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A review by sde
The Great Divorce: a Nineteenth-Century Mother's Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times by Ilyon Woo
4.0
Would I have liked this book as much if I didn't live in the area where most of the story takes place? I don't know, but because I live here I found it super fascinating. Although we know that Shakers lived around here, there are some buildings still remaining, and we have lore surrounding them, I had never heard even a peep about this woman's story.
Eunice Chapman was an amazing woman who convinced the NYS legislature to pass legislation on her behalf. This is daunting to do today, never mind for a woman to do at a time when they had no vote. We do not know much about Eunice, but the author was able to piece together a compelling portrait by meticulously doing her research and tying together the various snippets she found.
The book showed a negative side of the Shakers that we don't usually hear. I liked this because it made the Shakers seemed more real and complicated, not just some quaint and cute people like they are often portrayed. Their philosophy meant giving up more than just sex. People had struggles with the religion. The religion also provided a lot of support for oddballs and those with no one to support them - I never thought about how this might lead to their downfall.
I enjoyed the little tidbits about my hometown, Albany. The fact that they had pigs roaming the street to clean up the garbage and then be slaughtered when people were hungry was my favorite.
Eunice Chapman was an amazing woman who convinced the NYS legislature to pass legislation on her behalf. This is daunting to do today, never mind for a woman to do at a time when they had no vote. We do not know much about Eunice, but the author was able to piece together a compelling portrait by meticulously doing her research and tying together the various snippets she found.
The book showed a negative side of the Shakers that we don't usually hear. I liked this because it made the Shakers seemed more real and complicated, not just some quaint and cute people like they are often portrayed. Their philosophy meant giving up more than just sex. People had struggles with the religion. The religion also provided a lot of support for oddballs and those with no one to support them - I never thought about how this might lead to their downfall.
I enjoyed the little tidbits about my hometown, Albany. The fact that they had pigs roaming the street to clean up the garbage and then be slaughtered when people were hungry was my favorite.