Customer Reviews

From Fields of Gold

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Alexandra Ripley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. From Scarlett, to On Leaving Charleston, and now From Fields of Gold, Mrs. Ripley has certainly gotten my attention. If you love an author who can mix drama, passion, humor, and reality with broad strokes of historical detail and intriguing dialogue then you'll love her novels. This one in particular tells the story of a lonely woman, Chess, from the post-Civil War ruins of tidewater Virginia who is so desperate for companionship that she agrees to give her grandfather's patent on a cigarette machine to a man that will agree to marry her and give her children. Boyishly handsome and crudely competitive Nate is the man that takes the deal and leads Chess into a life of triumph and turmoil. Follow Chess as she fails and succeeds in the attempt at finding her true spirit among all of her trials and tribulations. Ripley gives you a character with the strength and passion of Scarlett O'Hara, but the honor and heart of Melanie Wilkes.

This was a very good historical novel with likable characters and for the most part an intriguing plot. I never knew that Southerners and the English could be so scandalous! Chess is one of my favorites heroines ever, and Nate was interesting as well. I was so pleased with the ending, and any reader will be as well. I was a little displeased with Chess's behavior with Randall, not because she was having an affair, but with the utter consumption it had over her. And that Lily, wow, typical religious child gone wrong. Personally, I thought Ripley's Scarlett was superior, but I plan on reading her novels in the future.

I have read all of Ripley's books ~~ Charleston, Leaving Charleston, Scarlett and so on ~~ and while this book is a good read, it isn't her best book. I do miss her historical in-depth of her characters and where they reside. I love history and miss it in this novel. However, this is an exciting book based on exciting times after the Civil War and just before the end of the 1800s. Nate Richardson has dreams ~~ big dreams of getting out of the tobacco fields in North Carolina and manufacture cigarettes and strike it rich. Chess (Francesa) Standish's grandfather has a machine that isn't patented and agreed to give it to Nate ~~ and Chess offered herself as part of the bargain ~~ as his partner and wife. Chess is thirty years old and fears she'd never get married. Nate was her only chance.

Together, they created an empire that builds a town and builds their name across the Alantic to London where they eventually traveled to. In spite of Nate's affairs, the couple are happy together but it takes another man for Chess' affections to get Nate to come around and fall in love with his wife.

It's an interesting novel ~~ very glittery and stylish. It does lack substance in some ways, but it's still a good read. It's not my favorite read of the year but it's enjoyable enough that I will recommend it to others.

9-21-04

Although this book is technically a romance novel, the history of the tobbacco business was fantastic. The romance end of it was interesting as well. Well done

With this book, Alexandra Ripley proved that once she used her own ideas and characters, she was capable of writing a decent book. I was never able to finish her snooze-fest "Scarlet" and I picked this one up out of curiosity to see if her writing held up on its own, without her piggybacking on what someone else has already created.

To my COMPLETE surprise, it did! That's not to say that there aren't flaws in this book. For one thing, I think she must have been under a publisher's deadline, because the book's final chapter or so is very rushed and unbelievable, and the whole thing ends VERY abruptly with nothing but a quick one-sentence wrap-up "epilogue" that resolves one of the two major plot points. The second major plot point is wrapped up with a sex scene and a long look, and a third minor plot point isn't resolved at all.

But really, it's a great read up to that point. The characters are vivid, the 19th century world comes alive, and the story is told in bite-sized vignette-esq. chuncks. It's surprisingly brisk and the pages just fly by. I've read it a bunch of times without getting tired of it. She even manages to pull off using Oscar Wilde as a character without making you roll your eyes . . . too much.

Overall, it's definitely worth a read -- especially if you like historical fiction as much as I do -- and should be a cinch to find at any used book sale.

I have read Scarlett, Charleston, On Leaving Charleston, and now From Fields of Gold, and have loved reading everyone of them. I love this author!! From Fields of Gold tells the story of a woman, Chess, from the Civil War ruins of Virginia who agrees to give her grandfather's patent on a cigarette machine to a man that will agree to marry her and give her children. Nate is the man that takes Chess up on her offer which begins a life of wins and losses. As usual, Ripley presents a strong female character with passion and flaws. Don't miss this book!!!

I have read two of Ms. Ripley's books, Scarlett and From Fields of Gold. Both are simply wonderful! Reading Scarlett years ago made me curious about Ms. Ripley's other works, and From Fields of Gold was NOT a disappointment! The characters are beautifully drawn, the details vivid, and the story moves at a wonderful pace. The main character, Chess, is multi-faceted and very interesting. Her husband, Nate, is also well-developed. You really get a FEELING of who these people are, how they think, what is important to them. Best of all was the ENDING! I won't reveal a thing except to say it is very, very satisfying! Enjoy!

This is by far one of her best books. I have read it twice and enjoyed it thoughoughly both times. Every time I read it I still can't put it down. The characters and plot are great. I love the ending and especially the clever last line of the book. Anyone who hasn't read it is missing out!

From Fields of Gold blew me away. The amount of description used, the character development, and the overall passion in the book made it an absolute must-read. As in all of Ms. Ripley's book, you are made to feel the heroine's personal tragedies and triumphs, and the end leaves a fufilled smile upon your face. Read, and enjoy!

Once I picked this book up I couldn't put it down. It has a very romantic and exciting plot that keeps changing and surprising you throughout the story (almost like a soap opera). Alexandra Ripley is the most discriptive author I have ever encountered and this made it very easy to picture the whole story in my mind and made the book even more enjoyable to read. I love a romantic story that ends well and this fits the bill. Chess was my favorite character throughout the story because most of it is written from her point-of-view. If you like reading about post Civil War, American history and love stories I completely recomend this book for you. It's a must read!