In 1853, Abigail Scott was a 19-year-old school teacher in Oregon Territory when she married Ben Duniway. Marriage meant giving up on teaching, but Abigail always believed she was meant to be more than a good wife and mother. When financial mistakes and an injury force Ben to stop working, Abigail becomes the primary breadwinner for her growing family. What she sees as a working woman appalls her, and she devotes her life to fighting for the rights of women, including their right to vote.
Following Abigail as she bears six children, runs a millinery and a private school, helps on the farm, writes novels, gives speeches, and eventually runs a newspaper supporting women's suffrage, Something Worth Doing explores issues that will resonate strongly with modern women: the pull between career and family, finding one's place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices women encounter when they compete in male-dominated spaces. Based on a true story of a pioneer for women's rights from award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick will inspire you to believe that some things are worth doing--even when the cost is great.
Following Abigail as she bears six children, runs a millinery and a private school, helps on the farm, writes novels, gives speeches, and eventually runs a newspaper supporting women's suffrage, Something Worth Doing explores issues that will resonate strongly with modern women: the pull between career and family, finding one's place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices women encounter when they compete in male-dominated spaces. Based on a true story of a pioneer for women's rights from award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick will inspire you to believe that some things are worth doing--even when the cost is great.
MY THOUGHTS.....
I find it very fitting that this book was published during the 100th year anniversary of
the ratification of the 19th Amendment and I applaud author Jane Kirkpatrick for reminding us just how difficult the passage of this amendment truly was. One of the women who worked so vehemently is someone I'd never heard of and I found Abigail Scott's life story to be a remarkable journey of determination, persistence, and finally, success. Her life wasn't easy and she endured many heartaches and backsets along the way, but in the end, Abigail Scott Duniway lived to register to vote in Multnomah County, Oregon and she also served on a jury!
This story begins in 1852, when seventeen-year-old Abigail hears her brother proclaim that "You can't control anything, you females. Not a thing. Lucky for you us men protect you." What follows is the chronicle of her efforts to prove that women were very capable, they could take care of themselves, they deserved respect, and they needed the chance to voice their opinions. Women needed the right to vote!
There are several pages of author's notes that relate many of Abigail's accomplishments and Kirkpatrick has been able to incorporate these facts into an engaging and entertaining fictional story based on biographical facts. Abigail experienced the hardships of traveling the Oregon Trail in the mid 1800s and she entered the work force while while raising her small children. As she pursued her passion to advance the rights of all women, Abigail even worked as a novelist and a newspaper publisher so that she could make sure that the word was being spread. Yes, Abigail Scott Dunlevy was a true pioneer and she paved the way for those of us who have followed!
Kirkpatrick has once again proven her exceptional ability to find unique topics and then create stories that we all want to read. I recommend Something Worth Doing to all who enjoy Christian historical fiction. I give it 4.5 Stars!
I received a copy of this book from Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review, I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.
This story begins in 1852, when seventeen-year-old Abigail hears her brother proclaim that "You can't control anything, you females. Not a thing. Lucky for you us men protect you." What follows is the chronicle of her efforts to prove that women were very capable, they could take care of themselves, they deserved respect, and they needed the chance to voice their opinions. Women needed the right to vote!
There are several pages of author's notes that relate many of Abigail's accomplishments and Kirkpatrick has been able to incorporate these facts into an engaging and entertaining fictional story based on biographical facts. Abigail experienced the hardships of traveling the Oregon Trail in the mid 1800s and she entered the work force while while raising her small children. As she pursued her passion to advance the rights of all women, Abigail even worked as a novelist and a newspaper publisher so that she could make sure that the word was being spread. Yes, Abigail Scott Dunlevy was a true pioneer and she paved the way for those of us who have followed!
Kirkpatrick has once again proven her exceptional ability to find unique topics and then create stories that we all want to read. I recommend Something Worth Doing to all who enjoy Christian historical fiction. I give it 4.5 Stars!
I received a copy of this book from Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review, I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.
Jane Kirkpatrick is a New York Times Bestselling author whose works have appeared in more than 50 national publications including The Oregonian, Private Pilot and Daily Guideposts. With more than 1.5 million books in print, her 30 novels and non-fiction titles draw readers from all ages and genders. Most are historical novels based on the lives of actual historical women often about ordinary women who lived extraordinary lives. Her works have won numerous national awards including the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award.
No comments:
Post a Comment