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book_concierge's review
4.0
Audiobook narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Subtitle: A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession
As the subtitle suggest, this novel focuses on the women who risked their liberty, and their lives, to win the vote for women, including women of color. Chiaverini focuses on three of the most important suffragists of the day: Alice Paul, Maud Malone, and Ida B Wells-Barnett, to tell the story of how the idea for the march was conceived and the struggles they faced in planning for the event.
In order for women to be allowed to vote, the men who held the power, had to be the ones to grant that power, and let’s be clear, it was white men who held the power. And they were not willing to do so. The women who demonstrated were frequently taunted and assaulted by onlookers. No matter how peacefully they tried to ask a political candidate, “Do you support women’s suffrage?” they were taunted and jeered at by the men in the crowd, bodily ejected by a group of policemen, and like as not, arrested.
But the women, themselves, were hardly united. The National American Woman Suffrage Association – known simply as “the National” – was focused on gaining suffrage rights for women on a state-by-state basis. Alice Paul, who had been offered a position organizing their open-air meetings, felt strongly that the way to go was to push for a constitutional amendment, and one that would include ALL women, including blacks, a stance that alienated the women suffrage organizations in the South.
Chiaverini brings these historical figures to life. The chapters alternate between these three central figures, showing how each approached the issue and the unique challenges each faced. The scenes of the march itself, and the near disaster it became due to the failure of the Police Superintendent to provide adequate security, are harrowing. And I felt as disheartened as the women themselves must have felt when they finally had a meeting with President Wilson and he dismissed them stating, “I have no opinion on woman suffrage. I’ve never given the subject any thought.”
That first national march was a triumph of organization and courage, but it would be another seven years, until August 1920, before the Eighteenth Amendment was finally ratified.
While the novel itself is interesting and engaging, I really enjoyed the author’s notes at the end, where Chiaverini gives more details on what happened after the march. I had not realized before that Alice Paul drafted the first Equal Rights Amendment in 1922. I recall the attention the ERA received in the 1970s. It has yet to be ratified.
Saskia Maarleveld does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and Chiaverini’s writing helped to keep all these various female characters clearly defined.
Subtitle: A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession
As the subtitle suggest, this novel focuses on the women who risked their liberty, and their lives, to win the vote for women, including women of color. Chiaverini focuses on three of the most important suffragists of the day: Alice Paul, Maud Malone, and Ida B Wells-Barnett, to tell the story of how the idea for the march was conceived and the struggles they faced in planning for the event.
In order for women to be allowed to vote, the men who held the power, had to be the ones to grant that power, and let’s be clear, it was white men who held the power. And they were not willing to do so. The women who demonstrated were frequently taunted and assaulted by onlookers. No matter how peacefully they tried to ask a political candidate, “Do you support women’s suffrage?” they were taunted and jeered at by the men in the crowd, bodily ejected by a group of policemen, and like as not, arrested.
But the women, themselves, were hardly united. The National American Woman Suffrage Association – known simply as “the National” – was focused on gaining suffrage rights for women on a state-by-state basis. Alice Paul, who had been offered a position organizing their open-air meetings, felt strongly that the way to go was to push for a constitutional amendment, and one that would include ALL women, including blacks, a stance that alienated the women suffrage organizations in the South.
Chiaverini brings these historical figures to life. The chapters alternate between these three central figures, showing how each approached the issue and the unique challenges each faced. The scenes of the march itself, and the near disaster it became due to the failure of the Police Superintendent to provide adequate security, are harrowing. And I felt as disheartened as the women themselves must have felt when they finally had a meeting with President Wilson and he dismissed them stating, “I have no opinion on woman suffrage. I’ve never given the subject any thought.”
That first national march was a triumph of organization and courage, but it would be another seven years, until August 1920, before the Eighteenth Amendment was finally ratified.
While the novel itself is interesting and engaging, I really enjoyed the author’s notes at the end, where Chiaverini gives more details on what happened after the march. I had not realized before that Alice Paul drafted the first Equal Rights Amendment in 1922. I recall the attention the ERA received in the 1970s. It has yet to be ratified.
Saskia Maarleveld does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and Chiaverini’s writing helped to keep all these various female characters clearly defined.
emsharples's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a bit of a 3.5/4 stars for me. I loved the Ida B Wells portion and could read a whole book dedicated to just her experiences. In fact, I should!
kiminindy's review
4.0
This was pretty good. I normally really enjoy her books but this was a little confusing with the different characters....I was listening on Audible so maybe the actual book would have been better. I did really like the author's notes at the end.
vanessab78's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
alsoannabanana's review
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
5.0
Based on real events, this was such a great fictional account of three integral women involved in the 1913 Women's Suffrage march. I knew a fair amount about this part of history (although I'm sure many don't) - who else saw the TV movie Iron Jawed Angels with Hilary Swank as Quaker suffragist Alice Paul and her love interest Patrick Dempsey?? It's an oldie but a goodie. I didn't think the movie did the best job highlighting how women of color had an even more challenging time trying to fight for suffrage but the author does a really great job focusing on the life and work of Ida B Wells (an incredible Black woman who did SOOO much for racial and gender equality it's honestly crazy).
The third woman featured in the book was Maud Malone, an Irish American New York librarian who stood up to politicians like president-elect Woodrow Wilson, calling them out on their stance about women's rights (even going to jail for her convictions). Learning more about Maud was a real pleasure for me as a fellow librarian.
Overall this was skillfully told, narrated by the inimitable Saskia Maarleveld and showed just how complicated organizing this Women's march was, as she had to cater to different white women's suffrage groups as well as the 'colored' women's groups, who often had conflicting agendas. While this march took place in early 1913 and some states had already given some women in America the vote, it wasn't until 1920 when all women could vote. Alice Paul and Ida B Wells would go on to spend the rest of their lives fighting for equal rights for women. Highly recommend this one, especially for anyone wanting to learn more about what women went through to get us the vote we far too often take for granted today.
The third woman featured in the book was Maud Malone, an Irish American New York librarian who stood up to politicians like president-elect Woodrow Wilson, calling them out on their stance about women's rights (even going to jail for her convictions). Learning more about Maud was a real pleasure for me as a fellow librarian.
Overall this was skillfully told, narrated by the inimitable Saskia Maarleveld and showed just how complicated organizing this Women's march was, as she had to cater to different white women's suffrage groups as well as the 'colored' women's groups, who often had conflicting agendas. While this march took place in early 1913 and some states had already given some women in America the vote, it wasn't until 1920 when all women could vote. Alice Paul and Ida B Wells would go on to spend the rest of their lives fighting for equal rights for women. Highly recommend this one, especially for anyone wanting to learn more about what women went through to get us the vote we far too often take for granted today.
kelsewcrafty's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.0
It felt like reading an essay and was much slower paced than many historical fiction books
jennthelibrarian's review
2.0
Utter snoozefest.
I listened to and tried reading this book, and Chiaverini might as well have written a nonfiction book instead of a fictional account of the Women's March.
Which was only like 15 pages of the book.
I skimmed the last 20 pages because I couldn't take it anymore.
It's clear Chiaverini did her research on this book, because it was facts, facts, facts, facts, facts. I'm impressed with her level of attention to historical detail, but it did not make for good reading.
I listened to and tried reading this book, and Chiaverini might as well have written a nonfiction book instead of a fictional account of the Women's March.
Which was only like 15 pages of the book.
I skimmed the last 20 pages because I couldn't take it anymore.
It's clear Chiaverini did her research on this book, because it was facts, facts, facts, facts, facts. I'm impressed with her level of attention to historical detail, but it did not make for good reading.