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sweetsequels's review against another edition
5.0
Coming from someone whose guilty pleasure is watching soap operas or The Bachelorette...this book is a must read. Possibly the most scandalous book written in the early 1900s that I've ever read!
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Kate Clephane is living the life of an exiled socialite on the French Riviera when we meet her. But then a telegram comes that will alter the course of her life - the daughter she abandoned at infancy, now in her early 20s, has called her back to New York, and they have a second chance at the relationship they've both desperately missed. But soon enough a secret threatens to destroy their blossoming affection for each other - the only man who Kate has ever loved (and who broke her heart) is back in New York...and is engaged to none other than her daughter. The story that unfolds is gripping and heartbreaking, in typical Edith fashion.
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If you're not convinced about Edith Wharton yet, perhaps you should pick this one up.This is definitely one of her lesser known works, and I don't know why. It is excellent - equal to or better even, in my opinion, than Age of Innocence.
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Kate Clephane is living the life of an exiled socialite on the French Riviera when we meet her. But then a telegram comes that will alter the course of her life - the daughter she abandoned at infancy, now in her early 20s, has called her back to New York, and they have a second chance at the relationship they've both desperately missed. But soon enough a secret threatens to destroy their blossoming affection for each other - the only man who Kate has ever loved (and who broke her heart) is back in New York...and is engaged to none other than her daughter. The story that unfolds is gripping and heartbreaking, in typical Edith fashion.
.
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If you're not convinced about Edith Wharton yet, perhaps you should pick this one up.This is definitely one of her lesser known works, and I don't know why. It is excellent - equal to or better even, in my opinion, than Age of Innocence.
wistyallgood's review against another edition
4.0
EDITH! EDITH! EDITH!
When picturing the details of my future, it most definitely includes a bookshelf with the full oeuvre of Edith Wharton. She never ceases to impress me, even with her non-stop unhappily ever afters.
This was juicy, well-written, gave yet another brilliant glimpse to a time, place, and society of a bygone era.
Poor, poor Kate. 130 pages in, she found out what we knew all along just by reading the back of the book. Her inner ramblings and fears and confusions spoke to me, big time. You couldn't help but feel for her.
I want more!
When picturing the details of my future, it most definitely includes a bookshelf with the full oeuvre of Edith Wharton. She never ceases to impress me, even with her non-stop unhappily ever afters.
This was juicy, well-written, gave yet another brilliant glimpse to a time, place, and society of a bygone era.
Poor, poor Kate. 130 pages in, she found out what we knew all along just by reading the back of the book. Her inner ramblings and fears and confusions spoke to me, big time. You couldn't help but feel for her.
I want more!
pussreboots's review against another edition
5.0
BookCrossing introduced me to Edith Wharton's books, first through a bookring (The Age of Innocence) and then through a wild catch (The Mother's Recompense) back in 2004. As a lover of old books, imagine how thrilled I was to find a 1925 copy with a BookCrossing label on it!
The Mother's Recompense is a story of mistakes and regrets. Kate Clephane lives in Europe in self imposed exile after a disastrous affair where she left her young husband and infant daughter home in New York. She lives a dull life on the French Rivera where the new scandals of her fellow ex-pats lets her forget her own transgressions.
Now twenty years later, her grown daughter calls her home to face the family, her memories and gives her a chance to start afresh as if nothing ever happened. Unfortunately her happy reunion is short lived as Anne, the daughter, announces her engagement to Kate's old lover.
The story sounds hokey but it's written with an unusual amount of frankness that one is drawn into Kate's world. The novel moves away from being just about Kate's mistakes but about her attempts at redemption and her desire to be a "good" mother to Anne.
While Wharton the narrator is frank with her audience about Kate's desires and transgressions, Kate finds herself incapable of admitting the truth to Anne both from an combined desire to protect her daughter and to avoid bringing further shame to the family.
The book has its flaws, mostly in its propensity for melodrama and sometimes Kate's indecision grows tiresome but overall I enjoyed The Mother's Recompense.
The Mother's Recompense is a story of mistakes and regrets. Kate Clephane lives in Europe in self imposed exile after a disastrous affair where she left her young husband and infant daughter home in New York. She lives a dull life on the French Rivera where the new scandals of her fellow ex-pats lets her forget her own transgressions.
Now twenty years later, her grown daughter calls her home to face the family, her memories and gives her a chance to start afresh as if nothing ever happened. Unfortunately her happy reunion is short lived as Anne, the daughter, announces her engagement to Kate's old lover.
The story sounds hokey but it's written with an unusual amount of frankness that one is drawn into Kate's world. The novel moves away from being just about Kate's mistakes but about her attempts at redemption and her desire to be a "good" mother to Anne.
While Wharton the narrator is frank with her audience about Kate's desires and transgressions, Kate finds herself incapable of admitting the truth to Anne both from an combined desire to protect her daughter and to avoid bringing further shame to the family.
The book has its flaws, mostly in its propensity for melodrama and sometimes Kate's indecision grows tiresome but overall I enjoyed The Mother's Recompense.
charliemudd's review against another edition
3.0
Decent next-gen Jane Austen type story of mother reunited with daughter she skipped out on 15 years before. Turns out daughter is about to marry one of her mom's old boyfriends, unbeknownst to daughter. Much hand-wringing and rationalizing. Well written, but no magic.