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chelsayoder's review against another edition
2.0
Eh. I found that I really didn't like a single character. And when that's the case, it's hard to enjoy a book.
I do appreciate the history that was woven into the book. Sparked my interest a bit in Mark Twain. That's about it.
I do appreciate the history that was woven into the book. Sparked my interest a bit in Mark Twain. That's about it.
angelamichelle's review against another edition
3.0
About the infatuation between Mark twain and his secretary.
carabee's review against another edition
4.0
I fall into the category of those interested but not terribly well-versed in history. I tend to lose patience quickly with books that are too nostalgic and non-critical of history, but, despite wanting to be told a new story about something old, I want the whole adventure to be firmly grounded in a trail of facts. A borderline ridiculous set of standards, and yet TWAIN'S END managed to delight and surprise me by meeting them all. Lynn Cullen captures the mystery and magic of Mark Twain while showing the high price Samuel Clemens paid to create him. She creates a believable basis for Isabel's Lyon's loyalty as well as Clara Clemens' heightened fear of betrayal. TWAIN"S END creates a world of complex characters, decorated with the hats, horses, steam engines, and architecture of the time period. I feared at first that I wouldn't enjoy this book without knowing much about Mark Twain or the Clemens family (beyond my obligatory American student's reading of HUCK FINN), but by the end of the book I felt simultaneously that I'd learned a lot and that I'd merely scratched the surface. A great read for anyone looking to escape to another time (without fussy attempts at old timey language).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery for allowing me to read Ms. Cullen's work (MRS. POE will now be added to the long to-read pile) in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery for allowing me to read Ms. Cullen's work (MRS. POE will now be added to the long to-read pile) in exchange for an honest review.
100pagesaday's review against another edition
4.0
Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain was not only an amazing author, but quite the character. Throughout his life he amassed quite a number of admirers, none more than those who were close to him- including many of his female staff. In his later years, Samuel Clemens employed Isabel Lyon as a secretary for his ailing wife. Soon, Isabel became Samuel’s constant companion and his own personal secretary. It does not take much to see that the relationship between the two has grown. However, a year before Samuel’s death, he blesses the marriage of Isabel and Ralph Ashcroft, his business manager only to besmirch their reputations one month later in an elongated written rant.
I love learning more about the lives of authors that I admire. I really didn’t know much about the man behind Mark Twain other than the fact that he piloted a riverboat and that he came in and went out along with Hailey’s comet. Lynn Cullen has taken much of her account for Twain’s End from the diary of Isabel Lyon. The writing creates a tense back and forth, cat and mouse game between Samuel and Isabel. The overall feeling that is created is tense and a little uncomfortable, especially if you would prefer to keep Mark Twain in a positive light. Isabel was quite intriguing, especially as she tried to do her best to keep herself distant from the man she knew she should not get involved with. As she became more and more entwined with the family, this became more and more difficult and eventually led Samuel to believe different about her. One of the things I found most interesting was Samuel’s relationship with his wife and daughters; I really knew nothing about Olivia, Jean, Clara and Susie. Olivia is still a little of a mystery to me, she was ailing through most of her time throughout the book, but no one seemed to know why. However, the mutual love between Samuel and Olivia was still evident even through his indiscretions. One of the most colorful characters for me was Isabel’s mother, always scheming, always putting her nose in other’s business and terribly worried about Isabel’s marriage prospects, a perfect busybody. Overall, a suspenseful, surprising and insightful tale about a different view of one of America’s greatest authors.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I love learning more about the lives of authors that I admire. I really didn’t know much about the man behind Mark Twain other than the fact that he piloted a riverboat and that he came in and went out along with Hailey’s comet. Lynn Cullen has taken much of her account for Twain’s End from the diary of Isabel Lyon. The writing creates a tense back and forth, cat and mouse game between Samuel and Isabel. The overall feeling that is created is tense and a little uncomfortable, especially if you would prefer to keep Mark Twain in a positive light. Isabel was quite intriguing, especially as she tried to do her best to keep herself distant from the man she knew she should not get involved with. As she became more and more entwined with the family, this became more and more difficult and eventually led Samuel to believe different about her. One of the things I found most interesting was Samuel’s relationship with his wife and daughters; I really knew nothing about Olivia, Jean, Clara and Susie. Olivia is still a little of a mystery to me, she was ailing through most of her time throughout the book, but no one seemed to know why. However, the mutual love between Samuel and Olivia was still evident even through his indiscretions. One of the most colorful characters for me was Isabel’s mother, always scheming, always putting her nose in other’s business and terribly worried about Isabel’s marriage prospects, a perfect busybody. Overall, a suspenseful, surprising and insightful tale about a different view of one of America’s greatest authors.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
monkyciti's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a decent read and kept me interested for the most part. I gave it 3 stars because I felt like in places the author droned on and was very wordy. In places it was a bit confusing as well
raeanne's review against another edition
1.0
Basically: UGH NO, SAVE YOURSELF.
Trigger Warning: Manipulative Abusive Asshole
This one I picked up for a review tour. I had to drop out though because the experience was unsavory. I tried, I gave it my best shot but I couldn’t finish it either.
I was interested in Twain’s End because theory on a woman fucked over by Mark Twain sounded great.
Several other low-star/no-star reviews are from people who disagree or are upset with the Mark Twain portrayal. I’m not one of those. I’ve only read his work when I had to in school and his snappy quotes shared all over the internet. So, I honestly don’t care about any of that.
But I will say this portrayal is of a manipulative, abusive asshole, which makes for unpleasant reading.
It’s a jerkward mistreating a fawning sycophant that takes care of anything possible for him. It’s disgusting.
At first, I felt terrible for Isabel. It felt like screaming at a child to avoid the white van spray-painted with “Candy” on the side. She was very young when they first met and the roundabout way they came back together was a trail of “oh no, oh no, oh no no nonooooo”.
Then she’s middle-aged and he’s pushing 70. I don’t give a fig about the age difference, it’s the power structure in place and the reinforcing actions that are sickening. I was warring with myself over feeling pity for her and frustration for her continuation of the situation. I KNOW personally how hard it is to leave abusive men and understand her limited choices, but ughhhhhh.
And the treatment of his daughters? Ugh, just when I thought the sinking feeling in my stomach couldn’t go lower.
I’m surprised I made it to when they got to Italy. There’s no way to stick this out until she leaves and the retribution that follows.
--------------
First Update:: DNF.
Officially giving up on this one. Haven't read another page since Sept. 5th and do not want to.
I'll get round to reviewing it before the end of the year but basically: ugh.
Trigger Warning: Manipulative Abusive Asshole
This one I picked up for a review tour. I had to drop out though because the experience was unsavory. I tried, I gave it my best shot but I couldn’t finish it either.
I was interested in Twain’s End because theory on a woman fucked over by Mark Twain sounded great.
Several other low-star/no-star reviews are from people who disagree or are upset with the Mark Twain portrayal. I’m not one of those. I’ve only read his work when I had to in school and his snappy quotes shared all over the internet. So, I honestly don’t care about any of that.
But I will say this portrayal is of a manipulative, abusive asshole, which makes for unpleasant reading.
It’s a jerkward mistreating a fawning sycophant that takes care of anything possible for him. It’s disgusting.
At first, I felt terrible for Isabel. It felt like screaming at a child to avoid the white van spray-painted with “Candy” on the side. She was very young when they first met and the roundabout way they came back together was a trail of “oh no, oh no, oh no no nonooooo”.
Then she’s middle-aged and he’s pushing 70. I don’t give a fig about the age difference, it’s the power structure in place and the reinforcing actions that are sickening. I was warring with myself over feeling pity for her and frustration for her continuation of the situation. I KNOW personally how hard it is to leave abusive men and understand her limited choices, but ughhhhhh.
And the treatment of his daughters? Ugh, just when I thought the sinking feeling in my stomach couldn’t go lower.
I’m surprised I made it to when they got to Italy. There’s no way to stick this out until she leaves and the retribution that follows.
--------------
First Update:: DNF.
Officially giving up on this one. Haven't read another page since Sept. 5th and do not want to.
I'll get round to reviewing it before the end of the year but basically: ugh.
veuxmourir's review against another edition
2.0
I think I'm the only person here, leaving a negative review, that isn't vehemently defending Mark Twain. Honestly? I have no clue what kind of a person he was. I've never read any of his books; I have no prior attachment to him. So perhaps that's why I care so little about Cullen "disrespecting" him, or whatever the majority of negative reviews are upset about. My low rating is solely based on the book itself, rather than it's controversial subject matter.
It's simple: I just could not understand a 39-year-old woman being attracted to a 70-year-old man. I tried to. Usually, I have no issues sympathizing with characters in books, even if they're doing something I do not personally agree with. But try as I might, I couldn't understand in the least bit. It was gross. So freaking gross. Cullen's Twain was a nasty, old asshole, and there was nothing appealing about him at all.
If the age difference does not sit well with you either, don't even consider this book. It is primarily a romance (just one that doesn't end well), which is something I wish I would have known from the start.
It's simple: I just could not understand a 39-year-old woman being attracted to a 70-year-old man. I tried to. Usually, I have no issues sympathizing with characters in books, even if they're doing something I do not personally agree with. But try as I might, I couldn't understand in the least bit. It was gross. So freaking gross. Cullen's Twain was a nasty, old asshole, and there was nothing appealing about him at all.
If the age difference does not sit well with you either, don't even consider this book. It is primarily a romance (just one that doesn't end well), which is something I wish I would have known from the start.
in2reading's review against another edition
3.0
This book gave me some interesting insights into Samuel Clemens' last years. Unfortunately, I didn't find any of the characters very appealing and I think I'm tired of the "strong woman sacrifices a full life for a famous dominant man" type of novel typified by Loving Frank and The Paris Wife and now Twain's End.
lifeishardbacks's review against another edition
3.0
I have very mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I couldn’t put it down. The characters are extremely interesting. But those interesting characters frustrated me to no end. I realize women were more dependent on men in the early 1900 than they are now, the females in this book anything men they loved wanted. Don’t give me a lead character that is supposed to be an independent feminist who on more than one occasion talks about knocking down the conventions of the day, and then have her drag her knees every time the man merely crooks his finger. It was a heartbreaking end for me never the less.