Customer Reviews

On Leaving Charleston

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

 

 

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to have more money than you knew what to do with and you thought that the idea sounded incredibly satisfying, then you should read this fast-paced, eventful novel. You just might change your mind. This novel follows the life of a Charleston debutante who began her life in rags and eventually fell into riches by marrying one of America's most eligible bachelors. Travel with lovable, naive Garden Tradd from her dirt poor beginnings in a slave settlement, through her adolescence in Charleston when she becomes a true belle, and then onto to New York, London, and Paris for a wild, sometimes disturbing ride through the early twenty-first century. I guarantee you won't be able to put this book down!

I have read many books based on the south, including Gone with the Wind (3 times). On leaving Charleston (read twice) is one of the best books that I have read. Another is the prequel to this one called 'Charleson'; if you haven't read ON LEAVING CHARELSTON yet, you should definatey read the first one, well, first. The characters are so real that in some part I feel like they are real people. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

This book takes place a few years after Charleston, it concerns an "ugly", unwanted girl named Garden Tradd and her life and times. This book incoporates real life history into the novel, Garden watches Chalres Lindbergh's transatlantic flight, see Isadora Duncan die, and weeps over the death of the LIndbergh baby. My only complaint is that Elizabeth Cooper who was a strong voice in the novel charleston is reduced to doing nothing but holding Garden's hand evrytime she cries.

There were some moments that reminded me of Little House on the Prairie - how could so much tragedy happen to one person? But it was fun to see the main character traced through the roaring twenties in Charleston, New York, and parts of Europe.

I am a nut about Southern history and Alexandra Ripley is one of the best fiction writers EVER regarding Southern history- her accurate depictions of geography, history, culture, architecture, customs is fantastic. Great read , characters fully developed and flows well. For those of you that have never visited Charleston , this will make you want to book your tickets!

This book has it all. Exclusive societies, wealth (do not confuse the two), fashion, glamour, and learning how to create the omelet that is your irresistible self. There is a shocking amount of wisdom hidden in this fun book's twisting tale. Every girl should read this, no matter how young or old.