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Fortune's Rocks: A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Anita Shreve
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
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Rating:  251 reviews
Sales Rank: 495643
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 6 x 1.2
ISBN: 0316678104
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780316678100
ASIN: 0316678104
Publication Date: January 2, 2001
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Amazon.com Review
Hester Prynne never had it so good! The year is 1899, and Olympia Biddeford, the headstrong daughter of a Boston Brahmin family, has decided to test the limits of her cloistered world. Spending the summer at her father's New Hampshire estate, the teenage heroine of Fortune's Rocks is entranced with the visiting salon of artists, writers, and lawyers. She's especially captivated, however, by John Haskell, a charismatic physician who ministers to the blue-collar community in the nearby mill towns. This middle-aged Good Samaritan hires Olympia to assist him as a nurse, and their collaboration soon evolves into a fiery love affair. Alas, it's only a matter of weeks before this passionate exercise in managed care is exposed--with disastrous consequences for the young, impregnated heroine. Even her adoring father now considers her "an overplump sixteen-year-old girl whose judgment can no longer be trusted," and insists that she break off her relationship: "There is nothing more to be said on this subject," he says. She bites her lip to keep from crying out further. She holds the arms of her chair so tightly she later will have cramps in her fingers. She will refuse to obey him, she thinks. She will accept his implied challenge and set off on her own. But in the next moment, she asks herself: How will she be able to do that? Without her father's support, she cannot hope to survive. And if she herself does not survive, then a child cannot live." In the end, Anita Shreve's seventh novel is a polished, supremely entertaining variation on Wuthering Heights, with Olympia and Haskell sitting in for Catherine and Heathcliff. The author did some meticulous research for her New England background, which gives this study of one particular wayward woman some extra historical heft. Some readers may find the plot twists a bit pat. And despite Olympia's efforts to be an independent woman, she overcomes her trials largely as a result of her family's wealth and station, which takes the edge off Shreve's feminist message. Still, Fortune's Rocks is a romance in the classic sense of the word, and should be enjoyed as such, unless the reader is absolutely allergic to happy endings. --Ted Leventhal
Product Description
Hester Prynne never had it so good! The year is 1899, and Olympia Biddeford, the headstrong daughter of a Boston Brahmin family, has decided to test the limits of her cloistered world. Spending the summer at her father's New Hampshire estate, the teenage heroine of Fortune's Rocks is entranced with the visiting salon of artists, writers, and lawyers. She's especially captivated, however, by John Haskell, a charismatic physician who ministers to the blue-collar community in the nearby mill towns. This middle-aged Good Samaritan hires Olympia to assist him as a nurse, and their collaboration soon evolves into a fiery love affair. Alas, it's only a matter of weeks before this passionate exercise in managed care is exposed--with disastrous consequences for the young, impregnated heroine. Even her adoring father now considers her "an overplump sixteen-year-old girl whose judgment can no longer be trusted," and insists that she break off her relationship:"There is nothing more to be said on this subject," he says. She bites her lip to keep from crying out further. She holds the arms of her chair so tightly she later will have cramps in her fingers. She will refuse to obey him, she thinks. She will accept his implied challenge and set off on her own. But in the next moment, she asks herself: How will she be able to do that? Without her father's support, she cannot hope to survive. And if she herself does not survive, then a child cannot live."In the end, Anita Shreve's seventh novel is a polished, supremely entertaining variation on Wuthering Heights, with Olympia and Haskell sitting in for Catherine and Heathcliff. The author did some meticulous research for her New England background, which gives this study of one particular wayward woman some extra historical heft. Some readers may find the plot twists a bit pat. And despite Olympia's efforts to be an independent woman, she overcomes her trials largely as a result of her family's wealth and station, which takes the edge off Shreve's feminist message. Still, Fortune's Rocks is a romance in the classic sense of the word, and should be enjoyed as such, unless the reader is absolutely allergic to happy endings.--Ted Leventhal
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| Customer Reviews: Read 246 more reviews...
Annoying but compelling June 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is my first Anita Shreve book. I decided to give it a go because I needed something easy to read but reasonably intelligent.
I found the book in some parts extremely annoying. For no other reason but for the subject matter. It was still very compelling to continue reading.
What I liked was it was not too cliche' as a love story. I am not into love stories at all. This book I feel could be classed as controversial by today's standards but still well written enough not to cross any immoral boundaries.
It is a good read and very much recommended. I would think though it is a book for females.
 Innocent Young Love with a Dirty Old Man June 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Well written story of 15-year-old Olympia, who goes from flirtation, to lust, to love with her father''s well -educated -physician friend, three times her age. All this in the restrictive, moralistic views of New England at the turn of the century. The reader wants to shake this girl and grab her back from the disaster she is about to embark upon. Likewise, there is an urge to shoot this married, father of four, who is about to betray his friend and take advantage of an innocent young girl. Emotions run high for all involved, even the child to come of this union. An interesting story, rich in details of place and plot.
Exciting Story and Well Written May 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I think of this story a lot. The story is definitely taboo , but undeniably romantic. I enjoyed this book. My favorite of Ms. Sreve's to date.
Another Excellent Novel from Anita Shreve September 11, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am so fascinated by this novel. I wanted to find another novel following the life of Olympia. Anita Shreve makes you feel as though the characters are your friends, family. Since I discovered this book, I have picked up all of Anita Shreve's books. She is my favorite author!!!!
My new Shreve favorite! August 8, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Again, Ms. Shreve has shocked me with her strikingly beautiful prose and sadly human characters. Although the end of this book was just a little bit too filled with "perfection" for my taste, I truly found myself aching for Olympia and her lost love, and debating who the boy should end up with. To me, those are markers of a truly good story with meaningful characters, and for that, I applaud Ms. Shreve.
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