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maryehavens's review
3.0
This is the second "spy/ies during war" book I've read this year. This one was far more enjoyable but they both fall into the same category of "how the hell are you supposed to write this thing so it's not confusing?"
Abbott did a better job of writing the book than Rose (Washington's Spies) did. It was far more enjoyable to read and I was particularly interested in the different types of women and their roles. However, it suffered for the same issue of Rose's: a bit disorganized and tons of people. It was hard to keep track of everyone and note their importance. Multiple times I forgot who was on what side (maybe I was supposed to) and had to refer to the book jacket.
It may just be me but, as fascinating and devastating as war is, it's very difficult to write it at large. A personal memoir would suit me better but that might be a personal preference.
Overall, I thought the book was great but it's only getting 3 stars because I had to slog through it. It really deserved 3.5. I really enjoyed reading Emma/Frank's story, thought Belle largely got what she deserved in the end (hello: the war is not about you making a name for yourself), and cringed every time Elizabeth and Mary Jane had to correspond. The devastation of the Civil War is beyond my comprehension and I'm glad that this book was selected for book club so we will never forget.
Abbott did a better job of writing the book than Rose (Washington's Spies) did. It was far more enjoyable to read and I was particularly interested in the different types of women and their roles. However, it suffered for the same issue of Rose's: a bit disorganized and tons of people. It was hard to keep track of everyone and note their importance. Multiple times I forgot who was on what side (maybe I was supposed to) and had to refer to the book jacket.
It may just be me but, as fascinating and devastating as war is, it's very difficult to write it at large. A personal memoir would suit me better but that might be a personal preference.
Overall, I thought the book was great but it's only getting 3 stars because I had to slog through it. It really deserved 3.5. I really enjoyed reading Emma/Frank's story, thought Belle largely got what she deserved in the end (hello: the war is not about you making a name for yourself), and cringed every time Elizabeth and Mary Jane had to correspond. The devastation of the Civil War is beyond my comprehension and I'm glad that this book was selected for book club so we will never forget.
ajreader's review
3.0
Read my full thoughts on this book and hundreds more over at Read.Write.Repeat.
An interesting look at four women who fought in the Civil War - each in the best way they knew how.
An interesting look at four women who fought in the Civil War - each in the best way they knew how.
hoserlauren's review
3.0
Four ladies of the Civil War show their cunning nature and intelligence by spying and deceiving those against their cause. This book focuses on four ladies:
- Belle Boyd, a 17-year old charmer who shoots a Union soldier in her home then becomes a spy for the Confederate army. She gets her information by using her charm.
- Elizabeth Van Lew living in Richmond, Virginia, leading a spy ring. She had ciphers and codes for sending all of her messages, under the noses of prominent Confederates.
- Emma Edmonds, a Canadian, enlisting as "Frank Thompson" as a Union private, fighting, nursing, and spying for her cause.
- Rose Greenhow, using her daughter little Rose to provide important information to the Confederates.
Watch author Karen Abbott describe the four ladies in her book:
These women were incredibly brave and it's quite amazing that many years before women were even allowed to vote, these women were controlling so much information and changing the efforts of the war. I think it's natural to pull for some of these women more than others. Personally, I enjoyed Emma's story the best, and not only because she was Canadian but because she did so many things that one would never think at that time a woman could do! She was a soldier, she fought in the war, she nursed others back to health, she spied, she posed as a man who posed as a women, and she posed as a black man to gain information for her side.
I found that I had troubles keeping track of the four women in this book because of the way it was written. Abbott switched between the stories of the women multiple times within a chapter and I feel like it would have been easier and smoother had each chapter been dedicated to a single woman.
I also found that there were some pacing issues with this book. It was like a roller coaster ride where some parts were very interesting and others did nothing to move the story along.
- Belle Boyd, a 17-year old charmer who shoots a Union soldier in her home then becomes a spy for the Confederate army. She gets her information by using her charm.
- Elizabeth Van Lew living in Richmond, Virginia, leading a spy ring. She had ciphers and codes for sending all of her messages, under the noses of prominent Confederates.
- Emma Edmonds, a Canadian, enlisting as "Frank Thompson" as a Union private, fighting, nursing, and spying for her cause.
- Rose Greenhow, using her daughter little Rose to provide important information to the Confederates.
Watch author Karen Abbott describe the four ladies in her book:
These women were incredibly brave and it's quite amazing that many years before women were even allowed to vote, these women were controlling so much information and changing the efforts of the war. I think it's natural to pull for some of these women more than others. Personally, I enjoyed Emma's story the best, and not only because she was Canadian but because she did so many things that one would never think at that time a woman could do! She was a soldier, she fought in the war, she nursed others back to health, she spied, she posed as a man who posed as a women, and she posed as a black man to gain information for her side.
I found that I had troubles keeping track of the four women in this book because of the way it was written. Abbott switched between the stories of the women multiple times within a chapter and I feel like it would have been easier and smoother had each chapter been dedicated to a single woman.
I also found that there were some pacing issues with this book. It was like a roller coaster ride where some parts were very interesting and others did nothing to move the story along.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Very absorbing history of four women who worked as spies during the Civil War. I'd heard of Rose Greenhow and Elizabeth van Lew but not Belle Boyd or Emma Edmonds (?sp). Fascinating.
Also, excellent audiobook narration by Karen White.
Also, excellent audiobook narration by Karen White.
magnetarmadda's review against another edition
DNF. I’ve made it an additional half hour into the audiobook, but the style of history—very very prose-y—is just not for me
juliannegern's review
3.0
This was an interesting book. War stories are so often written and told by men about men. It was refreshing and fascinating to read a book by a woman about women who played important roles in the Civil War. I was never sure about the timeline in the book, which was a little frustrating. But overall it was interesting and I’ll tell my friends and family about these women.
lassie90's review
4.0
Interesting history of four brave women who risked their lives for their cause during the Civil War. My favorite tale was that of Emma, who donned a Union uniform, became "Frank", and was a spy for the Union army.
jlgrossen's review against another edition
Hard to believe this is non-fiction!
Excellent read for anyone interested in the Civil War and the role that women played when there were so many things they weren't allowed to do.
Excellent read for anyone interested in the Civil War and the role that women played when there were so many things they weren't allowed to do.