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Emma Harte Saga #2
Hold the Dream
As the founder and head of the business empire Harte Enterprises, Emma Harte is a woman of purpose. She has sacrificed everything to make sure her granddaughter, Paula McGill Farley, inherits her wealth and her corporation.
But Paula has already inherited Emma’s unbreakable will, and she has dreams of her own. In taking on her grandmother’s mantle of power, Paula must face professional and personal challenges Emma could never have predicted—or protected her from. Beset by greed, jealousy, lies, and betrayal from those closest to her, Paula must ensure the security of her future—and shelter the true love she’s held secret for years.
A continuation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s best-selling sensation A Woman of Substance, Hold the Dream continues the saga of Emma Harte, a sweeping tale of heartbreak and triumph.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barbara Taylor Bradford is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Born in Britain, she began her career as a typist at the Yorkshire Evening Post at the age of sixteen, later serving as the fashion editor of Woman’s Own Magazine and a feature writer at the London Evening News. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and became one of the top ten bestselling novels ever written.
Bradford has written 28 subsequent books that have sold over 89 million copies in more than 90 countries around the world. Several of her novels have been made into television miniseries and movies. In 1999, she became the first living female author to be featured on a postage stamp; in 2003, she was awarded a place in the Writers’ Hall of Fame of America, and in 2007, she was inducted into the Order of the British Empire.
ABOUT THE SERIES
From crushing poverty to the height of wealth and success, Barbara Taylor Bradford tells the story of Emma Harte—a passionate, determined woman who builds a business empire. Beginning with the groundbreaking international bestseller A Woman of Substance, this series traces Emma’s legacy through multiple generations of indomitable women.
Emma’s vision and drive have an indelible impact on her family and the men who dare to love her. Through the sequels Hold the Dream and To Be the Best, her granddaughter Paula must defend everything Emma built—not just from outside competitors, but also from internal threats. Told with deep emotion, humor, and compelling honesty, the strong heroines of this series continue to move and inspire readers decades after first publication.
But Paula has already inherited Emma’s unbreakable will, and she has dreams of her own. In taking on her grandmother’s mantle of power, Paula must face professional and personal challenges Emma could never have predicted—or protected her from. Beset by greed, jealousy, lies, and betrayal from those closest to her, Paula must ensure the security of her future—and shelter the true love she’s held secret for years.
A continuation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s best-selling sensation A Woman of Substance, Hold the Dream continues the saga of Emma Harte, a sweeping tale of heartbreak and triumph.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barbara Taylor Bradford is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Born in Britain, she began her career as a typist at the Yorkshire Evening Post at the age of sixteen, later serving as the fashion editor of Woman’s Own Magazine and a feature writer at the London Evening News. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and became one of the top ten bestselling novels ever written.
Bradford has written 28 subsequent books that have sold over 89 million copies in more than 90 countries around the world. Several of her novels have been made into television miniseries and movies. In 1999, she became the first living female author to be featured on a postage stamp; in 2003, she was awarded a place in the Writers’ Hall of Fame of America, and in 2007, she was inducted into the Order of the British Empire.
ABOUT THE SERIES
From crushing poverty to the height of wealth and success, Barbara Taylor Bradford tells the story of Emma Harte—a passionate, determined woman who builds a business empire. Beginning with the groundbreaking international bestseller A Woman of Substance, this series traces Emma’s legacy through multiple generations of indomitable women.
Emma’s vision and drive have an indelible impact on her family and the men who dare to love her. Through the sequels Hold the Dream and To Be the Best, her granddaughter Paula must defend everything Emma built—not just from outside competitors, but also from internal threats. Told with deep emotion, humor, and compelling honesty, the strong heroines of this series continue to move and inspire readers decades after first publication.
828 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
896 people are currently reading
2131 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Taylor Bradford
279 books1,923 followersBarbara Taylor Bradford was a British-American best-selling novelist. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and sold over 30 million copies worldwide. She wrote 40 novels, all bestsellers in the United Kingdom and the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
November 8, 2012
after finishing A Woman of Substance I read this sequel, and as in the first part, the author frequently goes overboard in details. Houses, rooms, people and clothes are described in the minutest particulars.
The story is kind of predictable, has its moments, and has lots of repetition, in itself as well as of the first part. The characters are not really interesting and really predictable, too, once they are established. I mostly enjoyed reading it, anyway, like one enjoys watching a really bad TV series, just to know what happens next, even if you can predict it. I did, however, skip over lots of the details further on, as I just couldn't take it anymore. It is a book that would greatly benefit from some editing, one would get rid of about half of the bulk by just striking irrelevant dialogues, irrelevant characters, and descriptions descriptions descriptions. (Maybe there's a Reader's Digest Condensed Version around?) Read it if you like details and romantic plots with intrigue and drama. I would not call it well-written, the style does not compare to high-class literature, but it is an ok read if you're bored.
The story is kind of predictable, has its moments, and has lots of repetition, in itself as well as of the first part. The characters are not really interesting and really predictable, too, once they are established. I mostly enjoyed reading it, anyway, like one enjoys watching a really bad TV series, just to know what happens next, even if you can predict it. I did, however, skip over lots of the details further on, as I just couldn't take it anymore. It is a book that would greatly benefit from some editing, one would get rid of about half of the bulk by just striking irrelevant dialogues, irrelevant characters, and descriptions descriptions descriptions. (Maybe there's a Reader's Digest Condensed Version around?) Read it if you like details and romantic plots with intrigue and drama. I would not call it well-written, the style does not compare to high-class literature, but it is an ok read if you're bored.
October 13, 2021
These were my first ‘adult’ book! I was probably 14?
Read
January 2, 2017Just adding the book. Loved it many years ago when the subject and kind of characters still impressed my young soul :-)
February 19, 2025
Wow, what a crock.
I DNF after about page 200 (deserve a like for this hard-fought victory) and tbh, if anyone did, I would question their taste level. In this rambling book, which I picked up at a hostel in Tel Aviv (amazingly, I finished the first one, which at least had action), we have the family continuing to fall out and behave like landed gentry pigs. Salt of the Earth pleb turned empressario Emma Harte is old and still calling the shots. Her illegitimate daughter is still grousing about absolutely nothing, NADA, and let me just say I was rooting for that piece of trash throughout the book. The nadir came when we have TWO separate people looking at the same portrait with lengthy descriptions. We get it, they´re educated. Not interested. Also, the room was purple with a cascade of flowers, the sky was periwinkle blue, the sun was beating like a heart, the Yorkshire Moors... ov vey, over it.
I have always disliked Emma hugely, a bland caricature of a ´working class girl done good´ - all the way through she is praised to the Heavens. This is both a discredit to the writing which TELLS us in classic chiclit fashion who is good and who is bad, but also with Emma who´s smug and unlikeable and with the characters who want to hang with this old goat. Yawn. The writing has a never-ending slew of turgid sayings, ´Love is a marriage of seeds, water the garden´ (excuse me, I have to vomit into my hat). There was also ridiculous showing, ´She was born in 1889, 11 years more than this century´ - hey BTB, we can work this out. We GET she is almost 80! The sex scene which used the word ´shaft´ (excuse me, there´s blood in my shoe, I have to leave) shows this chick can´t make a jot when it comes to a good love scene. Jackie Collins, Lord love her called a dick a dick. She made horny spinsters scream with joy. BTB couldn´t give a teenage boy an erection. Useless.
I´m slagging this book off and I´m having a marvelous time. If you´re still reading, I continued just to get to the bit where the matriach and blandest heroine in literature died. It was immensely satisifying, although I had to flick through the never-ending blandless of Paula, a carbon copy of Emma. And Miranda with her kooky costumes, that was lame too. It wasn´t groovy or whatever word they used ´a scream´ ´a multicoloured peacock´. Trash is an art, and this woman with her polysyllabic words (she gets the English language, that I give her, our lassie from Yorkshire) and unlimited wordflow is not trash, it´s barely feasible reality. Time to move on to some saga featuring young tarts who have no shame, class or culture and guys who don´t cry of unrequited love but who get into fist fights at the drop of the hat and who you want to be taken down a peg.
I DNF after about page 200 (deserve a like for this hard-fought victory) and tbh, if anyone did, I would question their taste level. In this rambling book, which I picked up at a hostel in Tel Aviv (amazingly, I finished the first one, which at least had action), we have the family continuing to fall out and behave like landed gentry pigs. Salt of the Earth pleb turned empressario Emma Harte is old and still calling the shots. Her illegitimate daughter is still grousing about absolutely nothing, NADA, and let me just say I was rooting for that piece of trash throughout the book. The nadir came when we have TWO separate people looking at the same portrait with lengthy descriptions. We get it, they´re educated. Not interested. Also, the room was purple with a cascade of flowers, the sky was periwinkle blue, the sun was beating like a heart, the Yorkshire Moors... ov vey, over it.
I have always disliked Emma hugely, a bland caricature of a ´working class girl done good´ - all the way through she is praised to the Heavens. This is both a discredit to the writing which TELLS us in classic chiclit fashion who is good and who is bad, but also with Emma who´s smug and unlikeable and with the characters who want to hang with this old goat. Yawn. The writing has a never-ending slew of turgid sayings, ´Love is a marriage of seeds, water the garden´ (excuse me, I have to vomit into my hat). There was also ridiculous showing, ´She was born in 1889, 11 years more than this century´ - hey BTB, we can work this out. We GET she is almost 80! The sex scene which used the word ´shaft´ (excuse me, there´s blood in my shoe, I have to leave) shows this chick can´t make a jot when it comes to a good love scene. Jackie Collins, Lord love her called a dick a dick. She made horny spinsters scream with joy. BTB couldn´t give a teenage boy an erection. Useless.
I´m slagging this book off and I´m having a marvelous time. If you´re still reading, I continued just to get to the bit where the matriach and blandest heroine in literature died. It was immensely satisifying, although I had to flick through the never-ending blandless of Paula, a carbon copy of Emma. And Miranda with her kooky costumes, that was lame too. It wasn´t groovy or whatever word they used ´a scream´ ´a multicoloured peacock´. Trash is an art, and this woman with her polysyllabic words (she gets the English language, that I give her, our lassie from Yorkshire) and unlimited wordflow is not trash, it´s barely feasible reality. Time to move on to some saga featuring young tarts who have no shame, class or culture and guys who don´t cry of unrequited love but who get into fist fights at the drop of the hat and who you want to be taken down a peg.
February 25, 2014
well where can i start, i really loved the book , loved paula's charater what a strong wise woman can do how she loved her gra. well they all loved her so much and tried to please her, little emily was a wise although of her young age well she is not little anymore she is a lady now.
hated that bastard ross and what he did, saddest part was the tragic death of david and jim but after all he she made back it to dear shane whom were perfect for each other.
liked what emma did with her will was really smart of her yo include all those papers with it
iam still confused about min's death and those 5 hours she spent at the lake what was she doing and the maid weird testimony at the court then nothing revealed at the end so it still a mystery !!
wished to know what jonthon made after being fired from the company ?
anyway what imp. is that the story ended happily how i can ask for more ;)
didn't like the fact of reading every little tiny detail about the clothes , weather , views ,etc... it was very boring for me actually
over all a woman can be as strong as man and even more. a book that worth reading .
hated that bastard ross and what he did, saddest part was the tragic death of david and jim but after all he she made back it to dear shane whom were perfect for each other.
liked what emma did with her will was really smart of her yo include all those papers with it
iam still confused about min's death and those 5 hours she spent at the lake what was she doing and the maid weird testimony at the court then nothing revealed at the end so it still a mystery !!
wished to know what jonthon made after being fired from the company ?
anyway what imp. is that the story ended happily how i can ask for more ;)
didn't like the fact of reading every little tiny detail about the clothes , weather , views ,etc... it was very boring for me actually
over all a woman can be as strong as man and even more. a book that worth reading .
January 29, 2018
DNF. will later.
January 25, 2015
I adored A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE (read it twice) but struggled through this book. Emma was such a complex character in WOS that I expected waaay more of this book. Whatever she accomplished in book 1was celebrated in this book ...idolised even.... but she never developed further.
Her handling of her offspring was spectacular when a certain event (that will not be spoiled) took place.... but beyond that... her children and grandchildren lacked depth of personality. They were either good and like her following in her footsteps or bad and trying to cheat her or do something bad. No one charted their own course and became a doctor or pilot. It got boring as heck after a while.
I do adored WOS I expected to gobble up the sequels but after reading this, I could not read another.
Her handling of her offspring was spectacular when a certain event (that will not be spoiled) took place.... but beyond that... her children and grandchildren lacked depth of personality. They were either good and like her following in her footsteps or bad and trying to cheat her or do something bad. No one charted their own course and became a doctor or pilot. It got boring as heck after a while.
I do adored WOS I expected to gobble up the sequels but after reading this, I could not read another.
January 6, 2021
If you are more interested in what people look like, what they wear, what they eat, what they drink and what they drive than in character development and plot progression, then this is the book for you. I found the book tedious....much ad about little.
November 2, 2015
Love the Emma series! Great characters, history, and settings.
January 25, 2020
The first was better. I didn’t like some parts of this one, but I just love BTB’s writing. Now to try and get my hands on the rest of this series!
February 17, 2023
Second book in the Emma Harte series. I do like these books and the stories are well told, just sometimes they seem a bit over the top with the descriptions of the characters and their many, wonderful traits. Other times her writing can be quite poignant and moving, but I do want to read them all and find out what happens which is a sign of a good series. One thing though, the editing, and it may just be as it was transferred to Kindle, is awful! Loads of mistakes, capital letters where there shouldn’t be, and sometimes wrong names of characters. Bit annoying to a pedant like me 😆
June 27, 2024
Het eerste deel van deze serie las ik, ondanks de dikte van het boek, met veel plezier in een keer uit. Daarmee had ik in deel twee veel meer moeite. Wat saai: die eindeloze opsomming van het uiterlijk en de kleding van mensen, van hun huizen, hun meubilair. En als er dan een stoel verschoven werd, kwam alles weer opnieuw langs. Daarbij leken alle namen op elkaar, en die waren ook niet uit elkaar te houden.
Jammer en teleurstellend.
Jammer en teleurstellend.
November 15, 2022
Another awesome book. I'm on to the next one now which I heard was not as good as the first two, so....we shall see. This one really didn't drag at all despite the length of it. I think Sarah and Jonathan are well developed villain-characters. Some authors leave the villains a little flat and just think that their actions will carry it, but this author developed them just as much as the others.
October 27, 2023
Sigh. Read it years (decades) ago and decided to reread when it was a BookBub Featured Deal. Did not hold up as well as I expected - too much description and head hopping made it hard to get really into the story. The thing is, way back then I remember liking the first book in the series MUCH more than this one so I may be more consistent than I thought…..I will go back and check!
April 14, 2020
I loved this book l love all the series l have read
Hold the Dream was very enjoyable l am going to read to be the best l don't want to leave the story
BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD IS AN EXCELLENT WRITER
Hold the Dream was very enjoyable l am going to read to be the best l don't want to leave the story
BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD IS AN EXCELLENT WRITER
October 18, 2024
A little more dated than “A Woman of Substance”, but still held firm with the nostalgia of the series.
April 28, 2011
I really do love this series of books, I've read them multiple times since I was about 15 and each time something new comes through the story to me and its like its the first time I've read it, and I can't stop turning the pages. In some ways I enjoyed the second book much more than the first because the family really comes into its own in the present day, rather than looking back over 80 years as the first book does. Without the first book though, I think it is impossible to appreciate the second book and the messages that it contains. This is one I will read over and over again in the years to come - I must have read the book or more times already, but it doesn't lose its magic, and I look forward to reading the third book at some point in the future, to see how the story continues and what new treasures lie within the pages for me to find...
April 13, 2014
I would have given it another star except that the author chose to make Emma pass away, instead of having her live to be 100 as I really thought she would. The saga is just not the same without her, and for that reason I lost all interest in reading the next book. "To Be The Best": how could it be, without Emma?
But I did enjoy the Paula/Shane storyline, and liked a lot of the minor characters, such as Emily and Winston. I also got to learn a bit about business deals, what goes on in a coroner's court and something of horse racing, too, so you're not just reading a typical family saga. Ms. Bradford gives you drama, without going overboard with melodrama.
If she had just kept Emma around a bit longer.....
But I did enjoy the Paula/Shane storyline, and liked a lot of the minor characters, such as Emily and Winston. I also got to learn a bit about business deals, what goes on in a coroner's court and something of horse racing, too, so you're not just reading a typical family saga. Ms. Bradford gives you drama, without going overboard with melodrama.
If she had just kept Emma around a bit longer.....
January 23, 2015
I love Barbara Bradford and i like her style, Hold the dream conveys her style clearly, the characters are well formed and develop in the most logical and normal ways, it was a delight to read this book I loved Paula, Emma, Shane, Emily, and Winston not to forget Blackie too, however there were LOTS of unneeded conversations and descriptions specially business ones and they didn't add anything to the plot, the book is 835 pages, if you removed those unneeded pages the book will consist of 500 pages if not less, still the book was enjoyable, the writing style and characters drew me into the book, but isn't it always this way with Barbara Bradford ?
December 19, 2008
This is a 6 book series but I only read 5. I tried to read the 1st book, Woman of Substance, no way could I get into that book. I actually read the 4th book 1st & really like it. So I tried to start from the beginning & went to the 2nd book. I just loved this series. They are about a very wealthy family & friends. Good love stories & the drama in thier lives with Johnathon. I hope that the author writes one last book, if you read this series you will know what I am talking about.
November 22, 2018
This story was like a script for a slow tv soap opera. There was 300 pages of story spread out in 750 pages. slow and boring
Interesting, the story set in the late 60s/early 70s could have been set in today times with just the switch of landlines and cell phones and replace telefax with emails or text messages
Interesting, the story set in the late 60s/early 70s could have been set in today times with just the switch of landlines and cell phones and replace telefax with emails or text messages
August 1, 2025
Sequel to A Woman of Substance which is in my top 20. But this one just doesn't cut it for me. For years I would say that Barbara Taylor Bradford was on of my favorite authors, but that was based solely on AWOS. I have tried reading her other books but I just couldn't get warmed up to them. I guess, as far as I'm concerned, she is a one hit wonder.
June 26, 2020
Not as good as the first one. I enjoyed reading the lush descriptions in the first novel but I found them quite repetitive in the second.
April 29, 2022
The second book in the Emma Harte series. I love family sagas like this where I can get to know the characters and the context. This was a long but enjoyable read.
February 9, 2023
After reading A Woman of Substance I was glad to have the next book in the series ready to start.
This book centers more around her grandchildren rather than Emma. Emma is getting up there in age. She's almost 80 at the start of the book. While I missed reading about Emma's story I knew that it was time for the reins to be passed so that the story and her legacy could go on.
I will start off by saying that while I enjoyed this book it wasn't at all like the first book. I fell in love with Emma's story and the woman made herself to be. Her favorite granddaughter, Paula, seems to be a clone of Emma and Emma recognized that.
As with all large families and especially those with a lot of wealth and power there is always going to be some out of the bunch that will be set to rebel because they aren't happy. This book starts showing the true colors of some of the newer generations. The Harte family is unusual because they are intertwined with the O'Neill and Kallinski families.
This book still carried over some of the same things as from the first book. Got a bit repetitious at time. Descriptions a little too overly descriptive. One thing that amuses me from both books is the talk of a widow's peak. Emma had it and so did Paula. It was just amusing to see it keep being mentioned.
Overall this was an enjoyable read. The last portion of the book though was filled with so much sadness that it was heart breaking as I became really invested with the characters. I am still in awe with the shrewdness and the foresight that Emma had in a lot of matters and it seems Paula may also be the same. I can't wait to continue on with the series.
This book centers more around her grandchildren rather than Emma. Emma is getting up there in age. She's almost 80 at the start of the book. While I missed reading about Emma's story I knew that it was time for the reins to be passed so that the story and her legacy could go on.
I will start off by saying that while I enjoyed this book it wasn't at all like the first book. I fell in love with Emma's story and the woman made herself to be. Her favorite granddaughter, Paula, seems to be a clone of Emma and Emma recognized that.
As with all large families and especially those with a lot of wealth and power there is always going to be some out of the bunch that will be set to rebel because they aren't happy. This book starts showing the true colors of some of the newer generations. The Harte family is unusual because they are intertwined with the O'Neill and Kallinski families.
This book still carried over some of the same things as from the first book. Got a bit repetitious at time. Descriptions a little too overly descriptive. One thing that amuses me from both books is the talk of a widow's peak. Emma had it and so did Paula. It was just amusing to see it keep being mentioned.
Overall this was an enjoyable read. The last portion of the book though was filled with so much sadness that it was heart breaking as I became really invested with the characters. I am still in awe with the shrewdness and the foresight that Emma had in a lot of matters and it seems Paula may also be the same. I can't wait to continue on with the series.
August 31, 2018
Hold the Dream was such a delightful read !
This book was so wonderful, intriguing and such a pleasure reading inside the life of the Harte family.
It was such a page turner, you forget the length of the book.
I will be honest the first few chapters was all very confusing because there are so many characters to remember, especially remembering how they are all related and who they were.
But the characters all become very strong in the storyline that each character got highlighted in their way.
As this was the continuing story of ‘ A Woman of Substance ‘ l thought l was going to be disappointed, knowing Woman of Substance had such a strong storyline, and such a brilliant book, Barbara Taylor Bradford gave this sequel its own brilliance also, making Paula McGill Fairley a mordern version of Emma Harte, and learning about the extended family and how true feelings come out, when one shines each other.
The love story of Paula and Shane was so passionate and gripping.
Emma and Blackie there were no words 😶 how beautiful their friendship meant.
This is definitely a Must Read, loved it, you will not be disappointed.
This book was so wonderful, intriguing and such a pleasure reading inside the life of the Harte family.
It was such a page turner, you forget the length of the book.
I will be honest the first few chapters was all very confusing because there are so many characters to remember, especially remembering how they are all related and who they were.
But the characters all become very strong in the storyline that each character got highlighted in their way.
As this was the continuing story of ‘ A Woman of Substance ‘ l thought l was going to be disappointed, knowing Woman of Substance had such a strong storyline, and such a brilliant book, Barbara Taylor Bradford gave this sequel its own brilliance also, making Paula McGill Fairley a mordern version of Emma Harte, and learning about the extended family and how true feelings come out, when one shines each other.
The love story of Paula and Shane was so passionate and gripping.
Emma and Blackie there were no words 😶 how beautiful their friendship meant.
This is definitely a Must Read, loved it, you will not be disappointed.
September 12, 2017
This book was just as interesting as Woman of Substance, the first book in this series. Barbara Taylor Bradford knows how to keep a story going. In Hold the Dream the saga continues with Emma going strong in developing her business and guiding her children. There comes a time when the family begins to break apart and turn on Emma. All except Daisy her daughter and also Paula her granddaughter. Emma pursues her life regardless of the heartbreak she endures with this family breakdown. She grooms Paula to take over for her when the time is right. Many of Emma's grandchildren remain true to her and Emma has a very fulfilling life. She remains friends with Blackie her lifelong friend and they enjoy their late years together. There is betrayal, tragedy and happiness in this story . The author tends to go in to a lot of detail about everything. I actually liked that as it gave me a more vivid look at the surroundings. I can't wait to get started on the next book in this series!
March 9, 2023
Твърде много повтаряне на "телефонирам" и келтското наследство ...
Отново много излишно детайлни описания, но все пак приличен сюжет, предвидим на места.
Като цяло, доста драматични моменти. Някои от драмите си бяха абсолютно излишни, но си давам сметка, че съществуват и в живота. Както човек може сам да се скърши душевно, никой не може да му го причини насила...
За пореден път ме изумява алчността човешка.
Защо никога не ти стига това, което имаш, че искаш и още - власт, пари, имоти, бизнес, влияние .... ?
Колко още? Защо? Кому е нужно? Нали ковчег джоб няма? Каквото и да си натрупал, като си отидеш чакалите рано или късно може да го пръснат, няма гаранция, че ще уважат усилията ти и трупаното с кръв и пот.. Ако не са чакалите, може наследниците да не са такива корифеи и пак да се стигне до същото...
Най-важните неща са все безплатни, но пак искат същите кръв и пот понякога - семейство, приятели, дом, любов.... Всеки преситен от земните "блага" рано или късно се връща именно до тези заключения.
Отново много излишно детайлни описания, но все пак приличен сюжет, предвидим на места.
Като цяло, доста драматични моменти. Някои от драмите си бяха абсолютно излишни, но си давам сметка, че съществуват и в живота. Както човек може сам да се скърши душевно, никой не може да му го причини насила...
За пореден път ме изумява алчността човешка.
Защо никога не ти стига това, което имаш, че искаш и още - власт, пари, имоти, бизнес, влияние .... ?
Колко още? Защо? Кому е нужно? Нали ковчег джоб няма? Каквото и да си натрупал, като си отидеш чакалите рано или късно може да го пръснат, няма гаранция, че ще уважат усилията ти и трупаното с кръв и пот.. Ако не са чакалите, може наследниците да не са такива корифеи и пак да се стигне до същото...
Най-важните неща са все безплатни, но пак искат същите кръв и пот понякога - семейство, приятели, дом, любов.... Всеки преситен от земните "блага" рано или късно се връща именно до тези заключения.
April 19, 2022
A 700 page book that should have been halved.
So many unnecessary details/characters … entire chapters could have been deleted. I ended up skim reading the second half as I was so bored and felt frustrated that the story wasn’t really going anywhere. I mean nothing really happened . It’s just about a family and the ups and downs they encounter… there’s no overarching story that keeps you interested.
I stubbornly pushed through to the end simply because I have such a nostalgic love for her previous book a woman of substance. But really … I should have given up in favour of a more interesting read I think.
2.5/3 stars - the writer gets points for how much effort she put into her descriptions haha
So many unnecessary details/characters … entire chapters could have been deleted. I ended up skim reading the second half as I was so bored and felt frustrated that the story wasn’t really going anywhere. I mean nothing really happened . It’s just about a family and the ups and downs they encounter… there’s no overarching story that keeps you interested.
I stubbornly pushed through to the end simply because I have such a nostalgic love for her previous book a woman of substance. But really … I should have given up in favour of a more interesting read I think.
2.5/3 stars - the writer gets points for how much effort she put into her descriptions haha
June 1, 2025
Reread, Kindle edition, 678 pages
This was a reread of a book I first read more than 30 years ago, in my late teens or early twenties, and I only had very sketchy memories of characters and events. There is some clunky writing and dated attitudes here but I was entertained by this story of business succession and inheritance, romantic and family relationships.
A Woman of Substance, published in 1979, was framed by chapters set in the late 1960s but most of the story was about Emma's earlier life and her rise from servant girl to the founder of a huge and diverse business empire. Hold the Dream is centred on one of Emma's granddaughters, Paula, and the issues of inheritance and succession, together with romantic and family relationships, and some conflict.
This was a reread of a book I first read more than 30 years ago, in my late teens or early twenties, and I only had very sketchy memories of characters and events. There is some clunky writing and dated attitudes here but I was entertained by this story of business succession and inheritance, romantic and family relationships.
A Woman of Substance, published in 1979, was framed by chapters set in the late 1960s but most of the story was about Emma's earlier life and her rise from servant girl to the founder of a huge and diverse business empire. Hold the Dream is centred on one of Emma's granddaughters, Paula, and the issues of inheritance and succession, together with romantic and family relationships, and some conflict.
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