Stories from Suffragette City is a collection of short stories that all take place on a single day: October 23, 1915. It’s the day when tens of thousands of women marched up Fifth Avenue, demanding the right to vote in New York City. Thirteen of today’s bestselling authors have taken this moment as inspiration to raise the voices of history and breathe fresh life into their struggles and triumphs.
The characters depicted here, some well-known, others unfamiliar, each inspire and reinvigorate the power of democracy. We follow a young woman who is swept up in the protests when all she expected was to come sell her apples in the city. We see Alva Vanderbilt as her white-gloved sensibility is transformed over the course of the single fateful day. Ida B. Wells battles for racial justice in the women’s suffrage movement so that every woman’s voice can be heard. Each story stands on its own, but together Stories From Suffragette City becomes a symphony, painting a portrait of a country looking for a fight and ever restless for progress and equality.
With an introduction by Kristin Hannah and stories from:
Lisa Wingate M.J. Rose Steve Berry Paula McLain Katherine J. Chen Christina Baker Kline Jamie Ford Dolen Perkins-Valdez Megan Chance Alyson Richman Chris Bohjalian and Fiona Davis
Review
I am not a huge fan of short stories. But this is a book all women should read. It just gives you an idea of what women went through to earn the right to vote. These strong women who went before us and secured this right for all women should never be forgotten and should be honored. You can honor them today by casting your ballot.
Through many trials with their families and their friends, these women succeeded. We should never take this for granted and we should never forget.
October has been a busy, busy month. I have FINALLY finished all my flu clinics. I usually treat myself to a vacation when they are completed. This year…I treated myself to two!
We went back to the Smokey Mountains for a quick weekend getaway. We toured Tuckaleechee Caverns and we spent some time in the beautiful city of Knoxville, TN.
We also had our annual pumpkin carving family adventure. And trust me…it is always and adventure!
I also took a girls trip to the beach…yes…in the middle of Hurricane Zeta. We only were part of the tropical depression and it was FUN to watch.
Escapes
Now…on the my Escapes. I had tons of good books this month! Check it out!
Reviews will be up soon…well, except Rebecca. That was read for fun. I had never read this book…GASP! And I decided I needed to find out what it was all about…it was delicious!
This is the one I sent back to audible I have never done that before. If you have a book you did not like, Audible will take it back if it has been purchased within 365 days.
The Last Thing She Ever Did is very interesting. But a child dies and it revolves around that death. I have trouble with that subject matter. But Gregg Olsen did a wonderful job of navigating this tragic subject. And the narrator, Karen Peakes is superb.
RESCUE YOU Author: Elysia Whisler ISBN: 9780778310082 Publication Date: October 27, 2020 Publisher: MIRA Books
She needs a fresh start. He’s got scars that haven’t healed. With the help of some rescue dogs, they’ll discover that everyone deserves a chance at happiness.
After a year of heartbreak and loss, the only thing keeping Constance afloat is the dog rescue she works at with her sister, Sunny. Desperate for a change, Constance impulsively joins a new gym, even though it seems impossibly hard, and despite the gym’s prickly owner.
Rhett Santos keeps his gym as a refuge for his former-military brothers and to sweat out his own issues. He’s ready to let the funny redhead join, but unprepared for the way she wiggles past his hard-won defenses.
When their dog rescue is threatened, the sisters fight to protect it. And they need all the help they can get. As Rhett and Constance slowly open up to each other, they’ll find that no one is past rescuing; what they need is the right person—or dog—to save them.
Review
Rhett has some remaining issues left over from a war wound, inside and out. He struggles to overcome so many challenges. Enter Constance… she just shows up at his gym one day and Rhett cannot stop thinking about her.
Give me a good romance with dogs and I am hooked. I enjoyed so much about this novel. I love Rhett and Constance. Rhett has had a rough time of it. Constance is hurting in her own way as well. These two find each other through a gym and tough workouts. They develop a bond and it just gets stronger as the story unfolds.
And don’t forget about Sunny. Sunny is Constance’s sister. She is tough as nails and steals dogs to save their lives…she is a character I truly admire.
Need a good, soul searching romantic interlude….this is it! Grab your copy today! Plus…it has dogs!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
About the Author
Elysia Whisler was raised in Texas, Italy, Alaska, Mississippi, Nebraska, Hawai’i and Virginia, in true military fashion. Her nomadic life has made storytelling a compulsion from a young age. She doubles as a mother, a massage therapist and a CrossFit trainer and is dedicated to portraying strong women, both in life and in her works. She lives in Virginia with her family, including her large brood of cat and dog rescues, who vastly outnumber the humans.
A heartwarming novel about secrets of youth rediscovered, hometown memories, and the magical moments in ordinary lives, from the beloved author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
“Reading this novel is like entering a second childhood.”—Kirkus Reviews
Bud Threadgoode grew up in the bustling little railroad town of Whistle Stop with his mother, Ruth, church-going and proper, and his Aunt Idgie, the fun-loving hell-raiser. Together they ran the town’s popular Whistle Stop Cafe, known far and wide for its fun and famous fried green tomatoes. And as Bud often said of his childhood to his daughter Ruthie, “How lucky can you get?”
But sadly, as the railroad yards shut down and Whistle Stop became a ghost town, nothing was left but boarded-up buildings and memories of a happier time.
Then one day, Bud decides to take one last trip, just to see what has become of his beloved Whistle Stop. In so doing, he discovers new friends, as well as surprises about Idgie’s life, about Ninny Threadgoode and other beloved Fannie Flagg characters, and about the town itself. He also sets off a series of events, both touching and inspiring, which change his life and the lives of his daughter and many others. Could these events all be just coincidences? Or something else? And can you really go home again?
Review
Bud decides to go back home to Whistle Stop one last time. He just wants to revisit old memories. However, it is not as easy as he thought. He meets some new people and has some new experiences which change his life for the better!
I have loved Fannie Flagg forever! But, this book is a little different. This does not feel like or read like a novel. It is a bunch of short stories about the people of Whistle Stop. There is really no plot. It just rambles in places.
The first part of the book jumps time a good bit. It can get confusing on who is who. But, it is still an ok read. It is heartwarming and full of cute characters and southern ways.
I received this copy from the publisher for a honest review.
The beloved New York Times bestselling author tells the poignant love story of caring for her parents in their final years in this beautifully written memoir.
“I’ll Be Seeing You moved me and broadened my understanding of the human condition.”—Wally Lamb, author of I Know This Much Is True
Elizabeth Berg’s father was an Army veteran who was a tough man in every way but one: He showed a great deal of love and tenderness to his wife. Berg describes her parents’ marriage as a romance that lasted for nearly seventy years; she grew up watching her father kiss her mother upon leaving home, and kiss her again the instant he came back. His idea of when he should spend time away from her was never.
But then Berg’s father developed Alzheimer’s disease, and her parents were forced to leave the home they loved and move into a facility that could offer them help. It was time for the couple’s children to offer, to the best of their abilities, practical advice, emotional support, and direction—to, in effect, parent the people who had for so long parented them. It was a hard transition, mitigated at least by flashes of humor and joy. The mix of emotions on everyone’s part could make every day feel like walking through a minefield. Then came redemption.
I’ll Be Seeing You charts the passage from the anguish of loss to the understanding that even in the most fractious times, love can heal, transform, and lead to graceful—and grateful—acceptance.
Review
This is a true story about the affect on a family during the progression of Alzheimers. Elizabeth Berg’s family had a lot to overcome when her father was diagnosed with Alzheimers. There were many changes that took place. They learned to overcome many challenges and to eventually depend on each other to help everyone cope.
Elizabeth Berg did a wonderful job showing both sides of this disease. She wrote so eloquently about how it affected her mother as well as her father during the evolution of his illness. She did not pull any punches on how her family handled the tough situations. It is not easy and it plays a huge impact on the family unit.
I received this memoir from the publisher for a honest review.
This is a book written by a local author. Looks very intriguing! Check it out!
Overview
Tom Reed is an Applied Physicist working on a project he developed for the military. While the original idea was to instantly transport military equipment from place to place, he realized it could also be used to transport people and things in time. He developed a way to bring historical figures from the past into present day without disturbing their lives in the past. When Tom activates this transport, he finds himself sitting across from our favorite kite-flying Founding Father.We have all either thought or heard the phrase “What would the Founders think if they were alive today?” Well, we find out in My Name Is Ben. Over the period of several days, Tom and his colleagues acquaint our most famous scientist to the wonders, and the disappointments, of what has become of America since our Constitution was signed in 1787. As much as he is amazed at the technological advances, he is disappointed in some of the social and political issues that we, as Americans, face every day. Franklin, not one to sit idly by and watch, eventually finds himself to the Oval Office and the halls of Congress, where he has some things to say. Join Tom, his wife, and his colleagues as they usher an astounded Founding Father into present day America, and discover some things themselves along the way.
About the Author
Karl Bullock has always had a passion for the written word and for interesting characters and stories. Having spent a life in business and technology, he has always wished to share some of his story ideas. Using many of his own personal experiences, Karl writes on his website and on his social media outlets about current events in historical context and asks the question “What if?”. In his first book, he brings to life the thought many have had: “What would the Founders think if they were alive today?”.
An entrepreneur, Karl has managed several businesses in both the sales and service industries, including an Internet Service Provider company he started in 1996. Married with two grown children and four grandchildren, he and his wife Amy are both active in their community and Baptist church. They live in North Mississippi along with Amy’s Parrot, who not-so-secretly wants to replace him!
Karl currently operates a data processing company from his home office.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, a thrilling and addictive new novel–a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth–set in England at the dawn of a new era: the Middle Ages
“Just as transporting as [The Pillars of the Earth] . . . A most welcome addition to the Kingsbridge series.” —The Washington Post
It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages. England is facing attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Those in power bend justice according to their will, regardless of ordinary people and often in conflict with the king. Without a clear rule of law, chaos reigns.
In these turbulent times, three characters find their lives intertwined. A young boatbuilder’s life is turned upside down when the only home he’s ever known is raided by Vikings, forcing him and his family to move and start their lives anew in a small hamlet where he does not fit in. . . . A Norman noblewoman marries for love, following her husband across the sea to a new land, but the customs of her husband’s homeland are shockingly different, and as she begins to realize that everyone around her is engaged in a constant, brutal battle for power, it becomes clear that a single misstep could be catastrophic. . . . A monk dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a center of learning that will be admired throughout Europe. And each in turn comes into dangerous conflict with a clever and ruthless bishop who will do anything to increase his wealth and power.
Thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Now, Follett’s masterful new prequel The Evening and the Morning takes us on an epic journey into a historical past rich with ambition and rivalry, death and birth, love and hate, that will end where The Pillars of the Earth begins.
Review
This is an epic novel full of Vikings, power hungry family members, slaves, and monks. It is full of rich history and a tad bit of love thrown in the mix. No one does historical fiction like Ken Follett. He is the master! And this story will have you on the edge of your seat.
I do prefer to listen to Follett’s books. His books are rather large and I have so much to read for my blog. It is just much easier to listen at this time in my life. He also has the best narrator, John Lee. So, even though I was gifted a copy of the ebook, I purchased the audible.
This story captivated me from the start with the Viking raid. And the intensity just did not let up. This is a masterful piece of work!
Need a fabulous historical saga…wow! Grab this one today! It is superb!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
When a trip across time barriers leads to murder …At a gala fundraiser to save a grand San Francisco Victorian, reluctant psychic Claire Scanlan encounters a mysterious young woman, Roxane, who is invisible to everyone but her. Roxane is a “soiled dove” plying her trade in the mansion in 1896. She has discovered a secret portal that lets her slip into what she calls the Future House to escape the most brutal of the men who buy her favors. When the fundraiser’s organizer is murdered in the mansion, Roxane is the sole witness. Terrified, she flees back to her own time and enlists the only true gentleman she has ever met to help her find justice for the victim. Claire’s philandering brother-in-law is accused of being the killer. To clear his name she must find the elusive Roxane—which means risking a perilous journey into the past from which she may never return.Praise for Margaret Lucke’s novels“Margaret Lucke is an exceptional writer.”— Marcia Muller, Grand Master, Mystery Writers of America, author of the Sharon McCone detective series“A gripping, richly textured mystery. Read and enjoy.”— Rita Lakin, award-winning creator of the Getting Old is Murder series“Mystery, romance and ghosts come together in this first-class tale.” –– Romantic Times“A fascinating blending of romance, mystery and the paranormal.”— Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine“I was drawn into Claire’s story from the first page and could hardly put the book down for wanting to know what could possibly happen next.”— Fallen Angels Reviews
About Margaret Lucke
Margaret Lucke flings words around in the San Francisco Bay Area, as a writer, editor, teacher of writing classes, and writing coach. She is fascinated by the power of stories and the magic of creativity.
Her latest novel, HOUSE OF DESIRE, a tale of love, ghosts and murder in San Francisco, is now available for preorder as a Kindle book. A print edition is coming soon. It is the second book in the Claire Scanlan Haunted House series, following HOUSE OF WHISPERS.
Other works include two novels featuring artist/private eye Jess Randolph: SNOW ANGEL, in which Jess makes a desperate search for a missing child, and A RELATIVE STRANGER, an Anthony Award nominee for Best First Mystery, and two how-to books on writing: SCHAUM’S QUICK GUIDE TO WRITING GREAT SHORT STORIES and WRITING MYSTERIES.
Margaret is also the editor of FAULT LINES, an anthology of 19 stories by Northern California crime writers, published in 2019 by the NorCal chapter of Sisters in Crime.
A former president of the Northern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America, Margaret teaches fiction writing classes at UC Berkeley Extension and frequently leads writing workshops and classes for libraries, writers organizations, and other groups. Visit her at http://www.margaretlucke.com.
MATRIMONY, INC.: From Personal Ads to Swiping Right, a Story of America Looking for Love (Pegasus Books; October 6, 2020; Hardcover; ISBN: 978-1643135786; 240 pgs; $27.95)
Overview
A clever, thoughtful, and funny history that reveals how the Union of states was built on a much more personal union of people.
Have you ever used a dating app or website? Then you have more in common than you know with lonely homesteaders in 18th century New England. At once heartwarming and heartbreaking, Matrimony, Inc. reveals the unifying thread that weaves its way through not just marriage and relationships over the centuries, but American social history itself: advertising for love.
Amazingly, America’s first personal ad appeared in the Boston Evening Post as early as 1759. A “person who flatters himself that he shall not be thought disagreeable” was in search of a “young lady, between the age of eighteen and twenty-three, of a middling stature, brown hair, of good Morals…” As family-arranged marriages fell out of fashion, “Husband Wanted” or “Seeking Wife” ads were soon to be found in every state in the nation.
From the woman in a Wisconsin newspaper who wanted “no brainless dandy or foppish fool” to the man with a glass eye who placed an ad in the New York Times hoping to meet a woman with a glass eye, the many hundreds of personal ads that author Francesca Beauman has uncovered offer an extraordinary glimpse into the history of our hearts’ desires, as well as a unique insight into American life as the frontier was settled and the cities grew. Personal ads played a surprisingly vital role in the West: couple by couple, shy smile by shy smile, letter by letter from a dusty, exhausted miner in California to a bored, frustrated seamstress in Ohio. Get ready for a new perspective on the making of modern America, a hundred words of typesetter’s blurry black ink at a time.
“So anxious are our settlers for wives that they never ask a single lady her age. All they require is teeth,” declared the Dubuque Iowa News in 1838 in a state where men outnumbered women three to one. While the dating pools of 21st century New York, Chicago or San Francisco might not be quite so dentally-fixated, Matrimony Inc. will put idly swiping right on Tinder into fascinating and vividly fresh historical context. What do women look for in a man? What do men look for in a woman? And how has this changed over the past 250 years?
“Francesca’s book gives us a window into the history of the U.S. and the politics of how marriage shaped this country. Fascinating, just like Francesca.”
—Joey Soloway, creator of Transparent
“Francesca Beauman’s deep historical dive into a person’s most naked ask into the universe is hilarious and shocking and heartbreaking, and reveals through these incredible finds how the needs and expectations of what we look for in a mate have evolved, and what has stubbornly remained the same. You won’t be able to hear the phrase “swipe right” quite the same way again.”
—Kathryn Hahn, actress and comedian
“Beauman has uncovered a treasure trove of fascinating detail. Matrimony Inc is the ultimate proof that we humans are fools for love. But also desperate, courageous, and occasionally lucky.”
—Dr. Amanda Foreman, historian and international-bestselling author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire
“Funny, outrageous, revealing, and heartbreaking, the personal ads in Beauman’s remarkable research illuminate the American experience brilliantly across hundreds of years and into the present. And her engaging voice makes it impossible to put Matrimony, Inc. down.”
—Francesca Delbanco, creator of Netflix’s Friends From College
“Francesca Beauman writes with elegance, wit and profound intelligence. . . . A joyous and clever read.”
—Elizabeth Day, novelist and podcast host of How to Fail
“A fascinating, hilarious, and occasionally heartbreaking work of history, Francesca Beauman’s MATRIMONY, INC. takes a cultural artifact that seems so perishable — the personal ad — and rescues it from the scrap heap, drawing together a huge trove of these lonely-heart epistles to tell a larger story about social life in America . . . With wry wit and a trained eye for the absurd, Beauman is a companionable guide through two hundred and fifty years of single people boldly, hopefully, pathetically, comically seeking mates.”
—Patrick Radden Keefe, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Say Nothing
About Francesca Beauman
After a decade as a T.V. host, Francesca Beauman is now a writer, historian and part-time bookseller at London’s most beautiful bookstore, Persephone Books. Francesca is the author of six books, including a history of the pineapple and a history of British personal ads. She also runs the popular book forum “Fran’s Book Shop” (@fransbookshop).
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