There was a lot of hype surrounding this book. It's very well written and I appreciate that the mores of the time were followed instead of playing fast and loose with the way things were during the Victorian period. Annabelle is a poor relation of an even poorer vicar. Her vicar cousin expects her to be a maid/nanny for his wife and five children. Annabelle would prefer to do anything else and when she's offered one of the first spots for women to attend Oxford, she talks her cousin into letting her go (for a price, of course). At Oxford, Annabelle is properly chaperoned and not really allowed to mix with the male students. She becomes involved with a suffragist group as they are providing her with a scholarship. As the group fights for changes to the rights of married women, Annabelle meets the Duke of Montgomery. He's very stuffy and unemotional but there is a spark between them. Of course they spend more time together and fall for each other, but Annabelle wisely refuses to become his mistress. He flat-out refuses to offer her marriage. Much angst ensues until Montgomery finally comes to his senses (a fall from a horse helps:-)). This is the first in a series and I am interested in reading the other stories as I loved the writing in this one as well as the historical authenticity.
Showing posts with label Women's Rights--fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Women's Rights--fiction. Show all posts
Monday, September 30, 2019
Bringing Down the Duke/ Evie Dunmore/ 356 pgs
There was a lot of hype surrounding this book. It's very well written and I appreciate that the mores of the time were followed instead of playing fast and loose with the way things were during the Victorian period. Annabelle is a poor relation of an even poorer vicar. Her vicar cousin expects her to be a maid/nanny for his wife and five children. Annabelle would prefer to do anything else and when she's offered one of the first spots for women to attend Oxford, she talks her cousin into letting her go (for a price, of course). At Oxford, Annabelle is properly chaperoned and not really allowed to mix with the male students. She becomes involved with a suffragist group as they are providing her with a scholarship. As the group fights for changes to the rights of married women, Annabelle meets the Duke of Montgomery. He's very stuffy and unemotional but there is a spark between them. Of course they spend more time together and fall for each other, but Annabelle wisely refuses to become his mistress. He flat-out refuses to offer her marriage. Much angst ensues until Montgomery finally comes to his senses (a fall from a horse helps:-)). This is the first in a series and I am interested in reading the other stories as I loved the writing in this one as well as the historical authenticity.
Monday, August 19, 2019
A Spark of Light / Jodi Picoult / 352 p.
Jodi Picoult always finds a way to take a controversial topic and help readers to see both sides. This time her topic is abortion. Her epilogue is filled with statistical findings from her research as she was writing this novel. I found the story interesting with several twists (as always with Picoult) that I didn't see coming. No matter what your view is on this topic, A Spark of Light will help you understand the thoughts and views of the other side. I don't think her story will change anyone views, however it will broaden the conversation.
I only gave it four stars because of the repetitiveness throughout the story. I'm not sure why that was done. Perhaps to give the reader the background (again) of why that character felt the way they did.
This is a good book club read IF your group can agree to disagree on this topic.
Jodi Picoult always finds a way to take a controversial topic and help readers to see both sides. This time her topic is abortion. Her epilogue is filled with statistical findings from her research as she was writing this novel. I found the story interesting with several twists (as always with Picoult) that I didn't see coming. No matter what your view is on this topic, A Spark of Light will help you understand the thoughts and views of the other side. I don't think her story will change anyone views, however it will broaden the conversation.
I only gave it four stars because of the repetitiveness throughout the story. I'm not sure why that was done. Perhaps to give the reader the background (again) of why that character felt the way they did.
This is a good book club read IF your group can agree to disagree on this topic.
Monday, February 1, 2016
The Invention of Wings/Sue Monk Kidd/373 pgs.
Sarah Grimke is the different one in her family. Born into a wealthy, South Carolina family in the 1880s, Sarah has a thirst for knowledge, and an aversion to the institution of slavery. Author Kidd takes the reader on the journey of Sarah's life, and that of Hetty "Handful" Grimke--one of the slaves in the Grimke household. Told in the voices of Sarah and Hetty through alternating chapters, Kidd brings life in the South to the reader in all its ramifications--mistreatment of slaves, inequality of the races, lack of women's rights, etc. It's an engrossing read, based loosely on the lives of Sarah Grimke and her sister, Angelina Grimke--activists in the women's movement. Highly recommended!
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