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108th out of 304 books
—
152 voters
Those Who Love
by
Irving Stone
The true story of Abigail Smith and John Adams, who met and loved and married and became leading protagonists in events which were to change the whole concept of the Western world.
Paperback, 0 pages
Published
June 1st 1969
by Signet
(first published June 1st 1965)
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While it is a fictionalized account of the relationship between Abigail and John Adams, it has been thoroughly researched and is accurate as far as the events in their lives are concerned.
John and Abigail Adams were true partners in life. Their letters to one another showed that John considered not just his wife, but his best friend, his intellectual equal and his greatest confidante.
The book starts with the meeting of Abigail and John and their courtship in spite of her mother's initial disappr...more
John and Abigail Adams were true partners in life. Their letters to one another showed that John considered not just his wife, but his best friend, his intellectual equal and his greatest confidante.
The book starts with the meeting of Abigail and John and their courtship in spite of her mother's initial disappr...more
Due to the fact that I have been writing more than reading this summer, I have to admit that I made a poor choice when I picked this book for my summer read. This was due to the size and slow pace of this historical fiction novel about John & Abigail Adams.
First published in 1965, it is quickly evident that the book and its subject matter were thoroughly researched by the author, Irving Stone. My main complaint is where the author chose to focus his attention. This book is quite long...nea...more
First published in 1965, it is quickly evident that the book and its subject matter were thoroughly researched by the author, Irving Stone. My main complaint is where the author chose to focus his attention. This book is quite long...nea...more
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I am not sure whether it can be called as complete history or whether it had some fiction mixed with it. “Those Who Love” is the biography of second US president John Adams written from the perspective of his wife Abigail Adams. I have always liked Irving Stone’s work. His books are very well researched and pick on one particular personality and then goes deep into the life of that person as well as the era of that time. The book was lying with me for a long time b...more
I am not sure whether it can be called as complete history or whether it had some fiction mixed with it. “Those Who Love” is the biography of second US president John Adams written from the perspective of his wife Abigail Adams. I have always liked Irving Stone’s work. His books are very well researched and pick on one particular personality and then goes deep into the life of that person as well as the era of that time. The book was lying with me for a long time b...more
This is a historical fiction, not a lusty romance novel, in case anyone is wondering if I'm starting on a new genre.
I guess the lower rating is because I really enjoyed the other Irving Stone book I read about Andrew Jackson and his wife. Also this book is very long and can get quite tedious at times.
I enjoy reading historical fiction very much since it helps me piece together what is happening in different parts of the world at the same time. For example, in this book, even though I knew abou...more
I guess the lower rating is because I really enjoyed the other Irving Stone book I read about Andrew Jackson and his wife. Also this book is very long and can get quite tedious at times.
I enjoy reading historical fiction very much since it helps me piece together what is happening in different parts of the world at the same time. For example, in this book, even though I knew abou...more
I loved this biographical novel of Abigail and John Adams. WOW, there sure is a lot about the birth of our nation that I never learned. Because this book was based on historical fact and the letters of Abigail and the founding fathers, I felt I received a fascinating lesson in history! I was simply amazed at the parallels to be drawn with our current political climate and the constant wrangling between personalities and the struggles between parties. It actually gives me great hope that no matte...more
I have always found John Adams to be absolutely fascinating. I even gave a lecture about John Adams last year to a group of senior citizens at a public library. But I'm starting to think that he should be left to biographers and historians. The HBO miniseries was okay. This book had its moments. But it just crept along. I think that I even had to put it down for a few months just because it was that... boring. Perhaps I expected something that I shouldn't have from a novel that was essentially a...more
As a work categorized as "biographical fiction," I read this with the knowledge that some historical facts and statements had been altered by the fictional aspect of the author's writing. My first read of an Irving Stone biographical novel was a great read. I'll certainly read more of his books. Of course, my opinion is slightly colored because (1) by birth I'm an Adams, (2) I love biographical works, and (3) historical fiction ranks at the top of my favorite reads. However, that being said, I t...more
I am just not cut out to read historical fiction. It drove me crazy when they had dialogue between John and Abigail. I just kept thinking "The author CAN NOT know what they said." But aside from that, I enjoyed the time line visual that I gained from reading this. I loved the quotes from their letters. I enjoyed the view of education that I got from reading this book. Interestingly, as I have read, I have come to learn that sometimes reading two books at the same time I learn more from each of t...more
For some reason I didn't love this as much as other Irving Stone books. And it was a little bit of a disappointment after reading pulitzer prize winner John Adams by David McCullough. I did like that there was a balanced focus between John and his wife Abigail. I also liked getting an overall picture of the family itself as well as an increased understanding of the deep trials people suffered during this period of history.
I think I was in 8th grade when my teacher gave me an old, musty copy to read. I remember it being slow but learning a lot about the Adams family and early US history and the 18th and 19th century. I plodded through it, but I wouldn't suggest it to 8th graders. It's another book I might have to reread in the future.
May 12, 2011
Juanita Pryor
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
I read this some time ago, but it is one of my all time favorite books. I love the purity of the love story between John and Abigail. They showed amazing resiliency in the face of difficult trials. And became one of the most influential couples to ever grace our nation.
Good quotes:
"And now, O Lord, my God, Thou hast made Thy servant ruler over the people. Give unto him an understanding heart that he may know how to go out and come in before this great people; that he may discern between good and bad..."
"My thoughts and my meditations are with you, though personally absent; and my petitions to Heaven are that the things which make for peace may not be hidden from your eyes. My feelings are not those of pride or ostentation. They are solemnized by a sense of the...more
"And now, O Lord, my God, Thou hast made Thy servant ruler over the people. Give unto him an understanding heart that he may know how to go out and come in before this great people; that he may discern between good and bad..."
"My thoughts and my meditations are with you, though personally absent; and my petitions to Heaven are that the things which make for peace may not be hidden from your eyes. My feelings are not those of pride or ostentation. They are solemnized by a sense of the...more
I always love getting a little truth and history with my novels, and this one doesn't disappoint. Learn more about John and Abigail Adams and discover that behind very successful man, there is a woman who loves him.
I loved this book. Cannot imagine living the life of Abigail. She was John's backbone, who would have known? This book started me reading many more about the American Revolution and the founding of our country.
Another great one from Irving Stone. I like his pro-American, pro-founding father, but honest, take on history. I learned so much about the American Revolution and the birth of the country. Felt like I was there!
What an incredible couple Abigail and John Adams were. They were both patriots. She enabled him to be the great thinker he was. She was his equal in so many ways. I loved that this was written from her point of view.
First - this book is not a light read. It is a little dense, but I really loved learning so much about our founding as a nation and the people who made it happen. I learned so much that I never learned in school and it really made the time period come alive for me. I also realized, so many time, while reading this book that the founding of our nation seemed impossible and very tenuous most of the time. We can't expect other nations to get things right quickly - we still had a country fighting it...more
Quite possibly my very favorite Irving Stone book. If anyone enjoyed the John Adams series on TV, then this book will be a joy because it provides a far more vivid portrayal of the man and Abigail.
So well written and so real. This book gave a fascinating view of what is was like to live around the time of America's independence from the Adams' point of view. History is given life.
I read this one last year, and it was just ok. If I was married to John Adams I would have ditched him, but that's not Irving's fault. Not one of his best stories.
A very good and informational book of such an important couple in the early history of our country. A very good book to cozy up with on cold winter evenings.
A biographical novel of Abigail Smith and John Adams. Set in the 18th Century creates the drama filled years when America broke away from Britain.
Awesome historical "fiction" about John & Abigail Adams- based largely on all of their letters to each other. What an amazing relationship they had!
A Beautiful biographical novel of John and Abigail Adams. It's worth a re-read, especially after studying David McCullough's John Adams.
I was introduced to Irving Stone by my Mother-in-law and fell in love with his writing. This is a biographical novel of Abigail and John Adams.
I loved this book. It gave me so many insights into the Revolutionary times and to the love between John and Abigail Adams. She was amazing!
The story of John and Abigail Adams. Stone did a beautiful job illustrating the time period and the relationship of John and Abigail.
Dearly love this book. I have been in every one of Abigail Adam's home. Important influential woman in the forming of this country
Came across an old copy from an old library and this was a great surprise! Excellent view of US history through the eyes of Abigail Adams.
This book really was fantastic. I give it a reluctant 4 stars, probably because my reading of it was pretty broken up. The story itself is too amazing to give less stars, but sometimes the writing bothered me. I know, who am I to critique Irving Stone?, but I felt several times like he would share totally irrelevant historical details, or rather he didn't find a great way to make them relevant to the immediate story line. In that way, the flow was even more broken up for me. But I LOVED learning...more
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In 1923, Stone received his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley. In the 1960s, Stone received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Southern California, where he had previously earned a Masters Degree from the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences.
When at home, Stone relied upon the research facilities and expertise made available to him by Esther Euler...more
More about Irving Stone...
When at home, Stone relied upon the research facilities and expertise made available to him by Esther Euler...more
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“Guilty, Your Honor, but only of minor transgressions. My motto is, 'Let no girl, no gun, no cards, no violins, no dress, no tobacco, no laziness keep you from your books.”
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