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Disclaimer: I checked this book out from the library to read to give it an honest opinion!
The Dressmaker
Author: Kate Alcott
Hardcover
306 Pages
February 21, 2012
Publisher: Doubleday
Overview
Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic's doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.
Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky.
On dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on the Titanic.
My Take
Sorry but this book is not a young adult book! It is geared more towards regular fiction! I have been wanting to read this book for a long time. Every time I'm out shopping I see this book and was so tempted to buy it. I ended up checking it out from my library instead. I'm also a sucker for Titanic stories.
Anyways I liked the book and story quite a bit. The characters in this book are strong. All of them have their strong and weak points. For instance the main character Tess is set off for her own dreams and tries to go after them no matter what. She does not want to clean floors and be a personal servant. She wants to create her own clothes and be successful in that. I admired her for taking this path. She's the type of gal that has her head on her shoulders at time but it takes her a while to see that not everyone is good. Tess is also a believable character in this book compared to some others!
Tess ends up with Lady Duff Gordon on the ship of Titanic as it goes okay. Tess really is not really maid material and wishes to be a dressmaker. She goes on an adventure with Lady Duff through the good and bad. She gets to see how the ship with the different classes. While on Titanic, she meets two different men which are interesting to see. She goes through quite a bit and at the end I think she made the right choice.
The sinking of the ship happens and emotions are thrown everywhere. I can only imagine the state of mind of everyone. Everyone is trying to survive and do what you have to do to make it. Some sacrifice and others do not. It's part of nature to be that way I think. To those who survived would have to live with what they saw and did. Some may cope differently than others.
Once everyone arrives to New York you get a feel of what the time period was like. For women and lower class, it was not easy but there was hope. Fashion was also shown in this book and how things were done back then. I think it was grew tho see all these things so you can get a better feel of what it was like.
A few other characters are strong in this book is Pinky, who's a writer. To be a writer in during the times of Titanic is challenging. She keep plugging away at each story she can get with determination! She then covers the trials of the Titanic as she meets Tess and a few others. She eventually becomes friends with Tess. Both of them bump heads at times but in the long run they know they meant well. I love the relationship Pinky has with Tess.
There is a love triangle that sprouts out in this book with Tess and two gentlemen. It's rather interesting to see. Who does Tess choose? I was rooting for the one that she picked! You'll have to read to find out who it was.
If you like historical fiction books, then go grab this one today. You won't regret reading it. I know I don't!
Story: B
Cover: A
Good Reads
Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Time Traveling Fashionista 1
Author: Bianca Turetsky
Pages:262
Published: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Poppy
Overview
What if a beautiful vintage dress could take you back in time?
Louise Lambert has always dreamed of movie starlets and exquisite gowns and longs for the day when she can fill the closet of her normal suburban home with stylish treasures. But when she receives a mysterious invitation to a vintage fashion sale in the mail, her once painfully average life is magically transformed into a time-travel adventure.
Suddenly onboard a luxurious cruise ship a hundred years ago, Louise relishes the glamorous life of this opulent era and slips into a life of secrets, drama, and decadence. . .
My Take
I saw this book in the store one day. Honestly the pink cover caught my attention and I just had to have it. Time traveling by fashion? That is awesome. Of course this book is geared towards 5th-8th graders but the story itself is great! I love the whole book and the themes that are in this book.
Louise Lambert craves for vintage fashion. She can't get enough of it considering she's only twelve years old in the book. So one day she gets an invitation to this vintage fashion sale. She could not resist this. She had to go and off she went! She is on a mission to find a dress for the dress that is coming up.
Off to the store she goes. She ends up meeting these two strange ladies in the shop. While Louise browse the shop, she finds a stunning dress that just calls to her. The two older ladies encourage her to try it on. Loving the dress, Louise eventually gets shipped back in time on a ship! At first she did now know where she was and who she was. But somehow she figures it out and learns she was on the Titanic! She needs to figure out how to save herself and those she's met on the ship? Can she do it?
This was such a fun read and quick too! I love how the author brought these pages to life by the story and illustrations of the gowns and events that were going on. I am also a fan of Titanic stories. So I was glad to make this purchase! The character Louise is a likable, fun and adorable character. One would be happy to go on her journey with her.
The Time Traveling Fashionista at the Palace of Marie Antoinette
Author: Bianca Turetsky
Hardcover
Pages: 272
Published: September 2012
Publisher: Poppy
Overview
Louise Lambert's best friend's thirteenth birthday party is fast approaching, so of course the most important question on her mind is, "What am I going to wear?!" Slipping on an exquisite robin's egg blue gown during another visit to the mysterious Traveling Fashionista Vintage Sale, Louise finds herself back in time once again, swept up in the glory of palace life, fancy parties, and enormous hair as a member of the court of France's most infamous queen, Marie Antoinette.
But between cute commoner boys and glamorous trips to Paris, life in the palace isn't all cake and couture. Can Louise keep her cool-and her head!-as she races against the clock to get home?
My Take:
Louise Lambert shows up again. She is another year older and learns that her father is out of a job and her class trip to France is cancelled due to financial woes. She was feeling a bit bummed out now. Even to make matters worse the one boy she likes seems to like a new student.
The one thing that cheers her up is that she received an invitation for another vintage fashion sale by the two strange ladies that she met from the last book who's names are Marla and Glenda. She arrives to the shop as she glances around checking out the dresses while Marla and Glenda are strange as usual. She somehow finds a stunning blue French gown tucked away. She was tempted to try it on but it wasn't what the owners wanted her to slip on. She transformed back in tome to the world of Marie Antoinette court with politics and drama!
Louise finds herself in shock and sees France for its truth in wealth and poor. She remembers if what her history teacher told of her the events that happen to Marie and tries to fix it. She does her best but somehow realizes she needs to get herself back before the revolt starts. I love how Louise learns about herself again in this journey, how rich history really is and how history can even reflect on your own home.
Another fun and quick read! The illustrations are stunning as usual! I love these series. The pace and history details in this book and previous book is just amazing. I look forward to more from this author! Book three I think will be in the works considering Louise may have a new crush!
Go pick up these series today...great reads, great fun!
Stories Ratings: A
Cover Ratings: A
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Fateful by Claudia Gray
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher
Publication Date: 9/13/2011
Pages: 336
Overview:
Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.
Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .
Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.
My Take
So I bought this book because it was related to Titanic and for some reason any Titanic stories catch my attention quite easily. The cover of the book that I have is the blue one. I posted both cover styles because they are both amazing. Anyways, I barely even saw the review that this book had werewolves in it until I actually read the book. That's a first for me not to see the supernatural elements in the book until I read it and it was fun! I actually read this book in one day, I just could not put it down.
The beginning of book caught my attention right away with Tess! I love how the book revolves around Tess's adventure on the Titanic as a servant and woman. I could empathize with her and how her reactions were realistic. Of course, Tess finds out that Alec is a werewolf and somehow feels naturally bonded to him. Love blossoms between Alec and Tess considering Alec is wealthy class and Tess isn't. Will it survive? They both go through stages of adventures of good and bad.
Other than Alec fighting to be a werewolf, Mikhail who is from the Brotherhood wants Alec to turn to the dark side of being a werewolf which is one of the stages that Alec goes through in the book. Mikhail also threatens Tess as well. This is the one of the dark aspects in the book other than knowing that the ship will sink. I love that there are supernatural elements aboard the Titanic!
The book mainly focuses on Tess and Alec but other characters come into play! Myriam who's Tess's bunkmate plays a nice character as well as George who fancies Myriam and works for the Titanic. Then there are Alec's father, the Lisle's and Ned. All the characters in the book are compelling and powerful!
As you know the Titanic sinks, but it is interesting to see who lives or dies! Another fantastic read! Pick it up today and you won't be sorry you read it.
Cover Rating: A
Story Rating: A
