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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I do not have to sell you this book. It sells itself. Case in point-when I was turning it in at the circulation desk, a lady who was checking out books asked what it was and if she could take it. The good news is that the book not only has a killer concept, it also has fantastic execution. It's exciting and interesting, and informative. In many instances it proves that truth is stranger than fiction. If you have any sort of interest in the Civil War, women's history, spies, or general awesomeness in writing, you will enjoy this.
I enjoyed this book a great deal. It wasn’t as enjoyable as Sin in the Second City, but I find Abbott’s storytelling very absorbing.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott is an informational text about four women who participated in the Civil War. Karen Abbott shares the stories of two Union supporters and two Rebel supporters. These extraordinary women each went to great lengths to help their cause. I highly suggest reading this book in the written form or having the book available while listening to the audio, as many pictures, maps, and graphics help you understand the content of the women’s stories. The author even tells what happens to the women after the war.
I appreciate what Ms. Abbott set out to do with this book by bringing history alive about how women played a part in the Civil War. The research required for a work of this magnitude must have been overwhelming. The reasons for why these 4 women did what they did were identified and explained well in my opinion. That being said Ms. Abbott's writing included a lot of sources and extra facts about other people the four women came into contact with made the story felt disjointed. She tried to remedy this by having chapters dedicated to each woman between the 4 parts, but jumping between the women made my head spin a bit because I was trying to remember all that I had learned from previous chapters. With all the names, dates, roads, locations, ect. it became necessary to write lists of information I was learning. It felt like I was writing a paper on these women but they were mixed in together. I feel this would work when these ladies were at the same events but Ms. Abbott seems to gloss over these events sometimes. Ms. Abbott seems too wrapped up in using all of the research that she collected and stuffed it in one book. Not only is her story-telling and fact-stating scattered and often careless, her slyly insinuated agenda is old-fashioned and belligerent to readers who are emotionally capable of legitimately sympathizing with ALL who were affected by the grim tragedy of the Civil War (and not just those who were called victors). What I mean by this is she seemed to be Pro-Union throughout the book and tried to paint them in not the most flattering light, which felt unnecessary since war has many aspects to it that we can understand better now. Members of the Union and Confederate States were fighting for what they believed in and were willing to do whatever they could to help defend their way of life.
This book would be a great reference book as it has pictures, dates, and facts throughout. I wouldn't call this book a historical fiction so don't read this book for that reason; you'll be very disappointed like I was if you come in with that expectation. I'll be honest and say for me this book wasn't what I expected, and I didn't connect with the book enough. It's a 2.5 star for me, which is disappointing to about because I really expected to like this book more than I did. Still I was expecting a "read for fun book not a textbook."
If you want to step into the past and learn about how 4 women did what many couldn't and affect history in their own way then this is a good option.
This book would be a great reference book as it has pictures, dates, and facts throughout. I wouldn't call this book a historical fiction so don't read this book for that reason; you'll be very disappointed like I was if you come in with that expectation. I'll be honest and say for me this book wasn't what I expected, and I didn't connect with the book enough. It's a 2.5 star for me, which is disappointing to about because I really expected to like this book more than I did. Still I was expecting a "read for fun book not a textbook."
If you want to step into the past and learn about how 4 women did what many couldn't and affect history in their own way then this is a good option.
This was a very interesting read. I loved the way the stories were woven together, though at first I had a difficult time keeping track of who was who and which side they were on. This book opened my eyes to a side of history that I did not know existed. Definitely worth the read!
informative
slow-paced
This book was informative and interesting, but dragged in places. I think it could have been turned into two different books, each focusing on just two women, instead of one book focusing on all four. That would allow for more focus and less drag. I listened to the audio and I did have a hard time keeping the ladies straight when it switched from one story to another. That's a me problem that would have been fixed by reading a print version, but something to be aware of if you're considering the audio version. There's very little differentiation in the voice or text between characters and the chapter/section titles do NOT tell you which woman the section is about.
Still, I enjoyed it overall. 3 solid stars
Still, I enjoyed it overall. 3 solid stars
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
Fascinating history! Women and major figures in the civil people that I'd never heard of before, each with incredible stories of stubbornness, resilience, defeat, deception, and triumph.
I was appreciative of the author's inclusion of both Confederate and Union members of history as it illustrated that while the overarching principle of pro-slavery (obviously evil and unjustifiable) and anti-slavery (unfortunately not always anti-racism and not always for altruistic reasons) defined the two warring governments, people were often complex and nuanced in their actions, equally capable of being despicable and brave.
The Union cannot be accurately simplified to the "good guys." They frequently displayed willful incompetence, blatant corruption, hypocrisy, racism, misogyny, sexism and engaged in barbarism equal to their enemies and this book does a good job of pointing that out through personal accounts.
Well written, though I would have liked a little more liberal quoting from diaries and exploring original accounts in greater length rather than the novelization style of writing. Nevertheless, it's clearly a thorough book with good research and a valuable focus on women's experiences.
Karen White does an excellent job providing an engaging and expertly paced narration.
I was appreciative of the author's inclusion of both Confederate and Union members of history as it illustrated that while the overarching principle of pro-slavery (obviously evil and unjustifiable) and anti-slavery (unfortunately not always anti-racism and not always for altruistic reasons) defined the two warring governments, people were often complex and nuanced in their actions, equally capable of being despicable and brave.
The Union cannot be accurately simplified to the "good guys." They frequently displayed willful incompetence, blatant corruption, hypocrisy, racism, misogyny, sexism and engaged in barbarism equal to their enemies and this book does a good job of pointing that out through personal accounts.
Well written, though I would have liked a little more liberal quoting from diaries and exploring original accounts in greater length rather than the novelization style of writing. Nevertheless, it's clearly a thorough book with good research and a valuable focus on women's experiences.
Karen White does an excellent job providing an engaging and expertly paced narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
A great perspective into the Civil War, and well thought out with the different women featured.
I enjoyed hearing the different POVs, while some were on the Confederacy side, it was still educational and interesting to see their points of view of the war and the war efforts
I enjoyed hearing the different POVs, while some were on the Confederacy side, it was still educational and interesting to see their points of view of the war and the war efforts
Lots of overlapping threads, but their lives after the war were as intriguing as their work during the war (but some of them were not presented in a sympathetic way - maybe because they aren't appealing, maybe because the espoused views of the people are unpalatable "educated the slave and bettered her life" [ma'am you are talking about a human as if they aren't one]).
4.5 stars = enjoyed, would look for other books if i need something to read, would recommend
4.5 stars = enjoyed, would look for other books if i need something to read, would recommend
dark
informative
slow-paced