Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: A Novel

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 20, 2023

This book is very well written.
A fascinating topic. A must read
The Magnificent Lives Of Marjory Post.
By Allison Pataki.

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Joanne

Wonderful read.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 2, 2022

Verified Purchase

One of my favourite reads in a while.

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Shelley

Actually Learned Something

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 16, 2022

This book is a mix of historical fiction and biography of Post Foods heir Marjorie Merriweather Post. I found this book informative and fascinating. I loved how the book showed Marjorie going through difficult times in the world, The Civil War, WWI, The Great Depression and WWII! She is an extraordinary woman of strength, heart and good character. I loved learning about her and her life and all the wonderful things she's done. The writing was very descriptive and it was easy to put myself there in the times. I think I would have loved being friends with Marjorie if I were to meet her. What an interesting character from history that I previously knew nothing about.

One person found this helpful

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Ffiona and Stella

A whirlwind look at a fascinating life

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 15, 2022

A whirlwind look at the luxury-filled life of Marjorie Post, Pataki's book takes us from Post's early childhood with her struggling parents, through the rise of her family's industry and wealth, and in and out of four wildly different marriages. Pataki makes the interesting choice to present everything with a similar weight, such that her lightly fictionalized version of Post tosses off laundry lists of her expensive treasures or famous friends with the same breezy quality she enters or exits a marriage, has a child, or announces a war has begun or ended. Post's father dies in a page. She falls in love in a page. She buys her next yacht or finds her husband cheating in a page. We rarely settle into a scene and we often end a chapter as soon as a major event has occurred, such that we skip over Post's reaction, creating a read with a distinct emotional remove. I'd be curious to read another account that's more selective with the story, so the events depicted had more room to breathe and the characters had more space to grapple with grief or desire. Or an account that focuses on a specific tension in Post's life, such as the differences in how she approached business vs. marriage, or how she enjoyed luxury but also engaged in significant philanthropy, or how she found her own version of leadership during years when she had to cede so much leadership to men. There's so much material and there are so many ways into this story. This particular version gives us a broad sweep of Post's life as a daughter, wife, and mother with an emphasis on the famous people she encountered, the homes she had built, and the belongings she amassed throughout her lifetime.

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Kindle Customer

Admirable Marjorie!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 1, 2023

Verified Purchase

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher, Penguin Random House, through NetGalley. I am grateful; I thoroughly enjoyed it! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is about Marjorie Post as well as the history of the Post family and the inception of breakfast cereals. Marjorie's father, C.W. Post, was "the man who turned breakfast into America's favorite city." An old toaster to be thrown out changed their lives with “dry food with taste”: Grape Nuts! The Posts introduced the world to cereal, changing breakfast forever. Mr. Post also created a coffee substitute (Postum). Breakfast is easier and healthier.

The reader can't help but admire and like Marjorie! She was generous: during WWI she sent monies and supplies to start a hospital in France; during the Great Depression, she started soup kitchens and was known as Lady Bountiful, and much more! During these times, Marjorie was unable to lead the Post (General Foods) company because she was a woman. Her uncle took over, as did her husbands. When divorce occurred, her uncle stepped in again. But Marjorie was behind most major decisions for the company. Eventually, she joined the board of directors.

Marjorie was a "leader, mother, businesswoman, and philanthropist." She befriended and entertained U.S. presidents, politicians, and other highly influential people. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy biographical books with some history. This book seemed to be both to me!

4 people found this helpful

Carol from Santa Rosa

unexpected and unique

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 20, 2023

Verified Purchase

What an unique life story! I’d heard of her and knew of the fabulous wealth of the era, but I was unprepared for the enormity of wealth and the lifestyles of the rich and famous of the era. The human side of the story was very interesting and emotionally compelling. I love to get a peek into a world I don’t know much about…and that’s what this was. Well written and mentally and emotionally compelling

2 people found this helpful

BarJo

Magnificent and Extravagant

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 15, 2023

Verified Purchase

An amazing woman with so much wealth who's humble beginnings pale in comparison. It's good that more detail isn't given to her wealth and and possessions because it would be difficult to relate too. I was fascinated by it all since I had no prior knowledge of this woman, her experiences and influence in the world.

3 people found this helpful

Seymar

What an engaging book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 25, 2023

Verified Purchase

Beautifully written. Never a dull moment. Inside view of how the ultra rich live but that doesn't mean life is perfect by any means. One of the best books I've read.

Dr. Les

entertaining but shallow

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

Fictionalize autobiography of Marjorie Post was entertaining but I wish it had more substance that a true non fiction biography or autobiography would have.others have commented on her multiple marriages that all failed and that she seemingly didn’t learn from her mistakes. Nevertheless she has had a major impact on our society

3 people found this helpful

Celia S. Gilner

What a Lady

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 15, 2023

Verified Purchase

Well written a good lesson in history sometimes repetitive. It makes you wish for the times of manners and respect in social interactions. She paved the way for women to have the rights of men but did it by example not by abrasive behavior.

2 people found this helpful

5 star		60%
4 star		27%
3 star		9%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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