Synopsis
Growing up on idyllic St. Thomas in the early 1800s, Rachel dreams of life in faraway Paris. Rachel's mother, a pillar of their small refugee community of Jews who escaped the Inquisition, has never forgiven her daughter for being a difficult girl who refuses to live by the rules. Growing up, Rachel's salvation is their maid Adelle's belief in her strengths, and her deep, life-long friendship with Jestine, Adelle's daughter. But Rachel's life is not her own. She is married off to a widower with three children to save her father's business. When her husband dies suddenly and his handsome, much younger nephew, Fréderick, arrives from France to settle the estate, Rachel seizes her own life story, beginning a defiant, passionate love affair that sparks a scandal that affects all of her family, including her favorite son, who will become one of the greatest artists of France.
Building on the triumphs of The Dovekeepers and The Museum of Extraordinary Things, set in a world of almost unimaginable beauty, The Marriage of Opposites showcases the beloved, bestselling Alice Hoffman at the height of her considerable powers. Once forgotten to history, the marriage of Rachel and Fréderick is a story that is as unforgettable as it is remarkable.
My Review
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Platypires for The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
This was my book club book for April and I'm glad it was chosen. The writing was so vivid that I felt like I traveled back in time. Alice Hoffman knows how to bring history to life.
My biggest complaint is that I felt this book was a tad too long. At first it was very hard to get into and it felt like the story dragged. I actually thought I got a dull book and Other was going to have to force myself to finish. Fortunately, the book picked up and I really started to enjoy it.
Overall, I'm glad I got to read this book and I learned so much of history during that time period. I highly recommend this book.
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