Tag: millionaires

What’s Ashley Reading?: Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

First line: In April, millions of tiny flowers spread over the blackjack hills and vast prairies in the Osage territory of Oklahoma.

Summary: In the 1920s the Osage people were one of the richest in groups in America. Oil was discovered on their land making them instant millionaires. But then a string of mysterious deaths starts to plague the members of the community. One family particularly was targeted, that of Mollie Burkhart. As people tried to investigate the deaths they became victims as well. After years of fear the newly formed FBI was brought in to find out who is killing the Osage people.

My Thoughts: I have been meaning to read this book for years. Everyone who has read it has told me how fascinating but also heartbreaking the story is. Recently I watched the movie, which is 3.5 hours long, and was shocked by the events portrayed in the film. After watching the movie I decided it was time to start the book and learn more about the story and what the movie may have left out.

The book is divided into three parts. First is the story of what happened during the years of the murders told through the perspective of Mollie Burkhart. She witnessed her family and friends dying while fearing for her own life as well. Second is the story of the FBI agent who was brought in to try and bring to justice the persons involved in the string of murders. And lastly we find the author researching the years leading up to and during the events in Osage county. Using witness testimony and records he learns that the body count may have been much higher than previous believed.

After finishing this book I was even more shocked by these events and how long it went on before anyone did anything about it. It is a dark part of the nation’s history that was all but forgotten. I would highly recommend this book. It reads like fiction but is a completely true story. It can be hard to read due to the horrible nature of the events. However, it is important to remember history, even the bad, in order to not repeat our past mistakes.

What’s Ashley Reading?: A Well-Behaved Woman

A Well-Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler

First line: When they asked her about the Vanderbilts and Belmonts, about their celebrations and depredations, the mansions and balls, the lawsuits, the betrayals, the rifts—when they asked why she did the extreme things she’d done, Alva said it all began quite simply: Once there was a desperate young woman whose mother was dead and whose father was dying almost as quickly as his money was running out.

Summary: Alva Smith is from an old New York family. However, after the death of her mother and her father’s financial troubles they are nearly destitute. Through the scheming of her friend, Consuelo Yznaga, she meets William K. Vanderbilt. He is the grandson of railroad tycoon, Cornelius Vanderbilt. William is looking to bring his family into New York society and Alva needs to take care of her family by marrying a wealthy husband. With this marriage of convenience Alva appears to get everything she wants. She helps the poor, builds grand new homes and travels the world. Yet it appears that something is missing…

Highlights: Before picking up this novel I had never heard of Alva (Smith) Vanderbilt. I remember the Vanderbilt name from high school history on the robber barons but nothing specific about each individual. I was pleasantly surprised by her story. She was a woman who did so much in a time when women were still thought of as dolls that needed to be sheltered. Her drive leads to grand homes, an opera house, women’s suffrage and a title for her daughter.

I cannot imagine living the life of Alva Vanderbilt. The amount of money she had and what she spent it on. If you have time you should Google their house, Petit Chateau, on Fifth Avenue. Spectacular! The costume ball she threw in 1883 was so extravagant that they spent nearly one million dollars (in today’s money) on champagne alone. Can you imagine?

Lowlights: Alva’s story seemed to drag on a little bit with much of the same thing happening over and over again. I was a little sad that so much of her drive came with the need to be a part of society. I understand wanting to be accepted. Everyone wants to be accepted. And it could be that I just do not come from that world or lifestyle.

FYI: Check out Fowler’s first novel, Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald.