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salparadis3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
timetoread_more2022's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
book_concierge's review
4.0
In the last months of 1864, the residents of Missouri are being pushed and pulled between warring factions. Guerrilla groups (not formally enlisted in the Rebel Army) strike out from their hidey-holes in the woods and mountains; Union soldiers man strategic forts but also have empowered a militia to enforce martial law. The “leaders” of the militia use this as an excuse to pillage, seizing property, horses, and goods, and to kill anyone who voices any outrage. When 18-year-old Adair Colley’s father is arrested, and their home and barn set afire, she and her sisters begin the trek north to try to get her father released. Instead, she is renounced as a traitor and imprisoned. In the notoriously squalid conditions of her prison she encounters Major William Neuman, a Union soldier who is tasked with obtaining her confession.
I found this work of historical fiction fascinating and engaging. Adair is a strong woman even though she is barely out of girlhood. She remains resolute despite hardship. No horse – no problem – she will walk. She never loses sight of her goal – to find her father, to get home, to reunite her family.
Major Neuman is an interesting counterpoint. Conflicted about his obligations as a Union officer vs his love for Adair, he finds himself walking the tightrope between his duty and his compassion. I do wish Jiles had explored his story a bit more, but I was nevertheless glad to read so much of Adair’s adventures.
I really appreciated, too, that Jiles includes historical documents – letters, reports, journal entries, etc – at the beginning of each chapter. These glimpses of actual events really informed and added to the truth behind this work of fiction.
I found this work of historical fiction fascinating and engaging. Adair is a strong woman even though she is barely out of girlhood. She remains resolute despite hardship. No horse – no problem – she will walk. She never loses sight of her goal – to find her father, to get home, to reunite her family.
Major Neuman is an interesting counterpoint. Conflicted about his obligations as a Union officer vs his love for Adair, he finds himself walking the tightrope between his duty and his compassion. I do wish Jiles had explored his story a bit more, but I was nevertheless glad to read so much of Adair’s adventures.
I really appreciated, too, that Jiles includes historical documents – letters, reports, journal entries, etc – at the beginning of each chapter. These glimpses of actual events really informed and added to the truth behind this work of fiction.
maryquitecontrary_22's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Jiles' National Book Award winner News of the World, I wanted to pick up more of her writing. A trail rider herself, Jiles does an exceptional job of writing about long journeys on horseback, including in the book Enemy Women. This Civil War novel shows the reality of what it meant to have pitted neighbor against neighbor in the savage fight over state rights and slavery. Women were used as pawns and both sides of the war did horrific things to one another. I loved that the protagonist Adair is such a bold spitfire of a character. I also especially enjoyed the historical excerpts at the beginning of each chapter that Jiles pulled from primary documents, as well as contemporary research on that time in history.
P.S. For all those wondering about Jiles' choice not to use quotation marks, I found this response from her to that exact question in an article on the Sacramento Bee: "Using quote marks is like surrounding human speech with barbed wire. I figured if I was careful enough about how I placed sentences, readers would be able to do without quote marks and I would be freed up. It's an aesthetic thing, I guess, but I like the effect."
shesnotthere's review
1.0
I really wanted to like this book as I live in the Ozarks and am interested in Ozark History, but the writing style was just all over the map. Sentences were just thrown together into paragraphs and many paragraphs didn't seem relevant to the story at all.
In one of the first chapters the author states that the MO Ozarks have been basically cut off from the rest of the nation. But a few paragraphs later she writes that the main character's father is reading a Little Rock newspaper. If they were in such isolation how did the father get a Little Rock newspaper?
Sorry if I sound a little irritated. I think Enemy Women could have been an amazing book if it had a better editor.
In one of the first chapters the author states that the MO Ozarks have been basically cut off from the rest of the nation. But a few paragraphs later she writes that the main character's father is reading a Little Rock newspaper. If they were in such isolation how did the father get a Little Rock newspaper?
Sorry if I sound a little irritated. I think Enemy Women could have been an amazing book if it had a better editor.
birtch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and War
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
The first book I listened to by Paulette Jules was News of the world and I loved it so dearly. It was on my very top books of 2021. (And the movie was great to). I've been meaning to read more from her but unfortunately I haven't in over a year! But luckily decided to pick this up. Paulette definitely has some real talent in making the characters feel so real and so compelling. That what was compelling me to keep listening and not the plot necessarily. I didn't end up loving this as much but it was still a great book
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this book for my book group without having read it. This is always dangerous, because so much can go wrong. However, the reviews looked good and I got the title from one of Nancy Pearl's bibliographies. I just thought that our group needed to read a book about the Civil War.
One of the book club's rules is that the books we read have to be written by women. I did not want to read Gone with the Wind again. I am afraid I did not know of many books about the Civil War by women writers.
It turns out that this was a great choice for our group. I got to learn about the Civil War in Missouri which was fascinating. Other members got what they wanted: adventure, romance, wonderful writing and a good discussion.
It is obvious that Jiles was a poet before turning to novels. Her writing is beautiful, even when describing the horrors of war. Many of the episodes in this book are hard to read, but Jiles' descriptions made me pause and go reread. I suspect the audiobook is excellent.
If you are like me and think that the Midwest was immune from the Civil War, pick this up. You will learn a lot. If you are interested in "The War" as it is referred to in Virginia, you may also find that Jiles tells you about aspects that are not common knowledge. Or you could just read this for the heroine who got the book she deserved.
One of the book club's rules is that the books we read have to be written by women. I did not want to read Gone with the Wind again. I am afraid I did not know of many books about the Civil War by women writers.
It turns out that this was a great choice for our group. I got to learn about the Civil War in Missouri which was fascinating. Other members got what they wanted: adventure, romance, wonderful writing and a good discussion.
It is obvious that Jiles was a poet before turning to novels. Her writing is beautiful, even when describing the horrors of war. Many of the episodes in this book are hard to read, but Jiles' descriptions made me pause and go reread. I suspect the audiobook is excellent.
If you are like me and think that the Midwest was immune from the Civil War, pick this up. You will learn a lot. If you are interested in "The War" as it is referred to in Virginia, you may also find that Jiles tells you about aspects that are not common knowledge. Or you could just read this for the heroine who got the book she deserved.
ivanssister's review against another edition
3.0
When I read a book that takes place in another era, I think about what it would be like to live during that time. I am extremely glad I did not have to live through the Civil War - that's not necessarily a new insight, but it was crystal clear after reading this book!