The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap in Turning The Pages Team

Sep 13, 2012 M.A Grace rated it it was amazing

Something I commonly do when writing a review is to see what other people write as reviews. I do this to see others points of view on the same thing I just read. A learning point for me to see how different people feel about the same item. I was sadden to see a review for this book be lowered in grade because the person reviewing this book doesn't support gay/lesbian relationships. That exact thing is one of the issues that Paulette so bravely and powerfully writes about in this story.

It worrie ...more

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Sep 15, 2012 A.E. Curzon rated it it was amazing

I had been looking forward to reading this book for some time and was not disappointed when I did. In fact, I was hooked by the time I reached the end of the prologue. After that it was very hard to put down.

Mildred Dunlap lives in a small town in Nevada with her cousin Edra. Since childhood both have felt a fondness for each other which has now blossomed into a full blown, if secret, relationship. At the time of the opening chapter (late nineteenth century), Oscar Wilde has just been imprisone I had been looking forward to reading this book for some time and was not disappointed when I did. In fact, I was hooked by the time I reached the end of the prologue. After that it was very hard to put down.

Mildred Dunlap lives in a small town in Nevada with her cousin Edra. Since childhood both have felt a fondness for each other which has now blossomed into a full blown, if secret, relationship. At the time of the opening chapter (late nineteenth century), Oscar Wilde has just been imprisoned for ‘committing acts gross indecency’ (homosexual activities) and the world has been alerted by telegraph. The news, inevitably, reaches the small town of Red River Pass where Mildred and Edra live. Forever quick to judge, and mete out punishment and derision, the resident gossipmongers have a field day with this. Mildred becomes alarmed at the pure hatred and prejudice projected by the tittle-tattles upon their hearing this piece of news. All her life they have ignored her kindness and generosity, and instead have cruelly focused upon her appearance and wealth. If they were to find out her secret as well, she knew life would be unbearable for both her and Edra. As a result she sets out to mislead the gossips with her own plot, which has surprising consequences.

This carefully and beautifully crafted story is not just about the relationship between two women, it goes far deeper. It is a story about inherent ignorance and discrimination in general. It is also a story about tolerance, love, friendship and trust. Mahurin writes her characters in superbly and the reader is inclined to empathise with the more sympathetic characters of Gus, Charlie, Mildred and Edra, and to despise the hateful and hate-filled dogmatists like Josie, whose spite and bullying tactics are enough to make anyone shudder.

Written with total conviction and bucket loads of compassion, this is an extremely powerful and impacting novel which portrays a scenario not so very far removed from the society we live in today, and illustrates just how damaging preconception can be.

I highly recommend this book and am giving it the full 5 star whack
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Dec 01, 2014 Bill Ward rated it it was amazing

Another fabulous read by this author! What I particularly like about her books is that they leave me feeling good about life. The funny thing is that the author tackles heavy weight subjects such as cancer in the previous book I read and at the heart of this book we have a lesbian relationship at the end of the 19th century, when the word 'gay' had an entirely different meaning.

However, though the lesbian relationship is central to the story this is not a romance or a strident voice for human r ...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Kathleen Kelly rated it it was amazing

"People should know their place. When they are made by God to be inferior, they should just do their best to stay out of the way of the good hardworking folk who are the backbone of society"

This statement is from page 106 in The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap by Paulette Mahurin. I picked this passage to quote because I felt that this type of ignorance was very important to this story. Mildred Dunlap is a woman living in a small town in 1895 that relies on its news from the telegraph. When news c "People should know their place. When they are made by God to be inferior, they should just do their best to stay out of the way of the good hardworking folk who are the backbone of society"

This statement is from page 106 in The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap by Paulette Mahurin. I picked this passage to quote because I felt that this type of ignorance was very important to this story. Mildred Dunlap is a woman living in a small town in 1895 that relies on its news from the telegraph. When news comes in that Oscar Wilde, famous author and poet, is arrested and jailed for being with another man, sets off the gossips of this town to do and say whatever they can to make life tough for Mildred. Mildred and her friend Edra live together and generally keep to themselves but they fear that one day their relationship will come to the attention of these awful women, one in particular who has an agenda of her own and hates Mildred,and they will be ostracized for the love that they have for each other. Mildred is manly in appearance and dress which sets the gossips off, but she is also rich and is always willing to give a helping hand of which these women tend to forget. So to avoid this gossip, Mildred decides to be seen in the company of a man she helped ease his grief after the death of his wife. Still the gossips went at it but now these biddies said that they were engaged, secretly married and that Mildred was pregnant. All of which was false. Because of these women who hate Mildred, their gossip causes a chain reaction which ends in tragedy.

Another quote from the same page "The seeds that grow and inflate the smallest minds into giants, those who believe they can take down anyone with their petty realities.." brings the reader to realize that these prejudices linger in our society today. I think as a society we are a bit more tolerant but we still have a long way to go to stop the hate that some people have to live with because of who they choose to love. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it should be read by everyone, not just the gay reader. I think the author did a remarkable job of telling the story of a topic that was strictly taboo and hidden from society in 1895.
I thank Paulette Mahurin for the copy of this book for review and know that I was not monetarily compensated for my review. ...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Fran rated it it was amazing

The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap:
Author: Paulette Mahurin

When the world allows people to live as they please maybe we might have chance to stop all the hatred, prejudice and injustices that are inflicted upon those that some feel are different or do not conform to the mores of their society. Same sex marriage is not something new to us today and same sex relationships are not just a thing of the preset. The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap begins with the arrest and imprisonment of a noted writer ...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Wanda Hartzenberg rated it it was amazing

Before I started to read the book the author insisted on a fair and honest review.
That made me nervous. Very nervous, so as I started to read the book it was with relief that I fell in love with the story. In essence it is about prejudice and gossip and how speaking without thinking can ruin lives and have done so already.
What came as a surprise was Charlay. A man knocked to the floor by grief, friending a woman and a man who on first appearance confirms to the times and norms but both of them ...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Christoph Fischer rated it it was amazing

“The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap” uses two well-known scandals of 1895 to start off and move along the plot of our protagonists. It is an interesting and skilfully executed set-up, followed by an equally brilliant illustration of how the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde and the anti-Semitism shown in the Dreyfus Affair in France could have been received in a remote and isolated location such as a small town in Nevada.
Each chapter is accompanied by a quotation from Oscar Wilde’s work. I am not usua ...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Uzoma rated it it was amazing

When Oscar Wilde is sentenced for “gross indecency,” the news spreads like a wild fire across the globe. Upon reaching Red River Pass, it throws the small Nevada town into pandemonium and restlessness. Hateful prejudice and abuse is the common response for this recently criminalized act, and sets the tone for activities in the coming week.

In Mauhrin’s debut novel, we are introduced to several intriguing characters and how their lives are affected by the news of this same sex relationship. As if When Oscar Wilde is sentenced for “gross indecency,” the news spreads like a wild fire across the globe. Upon reaching Red River Pass, it throws the small Nevada town into pandemonium and restlessness. Hateful prejudice and abuse is the common response for this recently criminalized act, and sets the tone for activities in the coming week.

In Mauhrin’s debut novel, we are introduced to several intriguing characters and how their lives are affected by the news of this same sex relationship. As if this seemingly forbidden act wasn’t present in the town, we find in Mildred and her cousin Edra, a lesbian couple who tries their best to keep their relationship a secret. But then in Red River Pass, gossip sells.

Admitting that they are not immune from suspicion, Mildred comes up with a plan. She tries to court Charley, a widower, with the hope of turning away public eye from her and her partner. At first this seems like a perfect plan but it soon creates a chain of mind-gripping events that sets up a very realistic ending.

As a reader and aspiring writer, I am attracted to Mauhrin’s style of writing. She writes sensibly and sensitively…strong on description, mood and setting. Her intelligent use of time (as this pertains to historical fiction) is worthy of emulation. During this period of Oscar Wilde’s imprisonment, she incorporates other historical issues like sovereignty and racism into her story. This helps to create an atmosphere that really dates back in time. The quotes of Oscar Wilde at the start of each chapter are well chosen. In fact, I consider them to be sweet preludes. One can’t go through the book without taking note of the emotions (greed, anger, malice, jealousy, and love) and behaviour of the characters in her book. They are all believable and memorable. Also, the dialogues throughout the book are in no way disappointing.

Even if you are not into historical fiction, I bet you’ll still find this book worth the while. Within the story is an important lesson about cultivating good friendship, tolerance, and love.
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Feb 15, 2013 M.C.V. Egan rated it it was amazing

The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap is a book that deserves much more that the five stars a reviewer is limited to give. In the acknowledgements Paulette Mahurin captures the reader and sets the tone with this thought provoking statement:
“…those silent voices that have perished at the hands of hatred, I am grateful for your lives. I have to wonder if I heard your agonized whispers in the middle of the night. Wake me up you did, to what it is to suffer at the hand of prejudice over the color of you ...more

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Dec 21, 2012 RaeBeth rated it it was amazing

This book takes place back in in 1985 and is based around the main character, Mildred and her love for Edra, her cousin. Although the love shown within this story isn't the typical family love but of a couple who romantically love each other. Mildred and Edra strive and fight to keep their relationship a secret by befriending a guy to throw off the gossip group within town. Charley helps the ladies by becoming their friend. Rumors start that Charley and Mildred are pregnant and engaged. The stre ...more

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Jul 27, 2012 De Jr. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: native-s-reads

The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap
By: Paulette Mahurin

I began reading this novel with no expectations except one… (That it was going to be either truly cruel or very sad)…. I am so happy that it turned out to be a wonderfully compassionate and victoriously triumphant read…..

I loved the prologue that started with the story of (Oscar Wilde…. A man put on trial and convicted for his sexual relationship with a man)… I’m a history buff so I’m always pulled into actual historic stories…. I was equally ...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Lee Fullbright rated it it was amazing

This is not a big book—it’s a day read for fast readers—but it is big in theme and characterization. First off, I loved the Oscar Wilde quotes at the start of each chapter, and all the other historical references, and I completely loved the kind-hearted Mildred. Someone once told me that everyone has a bias (even if they don’t think they do), and sometimes more than one. Maturin’s carefully crafted book is a call for mindfulness and for compassion. Kudos to her (AND for her exemplary work with a ...more

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