Bluebird, or The Invention of Happiness is a radiant and artful novel based on the life of Lucy Dillon, an 18th-century French aristocrat....
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Nov 29, 2009
Jenny
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This book is based on Henriette, a noble french woman who escaped the Terror in France. This book really shows the conditions of the nobility in France, how extravagant they were, fashion, reliance on looks and wealth, also favor of King and Queen, and corruption in Church. It is told from a women's perspective so it is light on the political happenings. I liked it for its plot, style, and entertaining format. I warn others that there is some sexuality since the book is based on the Court of Lo
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Aug 31, 2009
Korene
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This may be a fictionalized account of a real person. The book was great and you'll find yourself wanting to learn more information on The French Revolution or The Terror.
The book is well written and catches you from the begining.
I am now on to reading nonfiction accounts of "The Terror" to be followed by a biography on LaFayette, then Napoleon, back to Marie Antoinette, then Ben Franklin. :)
It is amazing to learn that America was a free country before France. Witho More...
The book is well written and catches you from the begining.
I am now on to reading nonfiction accounts of "The Terror" to be followed by a biography on LaFayette, then Napoleon, back to Marie Antoinette, then Ben Franklin. :)
It is amazing to learn that America was a free country before France. Witho More...
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Dec 26, 2010
Kimm
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I came across this book while I was passing some time in my small local bookstore. It sat on a low shelf of marked down items, tucked in amongst a mass of random titles. The cover appealed to me and before I gave it any more thought, I picked it up as a purchase. I didn’t read the back of the book at that time—giving me little to go on when I finally started to read the book.
It was okay….I can’t really rave about it, yet I can’t trash it. I found the book to have interesting moments More...
It was okay….I can’t really rave about it, yet I can’t trash it. I found the book to have interesting moments More...
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Jul 14, 2008
Belinda
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I had been warned when I cracked the cover: "It's not her best work," said my friend. "Her good stuff isn't selling, so this is her attempt at mass-market fiction."
And what author wouldn't be tempted? With the success of "The Other Boleyn Girl" as well as Rutherfurd, Gabaldon, Penman, and Chevalier, you would think a good writer could take an established storyline (aka, history), embellish it with enticing characters, and voila! We have fiction.
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And what author wouldn't be tempted? With the success of "The Other Boleyn Girl" as well as Rutherfurd, Gabaldon, Penman, and Chevalier, you would think a good writer could take an established storyline (aka, history), embellish it with enticing characters, and voila! We have fiction.
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Jan 17, 2012
Sherrill
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Sheila Kohler captured the beauty and pain of this chaotic and brutal time in history. Lucy's vivid descriptions transport the reader into Lucy's life, where we feel her sorrow, fear, joy, and understand her loyalty. A beautiful story, sometimes a little slow for me, especially when describing life at court, but I truly enjoyed the book.
Nov 09, 2011
April
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This could have been so good. It's such an interesting story, based on the true story, of an aristocratic woman and her family who flee revolutionary France for America. It was so full of sexual situations that I had to put it down. They were thrown in there and were a distraction from the main story. Completely unnecessary.
May 04, 2011
Anne
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very evocative and realistic descrption of court life at versailles and the aristocracy before and during the terror. It got a bit rushed towards the end and I felt like the author kind of crammed two books into one...Still, some amazing lyrical passages.
Jan 24, 2010
Brenda
rated it: 
It was ok. Not as good as I hoped it would be. It kind of dragged and then the due date it had to be back to the library neared. I decided to not finish it and not put it on hold. So, I guess that's saying something.
Mar 28, 2011
Lara
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Disappointed in this book. I thought more of it would be about her time in America but it wasn't. I ended up skipping sections. Guess I can't be too annoyed about not liking the ending, it was based on her real life.
Sep 29, 2009
Wendy
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The French revolution told through the eyes of a young noble woman nicknamed Bluebird. I enjoyed reading this book and it was made even more interesting because of the Kubrik movie "Barry Lyndon" which I watched from the Battelle Films series just after finishing. A combination I would recommend to anyone.
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Aug 26, 2007
Emily
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The allure of this book was its tie to actual history for me. Who doesn't find the French Revolution interesting? Well, bad question. Anyway, it's the story of a French aristocrat who has to escape the Terror with her useless husband and small children. It's not very well organized and has some cheesy moments, as well as some useless parts, but it's still intersting in some way. The protagonist herself, an actual historical figure whose letters are the basis for the story, seems strong and
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Apr 07, 2011
Brenda
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I loved the book. Lucy's life was fascinating. I started reading Dancing on the Precipice by Caroline Moorehead because I wanted to know more about that time period.
Feb 14, 2011
Laura
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a little superficial but makes me want to read a real biography of the main character;felt the story went too fast at times
Aug 29, 2008
Barbara
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I don't often read historical fiction, so I've got little basis to compare this to. I bought this in early summer and found the receipt in the back. I'd plowed through everything else I'd purchased that day. I kept picking it up and putting it down. After struggling with the first few chapters I was hooked. Anything I can say at this point would be a "spoiler". Great beach read.
Jan 20, 2008
Jenny
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It's reading okay so far - slightly disconcerted by it being written in the present tense, but otherwise I'm hooked
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