Saratoga Trunk audiobook

Set in late 1800's, Saratoga Trunk is one of Edna Ferber's later novels that was turned into a movie (starring Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman). Basically a story of Clio Dulaine who was a disadvantaged (by birth - illegitimate) girl who was, of course, beautiful, but obsessed her whole life with the trappings of society and getting it over on those legitimate girls. I stayed with it, and the story was fun to listen to as the narrator flipped effortlessly between French Creole patois, haitian / slave dialect, southern urban accents of the time, and even a voice for Cupidon, her "little person" who sounded a lot like Herve Villechaize from Fantasy Island days. . . .A nice, old-fashioned Southern story, complete with pralines. One thing I love about Ferber's writing, among many others, is her power of description. Whether is it a room, a person, a prairie, a process, food or painstaking detail of an outfit, she is as proficient as an artist with a paintbrush and her style is clear and realistic. Yummy, and mouthwatering for those who love words, phrases and pictures that spring from page to brain in a matter of letters. . . she is sooooo good.If you haven't Ferbered yet, I recommend it. My favorite Ferber, tho, is So Big, but exploring further afield when it comes to favorite authors is almost always worth a reader's time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Edna Ferber is a hidden literary gem. If you were born in the 70's or after, you'd probably never heard of her growing up. I happened upon her by chance: My mother and I were flipping through TV channels and she stopped on a scene from "Giant." I'm more of a reader than a watcher, so I went to the library, got the book, and have been eating up Ferber's words ever since.Why is this author not more talked about?! This woman not only knows how to tell a great, moving story and construct a beautiful sentence, she also creates these characters that are just so fun and real. I absolutely adored Clio Dulaine from the beginning. It was impossible not to love her -- or any of Ferber's heroines.Ferber's female characters quietly exude strength, independence, and tenacity. They go against the convention of their day (and Ferber's) but not in a way that's at all obnoxious. You are always rooting for them. I also enjoy the men in her stories. They're likeable, but definitely must delicately walk around their female counterparts, even when they are booming and brash.This is the fourth novel I've read by this author and I would highly recommend any of them ("So Big" was my favorite though).

I actually came across a first edition of this novel in a thrift store, and had not read Edna Ferber, so thought it was a good opportunity to do so. The book was a pleasant read, set primarily in both New Orleans and Saratoga, New York. It was interesting to read about the upper class lifestyle around the end of the 19th century. I can readily see where the book lends itself to the visual enjoyment of the movies, with the historic settings, the unique characters, and the picturesque fashions of the day. Add elements of horse racing, good food, and the intrigues of railroads in that era and the word that comes to mind is "rollicking," a word out of character for the novel but illustrative of the enjoyment I had from reading it.

I am rereading this for the umpteenth time, having begun when I was in high school and periodically revisiting it since.I found myself craving something with rich descriptions, exotic locations, complex characters, and interesting plots. And my eye fell upon this on the bookshelf.So here I go again, beginning in New Orleans with Clio Dulaine and her strange household.

Solid 4 stars out of 5 (for me). For the benefit of all my reading friends, you may interpret this as a 3.I know that sounds strange, but I loved this book...and I don't think everyone would.Here's the thing (and I had heard this before I read it and didn't want to believe it): It IS dated. It does not stand with her other great books in the same way. Edna Ferber is never profound, like say...Edith Wharton. What she IS, is a quintessential American writer that chooses a big canvas and setting to display her themes. Her works have a strong sociological basis. She never wrote a line except to please herself, and that is how true artists approach their subjects. And in this book, the strengths are the unfailing sense of drama, the beliefs the people she uses to tell her story, and the meticulous background details. It's all very entertaining.Okay...so the 'dated' issues:1. One of the main thrusts of this book is how the industrial barons of the 1880s plundered the country and basically stole it from its citizens. That part holds true. What doesn't hold true is that the main characters assert (at the end of the novel) that this time has passed, and that we now live in a true democracy where this kind of oligarchy cannot happen. All we have to do is look at Washington DC to see that this not the case. Her optimism feels out of step with reality in this sense.2. There is a very offensive scene at the very end, where a character dons blackface at an ultra chic ballroom scene. It's supposed to be offensive to all the ball-goers, and it is...but for us today it is offensive in a different way. I generally overlook this type of thing in novels, and pay attention to the time it was written. Does it make it 'right?' No, it doesn't...and it will definitely bother many readers today. But here is my opinion on this type of thing: You really can't hold people responsible for knowledge they don't have. That is like saying, "Well, for heavens sake, why didn't all those geniuses of the Renaissance invent electricity so we could all use it?" They didn't have the knowledge. It is my firm belief that you have to read in context of the time it was written (Hello, The Holy Bible). Nevertheless...this scene, whatever you think about it, DOES date the book.I loved so many things about this, though. I literally felt transported to another time, and at the moment, I need a little escapism. There is a lot of humor here. The characters are all wonderfully flawed and wonderfully admirable. The plot moves along quickly with no dissertations. I took a long time reading this one. Not because I was bored or found it lacking in any way. Quite the opposite. I wanted it to last a long time.Now I'm going to read the only one of hers that I haven't; "Cimarron."

While I am generally the biggest booster of Ferber's short stories (you can find a post on this on my blog Pams-Pictorama.com or at: https://pams-pictorama.com/2019/02/09...) I just loved this novel and was sad to see it end. It is fairly short (as novels go) and I would have been happy to stretch it out. The characters are deeply etched in memory (as is the time and place) - although again, I find her character development better in her short stories than her novels) but I say settle in for a great ride on this one. As always, a truly great female character defines the story - Edna never lets me down in that regard! Enjoy!

Having lived just outside of Saratoga Springs for many years, I really enjoyed this book. Filled with familiar places and stories, in many ways this felt like a visit home. The story was enjoyable, but a bit predictable. The author made it clear from the start that Clio would marry Clint, so it's not a spoiler to tell you that she did. This was a lovely, light, summer read for someone interested a historical romance novel or Saratoga Springs.

A story set in the Gilded Age and a sharp piece of social and economic criticism. Parts of this book feels very contemporary, especially the feminism and the way Clio and the other female characters take charge of their lives and outwit the men. Unfortunately some of the characters are superficial and stereotypical and some of the language around Black characters is dated. But Ferber’s no racist and this story about America’s past is, in many ways, a portrait of our present and it’s a sophisticated, cosmopolitan read that I hugely enjoyed.

What a delightMy first Ferber (after perhaps thousands of others). How silly of me to have not sought her out. This story is just fun; the characters are over the top and yet lovable, almost believable; the story is uncomplicated but involves such fanfare that it becomes true entertainment. The high society of that era are made into a comedy...you know there is evil under the surface but what we see is a rather clever punishment of that evil by humorizing their behaviors. Loved it.

This is the story of a young girl whose mother was banished to France and returns to New Orleans seeking revenge by marrying rich. She meets a Texan man with similar wishes and they set out for Saratoga Springs to obtain fortune. Realizing that this book was written in 1941 is important to better understand the stereotypes presented in the narrative as well as the style of the story which reads like a movie from the time period, which is exactly what occurred two years later. But in spite of this, the book does present a portrait of the railroad's newly rich and famous.

I LOVED this book! My favorite Edna Ferber novel. The characters were lively and entertaining, and the plot had plenty of twists and turns. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys literature from this period.

I am absolutely certain that if this was not made into a movie decades ago, it should have. This story feels like it was written for a screen play. That being said, the characters are fun and so is the story and it is not something you are going to see written today.

The flow of this book wasn't as smooth as Ms. Ferber's other works. Characterizations are still fascinating, but the storyline ebbed and flowed like a train that was jerking to a stop. The author is still one of the most accomplished writers of her era and to be admired.

interesting’ishThis is a story written quite some time ago. A tad difficult to get into. The characters did not seem developed so I didn’t grow to care about. It seemed more to be a screen play than a book.

This was a rousing, spirited novel with memorable characters. Just plain fun to read as I could picture all that was happening, from the beautiful fashions, to the rooms within the United States Hotel to tasting the food prepared and eaten. Love Edna Ferber's writing.

A very fun read!