BKMT READING GUIDES
Beauty So Rare, A (A Belmont Mansion Novel)
by Tamera Alexander
Published: 2014-04-01
Paperback : 480 pages
Paperback : 480 pages
1 member reading this now
1 club reading this now
0 members have read this book
1 club reading this now
0 members have read this book
Pink is not what Eleanor Braddock ordered, but maybe it would soften the tempered steel of a woman who came through a war--and still had one to fight.
Eleanor Braddock--plain, practical, no stunning Southern beauty--knows she will never marry. But with a dying soldier's last whisper, ...
Eleanor Braddock--plain, practical, no stunning Southern beauty--knows she will never marry. But with a dying soldier's last whisper, ...
No other editions available.
Jump to
Introduction
Pink is not what Eleanor Braddock ordered, but maybe it would soften the tempered steel of a woman who came through a war--and still had one to fight.
Eleanor Braddock--plain, practical, no stunning Southern beauty--knows she will never marry. But with a dying soldier's last whisper, she believes her life can still have meaning and determines to find his widow. Impoverished and struggling to care for her ailing father, Eleanor arrives at Belmont Mansion, home of her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America--and possibly the most demanding, as well. Adelicia insists on finding her niece a husband, but a simple act of kindness leads Eleanor down a far different path--building a home for destitute widows and fatherless children from the Civil War. While Eleanor knows her own heart, she also knows her aunt will never approve of this endeavor.
Archduke Marcus Gottfried has come to Nashville from Austria in search of a life he determines, instead of one determined for him. Hiding his royal heritage, Marcus longs to combine his passion for nature with his expertise in architecture, but his plans to incorporate natural beauty into the design of the widows' and children's home run contrary to Eleanor's wishes. As work on the home draws them closer together, Marcus and Eleanor find common ground--and a love neither of them expects.
Eleanor Braddock--plain, practical, no stunning Southern beauty--knows she will never marry. But with a dying soldier's last whisper, she believes her life can still have meaning and determines to find his widow. Impoverished and struggling to care for her ailing father, Eleanor arrives at Belmont Mansion, home of her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America--and possibly the most demanding, as well. Adelicia insists on finding her niece a husband, but a simple act of kindness leads Eleanor down a far different path--building a home for destitute widows and fatherless children from the Civil War. While Eleanor knows her own heart, she also knows her aunt will never approve of this endeavor.
Archduke Marcus Gottfried has come to Nashville from Austria in search of a life he determines, instead of one determined for him. Hiding his royal heritage, Marcus longs to combine his passion for nature with his expertise in architecture, but his plans to incorporate natural beauty into the design of the widows' and children's home run contrary to Eleanor's wishes. As work on the home draws them closer together, Marcus and Eleanor find common ground--and a love neither of them expects.
But Marcus is not the man Adelicia has chosen for Eleanor, and even if he were, someone who knows his secrets is about to reveal them all.
From the USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander comes a moving historical novel about a bold young woman drawn to a group of people forgotten by Nashville society--and to the one man with whom she has no business falling in love.
From the USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander comes a moving historical novel about a bold young woman drawn to a group of people forgotten by Nashville society--and to the one man with whom she has no business falling in love.
view entire excerpt...Discussion Questions
1. Eleanor Braddock is a practical, no-nonsense kind of woman. Could you identify with her character? With how she viewed herself both physically and in relation to others?2. Adelicia Acklen was a “real” person, meaning that her character in the novel is based on a woman who really lived. Adelicia was an extraordinary, “born before her time” woman. What did you think about her character? About her relationship with Eleanor? Can you sympathize with Adelicia’s opinions and her perspective on women’s issues and marriage? Why or why not?
3. Eleanor’s father struggles with health issues. What would you liken his disease to today, and have you ever witnessed this health struggle firsthand in someone you love? Which scenes between Eleanor and her father touched you most, and why?
4. Tamera uses a lot of garden imagery in this story. Are you a gardener? Did you identify with the imagery on both a literal and spiritual level?
5. Eleanor doesn’t see herself as an attractive woman. In a conversation with Marcus, she responds, “Not everything has to be beautiful to be worthy of admiration.” Discuss why you think she reacted this way and whether or not you’ve ever shared her feelings, especially in the light of the world’s definition of beauty.
6. Do you like to cook and/or bake? At one point, Eleanor describes how cooking and baking allows her to “be still” on the inside. Can you relate?
7. We often seek to be filled and to have our own needs met, when it’s something else entirely that we need. Discuss how Eleanor experienced this in her character journey. What was it she needed?
8. We often wonder why God allows such hurt in this life, especially when it involves children. Eleanor has some fairly accusing thoughts about God. Have you ever had similar thoughts? What does the Bible say about God’s thoughts and ways (read Isaiah 55:9) and how does that relate to this story?
9. Marcus desires to make a name for himself, to leave his mark on the world. What happens to him in his character journey? How does his perspective change?
10. Before reading this story, had you ever heard of Luther Burbank, Dorothea Dix, or Gregor Mendel? Do you enjoy reading novels that include real people from history?
11. In this story, two characters from the TIMBER RIDGE REFLECTIONS series (From a Distance, Beyond This Moment, Within My Heart) share a cameo appearance. Did you catch who they were?
12. What was your favorite scene in A Beauty So Rare, and what was your favorite passage? (Write Tamera at [email protected] and tell her, she’d love to know!) Visit www.TameraAlexander.com for the full Reader Discussion Guide that contains more reading group questions and Eleanor’s recipes from the novel.
Book Club Recommendations
Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.
MEMBER LOGIN
BECOME A MEMBER it's free
Now serving over 80,000 book clubs & ready to welcome yours. Join us and get the Top Book Club Picks of 2022 (so far).
SEARCH OUR READING GUIDES
Search
FEATURED EVENTS
PAST AUTHOR CHATS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Please wait...
