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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I received an audio arc for review from Netgalley.
As a women, a mother and a daughter living in a time when unwed mothers are still judged, but certainly not as harshly, a time when women's rights are diminishing instead of growing, a time when we're fighting the battles we thought were long fought - I was so entrenched in this audiobook, feeling it so deeply, empathizing with Lorraine and the other girls in the maternity home. The girls who were never given a choice about what would happen next. The girls who had hopes and dreams, as diverse as they may have been, for what their futures would become. The girls who were treated like parriahs and outcasts and kept hidden away while they incubated babies they'd have no choice but to give up whether that was their wish or not. My heart shattered for these girls, for the experience they had, for sweet Mirabelle and the trauma she endured, for each of these young women who were expected to just "go back to normal" after their lives were forever changed. Betty's hidden past and slight redemption arc was wrought with heartache, and it made me ache for how her and her daughter had a shared secret past. I appreciated the realism of the end of this book, the effort to hold authenticity instead of wrapping everything up in a perfect little bow.
As a women, a mother and a daughter living in a time when unwed mothers are still judged, but certainly not as harshly, a time when women's rights are diminishing instead of growing, a time when we're fighting the battles we thought were long fought - I was so entrenched in this audiobook, feeling it so deeply, empathizing with Lorraine and the other girls in the maternity home. The girls who were never given a choice about what would happen next. The girls who had hopes and dreams, as diverse as they may have been, for what their futures would become. The girls who were treated like parriahs and outcasts and kept hidden away while they incubated babies they'd have no choice but to give up whether that was their wish or not. My heart shattered for these girls, for the experience they had, for sweet Mirabelle and the trauma she endured, for each of these young women who were expected to just "go back to normal" after their lives were forever changed. Betty's hidden past and slight redemption arc was wrought with heartache, and it made me ache for how her and her daughter had a shared secret past. I appreciated the realism of the end of this book, the effort to hold authenticity instead of wrapping everything up in a perfect little bow.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book really shows you what it was like to be an unwed pregnant girl back in the 1960’s. An important part of history that they don’t teach you in history class. I felt all the emotions reading this book, and none of them were good. It really opened my eyes to the Baby Scoop Era and made me so mad for girls/women I’ve never even met in my lifetime. I can’t even imagine how horrible this would be to go through. It happened in real life, but my heart ached for these fictional characters so much. How was this even happening as much as it did?! HOW?! I was telling my step mom what this book was about, as I’d already made it to 53% in the book when I went to dinner with her and my Dad. She said she remembered this happening. Broke my heart even more. They say history repeats itself, and I really hope this is a part of history that never comes back around.
“The Baby Scoop Era refers to the period of time from 1945-1973 when an estimated four million unwed pregnant women were sent to maternity homes, which could result in coerced or even forced surrender of their children.”
“The Baby Scoop Era refers to the period of time from 1945-1973 when an estimated four million unwed pregnant women were sent to maternity homes, which could result in coerced or even forced surrender of their children.”
fast-paced
The book seemed more appropriate for a YA audience. Th main character reminded me of Sandy from Grease - too perfect and too naive. The characters seem flat and stereotypical.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve been wanting to read this for months and finally a friend and I decided to buddy read and discuss. Truly fascinated by the double standards for men and women when it comes to sex and pregnancy, this book was right up my alley. The author spent a lot of time sharing what life was like in the maternity home and exploring how someone might want for a better life after, be told that’s why they were there, but be given only obstacles when she wanted to finish school. She also explored the bond a young mother can have with her unborn child. I also appreciated the third person omniscient narration so we got mostly Lorraine’s story but also were able to get into the heads of other characters depending on the situation. Lastly, Clint irritated me so … he used her and threw her away when it didn’t suit him any longer.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No