Reviews

Vera by Carol Edgarian

manntan's review

challenging dark informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

laurapoulosky's review

4.0

I enjoyed the strong woman characters in this book and learning how they took care of themselves and each other following one of San Francisco's major fires. I especially like Vera herself and her distinctive voice.

jollymama's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I was captivated. I need more books like this in my life. If you're looking for historical fiction that's not war-based but still has depth, this is for you. It's a coming of age story but with tragedy, love, loss, family issues, self reflection, prostitution, heartbreak, friendship, corrupt politics, racism, and more more more. 

The only reason I knocked off a quarter of a star is because

I hated to see Bobby end up with Pie, and I hated that Vera was so accepting of it.

I am dying to know how much is based on real people and real stories. I wish she had several pages of author's notes in the back of the book. 

elizabethpurvis's review

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

booksarebetter's review

3.0

Sigh. I wanted to like this so much more than I did. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This was all about the people before the earthquake struck. It was a good premise but as other reviewers have said, poor execution. I wanted more. Oh well. Onto the next!

candacesiegle_greedyreader's review

4.0

Vera is 15 when the San Francisco earthquake hits. She's the daughter of one of the city's most established madames, a woman who farmed her out to a foster mother and only agrees to see the girl several times a year. Of course Vera is obsessed with her mother, who may have rejected her because she is plain and charmless, two things that are about to help her in this time of disaster.

With her foster mother killed by their collapsing house and her foster sister in shock, Vera takes the business of survival in hand while trying to find her mother, who we sadly know would not be looking for her. Vera has school friends from powerful families and people who have asked her for her plain-spoken take on political doings in town. Can she ask them for help, or will that be dangerous for her? And does she need them anyway?

Vera is one of those girls who were meant for their moment. She forms unlikely alliances, sees the big picture, takes action and longs most of all for her mother's love. We only get a few glimpses of her long life but that would be another book. "

"Vera" is a good historical read with terrific descriptions of the San Francisco earthquake. It flags in the middle but it's an excellent piece of escapist disaster fiction--things really could be worse.

Thanks to the publisher for access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader

nikkilerae's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective tense 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? Yes

4.0

beckimoody29's review

5.0

This isn't my usual type of book but I was leaving on vacation and just grabbed it. I'm so glad I did! I didn't know much about turn of the century San Francisco or the 1906 earthquake and fire so that part was new to me. On top of the historical details was a delightful of story about a young girl (title character, Vera) who never felt she belonged anywhere and her efforts to forge a new life and family in the aftermath of a disaster.

bmoonc's review

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I loved this story from beginning to end. The best book I’ve read in a while. 

jeansbookbag's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book is both hopeful and grim and utterly compelling. It follows the story of a teenage girl forced to survive in a world that wasn’t made for her in the midst of a massive crisis. It felt realistic and raw in many ways, but was also nearly impossible to put down once I got into it. It’s also set in a time/place that doesn’t get seen very often in historical fiction, so I highly recommend it to fans of the genre.