Somerset

Southern historical saga done right. If you've read "Roses", expect more of the same. If you are new to Leila Meacham, "Somerset" offers delicious escapism into a past world of a slower America, interspersed with tendrils of romance and trepidation. After reading "Somerset", new readers can jump right into a copy of "Roses", pretending it is a sequel, rather than "Somerset" actually being a prequel. Regardless of the order of book enjoyment, you come out with a pair that makes a Modern Classic Epic. Next step: Where's the TV miniseries?Meacham, thanks to her husband's suggestion, travels back in the lives of the 3 families of "Roses" beginning at 1835 and meanders in the path they traversed getting from the Carolina's to East Texas. Abundant American history is involved along the side paths of the trace. You will travel right into the Texas textile mill industry, and for those who have already met this author's cast of characters, you will be re-reading "Roses" with new enlightenment. "Somerset" (name coming from a family cotton plantation) travels to 1900. "Roses" covers 1914-1985.Both books supply family genealogy charts.This multi-layered set of historical fiction is too often compared to "Gone With the Wind". Truth is, they've become the delectable writing voice of a very bright star on the readers' landscape: It IS Leila Meacham.Good for men, women, and all ages beginning with teens.I'm soooo glad my wife pushed me to buy this book.

I loved this book from start to finish. Leila Meacham is to be congratulated on her knowledge of those times and bringing them all to life so brilliantly. Her characters are so fascinating. The historical aspects are so enlightening. I could not put it down!

I edit books as I read and reading Leila Meacham is such a delight because she employs good, old-fashioned, proper grammar, with complete sentences and proper use of pronouns. I appreciate the fact that there is still at least one popular author who knows the rules of English and does not insult the knowledge of her readers.I had read ROSES and TUMBLEWEEDS and SOMERSET is of the same superior ilk. The author's ability to devise plots around historical events and flesh out ALL her characters (even the minor ones) is a talent sadly missing in a lot of today's writers. Leila Meacham writes in a manner that allows her readers to assume a position of "a fly on the wall" and be privy to all the twists and turns of her characters' inner and outer personalities. My favorite character in SOMERSET is "Tippy" and anyone who cares to know why must read the book - it is a real treasure!

I decided to read the prequel (Somerset) before reading Roses. I really enjoyed Somerset...enough so that when I finished it, I immediately started Roses. Very interesting, likeable characters.Now that I'm about half-way thru Roses, I am really glad that I read Somerset first.The only reason I'm not giving Somerset 5 stars is that a few incidents that occur, the result/outcome wasn't told. And the book skips many years. Some chapters start 10 years after the previous chapter. Nonetheless, the background for the characters in Roses was told very well.I will read more books by this author as she writes an interesting story and creates characters that you love.

This is the prequel to "Roses." An in-depth history of the founding families of a small East Texas settlement during the days of Steven Austin and the Mexican American War. A marriage of convenience transformed into passionate romance and an enduring bond. A hunger for land and wealth manifested as a curse to haunt generations to come. Leila Meacham writes a story that will leave you spent at its end, forms characters you want to reach out and shake hands with. It's fabulous; read it!

What a disappointing ending. The author left a main original character with no ending. Jeremy was an important part of the history and you don’t know what happens to him or the brooch he repurchased for a friend.It was a long book sometimes touching to much on the history of Texas instead of the characters. If I wanted to read a history book I would have. I’ve read reviews of other books Meacham has written and understand them to be great. Unfortunately I won’t be reading another book by this author for fear of the same outcome.

This is one of the best books I have read and I only wish that Leila Meacham would write faster. I have read this book and then a year later bought the audio so I could listen to it again at work. It takes me away to a different world and I actually enjoy work! I love all of her books and wish there were a lot more. She tells the story so you can picture yourself there and you can see the people, feel their heartaches.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a romantic and historic novel. Although not about real people, it is about a real time in our American history and there were real people doing the same things as the characters in Somerset. Young couples did leave their families in the Carolinas to move West into Texas and found new communities. There were those who realized that slavery was wrong while others maintained the necessity of it for their way of life, an agrarian economy based on the labor-intensive cotton-growing industry. I recommend reading it first, before Roses...which was actually written first. The two stories together take the reader from the 1830s through the Civil War, two World Wars, the Korean War and up to contemporary times.

Everything in it to make a great story love, loss, friendship trials and happinesa a story scanning three generations of a family in Texas. Could not put it down and when I had to I enjoyed it in audio book.

Exciting and informative.

Love this book. Have read Roses a few years ago but have ordered it to read again. Great characters.

I wish i had read this first before reading roses, really enjoyed both books great read.

Wonderful read,did not want to finish it. A match to roses. I have read all her books now and would recommend her as one of the top ten authors of the decade.