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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Historical fiction based on real events during a union strike, lead largely by women, in a copper mining town in 1913-14. I had no prior knowledge about these events and feel that I have benefitted from learning about them. Was this book uplifting or happy? No. These events are tragic, but important to know about. Was the book well-written and engaging? Yes.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Russell is unmatched in historical fiction, I think. A meticulously researched book about little known history, and though it's tough to read at parts, the steadfastness of the union is inspiring, especially in our current climate. She has such a gift for storytelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
I can’t tell if I enjoyed this because it was a good book or because it describes actual events in my own state. Historical events and characters have been altered to fit the plot, and some fact checking in pencil by a U.P. resident throughout my library copy provided some chuckles. However, learning about the mining history in the U.P. and it’s impact on real people was definitely a highlight. Also, visiting Copper Country and Calumet while reading this book was a powerful experience.
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Mary Doria Russell's "The Women of the Copper Country" is a beautifully written novel.
That said, it took me FOREVER to get through it. This was a very slow read for me.
Russell's writing is cinematic; she's an absolutely wonderful story-teller and I believe that this book is going to please many readers who have loved her earlier works. In this thoroughly well researched novel, Russell exposes the brutal demands of the families employed by the copper mining companies in the early twentieth century. Unbearable living conditions, deadly working conditions with little to no payoff, the novel really highlights the disparity between the copper baron and the blue collar working person. I found Annie Clements to be an inspiring heroine and the other women featured were courageous in their pursuit for better conditions. This is a powerful story about the inspiring women who took a stand against a copper mining baron and offers a glimpse into the labor movement of the 20th century.
For some reason, her writing reminds me of Laura Hillenbrand and Kate Moore's. Perfect for the discerning historical fiction reader.
Thank you, Atria books for the free e-galley.
That said, it took me FOREVER to get through it. This was a very slow read for me.
Russell's writing is cinematic; she's an absolutely wonderful story-teller and I believe that this book is going to please many readers who have loved her earlier works. In this thoroughly well researched novel, Russell exposes the brutal demands of the families employed by the copper mining companies in the early twentieth century. Unbearable living conditions, deadly working conditions with little to no payoff, the novel really highlights the disparity between the copper baron and the blue collar working person. I found Annie Clements to be an inspiring heroine and the other women featured were courageous in their pursuit for better conditions. This is a powerful story about the inspiring women who took a stand against a copper mining baron and offers a glimpse into the labor movement of the 20th century.
For some reason, her writing reminds me of Laura Hillenbrand and Kate Moore's. Perfect for the discerning historical fiction reader.
Thank you, Atria books for the free e-galley.
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Excellent book that I just can't recommend for everyone (for mild spoiler reasons that I'm not going to hide behind tags). It's all the things I love in historical fiction--intimate detail, period-appropriate characters who are realistic and interesting, a sense of the larger world informing the book--and while she introduces fictional characters, she largely follows real-world events. Which means that there's a tragedy toward the end of the book, as there was at that point in the strike. It is given the respect and attention it deserves within the narrative, but it's a tragedy that involves children; parents of young children may have a hard time when they arrive at that part of the text. (I'm writing this a week after an elementary school shooting; I found out the hard way that this book was less escapist than it seemed when it comes to young child tragedy.) Before I reached that event, I was recommending this novel enthusiastically and whole-heartedly to everyone I spoke to. This was my first book of hers, and I'll definitely be seeking out her other works.
This was excellent! I was wondering how it would go since I know the Italian Hall story well. Also, it’s overwhelmingly tragic! But MDR handled it well and there was enough redemption and hope to not bog down the end of the book with sadness. I also didn’t mind her rearranging the timeline and characters a little bit. It made for a very good historical fiction novel. Recommended for all my Houghton, Calumet, and MTU friends.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes