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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The audio version is very good. The narrator is excellent.
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really liked this book! It was a little slow at first and then wildly picks up at the end. There’s a huge cast of characters and it was a little hard to keep them all straight sometimes (while listening to the audiobook). Much of this is based on true events. Things that seem wildly dramatic or over the top were based on history. Annie’s character is inspiring and I wanted more of her story, but it makes sense that other characters and perspectives paint a fuller picture. Learned a lot about the copper mine strikes and unionization. Still super relevant to the world we live in today.
Note about the audiobook: If you’re from Michigan, read a paper copy. The narrator mispronounces a lot of words and it’s infuriating to listen to.
Note about the audiobook: If you’re from Michigan, read a paper copy. The narrator mispronounces a lot of words and it’s infuriating to listen to.
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
As my first non-Jesuits-in-space Russell book, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. As a work of historical fiction, I was worried. But I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would! Bits of it are slow, as I often find historical fiction, but the historical event itself is fascinating. Sometimes I'll read historical fiction and think, I should really Google what actually happened here, but this time I actually did -- to find out more about the event and to see the photos of Annie Clements that are described quite accurately by the book. To that end, I also liked Russell's sort of wrap up at the end that describes all the history she changed to make the book flow better (I'm thankful that she did!), although I was sad to hear that certain happy endings were not as happy in real life. I'm very interested to talk about this one at book club.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A terrific introductory text to 1900s labor history, despite being fiction. Contains all the important elements for understanding why workers went on strike and the politics and economic factors that helped make those decisions.
Really, really good.
Really, really good.
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
I have heard so much about this author before going into this book and maybe my expectations were a little on the high side, so this book didn't work for me, but it could totally be me! To warn I can't avoid spoilers in this review, so beware!
It is 1913 and in a copper mining town in Michigan and Annie Clements is known to be a large woman and when she decides to become a part of the fight for the union she becomes even bigger - a symbol.
I have heard so much about this author before going into this book and maybe my expectations were a little on the high side, so this book didn't work for me, but it could totally be me! To warn I can't avoid spoilers in this review, so beware!
It is 1913 and in a copper mining town in Michigan and Annie Clements is known to be a large woman and when she decides to become a part of the fight for the union she becomes even bigger - a symbol.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The strength and determination of the female characters is inspiring. Such a fascinating story about true events in Michigan history. Highly recommend this book!
The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell
Cassandra Campbell (Narrator)
In July, 1913, twenty five year old Annie Clements aka Big Annie, because she was at least 6 foot 2 inches tall, lives with her husband in in the mining town of Calumet, Michigan. She's lived here her entire life, her father and her brothers had worked the mine like her husband Joe does now. Despite the fact that their housing is better than most mining towns, it still is tiny and owned by the mining company. The men work twelve hours a day, six days a week, for $1 an hour. Death is a constant part of life in this town, due to accidents in the mine. Now things are getting even more dangerous with the one man drills that the company want to start using. A dangerous one man drill means that one less man is needed to use the drill, one less man has a job, money is saved by the company, and it isolates the men so they are less likely to talk and complain. But it also means more chance of injury or death, lost pay if that one man's light fails, rather than being able to still work with the light of that man's companion, so lost wages when the families are on the edge of starving already.
The general manager of Calumet & Hecla is James MacNaughton, a prideful, cruel man who is only interested in the profits for the company. The people of the mine and the servants in his home are just there to serve him and stay out of his way. He doesn't care about the miners or their families, there are so many more men who want a job that any workers' complaints mean nothing to him. Profits first.
Annie Clements, leader of the Women’s Auxiliary, has had enough and is instrumental in organizing union workers in Calumet. They ask for 8 hour days, $3 an hour wages for even the most lowly mine worker, and the end of using one man jacks. Then the violence begins. MacNaughton will never negotiate, will never compromise and he never even gives the workers a change to voice their concerns and wishes to him. He has the time and money to wait out the striking workers and he's more than willing to bring in a thug boss to maim and kill those who cause trouble. This isn't just about the miners but involves even more women and children who are already on the edge of starving. Their company homes are damaged so the cold can't be kept out in the winter, their meager food supplies are destroyed, businesses in the area are threatened if they do business with the miners.
And then something even worse happens in December. A horrible tragedy that sounds like it must be a fictional event but it's true. These women, these union workers have been through so much loss and death and something even worse occurs. The fights have been for families and the heart of the families is the children. Annie and MacNaughton and others in this story were real people. Other characters in this story are composites of several real people. This story had me learning more about Annie, MacNaughton, the Copper Country Strike of 1913–1914, and the December tragedy that devastates the mining town.
Pub August 6, 2019 by Simon Schuster Audio
Cassandra Campbell (Narrator)
In July, 1913, twenty five year old Annie Clements aka Big Annie, because she was at least 6 foot 2 inches tall, lives with her husband in in the mining town of Calumet, Michigan. She's lived here her entire life, her father and her brothers had worked the mine like her husband Joe does now. Despite the fact that their housing is better than most mining towns, it still is tiny and owned by the mining company. The men work twelve hours a day, six days a week, for $1 an hour. Death is a constant part of life in this town, due to accidents in the mine. Now things are getting even more dangerous with the one man drills that the company want to start using. A dangerous one man drill means that one less man is needed to use the drill, one less man has a job, money is saved by the company, and it isolates the men so they are less likely to talk and complain. But it also means more chance of injury or death, lost pay if that one man's light fails, rather than being able to still work with the light of that man's companion, so lost wages when the families are on the edge of starving already.
The general manager of Calumet & Hecla is James MacNaughton, a prideful, cruel man who is only interested in the profits for the company. The people of the mine and the servants in his home are just there to serve him and stay out of his way. He doesn't care about the miners or their families, there are so many more men who want a job that any workers' complaints mean nothing to him. Profits first.
Annie Clements, leader of the Women’s Auxiliary, has had enough and is instrumental in organizing union workers in Calumet. They ask for 8 hour days, $3 an hour wages for even the most lowly mine worker, and the end of using one man jacks. Then the violence begins. MacNaughton will never negotiate, will never compromise and he never even gives the workers a change to voice their concerns and wishes to him. He has the time and money to wait out the striking workers and he's more than willing to bring in a thug boss to maim and kill those who cause trouble. This isn't just about the miners but involves even more women and children who are already on the edge of starving. Their company homes are damaged so the cold can't be kept out in the winter, their meager food supplies are destroyed, businesses in the area are threatened if they do business with the miners.
And then something even worse happens in December. A horrible tragedy that sounds like it must be a fictional event but it's true. These women, these union workers have been through so much loss and death and something even worse occurs. The fights have been for families and the heart of the families is the children. Annie and MacNaughton and others in this story were real people. Other characters in this story are composites of several real people. This story had me learning more about Annie, MacNaughton, the Copper Country Strike of 1913–1914, and the December tragedy that devastates the mining town.
Pub August 6, 2019 by Simon Schuster Audio