The Summary

Marjorie Merriweather Post is now starting another typical evening. She has hosted every president that has been in office. Marjorie was inspired by a few simple commandments while growing up in the humble farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan: always use your judgment, never take anything you achieve for granted, and put in the necessary effort even whether you are considered American royalty or are decked out in imperial jewels. Marjorie had a relentless desire to live, love, and give more than she received. Marjorie Merriweather Post led an extraordinary life that few could have imagined, including crawling through warehouses in Moscow to save the Tsar's treasures, eluding the Nazis in London, serving the Great Depression's homeless, and entertaining the Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood's biggest stars.

Marjorie's adventure began when she was a small child, gluing cereal boxes in her father's barn. Nobody could have imagined that Marjorie, the General Foods company's heiress and leading lady, would help C. W. Post's Cereal Company expand into the General Foods empire and transform American culture. Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process, rather than being willing to remain in her traditional positions as a high-society wife, mother, and hostess. She accumulated millions of dollars before turning thirty, making her the richest woman in the country. However, her incredible legacy was created by her life energy, activism, enthusiasm, and adventurous spirit.

Yet Marjorie's tale was equally characterized by difficulty and upheaval while being full of beauty and grandeur and taking place in the opulent palaces she created like Mar-a-Lago. As a four-time wife, Marjorie looked for her happily-ever-after with the wealthy party boy who was unable to escape his demons, the affable financier whose allure turned into treachery, the duplicitous foreign diplomat, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would upend Marjorie and society as a whole. Everything Marjorie accomplished was on a large scale, especially her romantic endeavors.

My Review

It was great to read Pataki's Marjorie Post. I had no idea to whom Marjorie Post was addressing herself. Other than the fact that she had obviously made a name for herself, I had no idea who she was. Every facet of Marjorie's life including her early years, travels, homes, marriages, and offspring was expertly described by the author. But I did pick up a few items that made me feel underwhelmed or disappointed.

I was amazed by both her abilities and her modesty, and she had an interesting life. She grew up in an era when women had no rights. She nevertheless managed to accomplish her goals and speak up. a genuinely inspiring entrepreneur, philanthropist, gracious hostess, and friend who overcame all odds.

Sadly, I won't fancy this book. For the most part, this novel reads more like a biography than a piece of fiction. Despite the fact that it is written in the first person, Marjorie as a person isn't given much of a chance to shine, and every key event is glossed over at such a high level that there aren't really enough details to make anything concrete.

I had expected that the book would focus more on all aspects of her life rather than just her riches, her various homes, and her unhappy marriages. The summary painted her as an interesting person, and those who knew just enough about her to be eager about knowing more recognized potential in the concept. It's a little depressing.

Again, I don't know enough about Marjorie Post to pass an opinion on her. If she truly is a gorgeous person, as this book falsely portrays her to be, I would be much more dissatisfied in this book.

There's no denying Marjorie Post is a fascinating person, and if you're mostly interested in learning about her rich lifestyle and her place in high society during a fascinating moment in American history, you'll probably enjoy this book more than I did.

You might want to look into some of the other biographies that have been done on her if you want to find out more about her legacy as a businessman and philanthropist.

Overall, it doesn't seem all that bad to me. It all depends on your preferences and what you expect from this genre.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.