperienced. However, it was also apparent that this novel would not be her last rodeo.
As one of the first novels published by Higgins Clark, it seemed evident to me while reading that her style was simple and a bit inexperienced. However, it was also apparent that this novel would not be her last rodeo.
I learned a lot about George and Martha's history and personal lives as well as about the times leading up to the American Revolution.
My sister purchased the book for me while we were visiting Mt. Vernon on March 15, 2009, so it has a lot of special significance attached to it.
I really don't think it is one of Mary Higgins Clark's best novels but enjoyed it for the historical settings. It was her first novel.
My sister purchased the book for me while we were visiting Mt. Vernon on March 15, 2009, so it has a lot of special significance attached to it.
I really don't think it is one of Mary Higgins Clark's best novels but enjoyed it for the historical settings. It was her first novel.
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Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins Clark Conheeney, best known as Mary Higgins Clark, (b December 24, 1927 in the Bronx, New York) is an American author of suspense novels. Each of her twenty-four suspense novels has been a bestseller in the United States and various European countries, and all of her novels remain in print as of 2007, with her debut suspense novel, Where Are The Children, in its sevent...more
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