K'Lynn 7 - 8
Originally I picked a different book, (Out of Darkness- David Livingstone) but thought it too much like Frankenstein & Stoner ...so this was kind of a last minute switcheroo for me.
This book made me laugh and cry. I felt like I was going to enjoy this book right away when Mattie runs into her neighbor on page 5 asking him if he got the (unsolicited) diet sheets for his dog. She says, “They would live much longer and be much happier were they to lose a couple of pounds,” and he responds, “And I would live much longer and be much happier were my neighbor to stop issuing unasked-for advice.” Not listening she says “One meal a day no tidbits.” Loved it.
I love stories in which I connect deeply to the characters. I connected very deeply to many of the characters in this story. Firstly, Mattie, I loved her spirit, her intellect, her passion, the way she didn’t follow the rules. She was a pioneer. She does a lot of damage in this story, but she is truly sorry for it, says so, and accepts the consequences. She is flawed and at times her energy leads to thoughtless action and devastating damage. I loved the part about going to the station and clearly seeing her thief and letting him go. How she recognizes the butcher, the baker, or the grocer or whatever.
I loved the Amazon’s too, especially Ida. How she was trying to teach the next generation of women how to do things for themselves and be self- reliant. Beautiful. I could picture young girls throwing javelins, and setting up mattresses at the park, sending smoke signals, etc. Loved that part of the book immensely. The competition between the Amazon’s and League was funny to me. The competition and Mattie ultimately ruining it because of her feelings about her brother Angus- who seemed to be quite a womanizer.
And Florrie, AKA the Flea, was equally as captivating for me. A quieter character whose means of expression are indirect and understated. She does what she can to prevent Mattie’s awkward, barging ways from causing too much pain- out of concern for others, you understand, never for herself. Until one memorable moment when she finally stands up for herself.
And Inez’s family not being at all what Mattie pictured. Her father kind, knowing Inez wasn’t his and welcoming Mattie into their lives. Hearing the postpartum depression her mom endured and hearing the rest of the story. Loved that. I also loved that Mattie recognized her efforts were better off elsewhere and ultimately ended up leaving Inez alone.
No one who lives, fully lives, their life escapes without regrets and anger and bad feelings trailing behind them. But the best, the luckiest of us find that the trip forward is much less bitter and lonely when we offer real apologies for the hurts and harms we’ve done. Unthinking, unkindness, impatient snappings, all can be mitigated with a simple and sincere “I am sorry.” It doesn’t fix anything, but it makes the damage feel like it can be forgiven
What happens isn't really the point; the story is about people whose love for each other is the breath of life for them. And how much that costs. And who, in the end, must pay for it. That is the sum total of living life, after all, counting costs and weighing benefits and, in the end, accepting the evidence of honest and trustworthy scales as The Truth.
Page 290- ‘A good friend is my nearest relation’
Apparently this book is a prequel to another of her novels called Crooked Heart, which I didn’t know. So she had to add Ida’s boy at the end. Which wrapped up a little too neatly, but I thought it was a sweet ending that made me cry. I pictured him as the next generation of Amazons. How could they not get caught? I guess nobody wanted him because his adoptive family left him there while they went off for Australia. No one would be looking for him? I would like to read Crooked Heart.
Becky 5 - 5.5
Had no idea who this was about. Who is this Mattie? What's her deal? How much money does this woman have? Liked her, but it was somewhat hot and cold. She liked her pithy quotes but they often seemed preachy. She would ask questions of the Amazons they couldn't answer. Mattie reminded Becky of Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite constantly reliving his past.
She thought a lot of the suffragettes and the things they would do for their cause. She thought she wouldn't necessarily like them, but people with such determination are needed for big causes. Didn't like how dismissive Mattie was to Floorie, or how she never expressed sympathy to anyone. She had no empathy and was not a good reader of people. She never second guessed herself and was blind to peoples feelings. No tact. Becky was shocked when Mattie give Inez the answer. She knew she had screwed up, but she didn't make it better for a long time. The writing was funny. Wondered how much money Mattie was worth.
Pat 7.5 - 7.75
At first I thought this was a chick flick book but with no sex. I was lost. It was one of those books that start off with no set up and you're forced to hop in with characters referencing people, places and events that I'm not familiar with. I didn't recognize most of the famous suffragette names, and the ones I did cleared nothing up. Realized I'd have to push through to get over the hump. It showed a certain promise when Ida got her face smashed with Mattie's thrown bottle and no apology. Once Ida started on at Mattie and the Flea's I was more interested. Mattie was a wonderful character. I like the fact that we got to piece together all their relationships from the past. I liked the competition between the Amazons and the League. And the fact that we got to hear from kids who liked being in the League. They found a place for themselves in discipline just as the Amazons did in Mattie's free for all approach. I thought Inez was going to finally come into her own when she challenged Mattie on reasons against competing with the League and was disappointed with her, "I just don't fancy it' response. Was a bit confused between Angus and Mattie's beau from the past with a missing arm. Felt a twinge of recognition when Mattie felt such a responsibility to educate these girls who now had the vote, but no way to really conceive what to do with it.
At first I thought this was a chick flick book but with no sex. I was lost. It was one of those books that start off with no set up and you're forced to hop in with characters referencing people, places and events that I'm not familiar with. I didn't recognize most of the famous suffragette names, and the ones I did cleared nothing up. Realized I'd have to push through to get over the hump. It showed a certain promise when Ida got her face smashed with Mattie's thrown bottle and no apology. Once Ida started on at Mattie and the Flea's I was more interested. Mattie was a wonderful character. I like the fact that we got to piece together all their relationships from the past. I liked the competition between the Amazons and the League. And the fact that we got to hear from kids who liked being in the League. They found a place for themselves in discipline just as the Amazons did in Mattie's free for all approach. I thought Inez was going to finally come into her own when she challenged Mattie on reasons against competing with the League and was disappointed with her, "I just don't fancy it' response. Was a bit confused between Angus and Mattie's beau from the past with a missing arm. Felt a twinge of recognition when Mattie felt such a responsibility to educate these girls who now had the vote, but no way to really conceive what to do with it.
Sandy 5 - 5.5
Liked Matties' conversations. Liked the Flea, but not her name. Loved all the characters and how they were brought to life. Thought that there was unnecessary dialogue that drug book down. Liked the funny Christmas card at the beginning. Assumed Mattie and the Flea were a gay couple. Liked how Mattie got told off by Ida's aunt. Loved that. Liked Mattie's response to Jacko's, "There are no aspirations for these young ladies, Mattie." "These young ladies need help, Jacko." Sandy thinks that Inez should have been told how her mother died because she's going to hear it from someone else eventually and it will devastate her.
Liked Matties' conversations. Liked the Flea, but not her name. Loved all the characters and how they were brought to life. Thought that there was unnecessary dialogue that drug book down. Liked the funny Christmas card at the beginning. Assumed Mattie and the Flea were a gay couple. Liked how Mattie got told off by Ida's aunt. Loved that. Liked Mattie's response to Jacko's, "There are no aspirations for these young ladies, Mattie." "These young ladies need help, Jacko." Sandy thinks that Inez should have been told how her mother died because she's going to hear it from someone else eventually and it will devastate her.
Miles 7.5 - 7.75
Got into it relatively quickly. Thought the dialogue was fantastic and that the plot was built almost entirely through dialogue. He was pleasantly surprised with the characters. None were 2-dimensional. Everyone was fully fleshed out. Impressive. Fleas's sexual past cast her as a tragic character. That was set up well. Post WWI there were a lot of women without men, and lots of orphans because of the war and Spanish flu. It was a unique time. Thought that it doesn't take much for a person in a position of power or influence to trip up. This was set up well when she reveals to Ida the clue. Not a big deal really considering it was a playful competition. It can happen. The child at the end seemed unrealistic to him. Good pick.
Got into it relatively quickly. Thought the dialogue was fantastic and that the plot was built almost entirely through dialogue. He was pleasantly surprised with the characters. None were 2-dimensional. Everyone was fully fleshed out. Impressive. Fleas's sexual past cast her as a tragic character. That was set up well. Post WWI there were a lot of women without men, and lots of orphans because of the war and Spanish flu. It was a unique time. Thought that it doesn't take much for a person in a position of power or influence to trip up. This was set up well when she reveals to Ida the clue. Not a big deal really considering it was a playful competition. It can happen. The child at the end seemed unrealistic to him. Good pick.
Caroline 6.5 - 6.5
Had a hard time at first. Was very confused. Would have to back up and start over. Loved the Amazon Club. Liked how Mattie wanted to get them interested in their potential and she loved the badges. Was disappointed with the cheating. Saw that Mattie wanted Inez to be more than what she really was. She thought that Inez should be brilliant and smart like her mother was. Mattie almost instantly recognized her as her former suffragette's mother. Mattie paid for Ida's schooling to be a nurse. Liked the line from a poem where people's patience can turn to fury.
Had a hard time at first. Was very confused. Would have to back up and start over. Loved the Amazon Club. Liked how Mattie wanted to get them interested in their potential and she loved the badges. Was disappointed with the cheating. Saw that Mattie wanted Inez to be more than what she really was. She thought that Inez should be brilliant and smart like her mother was. Mattie almost instantly recognized her as her former suffragette's mother. Mattie paid for Ida's schooling to be a nurse. Liked the line from a poem where people's patience can turn to fury.
Letitia 7.25 - 8
Struggled at first especially with the Flea. So annoying that they called her that. She should have been named the Butterfly. Wondered if this was an old book, as she had to look up a lot of words. Mattie was a character. Once the Flea and Mattie relationship was established then the book took off. Loved the dialogue and found it to be witty and clever. Mattie was dogmatic, strong, passionate, and unapologetic. It wasn't in her character to empathize. Mattie realized Jacko's criticism of reaching the youth was accurate and the Amazon's was her answer. She showed the girls that they were thinking. Liked it. Sees a tie in to RBG movement.
Maggie 4 - 5
I thought this book read as it it was written for young adults, for the age group of the girls in the Amazons. That may be because we had just read Frankenstein which was so eloquently written. The term ‘Jolly Hockey Sticks’ came to mind -(dictionary- in imitation of speech associated with a type of upper class English Schoolgirl used to express boisterous enthusiasm or excitement. ) I thought the book raised some interesting questions: the limited options available to women after the war when so many men had been lost, the need for educating girls now that they could vote - probably a need for young men too, and the difficultly of being gay in that period of time. Mattie is a lost soul who is trying to do something with her life to compensate for the loss of the excitement of the suffragette years, but I thought that on the whole it was a boring story. It would have been much more interesting had it been written during the time of suffrage. The story refers back to her time in prison and on marches and that would have been a far better story. The ending was a surprise but also tidied up the ends a little too comfortably. My score is low because I would not recommend this book and probably would not have finished it had it not been a book group choice.
Struggled at first especially with the Flea. So annoying that they called her that. She should have been named the Butterfly. Wondered if this was an old book, as she had to look up a lot of words. Mattie was a character. Once the Flea and Mattie relationship was established then the book took off. Loved the dialogue and found it to be witty and clever. Mattie was dogmatic, strong, passionate, and unapologetic. It wasn't in her character to empathize. Mattie realized Jacko's criticism of reaching the youth was accurate and the Amazon's was her answer. She showed the girls that they were thinking. Liked it. Sees a tie in to RBG movement.
Maggie 4 - 5
I thought this book read as it it was written for young adults, for the age group of the girls in the Amazons. That may be because we had just read Frankenstein which was so eloquently written. The term ‘Jolly Hockey Sticks’ came to mind -(dictionary- in imitation of speech associated with a type of upper class English Schoolgirl used to express boisterous enthusiasm or excitement. ) I thought the book raised some interesting questions: the limited options available to women after the war when so many men had been lost, the need for educating girls now that they could vote - probably a need for young men too, and the difficultly of being gay in that period of time. Mattie is a lost soul who is trying to do something with her life to compensate for the loss of the excitement of the suffragette years, but I thought that on the whole it was a boring story. It would have been much more interesting had it been written during the time of suffrage. The story refers back to her time in prison and on marches and that would have been a far better story. The ending was a surprise but also tidied up the ends a little too comfortably. My score is low because I would not recommend this book and probably would not have finished it had it not been a book group choice.
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