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heather_leighbros's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I picked this book up for its beautiful cover! But I found an impeccably written book that had me simultaneously in awe and upset of a different time. This book truly captured wanting to be fully yourself despite it being at odds with societal norms and the havoc that it can wreck on mental health. I am left feeling inspired and more knowledgeable about an area I wouldn’t have known much at all about!
solivagant88's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This fictional account of Alma Mahler's life was an emotional rollercoaster. Although a longer read at 400 pages, Sharratt pulled me through ecstatic highs and painfully lonely lows.
It's crazy to think she only lived a hundred years ago. Sharratt writes so convincingly to describe the box that Alma has to conform herself into, it made me so angry. She squashes her own vivacity and sacrifices emotional needs to be with Gustav. As a woman, the only way she can keep her femininity and dignity is to give up her dreams and chase greatness only through proximity to a man.
Would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, music, and emotional reads. I'm docking a star because although Alma and Gustav are portrayed relatively well as complex and dynamic characters, the positive feelings didn't balance out enough with the negative.
It's crazy to think she only lived a hundred years ago. Sharratt writes so convincingly to describe the box that Alma has to conform herself into, it made me so angry. She squashes her own vivacity and sacrifices emotional needs to be with Gustav. As a woman, the only way she can keep her femininity and dignity is to give up her dreams and chase greatness only through proximity to a man.
Would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, music, and emotional reads. I'm docking a star because although Alma and Gustav are portrayed relatively well as complex and dynamic characters, the positive feelings didn't balance out enough with the negative.
jdsmithson's review
1.0
God I hated this book. I needed to read an historic fiction for a class and this is what I chose. Had I the option, I'd would have stopped reading a quarter of the way through. Alma is a horrible cliche of everything hateful that is female.
arachnophobia's review
4.25
Great but hella depressing. Loved how complex the sexism and relationship dynamics were. Loved how the writing went from in the moment conversations to reflective to overview of time passing. Good balance of that.
kittykornerlibrarian's review
4.0
Historical fiction set in Vienna? Sign me up! This is the story of Alma Mahler that starts when she is a young woman studying performance and composition in Fin-de-Siecle Vienna. Alma is intense, talented, and romantic, and these attributes shape her life as she makes sense of her place in the world. She writes innovative music, is a prominent figure in Viennese artistic society, and has many tempestuous love affairs and marriages with men of high stature. This was lush and romantic. I loved it.
halkid2's review
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The fascinating story of Alma Schindler Mahler Gropius Werfel. Awarded four stars on Goodreads.
I first learned about Alma as a child when I heard Tom Lehrer’s satirical ditty, Alma. I learned that this captivating Viennese woman was famous for marrying three brilliant and artistic giants of the 20th century [composer Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), architect Walter Gropius (1883-1969), author Franz Werfel (1890-1945)]. What I did NOT learn until reading THIS book, was that Alma was the daughter of artist Emil Jakob Schindler (1842-1892), grew up amid artitist of the Viennese Secession movement, and was also a talented composer in her own right. At least she was until she was forced to set aside her own aspirations at the insistence of husband Gustav Mahler, an already established composer 20+ years her senior. It seems Mahler (and his monumental ego) insisted Alma be 100% dedicated to looking after him, with no other distractions!
Getting to know Alma by reading ECSTASY was a revelation. As author Mary Sharratt acknowledges in her Historical Afterword, Alma is no easy subject for historical fiction. As a woman possessed with talent, ambition, confidence, and beauty — she was simply born at the wrong time. Mahler’s expectation that, as his wife, Alma would subsume her own desires to promote his was the norm for this era. Which means her contemporaries often write about her as some kind of seductress, harlot or unnatural man-eater.
But even under these limitations inherent in primary research materials, Sharratt succeeds in revealing Alma’s psyche, believably portraying her as a smart and gifted musician whose talent was squelched for many years by a sexist society. Sharratt’s Alma is a woman who could not be completely fulfilled through the traditional roles of wife and mother and instead yearned for her own artistic expression, professional success, and love with someone who considered her an equal, rather than subservient. A woman who is continually questioning herself.
ECSTASY covers Alma’s life from childhood until her second marriage. It’s a wonderful book to read from a 21st century feminist perspective. And I hope that one day Mary Sharratt decides to continue Alma’s story in a sequel.
I first learned about Alma as a child when I heard Tom Lehrer’s satirical ditty, Alma. I learned that this captivating Viennese woman was famous for marrying three brilliant and artistic giants of the 20th century [composer Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), architect Walter Gropius (1883-1969), author Franz Werfel (1890-1945)]. What I did NOT learn until reading THIS book, was that Alma was the daughter of artist Emil Jakob Schindler (1842-1892), grew up amid artitist of the Viennese Secession movement, and was also a talented composer in her own right. At least she was until she was forced to set aside her own aspirations at the insistence of husband Gustav Mahler, an already established composer 20+ years her senior. It seems Mahler (and his monumental ego) insisted Alma be 100% dedicated to looking after him, with no other distractions!
Getting to know Alma by reading ECSTASY was a revelation. As author Mary Sharratt acknowledges in her Historical Afterword, Alma is no easy subject for historical fiction. As a woman possessed with talent, ambition, confidence, and beauty — she was simply born at the wrong time. Mahler’s expectation that, as his wife, Alma would subsume her own desires to promote his was the norm for this era. Which means her contemporaries often write about her as some kind of seductress, harlot or unnatural man-eater.
But even under these limitations inherent in primary research materials, Sharratt succeeds in revealing Alma’s psyche, believably portraying her as a smart and gifted musician whose talent was squelched for many years by a sexist society. Sharratt’s Alma is a woman who could not be completely fulfilled through the traditional roles of wife and mother and instead yearned for her own artistic expression, professional success, and love with someone who considered her an equal, rather than subservient. A woman who is continually questioning herself.
ECSTASY covers Alma’s life from childhood until her second marriage. It’s a wonderful book to read from a 21st century feminist perspective. And I hope that one day Mary Sharratt decides to continue Alma’s story in a sequel.
kayu99's review
3.0
I enjoyed reading about Alma Schindler; I hadn't known that she was also a composer. The portrayal of Gustav Mahler and his music was also well done. I do wish that the novel could have covered more of Alma's life after Mahler's death to reinforce the idea that she is her own woman. At times, the writing style was a bit overdone.
emilyanderson2022's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
mayaet's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A historical fiction about a young girl named Alma Schindler, this novel explores her life and marriage to Gustav Mahler. Forced to sacrifice her own dreams in order to appease her husband.
I enjoyed how morally gray all characters were, Alma was a fascinating and enjoyable protagonist, however of course the star of this book has to be the relationship between Alma and Gustav. At one moment I’d hate Gustav and the next I’d be tearing up, the author really allows the reader to understand Alma’s own inner conflict between loving such a genius yet difficult man and what she had to forfeit.
Initially I assumed going into this book that Mahler would just be a typical evil older man, preying on a young girl’s innocence and naïveté. But as their marriage progresses and both age, it was interesting to read how their dynamics changed. Especially at the end.
Throughout the book it does get a bit boring especially when they travel to New York. There are times where I feel like Alma is a broken record player parroting the same thoughts over and over again.
I was really surprised at the many sad moments in this book and how well they were written. What shocked me the most was how the ending made me feel. The Last few chapters raised this book from a 3.5 to a 3.75 rating.
I also liked how Alma’s relationship with her mother and sister changes through the novel. And as Alma begins to experience motherhood and marriage it was really impactful how it changed her perspective on certain characters (the females in her life) and how it allowed her to better bond with them.
It was very evident how Alma changes as the years progress, she was a dynamic character and it was really intense reading this novel.
I enjoyed how morally gray all characters were, Alma was a fascinating and enjoyable protagonist, however of course the star of this book has to be the relationship between Alma and Gustav. At one moment I’d hate Gustav and the next I’d be tearing up, the author really allows the reader to understand Alma’s own inner conflict between loving such a genius yet difficult man and what she had to forfeit.
Initially I assumed going into this book that Mahler would just be a typical evil older man, preying on a young girl’s innocence and naïveté. But as their marriage progresses and both age, it was interesting to read how their dynamics changed. Especially at the end.
Throughout the book it does get a bit boring especially when they travel to New York. There are times where I feel like Alma is a broken record player parroting the same thoughts over and over again.
I was really surprised at the many sad moments in this book and how well they were written. What shocked me the most was how the ending made me feel. The Last few chapters raised this book from a 3.5 to a 3.75 rating.
I also liked how Alma’s relationship with her mother and sister changes through the novel. And as Alma begins to experience motherhood and marriage it was really impactful how it changed her perspective on certain characters (the females in her life) and how it allowed her to better bond with them.
It was very evident how Alma changes as the years progress, she was a dynamic character and it was really intense reading this novel.
kbaj's review
4.0
I read Mary Sharratt's Illuminations before picking up this one, and I have to say I'm disappointed. It wasn't bad, but I just didn't like the main character. She was almost never happy with her life (understandably so, honestly), and that made it difficult to enjoy the story. And she constantly looked down on other women, except for those who were unmarried artists. There was no climax to the plot, at least none that stood out to me, and I felt that the story plodded along at times. Just not as gripping as Sharratt's other work!