Calico Palace [Paperback]

Gwen Bristow (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket Books (1972)
• ASIN: B000OODP7M
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This author brings the gold rush and San Francisco to life, June 15, 2007

By 

Misfit (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Calico Palace (Hardcover)

I actually owned this book in the 70's (and loved it). I have no idea why I gave it away, as now I had to buy another used copy. Hope I didn't buy my own back again!

This is a book about Kendra, who with her mother and step father came to San Francisco right before the start of the gold rush. Kendra was an unwanted child, and she soon finds the man of her dreams, marries him and they are off to the gold country. Among the group they are travelling with are Marny, the proverbial good girl gone bad, who is going to the gold camps to set up a saloon/gambling hall with her partner. All goes well at first, until a secret about Ted's past shatter's Kendra's happiness. Marny and Kendra return to San Francisco and Kendra works to rebuild her life, as Marny works on building a new Calico Palace instead of the tent she had at the gold camp.

The author does a wonderful job of bringing both San Francisco and the gold country to life. I loved the touch she put in about the first steamer to arrive with real gold seekers from the east coast, and the harrowing tale of the first group to cross the isthmus. The story takes you through the muck and mud, torrential rains, fires, thievery and everything else that came about as a result of instant wealth that the gold brought. The characters were wonderful, especially Pocket (loved Pocket's pockets).

All in all a pretty perfect read, and I'm sorry the story had to come to an end. Highly recommended for any lover of historical fiction or tales of the gold country. As a side note, for any who are interested in the gold country and it's history, I highly recommend taking the time to visit it. So many of the original towns are still there, with much of the original buildings. Up and down Highway 49, it's one adorable gold rush town after another.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Characters & places come alive - You care what happens next., April 4, 1998

By 

J. Cantrell (Missouri) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Calico Palace (Paperback)

Each time I read this book, I come away with something new - but familiar. It is like a visit to old friends. I am familiar with Kendra, Marney, Pockets and the rest of the characters, and I always wish I could read more about them. This is one of those books that causes you to read the final chapter slowly - even though you want to see how it ends - just to savor it. The assortment of characters is delightful - the descriptions of the locations will have you knowing what it was like to "be there" - and the story is full of twists and turns, which keeps you turning the pages. It would make a great movie!

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Calico Palace: Pure Gold!, April 3, 2000

By 

Stacy Pavlick (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Calico Palace (Paperback)

I have read "Calico Palace" at least a dozen times over the last 20 years and I enjoy it as much or more every time. I always get some new life lesson out of it as I grow and change, and it is always an entertaining read! I consider it the best book I have ever read, and I have read thousands of books. The historical information woven throughout the fictional tale is fascinating, and Ms. Bristow always finds a way to tell of even the most horrific events without depressing the reader in the least. What a great story! I plan to read it at least a dozen more times!