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Calico Palace
The New York Times bestseller that brings to life the passionate, adventurous men and women who transformed San Francisco during the California gold rush.
Kendra comes to San Francisco, a sleepy town of nine hundred people, because her stepfather, an army colonel, is charged with overseeing its defenses during the Mexican War. Marny arrives from Honolulu to set up a gambling hall. Neither expects to be swept up in one of history's greatest adventures, which begins when tiny flakes of gold are discovered in the California hills.
As both young women follow their dreams into the mining camps and back to a rapidly growing San Francisco, they encounter ambitious settlers, sailors, miners, ranchers, and mysterious drifters, men who will offer them love or friendship or will break their hearts. Yet Kendra and Marny's lives stay centered on the Calico Palace, the little gambling operation in a tent in Shiny Gulch that becomes the most opulent gambling house in California.
Thrilling and rich in authentic historical detail, Calico Palace is first-rate historical fiction that informs and entertains.
Kendra comes to San Francisco, a sleepy town of nine hundred people, because her stepfather, an army colonel, is charged with overseeing its defenses during the Mexican War. Marny arrives from Honolulu to set up a gambling hall. Neither expects to be swept up in one of history's greatest adventures, which begins when tiny flakes of gold are discovered in the California hills.
As both young women follow their dreams into the mining camps and back to a rapidly growing San Francisco, they encounter ambitious settlers, sailors, miners, ranchers, and mysterious drifters, men who will offer them love or friendship or will break their hearts. Yet Kendra and Marny's lives stay centered on the Calico Palace, the little gambling operation in a tent in Shiny Gulch that becomes the most opulent gambling house in California.
Thrilling and rich in authentic historical detail, Calico Palace is first-rate historical fiction that informs and entertains.
608 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1970
460 people are currently reading
2556 people want to read
About the author
Gwen Bristow
44 books181 followersGwen Bristow (September 16, 1903 - August 17, 1980) was an American author and journalist. She studied at Columbia University and afterwards wrote for a number of literary magazines and journals. Eventually she moved to New Orleans, and worked at the Times-Picayune. She became interested in longer forms of writing—novels and short stories—through her husband, screenwriter Bruce Manning, and published her first novel in 1929.
Bristow reached the pinnacle of her career with the western romance Jubilee Trail, which became a bestseller in 1950, and was adapted to a moderately successful film in 1954.
Bristow reached the pinnacle of her career with the western romance Jubilee Trail, which became a bestseller in 1950, and was adapted to a moderately successful film in 1954.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
April 20, 2015
4 1/2
I'm a bit torn with this one, I loved Jubilee Trail for its adventure and it's characters. This book was just as good and as much as I hate to be disloyal to Jubilee Trail, I do think this book wrapped up better. I loved getting to know the background story to the characters. I liked Marny, Kendra, Hiram, Pocket, Lauren and yes, even Ted slightly. But most of all I loved the cat, she was five stars without question.
If Kendra was slightly gullible then I must be too, because both of us were taken in by a sweet voice. It was one of the most disappointing moments in the book and one of the best. At that moment all the characters who would be true friends, showed their true colors. It was beautiful.
Hiram, he was distant, close then distant again. I think that's what made him so likable, his cheeky personality that he'd try to hide hoping to keep everyone at the right distance from his heart. As the story progresses I got to know him better and respect him. He was strong, in more ways than one.
Pocket, sigh, what is there not to like about a man who's nicknamed after his bulging pockets? He was a bit of a mystery, rather quiet and wonderfully human.
My only real dislike if you could call it that is, Marny was rather frivolous, she was completely lovable, but I just didn't quite understand her.
Once again, I loved Gwen Bristow's descriptions of the sea, San Francisco, fire, characters and gold mining.
G-PG minimal swearing a few punches and mention of ladies of the night as well as one character who has several affairs throughout the book. None of it is shoved in our face. What I like about this author is that she covers grittier parts of life but doesn't feel the need to give us unwanted details. But she does it without losing anything important from her story.
I'm a bit torn with this one, I loved Jubilee Trail for its adventure and it's characters. This book was just as good and as much as I hate to be disloyal to Jubilee Trail, I do think this book wrapped up better. I loved getting to know the background story to the characters. I liked Marny, Kendra, Hiram, Pocket, Lauren and yes, even Ted slightly. But most of all I loved the cat, she was five stars without question.
If Kendra was slightly gullible then I must be too, because both of us were taken in by a sweet voice. It was one of the most disappointing moments in the book and one of the best. At that moment all the characters who would be true friends, showed their true colors. It was beautiful.
Hiram, he was distant, close then distant again. I think that's what made him so likable, his cheeky personality that he'd try to hide hoping to keep everyone at the right distance from his heart. As the story progresses I got to know him better and respect him. He was strong, in more ways than one.
Pocket, sigh, what is there not to like about a man who's nicknamed after his bulging pockets? He was a bit of a mystery, rather quiet and wonderfully human.
My only real dislike if you could call it that is, Marny was rather frivolous, she was completely lovable, but I just didn't quite understand her.
Once again, I loved Gwen Bristow's descriptions of the sea, San Francisco, fire, characters and gold mining.
G-PG minimal swearing a few punches and mention of ladies of the night as well as one character who has several affairs throughout the book. None of it is shoved in our face. What I like about this author is that she covers grittier parts of life but doesn't feel the need to give us unwanted details. But she does it without losing anything important from her story.
June 14, 2009
This author brings the gold rush and San Francisco to life. 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.
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.
February 4, 2014
Excellent story on the California gold rush and growth of San Francisco 1848-1851.
As the story begins, Kendra Logan is sailing to San Francisco onboard the Cynthia. She is traveling with her mother Eva. They are going to meet up with Eva’s husband, Colonel Alexander Taine who has been posted to San Francisco. The year is 1848. Kendra has spent her life feeling unwanted and has grown up feeling she doesn’t belong. There are not many women in San Francisco at this time, it really is just a small settlement. Well one thing leads to another and before she knows it, Kendra is married to her true love and they are headed for gold country. They and their group are going to see for themselves about this “yellow mica,” and what a grand adventure they have. This book is about what happens to this core group of people as they become known as the forty-eighters and then as they return to San Francisco and contribute to the explosive growth of that city.
Gwen Bristow does a very good job of bringing the gold rush days of California to life. She concentrates on the forty-eighters and the forty-niners, two very different groups of people. Just getting to San Francisco was very difficult, whether by land or sea, then one had to get to the gold country. After the main group of characters returns to San Francisco, we see how it grew in leaps and bounds. Fires are a big problem, it is a rowdy and lawless town. Women could not walk around unescorted without being accosted. And then there is the mud which makes simply getting around very difficult. Like she did in her Plantation Trilogy, Gwen Bristow has brought the characters and the setting to life. There is also a wonderful cat named Geraldine. She must have done an amazing amount of research for this book.
I recommend this one for anyone interested in California or the gold rush.
As the story begins, Kendra Logan is sailing to San Francisco onboard the Cynthia. She is traveling with her mother Eva. They are going to meet up with Eva’s husband, Colonel Alexander Taine who has been posted to San Francisco. The year is 1848. Kendra has spent her life feeling unwanted and has grown up feeling she doesn’t belong. There are not many women in San Francisco at this time, it really is just a small settlement. Well one thing leads to another and before she knows it, Kendra is married to her true love and they are headed for gold country. They and their group are going to see for themselves about this “yellow mica,” and what a grand adventure they have. This book is about what happens to this core group of people as they become known as the forty-eighters and then as they return to San Francisco and contribute to the explosive growth of that city.
Gwen Bristow does a very good job of bringing the gold rush days of California to life. She concentrates on the forty-eighters and the forty-niners, two very different groups of people. Just getting to San Francisco was very difficult, whether by land or sea, then one had to get to the gold country. After the main group of characters returns to San Francisco, we see how it grew in leaps and bounds. Fires are a big problem, it is a rowdy and lawless town. Women could not walk around unescorted without being accosted. And then there is the mud which makes simply getting around very difficult. Like she did in her Plantation Trilogy, Gwen Bristow has brought the characters and the setting to life. There is also a wonderful cat named Geraldine. She must have done an amazing amount of research for this book.
I recommend this one for anyone interested in California or the gold rush.
August 31, 2014
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This is one time I am strongly suggesting not to be put off by the original publication date or the book cover. CALICO PALACE is a richly descriptive historical fiction taking place in 1849 and beyond during the gold rush in California.
The Mexican-American War had ended leaving California in the hands of the United States. Unbeknownst to most people flakes of gold were found in the American River at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Coloma. Throughout 1849, people around the United States (mostly men) borrowed, mortgaged, or spent their life savings to make the exhausting trip to this land in hopes of making it rich.
Kendra Logan and her mother had just arrived in San Francisco in February of 1849 after making an arduous sea-faring journey battling Cape Horn. Her step-father, Colonel Alex Trane, was waiting for them. At nineteen, she had her hands full trying to accustom herself to this new life in a very strange land.
The author distinguished herself by making the reader feel that you are right alongside the characters. Kendra fell in love but all was not what it appeared to be. She soon made what would become a lifelong friendship with another female, Marny, a gambler. She also committed herself to surviving this wild era no matter what it took.
Marny comes into her own as the Gold Rush took over. In some ways she had already had a hard life but with Kendra's help she becomes a stronger person.
Probably the biggest downside to this story is Ms. Bristow's personal prejudices are reflected in her characters and not all of it is likable. A couple of characters didn't have closure and this left me wondering at the end.
Read this book for the history or because it a form of women's fiction; this is CALICO PALACE's strong suit. I would also suggest reading JUBILEE TRAIL first; I wish I had. In some ways it sounded similar in scope to CP but it finished up before this next book began. It is not a series, just two well-thought narratives of a interesting time in America's history.
This is one time I am strongly suggesting not to be put off by the original publication date or the book cover. CALICO PALACE is a richly descriptive historical fiction taking place in 1849 and beyond during the gold rush in California.
The Mexican-American War had ended leaving California in the hands of the United States. Unbeknownst to most people flakes of gold were found in the American River at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Coloma. Throughout 1849, people around the United States (mostly men) borrowed, mortgaged, or spent their life savings to make the exhausting trip to this land in hopes of making it rich.
Kendra Logan and her mother had just arrived in San Francisco in February of 1849 after making an arduous sea-faring journey battling Cape Horn. Her step-father, Colonel Alex Trane, was waiting for them. At nineteen, she had her hands full trying to accustom herself to this new life in a very strange land.
The author distinguished herself by making the reader feel that you are right alongside the characters. Kendra fell in love but all was not what it appeared to be. She soon made what would become a lifelong friendship with another female, Marny, a gambler. She also committed herself to surviving this wild era no matter what it took.
Marny comes into her own as the Gold Rush took over. In some ways she had already had a hard life but with Kendra's help she becomes a stronger person.
Probably the biggest downside to this story is Ms. Bristow's personal prejudices are reflected in her characters and not all of it is likable. A couple of characters didn't have closure and this left me wondering at the end.
Read this book for the history or because it a form of women's fiction; this is CALICO PALACE's strong suit. I would also suggest reading JUBILEE TRAIL first; I wish I had. In some ways it sounded similar in scope to CP but it finished up before this next book began. It is not a series, just two well-thought narratives of a interesting time in America's history.
November 24, 2019
This is a novel about the early years of San Francisco. How the gold rush of the years 1849-1851 brought in thousands of people to mine in the mountains nearby. It starts in 1848 right when gold is discovered and before the “49ers” took over the area, and brought violence and arson with it. The story revolves around two women who come to San Fran for different reasons and become good friends amongst the turmoil and uncertainty of a new booming town. Very interesting as it brought in historical events and places, and fictional characters that told the story. A really great book for historical fiction readers. Her book Jubilee Trail is also great which is the time period right before the Gold Rush.
February 24, 2015
The true protagonist of this book is the city of San Fransisco and how it was transformed from a village to a big city during 3-4 years. (1848-1850). So many fires and so much rebuilding that I lost count. The descriptions of the fires are accurate (http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/fire.html) but in the end they become repetitive. For me that I have never been and probably will never be (and surely not in this time period) in San Fransisco it was very interesting. I preferred Jubilee Trail though.
March 13, 2015
Gwen Bristow's books are so tough, gritty and wonderful. I have enjoyed the two I have read so far and I just got "Celia Garth" in the mail.
I love how she takes bad girls and gives them a heart of gold. Sometimes they even turn out to be more kind that the main character. I appreciate greatly how she gets to me to see people as people, despite their shortcomings.
I actually slowed down my reading of this book, because I wanted it to last. It is really that much fun.
I think it would have been 5 stars but for Geraldine the cat. Those 50 pages seemed to drag and to almost lose the energy track of the story but I also see why she needed the cat for plot.
It was so interesting to see how a woman could walk alone at night and she would never be harmed and yet ironically, they always had to have an escort during the day. It made me sad that criminals back then seemed to have more respect for a woman.
445: My grandmother used to have a cook who was happy and wise. I suppose she was happy because she was wise. When I would run in, all upset about something that might happen next week, she used to say to me, 'Little girl, the way to live is, get ready for the maybe. then forget it.'
Gwen, I think you are great.
I love how she takes bad girls and gives them a heart of gold. Sometimes they even turn out to be more kind that the main character. I appreciate greatly how she gets to me to see people as people, despite their shortcomings.
I actually slowed down my reading of this book, because I wanted it to last. It is really that much fun.
I think it would have been 5 stars but for Geraldine the cat. Those 50 pages seemed to drag and to almost lose the energy track of the story but I also see why she needed the cat for plot.
It was so interesting to see how a woman could walk alone at night and she would never be harmed and yet ironically, they always had to have an escort during the day. It made me sad that criminals back then seemed to have more respect for a woman.
445: My grandmother used to have a cook who was happy and wise. I suppose she was happy because she was wise. When I would run in, all upset about something that might happen next week, she used to say to me, 'Little girl, the way to live is, get ready for the maybe. then forget it.'
Gwen, I think you are great.
October 23, 2009
I just pulled this one out of my garage for a reread. I forgot what a great book it was. I love historical fiction and love how clean the old authors used to write. This one is about the trek from the East to settle California--the first time I read it I had no idea the Cajon Pass was a real place--it was fun to read again with new eyes!
oops-looks like I mixed up her books--Jubilee trail is about the settling of the LA area--this one is about San Francisco in the early years. Both were excellent and vivid. I love her characters and how she weaves the history into her stories. I just discovered that there are some more books by her that I never found in the library years ago. I love how goodreads has such good lists. Technology is so amazing at times! I hope I can still get my hands on them!
oops-looks like I mixed up her books--Jubilee trail is about the settling of the LA area--this one is about San Francisco in the early years. Both were excellent and vivid. I love her characters and how she weaves the history into her stories. I just discovered that there are some more books by her that I never found in the library years ago. I love how goodreads has such good lists. Technology is so amazing at times! I hope I can still get my hands on them!
October 21, 2009
This book is Gwen Bristow's nominal sequel to "Jubilee Trail" - that is, it features different characters, but is set in the 1848 California Gold Rush, which is just where Jubilee Trail left off. Many of the characters are similar to Jubilee Trail's - Kendra, a well-bred girl who marries a Gold Rush explorer and goes adventurer; Marny, the sassy card shark who is her best friend. I have to say the characters are not quite as compelling as Jubilee Trail's but there is still no better portrait of the Gold Rush and its various adventures. Kendra struggles through two marriages and many other offers in woman-starved San Francisco, while Marny struggles to establish a high-bred casino called the Calico Palace. A rich, absorbing read.
May 30, 2018
This book held my interest way too many late nights in a row...until about the last fourth. I don't know if I was distracted or the lack of sleep caught up with me -- all the fires sort of ran together at the end.
The character development was so good...the way the men and women changed through their experiences yet stayed true to themselves, too, was to me one of the strongest parts of this book. A close second, though, was all the history I effortlessly learned, woven into the story so well. Also, although I consider this a book for adults, the "adult" material was handled with subtlety and skill, even humor, which I greatly appreciate in novels.
I'm glad this books was recommended to me!
The character development was so good...the way the men and women changed through their experiences yet stayed true to themselves, too, was to me one of the strongest parts of this book. A close second, though, was all the history I effortlessly learned, woven into the story so well. Also, although I consider this a book for adults, the "adult" material was handled with subtlety and skill, even humor, which I greatly appreciate in novels.
I'm glad this books was recommended to me!
December 3, 2014
Kendra Logan travels with her mother on board the ship Cynthia around Cape Horn to a place called California. There they will join Kendra's stepfather Colonel Taine in a place called San Francisco. No one has ever heard of San Francisco in 1847 and Kendra does not relish going there, for she is not wanted. The crew members are all kind, especially Loren Shields. San Francisco is a muddy, uncivilized place but Kendra enjoys creating meals for her family and friends and the company of Ted Parks, the errand "boy" from Chase and Fenway. When gold is discovered near Sutter's Fort, Ted decides to try his luck. Kendra won't let him leave without her and despite the hardships, is determined to make the best of it. Her traveling companions include the the ex-sailor Hiram Boyd, a kind man nicknamed Pocket and a woman known as Marny, a gambling hostess from Honolulu. Marny's partner Delbert, two bodyguards known as "The Blackbeards" and their girlfriends round out the party. Kendra is shocked but intrigued by the beguiling Marny, obviously a woman with different morals than Kendra has been brought up with. For better or for worse, in the gold fields of California, the traveling companions become trusted friends. When Kendra's life takes an unexpected turn, her friends are there for her every step of the way. As San Francisco grows and changes, Kendra does too.
This book is a follow-up to Jubilee Trail. I recommend reading that one first. This book follows that one in time sequence, telling the story of how San Francisco came to be a city thanks to the gold rush. The characters are merely inserted into the history of San Francisco. The story is very slow to start and I didn't really get into it until a quarter of the way through. It just wasn't compelling enough to grab my attention. The plot starts and stops a lot as the author stops to explain the history of California.I found myself skimming parts of the book because there was too much history. I know a little bit about the gold rush and have seen demonstrations of panning for gold on TV. I wanted to know more about the characters and what was happening with them. Also, the history bits got repetitive after awhile. The story is not as compelling as Jubilee Trail for that reason. It does pick up a lot about 3/4 of the way through and I had a hard time putting it down.
This author has a formula to her romantic plots so I wasn't entirely surprised at the turns Kendra's story took but I thought the author tried too hard to insert romance where it didn't fit. There are some really odd pairings at the end of the book just randomly tossed in. They aren't developed enough to be believable. Though the romances are clean and technically kisses only, it IS set in the wild west. There's frank talk of who is going to bed with whom; frequent mentions of Blossom, a notorious Madame and her flower garden girls; gambling; drinking; unmarried couples being together and other things that go on in the wild west. There's also a lot of ethnic and racial stereotypes that while accurate for the time, bothered me to read. That sort of thing doesn't usually bother me in a period novel but there was a lot of it here and unnecessary at times too. I also felt like there was a pre-women's-liberation agenda going on in the author's head that she tried to push. There were far too many women interested in domesticity. That got boring fast.
The characters are almost shadow copies of those in Jubilee Trail, but not quite as lifelike. These characters are more stereotypes. The only character I really cared for was Marny. I loved her independent spirit and how she had the guts to leave her comfortable life and go after what she wanted. Though she chafes at the label of "Woman of easy virtue with heart of gold" she really does fit that stereotype. I especially loved how educated she was and how she used it to her advantage when she wanted to. I really felt for her during her ups and downs and wanted her to be happy. While I did want her to find someone who loved her and cared about her, I also wanted her to remain independent. I'm torn on how I feel about the outcome of her story.
The only other character I liked was Pocket. He's so sweet and kind, plus he ends up working in the library! He's a true blue friend, one I would want by my side when the going got rough. He was the most supportive of the supporting characters.
Kendra could have been a great character but the decisions she makes turn her into exactly the sort of person she can't stand. I see why she made some of the choices she did and probably I would have too if I were her, but I didn't like the choices she made because they seemed out of character. She's supposed to grow and change but her growth isn't really all that visible. She just randomly realizes things at the end and her story is rushed to the inevitable conclusion. This is the author's fault for including too much history and not weaving her characters completely into the history of San Francisco.
This book is a follow-up to Jubilee Trail. I recommend reading that one first. This book follows that one in time sequence, telling the story of how San Francisco came to be a city thanks to the gold rush. The characters are merely inserted into the history of San Francisco. The story is very slow to start and I didn't really get into it until a quarter of the way through. It just wasn't compelling enough to grab my attention. The plot starts and stops a lot as the author stops to explain the history of California.I found myself skimming parts of the book because there was too much history. I know a little bit about the gold rush and have seen demonstrations of panning for gold on TV. I wanted to know more about the characters and what was happening with them. Also, the history bits got repetitive after awhile. The story is not as compelling as Jubilee Trail for that reason. It does pick up a lot about 3/4 of the way through and I had a hard time putting it down.
This author has a formula to her romantic plots so I wasn't entirely surprised at the turns Kendra's story took but I thought the author tried too hard to insert romance where it didn't fit. There are some really odd pairings at the end of the book just randomly tossed in. They aren't developed enough to be believable. Though the romances are clean and technically kisses only, it IS set in the wild west. There's frank talk of who is going to bed with whom; frequent mentions of Blossom, a notorious Madame and her flower garden girls; gambling; drinking; unmarried couples being together and other things that go on in the wild west. There's also a lot of ethnic and racial stereotypes that while accurate for the time, bothered me to read. That sort of thing doesn't usually bother me in a period novel but there was a lot of it here and unnecessary at times too. I also felt like there was a pre-women's-liberation agenda going on in the author's head that she tried to push. There were far too many women interested in domesticity. That got boring fast.
The characters are almost shadow copies of those in Jubilee Trail, but not quite as lifelike. These characters are more stereotypes. The only character I really cared for was Marny. I loved her independent spirit and how she had the guts to leave her comfortable life and go after what she wanted. Though she chafes at the label of "Woman of easy virtue with heart of gold" she really does fit that stereotype. I especially loved how educated she was and how she used it to her advantage when she wanted to. I really felt for her during her ups and downs and wanted her to be happy. While I did want her to find someone who loved her and cared about her, I also wanted her to remain independent. I'm torn on how I feel about the outcome of her story.
The only other character I liked was Pocket. He's so sweet and kind, plus he ends up working in the library! He's a true blue friend, one I would want by my side when the going got rough. He was the most supportive of the supporting characters.
Kendra could have been a great character but the decisions she makes turn her into exactly the sort of person she can't stand. I see why she made some of the choices she did and probably I would have too if I were her, but I didn't like the choices she made because they seemed out of character. She's supposed to grow and change but her growth isn't really all that visible. She just randomly realizes things at the end and her story is rushed to the inevitable conclusion. This is the author's fault for including too much history and not weaving her characters completely into the history of San Francisco.
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June 24, 2018Read this way back in high school...actually from the school library.
November 11, 2009
I haven't read a decent historical in... a long time. It was a little difficult to get into the swing of the novel, probably because it had been described to me as a romance--which it really wasn't--so I wasn't expecting the plot to unfold the way it did, or the writing itself, in truth. I suppose Calico Palace could be described as a romance, in that the two main female characters (and just about everyone else, it seems) end up married by the end, but it certainly doesn't read like a romance.
Set in California just before and during the gold rush of '49, the novel follows the doings of Kendra, a young woman dragged out to San Francisco because of a step-father's military posting. She quickly finds herself married, and then happily ensconsed on the goldfields with her husband and a motly crew of friends (including Marny, a beautiful redhead of questionable repute) before word of the gold got out. Of course, this happiness doesn't last after she finds out that her beloved husband is actually married to someone else.
We get to see the transformation of San Francisco through Kendra's and Marny's eyes, as they try to hold onto their dreams and their lives in the midst of chaos and tragedy. But of course, it all ends well - perhaps too neatly, if you must be a realist - and it is certainly an enjoyable, memorable journey.
Set in California just before and during the gold rush of '49, the novel follows the doings of Kendra, a young woman dragged out to San Francisco because of a step-father's military posting. She quickly finds herself married, and then happily ensconsed on the goldfields with her husband and a motly crew of friends (including Marny, a beautiful redhead of questionable repute) before word of the gold got out. Of course, this happiness doesn't last after she finds out that her beloved husband is actually married to someone else.
We get to see the transformation of San Francisco through Kendra's and Marny's eyes, as they try to hold onto their dreams and their lives in the midst of chaos and tragedy. But of course, it all ends well - perhaps too neatly, if you must be a realist - and it is certainly an enjoyable, memorable journey.
June 5, 2011
This book was actually written before I was even born; I know, I know, they made books that long ago! I was talking to one of my library friends and she recommended it saying it was an oldie, but a goodie if you like historical fiction. Although the cover made me think "romance" novel, which isn't really my cup of tea, I went ahead and gave it a try. And while there were some romantic story lines, this book is not what I would classify as romance. The book was well written, the story did take some unexpected turns, and overall I really liked it. Although the story outlined the lives of several 1849 San Franciscans (when it was population 900) the main character begins as Kendra, a young adult traveling to her mother and step-father stationed at a military post. From here Kendra finds love, ends up in the gold fields of Sutter's Mill, and then comes back to San Francisco. Through relationships, love, death, and town-eating fires (lots of fires) the story also tells of (and ends on) the character of Marny, an independant woman doing everything she can to remain independant, even when her means of making a living by being a card sharp are not accepted in polite society.
If you liked Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor, or A Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus I recommend this book to you.
If you liked Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor, or A Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus I recommend this book to you.
May 19, 2008
Things I liked about this book: It was set in Sacramento and San Francisco in the 1840's and there was SOME interesting tidbits about how these towns looked in that era.
Things I didn't like about this book: it was way too long (589 pages). It included very long boring details about what the main character, Kendra cooks for dinner and scurvy. Half way through the book, Kendra kind of sizzles out and suddenly the story is told through someone else's eyes (Kendra isn't even mentioned in the last 20 or so pages). It was boring. It was not especially well written.
I only skimmed the second half of the book because I was so bored with it. I didn't care if Kendra lived or died, got married again or worked at the Calico Palace. It was just not compelling to me.
Things I didn't like about this book: it was way too long (589 pages). It included very long boring details about what the main character, Kendra cooks for dinner and scurvy. Half way through the book, Kendra kind of sizzles out and suddenly the story is told through someone else's eyes (Kendra isn't even mentioned in the last 20 or so pages). It was boring. It was not especially well written.
I only skimmed the second half of the book because I was so bored with it. I didn't care if Kendra lived or died, got married again or worked at the Calico Palace. It was just not compelling to me.
November 28, 2009
I loved reading about early San Francisco and the changes made by the wealth pouring in from the gold fields. A hundred years later I saw many of the unique features mentioned in the book and another forty years haven't taken away the romance and have added more. One of the great cities of the world, only the hardiest and bravest arrived at its waterfront and from across the mountains and the prairies in those days. The story of some of these individuals give more life and flavor to the already interesting history lessons in the book.
March 12, 2023
Another fabulous book by Gwen Bristow. This book is set in San Francisco (when it was a tiny little outpost far from the United States) before California was part of the United States and starts when the California gold rush begins. Two strong women, Kendra and Marney, are the central characters.
(If this book is so good why did it take me a year and a half to read it? The answer is because I bought the book and buying a book is the kiss of death for me. I guess I need a due date from the library to read something quickly!)
(If this book is so good why did it take me a year and a half to read it? The answer is because I bought the book and buying a book is the kiss of death for me. I guess I need a due date from the library to read something quickly!)
September 27, 2018
This was a valiant attempt at a historical novel. However, it fell far short of my expectations.
The characters were shallow, scenarios repetitive, and it lacked cohesiveness. A full page devoted to a cat having kittens, long descriptions of someone's dressing up for a meal, and pages of mud, fog, rain, and ships clogging the harbor. I kept reading just to see if something would happen and it would all be tied together. Unfortunately, I should have saved myself some time.
The characters were shallow, scenarios repetitive, and it lacked cohesiveness. A full page devoted to a cat having kittens, long descriptions of someone's dressing up for a meal, and pages of mud, fog, rain, and ships clogging the harbor. I kept reading just to see if something would happen and it would all be tied together. Unfortunately, I should have saved myself some time.
April 5, 2022
I love this book. The story of Kendra Logan excited me as a young girl. She goes with her mother to the desolate outpost of San Francisco, a sad little town in the California territory. Kendra meets and marries a man named Ted and they follow the lure of gold. She befriends Marnie, a woman who is starting her own gambling establishment, "The Calico Palace". Ted turns out to be fickle, but her friendship with Marnie endures.
This book talks about the gold rush, the rise of the town of San Francisco, and the deadly fires. It's enthralling. I really enjoyed it as a girl and it ages well.
It is meant for middle school readers and some of the dialogue and writing does emphasize that, but I don't think it disappoints. I fully recommend it.
This book talks about the gold rush, the rise of the town of San Francisco, and the deadly fires. It's enthralling. I really enjoyed it as a girl and it ages well.
It is meant for middle school readers and some of the dialogue and writing does emphasize that, but I don't think it disappoints. I fully recommend it.
February 6, 2023
Gwen Bristow does historical fiction in the best of ways. Calico Palace isn't quite up to Jubilee Trail standards, but the characters are wonderful and it's so fascinating to think about how those cities on the west coast were created. Recommend.
February 7, 2019
A little dated, but still entertaining.
June 4, 2018
Probably 4 - 4.5 Stars
Read and loved this book way back in high school. I've been watching for it at used book sales so I can re-read it. (I'm pretty sure it was a book my grandma loaned to me.)
Read and loved this book way back in high school. I've been watching for it at used book sales so I can re-read it. (I'm pretty sure it was a book my grandma loaned to me.)
July 14, 2018
Didn't realize this was an old fashioned western saga until I got a little ways into it. It's definitely written in the style of the mid 20th century, which is very much what I am used to.
So for me, it was a great read by an author who was excellent at describing her settings. Not sure if today's young readers will enjoy it so much but I thought it was an excellent story with a perfect ending.
So for me, it was a great read by an author who was excellent at describing her settings. Not sure if today's young readers will enjoy it so much but I thought it was an excellent story with a perfect ending.
August 26, 2015
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
The book Calico Palace is a romance/historical novel/adventure story that brings the California Gold Rush to vivid life with wonderful characters, a robust sense of humor, some harrowing tragedy (the Gold Rush was not a place for wimps), and a strong message of the importance of building your own family, being emotionally hardy, and seizing the life you want in a forthright way. It’s a powerfully feminist book and while some of the romance comes out of nowhere, it contains one of the best descriptions of love that I’ve ever heard.
There’s a lot of romance in this book, but it focuses much more on friendship than on romance. Men and women have platonic friendships, and the friendship between Marny and Kendra is at the center of the book. Sometimes they spend tons of time together and sometimes little, but they are always there for each other. The friendship between Pocket, Hiram, Marny, and Kendra remains constant regardless of who is sleeping with whom (Marny is something of a serial monogamist, finding lovers who are willing to bankroll her enterprises for some special benefits, which she very much enjoys since she selects partners who are good-looking as well as rich) and whether the characters are experiencing delight and disaster.
This book may not be progressive in terms of race, but it’s feminist as all get out. A primary theme in the book is that The Gold Rush gave people the opportunity to escape from roles proscribed by society. Men and women alike are praised by the author for pursuing their dreams, and no sin is greater than slut-shaming. Both of the women in the story find true love, and that’s portrayed as important, but it’s just as important for the men in the story. Not all women are portrayed as wanting children, not all women are portrayed as wanting a domestic life, and neither those who do (Kendra) nor those that don’t (Marny) are judged for their choices.
I adore this book with a couple of caveats that are pretty standard for the time period it’s describing (1848 – 1850) and the time period it was published in (1970, when the author was almost 70 years old). It’s fun, it’s by turns tearjerking and hilarious, it’s feminist, it’s romantic, and it describes a crazy time in history with a lot of excitement, some glamour, and a great deal of grit.
- Carrie S.
The book Calico Palace is a romance/historical novel/adventure story that brings the California Gold Rush to vivid life with wonderful characters, a robust sense of humor, some harrowing tragedy (the Gold Rush was not a place for wimps), and a strong message of the importance of building your own family, being emotionally hardy, and seizing the life you want in a forthright way. It’s a powerfully feminist book and while some of the romance comes out of nowhere, it contains one of the best descriptions of love that I’ve ever heard.
There’s a lot of romance in this book, but it focuses much more on friendship than on romance. Men and women have platonic friendships, and the friendship between Marny and Kendra is at the center of the book. Sometimes they spend tons of time together and sometimes little, but they are always there for each other. The friendship between Pocket, Hiram, Marny, and Kendra remains constant regardless of who is sleeping with whom (Marny is something of a serial monogamist, finding lovers who are willing to bankroll her enterprises for some special benefits, which she very much enjoys since she selects partners who are good-looking as well as rich) and whether the characters are experiencing delight and disaster.
This book may not be progressive in terms of race, but it’s feminist as all get out. A primary theme in the book is that The Gold Rush gave people the opportunity to escape from roles proscribed by society. Men and women alike are praised by the author for pursuing their dreams, and no sin is greater than slut-shaming. Both of the women in the story find true love, and that’s portrayed as important, but it’s just as important for the men in the story. Not all women are portrayed as wanting children, not all women are portrayed as wanting a domestic life, and neither those who do (Kendra) nor those that don’t (Marny) are judged for their choices.
I adore this book with a couple of caveats that are pretty standard for the time period it’s describing (1848 – 1850) and the time period it was published in (1970, when the author was almost 70 years old). It’s fun, it’s by turns tearjerking and hilarious, it’s feminist, it’s romantic, and it describes a crazy time in history with a lot of excitement, some glamour, and a great deal of grit.
- Carrie S.
August 20, 2008
This author brings the gold rush and San Francisco to life. 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.
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.
July 27, 2011
So far I am really liking this book. I loved it!!!
This story of the California gold rush is not about the forty-niners, the prospectors who came rushing to the San Francisco area in 1849, but about the men and women who were there when it all began with the first discovery of gold in 1848, when San Francisco was a village of 900 people. These were the people who went up to the hills and came back staggering under the weight of the treasure they carried, and who began transforming San Francisco from a shantytown into one of the most brilliant cities in the world.
This novel tells the unforgettable story of how these people walked into one of the most spectacular adventures in the world’s history. They saw the first samples of gold brought to the quartermaster, who said they were flakes of yellow mica. They were there when the first people who saw the gold were laughed at and called “crackbrains.” And they laid the foundation of the golden empire before the first forty-niners got there. Some of them could not meet the demands of this strange new world; others grew stronger and shared the greatness of the country they had helped build. Calico Palace is their story brought to vivid life.
This story of the California gold rush is not about the forty-niners, the prospectors who came rushing to the San Francisco area in 1849, but about the men and women who were there when it all began with the first discovery of gold in 1848, when San Francisco was a village of 900 people. These were the people who went up to the hills and came back staggering under the weight of the treasure they carried, and who began transforming San Francisco from a shantytown into one of the most brilliant cities in the world.
This novel tells the unforgettable story of how these people walked into one of the most spectacular adventures in the world’s history. They saw the first samples of gold brought to the quartermaster, who said they were flakes of yellow mica. They were there when the first people who saw the gold were laughed at and called “crackbrains.” And they laid the foundation of the golden empire before the first forty-niners got there. Some of them could not meet the demands of this strange new world; others grew stronger and shared the greatness of the country they had helped build. Calico Palace is their story brought to vivid life.
September 10, 2016
(Reread) You know what I really love about Kindle? Rediscovering old books that I have not read in years, and having them available at a moment's notice on my phone, Kindle, and tablet. Calico Palace is one of those books. I first read this book in my teens. I think this was my first grown up historical novel, and it was a wonderful introduction to the genre.
Calico Palace tells the story of two young women who move to San Francisco during the gold rush days. Kendra impulsively marries a handsome gold miner and moves with him to a mining camp. Marny is from a proper Eastern family, but she wants to live independently as a card dealer at her own gambling house (the Calico Palace) .
The historical details are fascinating (I love reading about this period in American history) and I really enjoyed the likable, well developed characters in this book. I loved the way Gwen Bristow balances their romantic storylines with the more modern themes of independence, personal empowerment, friends as family, and making positive choices in life.
I read this book slowly because I enjoyed it so much and didn't want it to end! I guess I need to reread Jubilee Trail (also by Gwen Bristow) in the near future.
Calico Palace tells the story of two young women who move to San Francisco during the gold rush days. Kendra impulsively marries a handsome gold miner and moves with him to a mining camp. Marny is from a proper Eastern family, but she wants to live independently as a card dealer at her own gambling house (the Calico Palace) .
The historical details are fascinating (I love reading about this period in American history) and I really enjoyed the likable, well developed characters in this book. I loved the way Gwen Bristow balances their romantic storylines with the more modern themes of independence, personal empowerment, friends as family, and making positive choices in life.
I read this book slowly because I enjoyed it so much and didn't want it to end! I guess I need to reread Jubilee Trail (also by Gwen Bristow) in the near future.
June 26, 2012
I loved this book when I was a child, and I re-read it recently as an adult. The historical research is fantastic and transports the reader to a different time. Since I live in the San Francisco area, I especially loved reading about what this area was like in its early days.
However, I just couldn't stand that Kendra's only goal in life was to be married. She wasn't happy working and living with friends that supported her in an incredibly exciting city. The entire story line revolved around that ONLY way Kendra would be happy is if she was married to a man she loved. And every time she married someone, she dropped her entire life, and followed her husband. Gwen Bristow reinforces the idea that a woman can only be happy when married when at the very end of the book, even Marny, the ultimate independent woman, agrees to marriage. Such a narrow-minded outlook bothered me throughout the entire second half of the book.
However, I just couldn't stand that Kendra's only goal in life was to be married. She wasn't happy working and living with friends that supported her in an incredibly exciting city. The entire story line revolved around that ONLY way Kendra would be happy is if she was married to a man she loved. And every time she married someone, she dropped her entire life, and followed her husband. Gwen Bristow reinforces the idea that a woman can only be happy when married when at the very end of the book, even Marny, the ultimate independent woman, agrees to marriage. Such a narrow-minded outlook bothered me throughout the entire second half of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 29, 2020Excellent historical novel about the California Gold Rush, first published in 1970
I first discovered Gwen Bristow's historical novels in 1970, when Calico Palace was initially released. It was the last novel that Gwen Bristow published. It covers the time period of 1848-1851 in San Francisco, California. This famous era, frequently portrayed in books and films, immediately follows the years represented in her earlier novel, Jubilee Trail, which is another historical novel about California that Bristow first published in 1950. Unlike Jubilee Trail, which was made into a western movie in 1954, Calico Palace has not yet been made into a movie.
Similar to Jubilee Trail, the core focus of this story is the intertwined lives of a virginal, 19-year-old Good Girl, in this novel, Kendra Logan, originally from New York State, and a 23-year-old Bad Girl, in this novel, Marcia "Marny" Randolph, originally from Philadelphia. These two young women both arrive in San Francisco via separate voyages on the same sailing ship, the Cynthia, during 1848, a few months before the beginning of the California Gold Rush in Northern California.
The primary story goal of Kendra, and the goal of her entire life, due to being abandoned by her parents and raised by a rather cold-natured grandmother, is to find love and acceptance, especially in marriage. Marnie's primary goal in the story, and the goal of her entire life, is to be allowed to live her life, free from the oppressive interference of family and society, as the unique and independent woman she is, in a world where women of her and Kendra's upper-middle-class background are routinely forced to live within the conventional mold of female gentility.
During the course of this novel, the most consistent and important relationship that Kendra and Marny have is with each other. Men come and go in their lives, and across the course of the novel, each has three significant romantic relationships, which may be rather disconcerting for fans of typical, modern romance novels. However, such readers will be happy to know that Bristow does wrap up this book by finally permitting both women to arrive in the safe harbor of HEA true love with admirable, male characters who have been consistently present throughout the entire book.
This historical novel is extremely long compared to the typically 90,000 to 100,000 word novels of today. But similar to modern women's fiction, it is written by a woman, for women, about women. Since it was conceived in a much more conservative era than the current one, it is primarily G-rated. There is no onstage sexuality at all, no coarse language, and only a small amount of PG-level violence. As such, fans of modern day, sexually explicit historical romances, which contain action-adventure, "woman in danger" subplots, may find this book a bit tame. There is a certain amount of danger to the two heroines, but it is not the nail-biting type, and it is generally resolved fairly quickly. Also, the only real romance in this novel that would fit the mold of an HEA type romance of today is that which occurs in the last three or four chapters of this very long book. On the other hand, those of us who get quite tired of the anachronistic sexcapades of the heroines and heroes of modern-day historical romances may find the focus on historically accurate portrayals of female behavior in this novel rather refreshing.
It is frequently remarked that there are four main types of conflict possible in any popular-fiction novel. These include: protagonist vs antagonist, protagonist vs herself, protagonist vs society, and protagonist vs nature. This book, as is the case with most historical novels, utilizes primarily the two conflicts, protagonists vs nature and protagonists vs society. Marny does have one significant male antagonist who appears several times within the book as a subplot, but he is not a major focus of the book. And Kendra does have one female antagonist who is a minor subplot of the story. Kendra and Marny, however, are always confidantes and allies and never antagonists to each other. They are both consistently strong, active, admirable, sympathetic protagonists.
This book is written primarily in omniscient point of view, but the only heads the author hops into are those of Kendra and Marny, with primary emphasis on Kendra.
Toward the last quarter of the book, there is a fantastic subplot with an adorable cat named Geraldine. It was one of the highlights of the book for me. Geraldine is quite the heroic defender, with a significant part to play in the resolution of an important subplot of the story.
There are many terrific examples of healthy, supportive, male/female, platonic friendship throughout this book, as is the case with her novel, Jubilee Trail. I personally see those types of relationships as one of Bristow's literary strengths.
I rather enjoyed the fact that this is a very long book by modern standards, with 20.6 hours of narration in the audiobook, compared to usually no more than 9 to 10 hours for modern historical romances. The story held my interest throughout. I found it quite entertaining.
I experienced this book simultaneously in both Kindle format and audiobook format. I got the Kindle book through Amazon Prime Library, and I got the audiobook through Hoopla. The audiobook narrator is the talented actress and romance-fiction author, Gabra Zackman. She has a rich, sonorous voice and does an excellence job with characters of different ages, both genders and different regional accents.
I rate this book as follows:
Dual Heroines: 5 stars
Male HEA Romantic Interests: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Geraldine the Cat: 5 stars
Gold Rush Setting: 5 stars
San Francisco Setting: 5 stars
Sisterhood Plot: 5 stars
Male/Female Platonic Friendship Plots: 5 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Audiobook Narration: 4 stars
Overall: 5 stars
I first discovered Gwen Bristow's historical novels in 1970, when Calico Palace was initially released. It was the last novel that Gwen Bristow published. It covers the time period of 1848-1851 in San Francisco, California. This famous era, frequently portrayed in books and films, immediately follows the years represented in her earlier novel, Jubilee Trail, which is another historical novel about California that Bristow first published in 1950. Unlike Jubilee Trail, which was made into a western movie in 1954, Calico Palace has not yet been made into a movie.
Similar to Jubilee Trail, the core focus of this story is the intertwined lives of a virginal, 19-year-old Good Girl, in this novel, Kendra Logan, originally from New York State, and a 23-year-old Bad Girl, in this novel, Marcia "Marny" Randolph, originally from Philadelphia. These two young women both arrive in San Francisco via separate voyages on the same sailing ship, the Cynthia, during 1848, a few months before the beginning of the California Gold Rush in Northern California.
The primary story goal of Kendra, and the goal of her entire life, due to being abandoned by her parents and raised by a rather cold-natured grandmother, is to find love and acceptance, especially in marriage. Marnie's primary goal in the story, and the goal of her entire life, is to be allowed to live her life, free from the oppressive interference of family and society, as the unique and independent woman she is, in a world where women of her and Kendra's upper-middle-class background are routinely forced to live within the conventional mold of female gentility.
During the course of this novel, the most consistent and important relationship that Kendra and Marny have is with each other. Men come and go in their lives, and across the course of the novel, each has three significant romantic relationships, which may be rather disconcerting for fans of typical, modern romance novels. However, such readers will be happy to know that Bristow does wrap up this book by finally permitting both women to arrive in the safe harbor of HEA true love with admirable, male characters who have been consistently present throughout the entire book.
This historical novel is extremely long compared to the typically 90,000 to 100,000 word novels of today. But similar to modern women's fiction, it is written by a woman, for women, about women. Since it was conceived in a much more conservative era than the current one, it is primarily G-rated. There is no onstage sexuality at all, no coarse language, and only a small amount of PG-level violence. As such, fans of modern day, sexually explicit historical romances, which contain action-adventure, "woman in danger" subplots, may find this book a bit tame. There is a certain amount of danger to the two heroines, but it is not the nail-biting type, and it is generally resolved fairly quickly. Also, the only real romance in this novel that would fit the mold of an HEA type romance of today is that which occurs in the last three or four chapters of this very long book. On the other hand, those of us who get quite tired of the anachronistic sexcapades of the heroines and heroes of modern-day historical romances may find the focus on historically accurate portrayals of female behavior in this novel rather refreshing.
It is frequently remarked that there are four main types of conflict possible in any popular-fiction novel. These include: protagonist vs antagonist, protagonist vs herself, protagonist vs society, and protagonist vs nature. This book, as is the case with most historical novels, utilizes primarily the two conflicts, protagonists vs nature and protagonists vs society. Marny does have one significant male antagonist who appears several times within the book as a subplot, but he is not a major focus of the book. And Kendra does have one female antagonist who is a minor subplot of the story. Kendra and Marny, however, are always confidantes and allies and never antagonists to each other. They are both consistently strong, active, admirable, sympathetic protagonists.
This book is written primarily in omniscient point of view, but the only heads the author hops into are those of Kendra and Marny, with primary emphasis on Kendra.
Toward the last quarter of the book, there is a fantastic subplot with an adorable cat named Geraldine. It was one of the highlights of the book for me. Geraldine is quite the heroic defender, with a significant part to play in the resolution of an important subplot of the story.
There are many terrific examples of healthy, supportive, male/female, platonic friendship throughout this book, as is the case with her novel, Jubilee Trail. I personally see those types of relationships as one of Bristow's literary strengths.
I rather enjoyed the fact that this is a very long book by modern standards, with 20.6 hours of narration in the audiobook, compared to usually no more than 9 to 10 hours for modern historical romances. The story held my interest throughout. I found it quite entertaining.
I experienced this book simultaneously in both Kindle format and audiobook format. I got the Kindle book through Amazon Prime Library, and I got the audiobook through Hoopla. The audiobook narrator is the talented actress and romance-fiction author, Gabra Zackman. She has a rich, sonorous voice and does an excellence job with characters of different ages, both genders and different regional accents.
I rate this book as follows:
Dual Heroines: 5 stars
Male HEA Romantic Interests: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Geraldine the Cat: 5 stars
Gold Rush Setting: 5 stars
San Francisco Setting: 5 stars
Sisterhood Plot: 5 stars
Male/Female Platonic Friendship Plots: 5 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Audiobook Narration: 4 stars
Overall: 5 stars
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