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The Inheritance of Beauty

by Nicole A. Seitz (Goodreads Author)

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 162 ratings · 50 reviews

Beauty, like truth, is enduring. But only one can set you free.

MAGGIE BLACK CAME OF AGE in the lush, fragrant lowcountry of South Carolina--spending her days with her beloved brother and the boy she would grow up to marry. But when a stranger arrived one summer, Maggie couldn't imagine the evil he would bring with him. And though she escaped with her life, the ramification...more

Paperback, 307 pages

Published February 8th 2011 by Thomas Nelson Publishers (first published 2011)

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Sep 09, 2011 Rosanne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well Nicole Seitz has done it again and written a novel that I absolutely love. The Inheritance of Beauty is about lifetime friends who are facing aging and death but with secrets. George and Magnolia are living in a nursing home. She is wheelchair bound and unable to speak; he is ill but fighting still to protect Magnolia his wife and the love of his life. They were children together in a very small town in the South, Levy.

Magnolia and her brother Ash watch the train pull in one day. The train...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 11, 2011 Carole rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was kind of different somehow. The time kept switching back and forth between past and present, which I've run into in a number of books. The "voice" also switches back and forth between this couple, another older man who arrives at the center, and their warm-hearted black caretaker. There is also a deceased person who is the narrator sometimes. It's all labeled as far as time and who is currently narrating, so I didn't find that confusing. The present is set in an assisted living cent...more

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Jan 29, 2011 Carly rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have always had affection for novels that are set in the South, especially those set in the South Carolina low country. It is the perfect backdrop for a story like The Inheritance of Beauty. Despite the beauty and serenity of the setting and the seemingly peaceful childhood of Maggie and George, darkness is a constant in their lives. They come face to face with that darkness many years later and must finally deal with it.

This story goes back and forth from the 1920s to present day with letter...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Trudy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Seventy five percent of this book was great. It's all about the interactions of four young people in North Carolina in 1929. Then, the author presents these same people as 90 year old residents in an assisted living situation. First the good. I think the author did a marvelous job of expressing the thoughts of elderly people. Because I have a parent in a nursing home, I spend a lot of time interacting with the residents. One thing is very clear to me. If you look beyond all of the wheel chairs,...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 08, 2011 Jenny O. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: The Inheritance of Beauty

Author: Nicole Seitz

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

320 pages

As a granddaughter of a man with advanced Alzheimer's, I've sat across the table from him many times and been crushed by the visage of a back bent with age, eyes cloudy with cataracts, and hands trembling from over-exertion. My grandfather was a legend in his own right, dashingly handsome and charismatic beyond measure. And sadly, I only saw sparse vestiges of this throughout my lifetime. I've relied mostly on...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 31, 2011 Melanie Coombes rated it 4 of 5 stars

George Jacobs and his childhood sweetheart Maggie, along with her brother Ash, were just kids living in small-town Levy, SC, when the train brought a magician and Joe Stackhouse into town. What happens next changes all of their lives forever. Eighty years later, George and Maggie are spending their remaining days in a nursing home. After a mysterious package arrives, followed by a new resident at the nursing home whose identity haunts them, Maggie and George are forced to remember a past they'd...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Camille rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: abandoned, 1-star

I got a free copy of this from Book Sneeze to review. I am under no obligation to write a positive review, just an honest one.

Most of the books I have received from Book Sneeze have been positive experiences for me. The Inheritance of Beauty however, was not.

I tried and tried to like the book. I kept reading more and more no matter how much I couldn't get into it, and I just could never connect with the story.

The story is about Maggie and her husband George and an evil that arrived in their town...more

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Mar 11, 2011 Kara Hunt rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Inheritance of Beauty by Nicole Seitz is an enchanting tale of true love, growing loss, forgiveness and memories of long ago. Memories which stem from four childhood friends, two of whom are siblings, whose lives were forever changed by one man in the lowcountry of South Carolina.

Ash and Magnolia Black, brother and sister grew up in the lush countrylands of 1929 Levy, South Carolina with their friend George Jacobs. Soon after, they were briefly joined by childhood genius Joe Stackhouse, a y...more The Inheritance of Beauty by Nicole Seitz is an enchanting tale of true love, growing loss, forgiveness and memories of long ago. Memories which stem from four childhood friends, two of whom are siblings, whose lives were forever changed by one man in the lowcountry of South Carolina.

Ash and Magnolia Black, brother and sister grew up in the lush countrylands of 1929 Levy, South Carolina with their friend George Jacobs. Soon after, they were briefly joined by childhood genius Joe Stackhouse, a young boy not originally from Levy but whose short stay with his “magician father” turned the small but quaint town into a show of horrors for the four children.

The story is told from the different point of views of the main characters. It is now eighty years later and they now reside in Harmony House, an assisted living facility. The reader is then taken on a journey back to a fateful day in 1929 Levy, SC. Magnolia, lovingly known as Maggie, has since married her childhood sweetheart George. They are later reunited with their long lost and brilliant friend, Joe. But the golden years have not been kind to either Maggie or Joe as they both suffer from the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s.

The heartbreaking journey back to 1929 Levy starts with a life sized portrait of Maggie being mysteriously delivered to Harmony House followed by a host of letters written by someone who knew them long, long ago. George reluctantly embraces the fact that the time has come for him to accept the reality of what happened that awful day. Unable to make peace, he increasingly becomes anxious and uneasy as he continues to read the letters and decides that a trip back to where it all started eighty years ago, is long overdue. And he takes Maggie and Joe back with him.

The Inheritance of Beauty simply deserves nothing less than five stars from this reviewer. Reading about what happened from the point of views of so many characters if not done right, can become quite confusing, but Mrs. Seitz was able to do this seamlessly. It was a true delight to read the pages of this book that also offered deep insights into what may be going through the mind of an Alzheimer’s patient as they endure the slow emptying of a lifetime of memories. The love that George shows for his wife as they both suffer various physical and mental ailments comes through the pages and straight to your heart.

Highly recommended. This is a book you do not want to miss.
(less)

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Dec 12, 2012 Amy marked it as to-read

I really, really liked this one. It was sad and heartbreaking at times, but with redemption and closure that made it all the more beautiful. I'll definitely be reading more from Nicole Seitz.

1 like · like · see review

May 05, 2011 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book tells about a time near the end of the lives of these folk and the climax is a little supernatural. I enjoyed the book and until is was about half over, I wouldn't have classified it as Christian fiction, except for the publisher. The second half gets more religious, but the supernatural elements are those generally seen in Christian fiction. I don't know what else to say about the book without giving the story away, but again, it was a heartwarming good story. Grade: B

I'd like to than...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Beth marked it as to-read-eventually

Shelves: wishlist, cf-to-read

Wow, I almost bought this novel this weekend! It sounds beautiful! One way or another, I'll be reading this one.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 17, 2013 Samantha Glasser rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

George and Maggie Jacobs are living in an old folk's home. Maggie cannot speak or control her body due to a stroke, and George wonders if she even recognizes him anymore. His loneliness causes him to reflect on their past, especially when they were children in a town called Levy. These reminisces are enhanced by a new man at the home. George hasn't seen Joe since he was ten years old, about eighty-years ago. Seeing that face recalls secrets he forgot about long ago.

This book is a quick read. The...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 08, 2011 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cultural, current_issues, mystery, relationships

Maggie and George are living out their declining years in the peace of Harmony House, ably cared for by the wonderful Annie who is quite sure, despite Maggie’s seeming distance, that the silent woman in the wheelchair is “still there.” George just wishes his wife would sometimes recognize him. And the stranger, Joe, who arrives one summer, seems to have no wishes at all.

Nicole Seitz portrays these characters wonderfully in her novel, The Inheritance of Beauty. Beautiful Maggie slips seamlessly f...more

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May 09, 2011 Cheeyee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, christian-fiction, romance, 2011

At the age of 92 and 90, George and Maggie Jacobs are spending the rest of their days at Harmony House nursing home in South Caroline. Since the last time Maggie attacked by the stroke, she hardly talk to anyone. George and Maggie have known each other from birth and have been growing up together, with Maggie's brother, Ash, in Levy. George has been fall in love with Maggie since he was very young and at the age of 92, he still loves his wife very much.

One day, a mysterious package arrives, foll...more

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May 03, 2011 Beth Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-giveaway-first-read

i received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway and I am so happy that I did.

this is the story of a couple living in an old age home...who's lives get shaken up by reminders and memories from the past. a simple package delivered to them starts a journey through history...and opens up a story that you can't even imagine.

as the story unfolded...through letters, flashbacks, and memories...i found myself trying to figure out the mysteries and secrets that each of the characters held inside them fo...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Christy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I feel like any words I say about this book will be so inadequate. It's just that books like this rarely cross my path, maybe because I don't go out of my way to read them. What kind of book is that? Part sadness, part pain, while also moving slowly, but deliberately. Then, when I get my hands on a book like this, it always ends up that I love it or hate it. Hardly does it fall somewhere in between.

The Inheritance of Beauty was a book that definitely fell on the "loved it" side of the equation....more I feel like any words I say about this book will be so inadequate. It's just that books like this rarely cross my path, maybe because I don't go out of my way to read them. What kind of book is that? Part sadness, part pain, while also moving slowly, but deliberately. Then, when I get my hands on a book like this, it always ends up that I love it or hate it. Hardly does it fall somewhere in between.

The Inheritance of Beauty was a book that definitely fell on the "loved it" side of the equation. And even after I've put it down, I still can't put my finger on what captivated me so much about these characters. They're nothing spectacular. Nobody did anything that changed the world. They were just ordinary folk that were not far away from death's door. In my opinion, George was the main character of the story. He was like an open book; I always knew what was going through his mind. At times, he was complacent, other times a bit hateful, but at all times, he loved his sweet wife, Maggie, in a way that caused tears to come to my eyes. At one moment, he said, "I have loved Maggie since before I knew what love was. She is love to me. Without her, there is nothing for me here." Oh, to have a love that pure, that selfless from one person to another. That, indeed, is a most beautiful thing.

As I read more and more novels, I have come to a conclusion about something. Authors should always write about what they know. When I discover that a particular book is loosely based on real life events, I can't seem to put it down. Just knowing that this book was partially based on a photo of the author's grandmother, and how that photo had been a part of the history of her family, made this story so much more real. I felt like I was peaking into a diary, only to discover that their family wasn't much different than my own. We all have skeletons in our closets; it's just a matter of how much or how little we let them shape the rest of our lives.

I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to review this book as I doubt it would have ever crossed my path otherwise. This book had a little bit of a literary flair, which I'm not normally too crazy about, but it worked so well here. I can do nothing but give this book 5 stars, as well as a huge recommendation for people who love deep, and meaningful stories. I know that The Inheritance of Beauty will stay in my mind and heart for days to come, as I'm sure it will for many others.

**Many thanks to Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze program for providing a copy for review.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 13, 2011 Janell rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who enjoyed Fried Green Tomatoes or historical southern fiction.

I read The Inheritance of Beauty in two sittings. The story drew me in with its historic South Carolina Lowcountry embrace and wouldn't let me go until I emerged, both smiling and tearful, at the end of the story. "Inheritance" is reminiscent of Fried Green Tomatoes - high praise from me, as "Tomatoes" is one of my all-time favorite and beloved books.

I can't wait to discover more books from Nicole Seitz. I have a feeling I'll enjoy her other books every bit as much as this one (at least, I hope...more

1 like · like · see review

May 11, 2011 Kristina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, read-in-2011, giveaways

I received this novel through a Goodreads Giveaway. I'm happy that I got the chance to read it and now review it. I found this novel to be very intriguing. The story was interesting and the characters were likable; my favorite characters were Annie and Miss Maple. They had that Southern charm about them that was just so lovable. The only drawbacks, for me, was that this book was more interesting during the first half than the second. For the first half, I was excited to read and was very anxious...more

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May 09, 2011 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book stole my heart. Recently my mother passed away at age 89 and she spent several years in a secure, loving environment of a nursing home, I could readily identify with these endearing characters.
a story of love, true love an enduring love that captures your heart as well. Nicole Seitz has really nailed how the aged think, how precious memories are and how childhood friendships are always remembered.

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May 25, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Seitz and I really enjoyed her writing style. Many times when authors jump from present day to the past and back again, plus between characters telling their story, it can be stilted and not cohesive. This book goes back and forth in a very smooth, intense way. The story gives voice to the elderly in nursing homes and even those with dementia/alzhemiers in a beautiful way.

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Aug 20, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club

Captivating though sometimes unrealistic that all the people would come back together, but stranger things do happen in real life.

Of course, love a novel that tells the story from different viewpoints (i.e. Jodi Picoult).

Author did a great job of going from the past to present without confusing the reader.

The aging process is difficult no matter what version you get - good reminder that the elderly are still people and with luck, we will be there some day.

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Oct 22, 2011 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

An interesting story, I actually picked this up in Large Print to preview it to see if our older patrons would like it. It's very well done, but can sometimes be confusing as the story jumps back and forth between present and past among the various characters.

Still, if you can maintain focus, the story is a good one.

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Feb 25, 2011 Amber rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a really nice book. I liked the characters. I wanted to read more all the time. I love a book that will engage me like this, but it lost a star in my rating because I was disappointed in the ending...somehow it was just lame. But still a good book!

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Jun 16, 2011 Paula rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would really rate this book as a 3 1/2 stars if possible. I think the author did an excellent job of portraying the reality of an aging body housing the mind and spirit of who that person was and still is.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 09, 2012 Lori rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was so excited to have all of the past explained in this book that I found myself speed reading through the present day portions. I was terribly disappointed in the ending, however.

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Jun 14, 2011 Shruti rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book in the First Reads giveaways. I selected it because it sounded interesting. I guess it was, but it was also just not that impressive. It felt like an inadequate melding of The Notebook and maybe Bloodroot (but I'm not 100% sure that the latter is what I'm thinking of). It had a lot of potential, but I just couldn't really get into it. While the exact details may not have been predictable, the major plot elements certainly were.

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May 01, 2011 Michelle Vasquez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fabulous novel! Please read my full review here:

http://lifeinreviewblog.wordpress.com...

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Mar 03, 2011 Dawn rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting novel. I enjoyed the concept of beginning the story at the end of these characters lives. They are all old, forgetful and dying -aren't we all - but they are connected from childhood. This story weaves their childhood into their current lives and manages to tell a warm story of love, family and forgiveness.Not something I would generally pick up, yet I am glad I had the opportunity to read this.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 14, 2011 Tonya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

As a sucker for stories set in the south, this one hit it's mark! What's more, it is full of wonderful people and no filthy language! BONUS! We go back and forth between past and present, between George, Maggie, Ash and Joe all coming to find out what happened and why Ash and Joe left -

I don't want to ruin it for anyone so I am not going to say much, but I anticipated much from this book and wasn't disappointed in the least. If you are looking for a light and fluffy book, this won't be it, it go...more

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May 15, 2011 Manda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think that Seitz is a very talented writer, and I enjoyed reading her work. However, the story told in this book didn't reach me in quite the way I was hoping. I was left with a lot of unanswered questions by the end. I think that this would be a good book for a discussion group, though, since much of this book raises questions about aging, love, the choices we make, how the sins of fathers are revisited on sons, and how vicious cycles can be broken within families.

This copy was provided to me...more

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About Nicole A. Seitz

Nicole Seitz is a South Carolina Lowcountry native and the author of five critically acclaimed novels. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism, she also has a bachelor's degree in illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Nicole is a speaker on writing, art, and faith; she's an exhibiting painter and has illustrated the covers for her nove...more

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Quotes from The Inheritance of Beauty

“There are some things I guess we bury so we can get on with living. I don't think it's wrong, necessarily, just what we do to survive. It's the remembering part that's hard. Some people remember and some never have to. The blessed and the cursed.” — 5 people liked it

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