Overall, what do you think of The House of Lincoln? (no spoilers in this thread)

Overall, what do you think of The House of Lincoln? (no spoilers in this thread)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical novel! I learned a great deal about Mary Lincoln and how Lincoln "grew" into his position as President.

An informative and enjoyable historical novel. The reader takes a journey with Ana Ferreira, a 14 year old house maid of the Abraham Lincoln and experience from a different perspective the growth of Abraham Lincoln as a political force and leader and how Ama’s role changes and how she gained insight into the changes and challenges of the world around her including the struggles of slavery and the Civil War during stay with the family and afterwards. Plus follow the parallel timeline of her family adjusting as immigrants after fleeing from Portugal because they were Presbyterians to living in Illinois Both insightful and engaging as a historical fiction read.

While I enjoyed the book, it had story threads that tantalized but weren’t developed to my satisfaction. Loved learning about the development of Springfield, IL during Lincoln’s time.

I enjoyed the book, but felt too much time was spent on ancillary characters. Had the author eliminated that focus, more could have been developed in the Ana and the Lincolns' relationship. Also, having never read this author before, I found her writing style clunky in parts causing me to reread passages to determine who was speaking.

I was excited about Nancy Horan’s new book. Her first book Loving Frank is one of my favorites. I also liked her second Under the Wide and Starry Sky. I was a bit disappointed by this book. I actually read for character and I did not feel that she developed her characters to my satisfaction. I am glad that I read the book and hope that most people enjoy it.

For me, The House of Lincoln was an historical novel about the city of Springfield, Il. It could have been middle America from the 1850s to the early 1900s, except Abraham Lincoln lived there and provided a framework for what was happening within the country. The three main groups of people, the Donnegans represented the free blacks, the Ferreiras the many immigrants entering our country, and Lincoln the politics of the day. While we learn a lot about Lincoln, I don't think that was Horan's primary objective--he and his family were used to help us understand the times. I looked at Ana's segments almost as entries in a diary as she thinks about what is happening to her, to her friend Cal, to Springfield, and the country.

I give the book 4 stars. I enjoyed learning about middle America. I did not learn anything new re Lincoln and the history of the time.

I, too, am a fan of this author's earlier work, and that was my reason for requesting this novel. As her earlier works focus on famous individuals, I hoped and expected that this novel might focus on the man whose name is in its title. Unfortunately, that was not the case - or not to the degree that I had hoped. I wanted to read about Lincoln, his wife and family in the same fluid way I read Ms. Horan's earlier works, but Lincoln's life and his place and time in history are simply not subjects for "fluid" or entertaining reading. In addition to this, I felt the author worked very hard to connect the lives and times of the young friends, Ana and Cal to the Lincoln's, and to the events with which the Lincolns were involved. Ana and Mrs. Lincoln's connection seemed possible, but I felt the president's character was somehow lost in this process.

I enjoyed reading The House Of Lincoln but I can see where readers might be a bit disappointed that it was not strictly about the Lincoln household. I would hope it might encourage further reading. I liked the picture being painted by Nancy Horan of the different characters and what they faced during this period of history.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I found the different perspectives during that time period very interesting and I learned more about the politics in Illinois during the civil war that I wasn't aware of. I did find the last quarter of the book dragged a bit which is why I only gave it 3 stars not 4.

The House of Lincoln was a good book. It did not knock my socks off, and it did not bore me to tears. The book began to drag on a bit as the chapters went on, but I appreciate that it brought the Springfield race riot of 1908 to my attention. I was unaware that this race riot was the catalyst for the formation of the NAACP. Dianac hit the nail on the head when she described Horan's writing as "clunky" and focused too much on the supporting characters.

I really enjoyed the book. I didn't think it was as good as Ms. Horan's previous novels but still a very good read.

It was a decent read that will educate on topics not typically taught in schools in the generations of its readers. Not what I expected. I expected the focus to be on the household and Ana's prospective as employee. A little disjointed at times and not fully developed. Still a good book club read as it is thought provoking and will lead to good discussion.

I enjoyed the book, but found myself wishing that the various plot strands had been developed more. I would have liked to learn more details about the Lincoln family (the children, for example) and about Cal once she moved to Chicago.

Sometimes the changes to a different plot thread made the narrative seem disjointed.

I thought the Springfield race riot was a strong point of the book. It was fully developed and vivid.

I appreciated the multiple perspectives, but as mentioned in other messages, would have like to see more character development.

It was good, but I prefer her earlier books. I loved "Loving Frank" and "Under the Wild and Starry Sky." The author usually writes about the women behind the famous men. I didn't feel that Ana was important to Lincoln. I would have preferred a focus on Lincoln's wife.

I learned a lot from this book and found myself frequently stopping g to look things up. Colonization was new to me and made me think of our current day dreamers and some of the current immigration issues. It seems history too often repeats itself. I was also surprised that slavery was not in essence the catalyst for the Civil War. Again it made me reflect on our current political climate and how much division is occurring within our country. This book was well written, engaging and thought provoking.

To be honest, it took me 100 pages or so to get into this book, slow going at first. Like others, I also thought it would be more about the Lincoln family than it was. I grew up overseas and did not have much US History. I learned a lot and spent some time looking things up to get a better understanding of what had transpired. The book itself was 3* for me, but am thankful for the nudge to do some research on the events mentioned in the book.

While the content of the book goes beyond The House of Lincoln, I very much enjoyed the story's time frame starting with immigrants assimilating in Springfield in 1851 and ending with the telling of Springfield Race Riot of 1908. I also enjoyed all the side characters and their stories from Cal to William Donnegan. Telling the story through Ana starting in her youth and ending with her experiences of the continued pain but love of her community was very moving. I think The House of Lincoln is a story that many will appreciate with the personal stories of this difficult time period in our history.

Overall, I liked the book, but it wasn't what I expected. It wasn't a page-turner, but a well written historical novel. I learned a lot about the immigrants, the underground railroad, families divided in the war, treatment of coloreds in Illinois (some treated well, some not, although a free state), and politics leading to Lincoln's election. I think the book's title suggests there would be more about Mary Todd, Lincoln and their family.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked learning about Springfield pre and post Civil War and the Race Riot of 1908. I knew nothing about that riot. I also thought telling the story through Ana was a good choice.

I just loved Loving Frank and under the Wild and Starry Sky. I was disappointed in this book. The character development was missing. The debates between Douglas and Lincoln were interesting and the fact Presidential candidates were not supposed to campaign were insightful Willie’s death during Lincoln’s presidency had such a major impact on Mary and Lincoln I feel more focus on this event could have helped as both are trying to negotiate life around this tragedy. I enjoyed Ana and Cal’s roles. I especially liked the focus on the changes in Springfield over Lincoln’s presidency and beyond and Ana seeing Lincoln’s funeral procession to bring his life to full circle.

I was very pleased with Horan's previous two historical fiction books ([Loving Frank and Under the Wide and Starry Sky. They were the reason that I requested this book from BookBrowse.
Perhaps the book is misnamed. There was not a lot of time in Lincoln's houses. The main character is actually a young girl/woman named Ana who, as a teenager, goes to work for the Lincolns in Springfield, Illinois. As Ana turns 21, President-elect Lincoln is leaving for Washington D.C. and Ana is about to be married.
The book does include some of White House happenings, but communicates much more about Ana, her marriage, life in Springfield, IL and the Civil War.
Through Horan's research, I now know that indoor plumbing (for bathing) in the White House was thanks to President Buchanan and how wounds were treated (don't ask!) to prevent gangrene.
The book continues for more than 40 years after Lincoln died and more than 25 after Mary Todd died. The death of each Lincoln was sad, but, possibly a redeeming part is the painful stories of how the lives of African Americans were still endangered, even in the North, long after the War between the States.
Basically, I felt it was well-researched, but not as well written as her previous works.

I liked the book but that is the most praise I can give it. I struggled to finish it. I appreciated the extensive research Horan did but, knowing how well Horan can write I expected more.

I enjoyed the historical aspects of the story. Not a lot of action until towards the end. The story is slow but steady, told through the eyes of several characters. I finished the book with a better understanding and admiration for Mary Lincoln and her life experiences.