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kskidmore7's review against another edition
3.0
The whole story felt a little bit suffocating in the problem. Which could be used intentionally, but I didn't feel like the resolution was equally matched with the magnitude of the problem. In the author's introduction she makes a statement that she hopes that readers finish the book feeling that Calvin Stowe and Harriet Beecher were well matched for each other but I didn't get that from the way that she wrote it.
This book doesn't quite have the feel of a romance novel. I had a really hard time getting through it. It was only when the due date to the library came up that I finally hunkered down and did it.
I think it's just because it's so relatable in the struggles of trying to balance self and housework.
I agree with another review that stated that I wish she would have kept more to the true order of events rather than adjusting the timeline.
This book doesn't quite have the feel of a romance novel. I had a really hard time getting through it. It was only when the due date to the library came up that I finally hunkered down and did it.
I think it's just because it's so relatable in the struggles of trying to balance self and housework.
I agree with another review that stated that I wish she would have kept more to the true order of events rather than adjusting the timeline.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
I am not familiar with the name Harriet Beecher Stowe. Although, after reading this book, I had to go learn more about this woman. Harriet showed a lot of courage and backbone to stand up and lend her voice to the injustice of slavery. The world can not have enough of strong women; who are smart and not afraid to speak up.
Another reader commented and said that she did not like how in the beginning of the story, Harriet acted like a spoiled brat by not doing any house chores. I agree that Harriet did come off that way and it was not fair as she did make a commitment when she married to honor, cherish, love her husband. Part of marriage is making an effort. Yet, I was not put off so much by Harriet's attitude as I was her husband, Calvin. He was too demanding, whiny, and not very supportive of Harriet. So, I really had no lost love when he went away.
Yet, after he came back, it took a little while for me to warm up to him but I did warm up to him. In fact, as the story progressed, I found Calvin and Harriet to be a good couple. The things they did together to help abolish slavery was great. This is a lovely read.
Another reader commented and said that she did not like how in the beginning of the story, Harriet acted like a spoiled brat by not doing any house chores. I agree that Harriet did come off that way and it was not fair as she did make a commitment when she married to honor, cherish, love her husband. Part of marriage is making an effort. Yet, I was not put off so much by Harriet's attitude as I was her husband, Calvin. He was too demanding, whiny, and not very supportive of Harriet. So, I really had no lost love when he went away.
Yet, after he came back, it took a little while for me to warm up to him but I did warm up to him. In fact, as the story progressed, I found Calvin and Harriet to be a good couple. The things they did together to help abolish slavery was great. This is a lovely read.
thestagedstory's review against another edition
5.0
I was actually surprised by how well I liked this book. I loved struggles of marriage and motherhood and that it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
reneesmith's review against another edition
5.0
A sweet story based on primary sources—letters. Though she loves her husband, Harriet Beecher fears that marriage to Calvin Stowe has silenced her voice. Her first attempts to “find a place for Harriet” in her marriage fail and end up strengthening the selfishness of each partner. God shows her that only through sacrifice and a love that puts God and others before herself, can she find her true voice and share her talent in a worthy and influential way. The rest is history :)
christieb123's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I have mixed feelings about this book. I'm not a big fan of romance novels, even clean. And I didn't think the writing in this book was particularly great. That said, though, I did stay up finishing this book. It did a great job of describing the conflict of a working mom, or even a mom in general, even though it was set in a different time period.
jamiehatch4488's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't expecting to like this book. But I loved it!
I can relate to Harriet's issues with household and family duties (real or fictional issues, I don't know). I am getting better, but I definitely do not have an amazingly organized, clean house. And I've felt guilty about it a lot over the years. I liked reading about their solutions and compromises.
I can relate to Harriet's issues with household and family duties (real or fictional issues, I don't know). I am getting better, but I definitely do not have an amazingly organized, clean house. And I've felt guilty about it a lot over the years. I liked reading about their solutions and compromises.
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
This book gave me a look into the past and what life might have been like for a woman that had more dreams than just being a mother and wife.
While this book is fiction, it is based on a real person, Harriet Beecher Stowe. While I have heard the name and know she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, I really didn't know much about her at all. This authors story, while mostly fiction, does have some truth to it. There is a section at the end of the book that goes chapter by chapter to explain what is true and where she obtained the information. All I can say is a lot of research went into this book!
All that aside, I think I identified with Harriet. I wasn't meant to be a homemaker. Sure I love to cook, but the cleaning? no thank you! Thankfully men have evolved since the mid 1800's and don't always expect women to be the homemaker. But at that time, women had really no rights and not much of a voice.
Calvin is a good man but was set in his beliefs about a family due to how he was raised and his first wife. Not that any of what he learned was wrong, but to fall in love with Harriett when she was the complete opposite, you would think he might adjust his thinking. Over time he did, but it took time and others to help him understand who he married and that she was not his mother or first wife.
I really enjoyed this book especially the last half of the book. I thought that the first half of the book was slow, but it was setting everything up so that the last half would bring all of the situations to a head. I learned something about Harriet and am now curious and want to learn more about this woman who was ahead of her time.
While this book is fiction, it is based on a real person, Harriet Beecher Stowe. While I have heard the name and know she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, I really didn't know much about her at all. This authors story, while mostly fiction, does have some truth to it. There is a section at the end of the book that goes chapter by chapter to explain what is true and where she obtained the information. All I can say is a lot of research went into this book!
All that aside, I think I identified with Harriet. I wasn't meant to be a homemaker. Sure I love to cook, but the cleaning? no thank you! Thankfully men have evolved since the mid 1800's and don't always expect women to be the homemaker. But at that time, women had really no rights and not much of a voice.
Calvin is a good man but was set in his beliefs about a family due to how he was raised and his first wife. Not that any of what he learned was wrong, but to fall in love with Harriett when she was the complete opposite, you would think he might adjust his thinking. Over time he did, but it took time and others to help him understand who he married and that she was not his mother or first wife.
I really enjoyed this book especially the last half of the book. I thought that the first half of the book was slow, but it was setting everything up so that the last half would bring all of the situations to a head. I learned something about Harriet and am now curious and want to learn more about this woman who was ahead of her time.
leslie_books_and_socks_rock's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book, I could relate to it - as who doesn't find it hard to look for the joy in the never-ending cleaning, cooking, etc of life. I know at some point, everyone has felt lost in their purpose. I thought Josi Kilpack did an excellent job conveying the social norms (that Calvin isn't terribly horrible as it was normal for the wives to care and make their husband's home life comfortable) and the rising concerns of slavery.
k_lee_reads_it's review
4.0
A look at the early years of a couple and the work marriage was and still is. The author tells the reader from the beginning that the book is based on the letters and writing of Harriet Beecher and Calvin Stowe, but still a work of fiction. Because of that note I found the narrative interesting, and did not over think. If you want only the facts of their history, this is not the book. If you want a book about the give and take of the first years of marriage and the near loss of self identity during the early years of having children, especially several children quickly, this book will deliver.