Michelle’s review of The Académie > Likes and Comments

YES. I agree on all counts. The biggest negative for me was how contrived Eliza's complete turnabout was--I didn't find it realistic that she would just suddenly change her tune after just a few interactions with Madeleine. Every person did not treat their servants the same way so surely she must've seen some people treat others with kindness at some point in her life. She had to know it was cruel and inappropriate beforehand, didn't she?

I also googled Eliza Monroe after the fact and read what Dunlap wrote about in the acknowledgments. I appreciate the characters and the history there but I wish she hadn't made some people to be much better versions of themselves than they probably were. Why invent an abolitionist history for Eliza where there was none in recorded history? For all we know, she could've felt the complete opposite. The history on her paints her as a haughty woman.

Flannery wrote: "Why invent an abolitionist history for Eliza where there was none in recorded history?"

Exactly! I find that to be highly unlikely considering how conflicting President Monroe's own actions and professed beliefs were, and with nothing about Eliza's stance on slavery on record at all. (I would assume that if she had had any sort of abolitionist tendencies, surly it would have been written about - that which is uncommon is usually more noteworthy.) Also, it doesn't bode well for her being a kind person when the best historical fact Dunlap could find on her was that while her father was in office - no campaigning there! - she helped nurse some (ostensibly white) people during a fever outbreak where she was living and, therefore, already exposed.

(view spoiler)[I hated the ending she had for Madeleine, the only character that was completely fictional and, as a result, actually able to have something better! Also, what about Armand de Valmont? Dunlap ends the book in such a way that implies he is a part of Eliza's future, but I can't find ANYTHING about him online, leading me to believe he was completely fictional. But why not say that in the afterward, as she did about Madeleine and her mother?! (hide spoiler)]

This is why I have a love/hate relationship with historical fiction.

I just realized I never responded to your second comment, but I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that I agree:) I'm trying to come up with my review for the blog tomorrow and I keep thinking that I wish I hadn't read your review because you brought up so many wonderful points.

Flannery wrote: "I just realized I never responded to your second comment, but I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that I agree:) I'm trying to come up with my review for the blog tomorrow and I keep thinking t..."

Thank you! I consider that very high praise. (And I know the exact feeling. I used to read a lot of reviews as a reader only. However, I am starting to just glance at the star ratings and reading the books before reviews now that I blog. So many of you guys write such excellent reviews I am concerned that I will inadvertently steal intellectual property. After all, once something has been pointed out with which you agree, it is hard to ignore it in a review of your own!)