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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
http://www.burtonbookreview.com/2018/02/winter-sisters-by-robin-oliveira.html
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism
I seem to be one of the few people who came into this book without having read the prequel (My Name is Mary Sutter) and without knowing anything about the author. Perhaps if I had, I would have been prepared for what was to come, but alas as it was, what I read was not in the least what I expected (ie a magical fairytale or a cozy mystery). No, indeed: this was a gritty, dark, meticulously researched work of historical fiction that covered some incredibly challenging themes: child abduction, rape, devastating natural events (floods, blizzards), bribery and corruption at the highest levels of local politics, and more.
Considering that I was expecting (and in the mood for) a light and magical tale, it speaks to the excellence of this novel that I was quickly pulled in and enthralled to the point I was staying up long past my bedtime to find out what happened next. Oliveira builds a rich atmosphere depicting late 19th century Albany in great detail, and she examines the sensitive themes she does with tastefulness that does not brush over their horrific nature.
The story is essentially about two girls, orphaned in a blizzard, who are kidnapped and held against their will, while the 10 year old one is raped. Some chapters in and several weeks later, the girls are able to escape the basement where they are held because of another natural disaster - a flood caused by melting ice and snow. The remainder of the story is about the aftermath of their travails - about the trail, both legal and public opinion, about the difficulty of healing from such traumatic and horrific crimes, about the power of familial support.
But what makes this an excellent historical work is that Winter Sisters is not just a story of individual overcoming of hardship, it is also an expertly woven political tale about city machinations and crony relationships within the governmental and business spheres, and about corruption at the highest levels. And finally, it is a searing depiction of and commentary on the historical oppression of women, not only by the literal letter of the law, but also by public opinion. In 1879, the age of consent in NY was ten years, and the vast majority of rape victims (who even made it to trial, as rape trials were incredibly rare) - were accused of "wanting it" and "asking for it" and as long as they were 10 years old or over, usually this defense worked. So many of these themes held on for at least a century, though to an extent we are finally now emerging out of this era of traditional debasement and devaluing of women.
This novel is not for the faint of heart and also not for those who do not wish to read about such horrific acts as child rape (which is implied only, not described). But if you can bear that, I highly recommend this to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially that set in the United States around the period of industrialization and urbanization, and especially to those interested in women's history.
Considering that I was expecting (and in the mood for) a light and magical tale, it speaks to the excellence of this novel that I was quickly pulled in and enthralled to the point I was staying up long past my bedtime to find out what happened next. Oliveira builds a rich atmosphere depicting late 19th century Albany in great detail, and she examines the sensitive themes she does with tastefulness that does not brush over their horrific nature.
The story is essentially about two girls, orphaned in a blizzard, who are kidnapped and held against their will, while the 10 year old one is raped. Some chapters in and several weeks later, the girls are able to escape the basement where they are held because of another natural disaster - a flood caused by melting ice and snow. The remainder of the story is about the aftermath of their travails - about the trail, both legal and public opinion, about the difficulty of healing from such traumatic and horrific crimes, about the power of familial support.
But what makes this an excellent historical work is that Winter Sisters is not just a story of individual overcoming of hardship, it is also an expertly woven political tale about city machinations and crony relationships within the governmental and business spheres, and about corruption at the highest levels. And finally, it is a searing depiction of and commentary on the historical oppression of women, not only by the literal letter of the law, but also by public opinion. In 1879, the age of consent in NY was ten years, and the vast majority of rape victims (who even made it to trial, as rape trials were incredibly rare) - were accused of "wanting it" and "asking for it" and as long as they were 10 years old or over, usually this defense worked. So many of these themes held on for at least a century, though to an extent we are finally now emerging out of this era of traditional debasement and devaluing of women.
This novel is not for the faint of heart and also not for those who do not wish to read about such horrific acts as child rape (which is implied only, not described). But if you can bear that, I highly recommend this to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially that set in the United States around the period of industrialization and urbanization, and especially to those interested in women's history.
It takes me a while to come upon the central theme of Winter Sisters by Robin Oliveira because this book is the not the mystery you may assume from the fact that it begins with a disappearance. I have a definite "a-ha" moment. What draws the entire book together is the women - young and old – who are all made to suffer by a society in which women do not have the same position or rights as men. The plot centers around the disappearance of two young girls in a time and place when the age of consent by law was 10! (Note that the subject matter of the book is disturbing!) However, the focal point of the book is not a mystery; it is the bigger themes of rights and equality in a story that draws me in and keeps me reading until the very last page.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/06/winter-sisters.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/06/winter-sisters.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
I just couldn't get into this one at all. Tried for over a week and nothing doing. I loved the first Mary Sutter book!!
I really enjoyed the character Oliveira created--even the despicable ones--to populate late 1800s Albany, NY. The women were strong and complex, especially Dr. Mary Sutter Stipp. And reading about the laws and public perception regarding trauma in that time period was interesting, especially when juxtaposed with another book I was reading at the same time: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
I may go back later. I just wasn’t in the mood to read about child abuse.
I haven't read the first book in this series so all the characters were new to me. Hard to read at times due to some of the subject matter, but many strong female characters and engrossing.