Gilded Age

by Claire McMillan

The Gilded Age

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Historical Fiction, Adult, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Womens Fiction

244 pages, Hardcover

Published June 12, 2012

About the author

Coffee first, Edith Wharton, Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, Pamela Colman Smith, Elisabeth Vigee LeBrun’s moonstone earrings, “Jack” Marvel Whiteside Parsons rockets, Ellen Olenska’s hampers of carnations, Nelson Rockefeller’s stargazer, Frederick Pope’s violin, Henry Winter’s books, Captain Frederick Wentworth’s letter, Clarissa Dalloway’s florist, Edward Rochester’s Newfoundland Pilot, Max de Winter’s Manderley, “I’m very fond of walking."

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author wants you to know that this book is set in Cleveland and is about people who are from Cleveland. And did I mention that all the action takes place in Cleveland? The Cleveland society folks are hard on other Clevelanders but they do love Cleveland. Cleveland is an awesome place. So if you want to read a book that uses the word "Cleveland" somewhere between 3-10 times per chapter, read this book about Cleveland's high-society people in Cleveland.

[Lindsay Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing about books that are retellings of classics is that it's hard to gauge how good they are. Writing style is easy to decided upon, the story is somewhat more difficult. After all, this is a classic that's stood the test of time. Instead of plot what really needs questioning is how well this modern adaption works against it's predecessor. I think this retelling of Edith Wharton's 'The House of Mirth' worked fairly well. Then again, I'm a little bit biased. I'm from Cleveland and it seems as though every time someone mentions Cleveland in a book, or any other media outlet for that matter, they are mentioning it in the same breath as polution or economic hardship or sports teams that never win. This may be, actually, the first time I've seen a different side of Cleveland shown. The side of (gasp!) society.

Eleanor (Ellie) Hart has just returned home to Cleveland after her extravagant marriage in New York ended in a very public divorce. As she re-enters society with no skills and no experience for a job, not to mention a lack of drive, Ellie realizes quickly on that she's best suited to the life of having a rich husband. But in an insular society like this it's not always easy to keep one's head above the water and as Ellie woos and sabotages suitor after suitor she starts to wonder if it's not really love that she's looking for. But, between gossip and her old weaknesses it's possible it may be too late.

The main reason I picked up this book was the location. As stated above, I'm a Clevelander. Actually, I'm not far off from the Clevelander she described. The one who leaves for awhile and then comes home. Of course, I didn't come back toting my own Import to marry, but I returned none the less for all the reasons she states. I like the closeness of it. I like being somewhere that I'm known, where I consistently run into people I know, where I know I can get tickets to events and shows I want to see. The fact that's it's affordable is convenient cause even though I've witnessed it first hand on many occassions, I'm not a part of the society she talks about. And this society is perfect for this sort of novel. 'The House of Mirth' took place in New York, as Wharton novels tend to do, but setting this sort of story in modern New York is difficult. Yes, New York society is thrown in the general populace's face, but the fact of the matter is that New York is filled with wealthy people to the point where that sort of society is too big anymore. These aren't the days of calling cards and staying in in the afternoon. These are the days of working whether you need to or not, they are the days of Wall Street and Hedge Funds and, most prevalently and importantly, new money. Now, I'm not saying that Cleveland doesn't have those things, but this is a city where the old families still cling to a certain way of life, a certain social standing, they still all see each other nearly every weekend at whatever event is going and belong to a club made specifically for Cleveland's founders. Honestly, it's closer to the Wharton way than New York is these days. I have this perfect image in my head of Claire McMillian's life. Reading between the lines in her bio it's not particularly difficult to see that she's the import, from California, encountering Cleveland society as a newcomer. She probably looked around, agog, and thought 'My god, it's like a Wharton novel', and decided to make it one.

But even if I had never encountered this world at all I would still have read this book, because she talks about Severence Hall and the art museum. Because when the narrator walks home from Cedar Hill she turns into the neighborhood where I grew up. Because I've been to plenty "farms" in Hunting Valley. Because I know Chagrin Falls and Downtown and the Shaker Lakes. This is pretty much a Clevelander's dream.

And this follows 'The House of Mirth' pretty damned well. Ellie Hart is pretty pathetic as far as characters go, her view of life, as a wife, is pretty antiquated. But that's not to say that people like that don't exist, and Lily Bart was always a tragic character anyway. Honestly, there aren't that many people to like in this novel. Ellie is a mess, William Selden makes all sort of terrible decisions and snap judgment, villianess Diana Dorset is pretty dispicable, elder non-gossip Betsey Dorset is a terrible snob, and the narrator judges her friend terribly while flirting with her own infidelity. I could go on. But then again, I've never had a problem with characters that weren't particularly likable. In fact, I think they are fairly necessary at times. It's still possible to root for characters that aren't good people, it's been done plenty of times, and I found myself liking Ellie dispite her ridiculous ideas and actions, I liked Selden even if he couldn't seem to get his head together, I liked the narrator even if her choices would never have been mine.

Strangely, I think my favorite part of this book was the subplot between the narrator and her ex-boyfriend Henry 'Cinco' Van Alstyne V. I know that this was a retelling of Wharton and I know the main subject was Ellie Hart, but I couldn't help myself being a little drawn in by this tiny niblet. The narrator and Cinco dated off and on through their teens and into college but when the narrator proclaimed that she would never return to Cleveland and he never thought of not returning to his ancestral home their relationship fizzled. She repeatedly proclaims that she and Cinco were "never like that" when the subject of them remaining together comes up, but it comes across as completely false. And when it turns out that she did, in fact, return to Cleveland, husband in tow, emotions are somewhat churned. I loved this. I thought it deserved more. But then again, if it had gotten it the subplot would have likely lost it's charm.

Overall, I liked this book for a few reasons. Firstly, it's Cleveland location and secondly, because it fits with the original Wharton, a modern spin on an old story. But, I can appreciate that it wasn't great. It dragged at times, there wasn't really any one to root for and sometimes it took itself a little too seriously. But those are faults I can easily overlook. I liked it and I'd like to see what McMillian tries next, perhaps a story of her own, I'd be interested to read it.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edith Wharton meets Cleveland, Ohio. This is supposed to be a contemporary version of The House of Mirth. Since it has been 20+ years since I've read it and the details are scarce in my memory, I do think they resemble each other. Ellie Hart married well and lived in New York with her affluent husband. When her marriage fell apart, she returned to her hometown of Cleveland following a stint in rehab. But the upper crust of society, even in Cleveland, is harsh and it's hard to tread water and stay afloat amidst gossip, scandal and jealousy.
After Ellie entertains many suitors, many which are friends from her youth, she realizes that love may be harder to find than she thought.

The main reason I read this book is because I am a Clevelander. It was refreshing to read a book that didn't shine a negative light on Cleveland but, instead, showed what a hidden gem our great city is. Yes, Cleveland has a high-end society and it is mighty powerful. Did you know that Cleveland has the largest theater district (Playhouse Square) outside of New York City? And that our Cleveland Orchestra is world renowned? These society powerhouses have something to do with that. All the Cleveland references were fun for me to hear as I listened to this book.

In the end, I wanted a bit more depth to Ellie, the narrator and the other characters. I expected the ending, but had little reaction to it because I had no deep connection to any of the characters. I wanted more.

Audiobook read by Hillary Huber who had the perfect airy, societal inflection for the main characters. 3.5 stars.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up because I finished it.

So this was a disappointment.

Based on the title, I expected it to be set during the 1920s. Even as I read the jacket blurb, I pictured the 1920s which were part of the Gilded Age. But no, it is a modern day adaptation of Edith Wharton’s “A House of Mirth”, which, although I haven’t read it, is probably a hundred times better.

In the early 2000s, Ellie Hart returns to Cleveland from NYC after a disastrous divorce and a stint in rehab. She reconnects with a long time friend from high school, unnamed, as well as others in Cleveland high society, as she searches for another wealthy husband. Apparently Cleveland high society has a lot of rules (Cleveland? Seriously?) and Ellie manages to break most of them. Ellie, who has always gotten by on her incredibly stunning looks, can’t seem to figure out how to make a life based on anything else. The unnamed narrator, in a happy marriage and newly pregnant, watches and worries as Ellie goes from disaster to disaster.

The story is told from from both women’s points of view. Ellie’s is told in the third person and the unnamed narrator’s is told in the first person (hence you never learn her name!) Although the story takes place in the current times, you would think it was happening in the true Gilded Age, with all the judgements heaped on Ellie, and the super strict social mores in this tight knit group.

There are no really likable characters in this book. Ellie is a hot mess on so many levels; the unnamed narrator is always careful to explain that Ellie is the person she has known the longest, but isn’t her friend. Although she also judges Ellie’s behavior, she is harboring illicit fantasies of her own. Diana is just a vindictive bitch. The men are off putting in their own ways, as they drool over Ellie’s looks but have agendas of their own for her.

The writing is just OK. You are hit over the head with the fact that this takes place in Cleveland, of all places. I’m sure it’s a very nice city, but it’s residents come off as insular, parochial and snotty. Even after finishing the book, I have no idea why this title was chosen. I am glad that it is only 244 pages, which is about 44 too long. I almost gave up on it halfway through, because I couldn’t see the point of the story, but figured since it was so short, I’d persevere. By the end, I was glad it was over. I suppose there was a point, but it wasn’t worth the effort.

I would say don’t bother with this one. There are so many better books out there.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get how an author would create a junkie for a modern-day version of Lily Bart, but there are a lot of problems with that interpretation. The main objection I have is that McMillan made Lily (called Ellie for this volume) pathetic rather than tragic. I'm being picky about the difference because Lily was utterly honorable, which was part of her descent, and this version of her is only a vague shadow. The book is perhaps too brief to include all the nuances required to prepare a tragedy. It's almost like McMillan based her book on the Gillian Anderson movie rather than on Wharton's novel. And why make Selden so selfish? A very shallow interpretation that completely misses the point.

[Jacki Leach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edith Wharton's 'The House of Mirth' reimagined as a contemporary story. Very good read; heartbreaking, yet I didn't feel sorry for most of the major characters. Insular little lives; much as Wharton captured in her novels about society and it's mores.
I recommend this!

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay for me, it was well written and had some brilliant moments but I just don't think the plot translated very well into modern times. Not sure I liked the characters all that much either.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read Wharton's House of Mirth, so I am ill-equipped to compare this updated version to the original. I can, however, comment on the novel as a novel. McMillan tells an interesting tale of Ellie Hart, Cleveland socialite, who returns to her hometown after a messy public divorce and a stint in rehab. There is an awkwardness, though, in the style of this debut novel. The point of view shifts between Ellie and her oldest friend, who lived with Ellie briefly in New York, but married a southern gentleman and brought him back with her to Cleveland. Even with these points of view, the characters don't seem fully realized, and remain distant. One reviewer here called it "chick lit" and it makes me wonder if that is fair. If a man had written this, would it be considered a novel of manners and class, or an example of that demeaned genre?

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taken from the book:
ELEANOR HART had made a brilliant marriage in New York, but it ended in a scandalous divorce and thirty days in Sierra Tucson rehab. Now she finds that, despite feminist lip service, she will still need a husband to be socially complete. A woman’s sexual reputation matters, and so does her family name. Ellie must navigate the treacherous social terrain where old money meets new: charitable benefits and tequila body shots, inherited diamonds and viper-bite lip piercings, country house weekends and sexting. She finds that her beauty is a powerful tool in this world, but it has its limitations, even liabilities. Through one misstep after another, Ellie mishandles her second act. Her options narrow, her future prospects contract, until she faces a desperate choice.

[Terri Tinkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is supposed to be a new version of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. I've never read the original story. But I did think this was like a modern day Downton Abbey set in Cleveland, Ohio in current times. The "rules" of society and family ties are very apparent. Women are still supposed to marry for social placement. Many of them looked for very old money family connections. Most of them were not happy in the long run. The main character is one of those women. She has friends who try to set her up with the "right people" but she manages to sabotage most of those relationships until finally it is too late to make it work.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through the First Reads Program. Clair McMillan beautifully combine the elegance of old-world society with modern issues and mores.

The story of Ellie, told by her oldest friend, illustrates the social land minds of the upper class. The glamorousness of this cast of characters is undercut by the backstabbing and rumor mill that churns scandalous gossip that ultimately adds to Ellie's breaking point.

The themes of forgiveness and the power of unconditional love are also alive in the supporting characters that move around Ellie, but are just slightly out of her reach.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since House of Mirth was the only Wharton novel that wasn't ruined for me in high school, I gave this book a try. I have to say that the crazy amount of drug use in the book put me off, but I loved the characters. The layers of relationships in the generations really rang true to me, and the on again off again friendship between the main character and her damaged friend just made me sad. This reads a bit like an old novel, but that's on purpose, so it's forgivable. The book was a quick read and worth the time. Well done!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this book in one day. Of course, I was sitting in the jury assembly room with nothing to do for 5 hours so that helped. This is a modern day Age of Innocence book set in Cleveland. A young woman returns to the upper echelons of Cleveland society and proceeds to shake up the status quo. An entertaining and quick read... Fans of Wharton will really like this one!

[Melissa Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a quick read, but a little depressing. I should t be surprised by this though since my only experience with a Wharton tale was really sad...just not this sad.

If you want an interesting, but dark poolside read this is your book.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 Another novel that bills itself as having the feel of Edith Wharton. Just because you borrow the characters and a rough outline of a book, doesn't mean it should be "read by lovers of Wharton." That is like comparing apples and oranges. Simply Chick- lit.

[Kathy Buford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is set in present day Cleveland but it could take place in any city or any era. It is a quick read and very well written. An observation on life and how we interact with each other.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely got an Edith Wharton vibe, and an amazing quality of timelessness for a book set in current-day Cleveland, Ohio. The main character is a bit of a wimp, but then, it makes sense when you understand her background.

[Krysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting modern update of House of Mirth. Those over 30 who enjoy shows like Gossip Girl as a guilty pleasure will really like this book.

[Breda Fallacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I suppose the writing was good but this was a boring book about spoiled, obnoxious people.

[Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun fast read, i read it in a day and couldn't put it down.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 3 out of 5]

It all happens in Cleveland, Ohio. A socialite divorced woman looking for a man in Cleveland. Women keeping up with the local society.

[Christine Posinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the Cleveland setting that was unfamiliar for me and seemed authentic.

[Mellilla Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is fiction but the struggle to continue reading was real.

I picked up Gilded Age because 1. The cover and title piqued my interest. 2. Local Author. 3. Outside my usual set of preferred genres. 4. Quite discounted at the indie bookstore where I bought it. I do think I should have read it a bit more closely before purchase, because, while not a technically poor execution, the story leaves me struggling to find something remotely worth finishing it for.

In the first few chapters of this book, no character or event truly interested me. Every single character, even the narrator - whose name I forget - and the socialite divorcee Ellie that we are supposed to root for beside the narrator - is rich, privileged and not in the least bit intriguing or relatable. If this were a satire, I might concede the point. But as far as I can tell, the lives of the rich and mildly famous in this novel aren't meant to be heckled at, but appreciated like a fine yet obscure sparkling wine.

It's a pleasure to see Cleveland presented in fiction, and I guess it's represented well enough through the perspective of the narrator and others who may deign to comment. I'm not sure how much more of Cleveland readers will be able to experience in this book.

Four or five chapters in, the elite cabal leaves the city to go to upstate New York for an outing that Ellie only attends to attempt to snag herself another husband. That's right, this book is essentially House Hunters but replace the houses with men. I have a great deal of Opinions on this premise. I set them all aside to say that even run-of-the-mill Regency-era romance does a better job of making these potential beaus appealing, the pursuit more romantic, the journey a more worthy investment. I just wish there would be some charm tucked in the banter and the mimicry of WASPy idleness and dated ideals.

TL;DR: I don't need car chases and explosions to enjoy reading a book, but...both of those would have made this one more fun. DNF.

[Tracy Valentine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good grief. If I have to read, see, or hear the word "Cleveland" one more time, I'll barf. There is one page of this book where it's mentioned no less than TWELVE TIMES on one page. (Yes, I counted.) If this author loves C'land so much, I hope she retires there and never writes anything else as utterly horrendous as this complete drivel.

And though I know that some people won't appreciate the way I feel about this, I think Ellie was complete trash. Slutting around with her best friend's husband? Trying to gobble up any man who came her way? There's a word for people like that, and it starts with an S and rhymes with "but." With such a horrible, unlikable character as the center of the novel, it's no wonder that this book is so irredeemably awful.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern day version of the House of Mirth, which I did not read so I can't make a comparison.

The author's accomplishments as a writer deftly tells the story about the lives of a bunch of tiresome characters who are part of Cleveland's high society (who knew). The blacksheep of the story is Eleanor Hart who, seeking to escape the demands of Cleveland's social circle, finds herself relying on this same group to support her when she needs to come back to the fold.

The story is written well; characters are not as strongly defined (they kind of begin to mesh with one another and also become stereotypical) but it was an enjoyable read.

[Lindasp · Rating 3 out of 5]

After enjoying Claire McMillan's great story, "The Necklace", I quickly latched onto her first book but wasn't as impressed with it. It's set in present time but the theme feels like a 1920s or so kind of story about a divorcee returning to her home town to find a rich husband who will provide her with the money she needs to be 'free'. I know the book was inspired by the author Edith Wharton but it felt 'off' set in present time. It has a chatty, gossipy kind of tone. I liked the alternating chapters between the divorcee and her 'best' friend who remains nameless throughout the book. It was a short, quick read.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiction. This is a re-telling of Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth – this time set in Cleveland. Ellie Hart comes back to her hometown of Shaker Heights after a messy divorce from her rich New York husband. Ellie has no particular skills, so she sets about to find a new rich husband from among the elite of Cleveland. McMillan uses lots & lots of Cleveland references but at times these become annoying (especially when she gets it wrong!). I am not sure that Wharton’s story really translates to present day, but maybe this is because I don’t know any women who are totally focused on finding a rich husband.

[Heather Lowry Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this at a romance novel book signing so I thought it was a romance. It is NOT. It is borderline literary, with strong prose. However, it was pretty depressing, and I struggled with relocating The House of Mirth--an older book--into modern times because the marriage motivation didn't ring true to me.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quietly mysterious, this exploration of the Cleveland upper class and the young adults trying to find their way was interesting, scathing ,and quite sad. I didn’t know what to expect going in but it gave a nod to The Awakening and made me think just like Chopin’s novel did. I will look for more from this author, this was her debut in 2012.

[Nicole Miletta Schilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found my self very confused about the setting of this book. Where was it? Cleveland? Or maybe Cleveland? Anyone else? It must have been Cleveland.
Anyway, aside from the constant mention of Cleveland I very much enjoyed this book. I liked the writing style and found myself wanting to read more when I got to the end. The characters are likeable, mostly, and I wanted to read more about them.