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What Members Thought
I couldn't believe how unbelievable this story was! The two main 19th century characters were plucked right out of the 21st century. I might have accepted one story line (especially since it's based on a real person), if it had been written in a way to pull me into her. Instead the reader gets cold actions and lukewarm thoughts. The other character wouldn't have lasted a day as an actual slave, taking zero precautions for her own safety. It was ridiculous!
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This is one of the bookclub books that I actually wanted to read before it was selected. I'd never heard of the Grimke sisters before, so was pleased to learn about their stories. The bookclub discussion of this book was excellent; it's a great choice for that setting. The narrators for the audiobook did a superb job and made the book substantially more enjoyable than it would have been to read it in print. Highly recommended because it's based on a true story. As a novel, I'd have quibbles with
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From listening to the author's notes, I found out that Sarah and Nina Grimke were "real" people, which just makes me feel sort of bad that I didn't like Sarah in the story. And can't really even say why, I just never warmed up to her.
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Why don't we know more about the Grimke sisters? It seems they played a part in not only the abolition of slavery in the US, but also the emancipation of women. During their lifetimes they must have been extremely brave to go against the mores of the time and stand up for their views. This book is a work of fiction, but there is a lot of fact woven into the background, and a fair bit of research done by the author. She may have taken a few historical liberties, but until you read the explanation
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Historical fiction which tells the stories of Sarah Grimke, who was a real abolitionist and feminist, and her slave Handful. the story is told in alternating chapters from Sarah and Handful. I found the story interesting at the beginning when the two were kids. After they grow up and Sarah moves to Philadelphia the story lost some of its focus for me. I had never heard of Sarah and her sister Angelina before and I would like to read a nonfiction book about them. I listened to the audiobook and l
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3 1/2 stars,
The story follows Hetty Handful Grimke, a Charleston slave, and Sarah, the daughter of the wealthy Grimke family. The novel begins on Sarah's eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership over Handful, who is to be her handmaid. These 2 characters are linked together during the next thirty-five years of their lives. I was impressed with the author's research on this true historical figure of Sarah who was a feminist, suffragist and abolitionist. The writing was magnificent. The onl ...more
The story follows Hetty Handful Grimke, a Charleston slave, and Sarah, the daughter of the wealthy Grimke family. The novel begins on Sarah's eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership over Handful, who is to be her handmaid. These 2 characters are linked together during the next thirty-five years of their lives. I was impressed with the author's research on this true historical figure of Sarah who was a feminist, suffragist and abolitionist. The writing was magnificent. The onl ...more
This is a good book and the real-life Grimke sisters are fascinating historical women that more should be written about. However, I feel like the author tried to bite off more than she could chew with this particular tale. Too many characters over too long a timespan. It felt flat and like a Lifetime movie too often and I just wanted it to end.
This is a quietly powerful book. It’s beautifully written throughout, but the book’s intensity grows in the last third of the book as the women decide they simply cannot accept the circumstances of their lives. This book is a celebration of the freedoms and equality we have today, and the women that took the first steps toward those rights.
Nov 01, 2013
Kathy
marked it as to-read
Jan 05, 2014
Sabrina
marked it as to-read
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review of another edition
Shelves:
honors-course-readings
Feb 06, 2014
Natalya
marked it as to-read
Mar 29, 2014
Lynlee4
marked it as wishlist
Jun 05, 2014
Vesra (When She Reads)
marked it as to-read
Shelves:
literature,
c-brown,
e-book,
i,
fiction,
author-k,
pub-viking-adult,
pc-300-399,
book-club,
tbr-2014
Jul 01, 2014
Heather
marked it as to-read
Feb 18, 2015
Joanie
marked it as to-read
Feb 24, 2015
Sara
marked it as to-read
