Living with Jane Austen (Austenprose PR Book Tour) by Janet Todd

 

What author would you like to learn more about?  I always love learning more about Jane Austen.

Living with Jane Austen is Janet Todd’s journey through Austen.  It was written to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth this year.  It is Todd’s relationship with Austen throughout her life as well as a deep dive into different topics in Austen’s life and in her novels.

My thoughts on this book:

·       I thought this was interesting and it gave me a lot to ponder about Austen. For example, it made me want to read Sir Charles Grandison by Samuel Richardson.  Austen enjoyed the novel and apparently the estate in it has similarities to Pemberley.  It is one of the longest novels in the English language which sounds daunting.

·       This was a literary analysis mixed with memoir.

·       Todd compared and contrasted Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Austen’s lives and works.  I thought that was interesting.  Their lives were so very different but were around the same time period.

·       The book is arranged by themes such as:  The Brightness of Pemberly, the Darkness of Darcy, Poor Nerves, Into Nature, How to Die, etc.  I liked this arrangement and learning more about these topics.

·       This was a slower read for me, but it was thought provoking and fascinating.

Overall, Living with Jane Austen by Janet Todd is part scholarly literary analysis part memoir, but 100 % intriguing.  It’s a great book for anyone that is interested in Jane Austen and her works.

Book Source:  Review copy from Cambridge University Press as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Fanny Price, in Mansfield Park, tells her persistent suitor that “we have all a better guide in ourselves...than any other person can be.” Sometimes, however, we crave external guidance: and when this happens we could do worse than seek it in Jane Austen's own subtle novels.

Written to coincide with Austen's 250th birthday, this approachable and intimate work shows why and how - for over half a century - Austen has inspired and challenged its author through different phases of her life. Part personal memoir, part expert interaction with all the letters, manuscripts and published novels, Janet Todd's book reveals what living with Jane Austen has meant to her and what it might also mean to others.

Todd celebrates the undimmable power of Austen's work to help us understand our own bodies and our environment, and teach us about patience, humour, beauty and the meaning of home.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Intimate, knowledgeable and frequently unexpected, this is a book for all Jane Austen's readers by one of the very best of those readers.” —Richard Cronin, Emeritus Professor of English Literature, University of Glasgow

“Sharing a mind is as exciting as sharing a bed. In this gentle, witty, semi-memoir, Janet Todd reveals her eccentric encounters with books and shows us why the novels of Jane Austen should matter to all of us now.” —Miriam Margolyes, OBE, renowned British and Australian actor

“A timely, moving and masterful book by one of the English-speaking world’s foremost literary historians and a trailblazing scholar-heroine in Jane Austen studies.” —Devoney Looser, author of The Making of Jane Austen

AUTHOR BIO

Janet Todd is an internationally renowned novelist and academic, best known for her non-fiction feminist works on women writers including Jane Austen, Aphra Behn and Mary Wollenstonecraft. In recent years, she has turned her hand to writing novels, publishing Lady Susan Plays the Game (2013), A Man of Genius (2016) and Don’t You Know There’s a War On? (2020).

Janet has worked in universities around the world including Ghana, Puerto Rico, North America and India. She was a professor of English Literature at UEA, Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities, before becoming president of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge (2008-2015), Cambridge where she established the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize. She is now an Honorary Fellow of Newnham and Lucy Cavendish Colleges. In 2013, Janet was given an OBE for her services to higher education and literary scholarship. Connect with her online at www.janettodd.co.uk.

Miss Austen Investigates: A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What real life person would you like to see as an investigator?  I love seeing Jane Austen as a sleuth, but I also like stories where Agatha Christie is an investigator.

Jane Austen is visiting her brother Edward to help with his children as his wife Elizabeth will be delivering another child soon. The year is 1797.  Jane has recently had a romance with Tom Lefroy, and Cassandra’s fiancé, Thomas Fowle, has just died from yellow fever while in the Caribbean on a military expedition.  Jane has taken Cassandra’s place visiting Edward so that Cassandra can have time to grieve.  Edward’s adopted mother, Mrs. Catherine Knight, has taken in a woman who proclaims that she is a foreign princess.  As Jane realizes that Edward’s future fortune may be settled upon this “princess,” she decides she must discover who she really is before it is too late.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved reading a book with Jane Austen as a main character living in her world.  She is at a hopeful period of life, still young enough to hope for love and marriage, and working on her novels.

·       I loved when Jane Austen was reading her novel (the first draft of Sense and Sensibility) to Mrs. Knight and she falls asleep.  It made me laugh.  I wish I could have been around to listen to Austen reading her own work and providing voices!

·       Edward “Neddy” and Elizabeth were interesting.  Elizabeth annoyed me at times, but I can see why you would be upset about your inheritance that you are counting on to support your family potentially being ripped away.  She also thought she was being helpful with trying to find Jane a husband.

·       I enjoyed the mystery within this book and it kept me riveted all of the way through. I don’t want to ruin it for someone else – but I did enjoy it and its resolution.

·       Jane at times reminded me of Catherine Morland in this novel with all sorts of interesting theories.

·       This is the second book in the series.  I have the first book, The Hapless Milliner, and I need to read it soon!

·       There is a great author’s note at the end of the novel on changes to history made for this historical fiction novel as well as real life inspirations.

·       The elephant in the room is that this is the second series with Jane Austen as the sleuth that I have read.  I loved the Jane Austen mysteries by Stephanie Barron. That series has ended with Jane’s death.  This new series is telling different stories in a different way.  The real-life characters have different personalities, which is interesting. 

Overall, Miss Austen Investigates:  A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull is a wonderful historical mystery that puts you firmly into the Regency world of Jane Austen.  It was an interesting mystery and I loved the historical time period and characters.

Book Source:  Review copy from Union Square & Co as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A witty, engaging murder mystery featuring Jane Austen as an intrepid sleuth—the second installment in the Miss Austen Investigates series.

1797: A broken-hearted Jane Austen travels to Kent to look after her brother Neddy’s children and further her writing. She soon realizes it’s imperative she uncovers the true identity of a mysterious young woman claiming to be a shipwrecked foreign princess before the interloper can swindle Neddy’s adoptive mother out of her fortune and steal the much-anticipated inheritance all the Austens rely on.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“It’s rare to encounter a book that brings fresh delight with most every page, but such is the case with A Fortune Most Fatal. The reader is immersed in the world of Jane Austen, and what a fascinating world it is. Crisply written, sharply observant, and with a self-deprecating wit, Jessica Bull delivers a twisty and intriguing mystery that is delightfully Austenesque.” —Vanessa Kelly, bestselling author of The Emma Knightley Mysteries

“A delightful return to the world of Jane Austen’s sleuthing! Jessica Bull delicately balances the details of Jane’s life alongside a richly developed set of mysteries. Rendered in Jane’s signature wit and equal parts light and dark, I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with Jane in this brilliant follow-up.”— Kristen Perrin, international bestselling author of How To Solve Your Own Murder

AUTHOR BIO

Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She began her career as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read all day), before becoming a communications consultant.

Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, sold to Penguin Michael Joseph at auction for six figures and is published in 18 territories worldwide. A Fortune Most Fatal, the second book in her cozy crime series exploring the life of Jane Austen, will be published in March 2025. Connect with her online at www.jessicabullauthor.com.

Without Undue Pride by Heather Moll

 

What is the last book that you read in one sitting?  I started Without Undue Pride and read it in one sitting.  I haven’t done that for a while – but I could not put this book down!

Elizabeth Bennet has met the dashing Colonel Fitzwilliam while visiting her Uncle and Aunt Gardiner in London.  They have a whirlwind romance and are quickly married before Colonel Fitzwilliam must go overseas as part of the Napoleonic Wars.  The Fitzwilliam family is not happy about Colonel Fitzwilliam’s “unsuitable” marriage, but his cousin, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, is his only family member that does attend his wedding.  He promises to be friends with Elizabeth.  After Colonel Fitzwilliam is killed in battle, a pregnant Elizabeth is set adrift in the world with no one to help her.  Mr. Darcy steps up to help his best friend and cousin’s widow.  Will love bloom after such tragedy?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I LOVED this variation.  It was such an interesting twist.  I was intrigued throughout the novel with Elizabeth’s tragedy and wanted to know what exactly happened to her while she was overseas with Colonel Fitzwilliam.  It was a painful story that she was finally able to tell Darcy over time.

·       The characters all felt true to their original characterization in Austen’s novels.  The only question I had was, would Mr. Bennet really leave Elizabeth widowed, pregnant, and alone in Spain?  I know he didn’t like to exert himself too much, but he did go to London to look for Lydia.  I pondered this through the novel.

·       The growing love between Elizabeth and Darcy was so romantic.  I loved the slow build to a couple of steamy chapters at the end.  The friends to lovers and mutual respect between them was the type of relationship everyone should have.

·       After all that happened to Elizabeth in Spain, she has trust issues.  Every man in her life has let her down, and in Regency England, woman do not hold any power.  Elizabeth has a hard time being able to trust a man after this and clings to her independence.  I did want to shake some sense into her a couple of times, but I could understand her point of view.

·       I like how Darcy was portrayed as a kind and considerate man, but also that he knew he had faults and worked on them.  Colonel Fitzwilliam had made him promise to try to be a better person and to put himself out there socially.  Darcy considered that almost his dying wish.

·       I don’t want to spoil the plot, but there is some definite peril in this novel and Darcy must come to the rescue.

·       The cover of this novel is beautiful.  I showed it to my JASNA Northwoods book club on Sunday and they all liked the cover as well.

Overall, Without Undue Pride by Heather Moll was an intriguing and unique Pride and Prejudice variation.  I enjoyed the romance, plot, and characters.

Book Source:  Review copy from author Heather Moll as part of the Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Good Samaritan by Toni Halleen (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the review copy of The Good Samaritan by Toni Halleen.

Have you ever been helped by a good Samaritan, or have you been one yourself?  I spun my mom’s car and slide off the highway while driving through a snow storm when I was in college.  A good Samaritan stopped and made sure I was okay, which I greatly appreciated.

Matthew Larkin is a sociology professor at St. Gustaf in Minnesota in 1992.  While driving home one night, he comes across a young passed out boy underneath a tarp in the rain.  Trying to be a good Samaritan, he decides to take the boy to the hospital himself.  The boy wakes up and runs off before Matthew gets him to the hospital.  Who is this boy and why was he passed out in the rain?  Why does he remind Matthew of the poor choices he has made in his own life that led up to his own son’s death?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was an interesting domestic suspense thriller.  I would call this a family drama or slow burn domestic thriller as didn’t have a lot of stunning twists and turns.  It did have a lot of character and family development.

·       I liked the 1992 and Minnesota setting. 

·       The story was told through many people including Matthew, his daughter Claire, the missing boy, Seaver, and Kira a social worker that is looking for Seaver.

·       The stories were all separate, but intwined.  I liked the resolution at the end.  I thought that the mystery was solved and that the characters also had great growth towards a positive solution to the problems in their lives.

·       I didn’t always think Matthew made the right choices, but I felt for him.  He tried to do what was the right thing at the time.  He kept harkening back to the worst moment of his life, his son’s death, and the aftermath which included the destruction of his marriage. 

·       Claire is trying to navigate life as a teenager from a broken family.  She has a crush, but when her crush takes things too far, what will she do?

·       Seaver had to leave his foster home suddenly, but what he wants most is to get back his mother.

·       Kira wants to find Seaver, but she also has ties to Claire and gets to know Matthew.

·       There are some trigger warnings and heavy themes for this book including sexual assault, the death of a child, alcoholism, drug addiction, divorce, grief, foster care, and runaways.

·       The book does make you think, what would you do in such a situation?  Now with cell phones, I would just call the police immediately.  It’s interesting how technology has change our society so much since the 1990s.

·       I enjoyed these characters and would love another novel to catch up with them a few years down the road.

Overall, The Good Samaritan by Toni Halleen was a good domestic suspense thriller with interesting characters and premise.

Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title: Kate Landry Has a Plan

Author:  Rebekah Millet

Narrated by:  Susan Bennett

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 24 minutes

Source: Audiobook Purchased from Audible and physical book from Bethany House Books as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.  Thank-you!

Are you a planner?  I’m an engineer so I definitely like plans and lists.  I am a day behind on posting this review as I wasn’t feeling so well yesterday.

Kate Landry is the forty-year-old owner of a café in New Orleans. She is raising her niece Hayley after her beloved sister’s death.  Kate and her sister had a plan for growing their café business and Kate is determined to stick to the plan.  Carefully laid plans don’t always go as imagined.  Kate’s first kiss, Micah, is back in town and is working at her local library.  Hayley spends a lot of her time at the library.  Her ex-fiancé and nemesis, Ryan, is also back in town.  Will Kate be able to realize her and her sister’s plan for a second café location while also keeping the rest of her life on track?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I love the New Orleans setting - it was so fun.

·       Kate Landry being forty made me love all her flashback references such as Sarah McLachlan’s song “Angel” on the sad animal commercials, Uncle Jesse from Full House, Paula Abdul, and more.

·       I love her clean epithets such as Sarah McLachlan!!

·       This novel had excellent well-developed three-dimensional characters with great growth through the novel.

·       The characters seemed very real, and the story was unique.  A woman who is raising her sister’s daughter, difficult relationships with parents, grief, trust issues, caring for elderly parents/grandparents, and bad ex-boyfriends were all themes.

·       Faith was important for Kate and was discussed throughout the novel.

·       I didn’t realize this was a series until I finished the book and looked to add my review to Goodreads.  It was great as a standalone, but I need to read the first book which is the story of Kate’s best friend Julia and her romance. This series is called Beignets for Two.

·       I love the great love story between two mature forty-year-old adults.  Micah is an understanding and caring male librarian.  AKA – every woman’s dream man.

·       The novel had many real world difficult and emotional conversations.

·       This book had the theme of family is what you make of it and not what you are born into.

·       The audiobook narrator was excellent and I enjoyed listening to this on audiobook.

Overall, Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet is a delightful rom com with wonderful three-dimensional characters and a wonderful overall story.  I want to read more of this story!

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Forty-year-old Kate Landry's carefully planned life has become as messy as the powdered sugar on her famous beignets. Juggling the responsibilities of running her café, raising her teenage niece, and the emotional baggage from her breakup, Kate finds her world once again turned upside down when her first-ever crush, Micah Guidry, returns to town as the hunky local librarian.

As Kate struggles to implement her plans to expand her café amid the New Orleans Mardi Gras madness and the meddling of her conniving ex-fiancé, Micah becomes the unwitting hero of her misadventures, stirring up feelings she thought she'd long buried. How can falling in love in the Big Easy be this hard?

Rebekah Millet spins a delightful tale, set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans, proving that sometimes the messiest of situations can lead to the sweetest outcomes.

AUTHOR BIO

Rebekah Millet is a Selah Award, Cascade Award, and ACFW First Impressions Award–winning author of southern inspirational romance novels. A New Orleans native, she grew up on beignets and café au lait, and loves infusing her colorful culture into her stories. Her husband is an answer to prayer, who puts up with her rearranging furniture and being a serial plant killer. Her two sons keep her laughing and share in her love of desserts. Visit her at http://www.rebekahmillet.com/.

Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie

 

Title:  Three Act Tragedy

Author:  Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Hugh Fraser

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 6 hours

Source: Checked out with Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

Do you have a favorite play?  I enjoy plays and really like mysteries.  I don’t really have one favorite play, although seeing A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare with my best friend Jenn at American Player’s Theatre twenty plus years ago was one of my favorites.

I am participating in the #ReadChristie2025 Challenge.  The challenge this year is exploring Agatha Christie’s works through her characters and their careers.  The theme for March is performers and I read Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie for the first time.  One of the main characters is a famous actor, Sir Charles Cartwright.  He has other folks that are associated with the theatre over to his home.

Sir Charles Cartwright holds a dinner party at his home.  One of his guests is Hercule Poirot.  When the local vicar, Babbington, suddenly dies, Sir Charles is sure that he was poisoned.  Later, many of the same guests are together for a party when yet another guest dies after drinking port.  He was discovered to have been poisoned by nicotine.  Who is poisoning people in their drinks and why?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel was published in 1935.

·       I enjoyed the way this book was set up.  The First Act or part of the book was suspicion, the second act was certainty, and the third act was discovery. 

·       This mystery has a love story in with as Hermoine Lytton Gore (nickname Egg) loves Sir Charles who is thirty years her senior.  She tries to make him jealous by flirting with a younger man, and Sir Charles leaves the country much to her dismay. Sir Charles and Egg help Poirot with his investigation.

·       Hercule Poirot can’t help himself again.  He is retired and as a young child observes, you can only look at the sea so much.  He gives a history of losing the woman he love, coming out of retirement to work, growing rich and famous, and then retiring again.

·       At the end of the novel, Poirot discusses that he often uses a thick accent even though he speaks perfect English so that people will overlook him and be at ease.  I enjoyed these types of snippets that rounded out the character of Poirot.

·       I was totally caught off guard by the killer in this one.

·       Once again, Hugh Fraser was a wonderful narrator for this novel.

Overall, Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie was a solid and entertaining mystery.  I like how Christie tried out new formats and different ways to write her mysteries through time.

A Jane Austen Year curated by Jane Austen’s House (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What was the last book you purchased just because of Instagram?  Frozen River for me!

A Jane Austen Year celebrates Jane Austen’s 250^th birthday year by exploring her life through her letters, objects, and manuscripts.  This is put together by the curators of Jane Austen’s house in Chawton – a place that is on my bucket list to visit.

The introduction talks about how this book was written from Jane Austen’s house in Chawton and how it has “an unparalleled collection of Austen treasures including items of furniture, paintings, and household objects.  Visitors can discover Jane’s personal letters and first editions of her novels, items of jewelry, portraits of her friends and family, and the tiny writing table at which she wrote.”

This book shows us fragments of Jane Austen’s life.  It is split up into twelve months.  Each month details events from her books and life that happened in that month.  For example, in January:

·       The Dashwood sisters take a trip to London the first week of January.  Artwork is shown of this trip and an excerpt from the novel.

·       A picture of the miniature of Tom Lefroy and a written description of Jane dancing with Tom in January.

·       Pride and Prejudice was published on January 28, 1813.

·       On January 14, 1817, Jane wrote a friend asking for her orange wine recipe.  The recipe is shown as well as a beautiful picture.

·       A letter is written out that was sent from Jane to Cassandra on January 29, 1813.

·       A picture of Jane’s piano and a description of the two books of sheet music that were copied by Jane.

·       A picture and description of the French Revolution including snippets of a letter Jane wrote to her cousin Phila Walter about her poor cousin Eliza’s husband, the Comte de Feuille, who was executed in France during the revolution.

I loved all the Christmas information that was listed in the month of December.  The book is both informative and beautiful.  There is also a great index at the end of the book and more detailed information about Jane Austen’s house.

Overall, A Jane Austen Year is a fantastic book for any Jane Austen lover in your life (including yourself).  It would be fun to read throughout a year but was also great to read all at once.  It’s a nice conservation book for like minded Jane Austen loving friends.

Book Source:  Review copy from @janeaustenshouse @batsfordbooks as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

This beautifully illustrated book charts the life of one of the world’s most beloved authors through the letters, objects, and manuscripts that shaped her life.

Published in partnership with the curators of Jane Austen’s House, the enchanting Hampshire cottage where Jane Austen’s genius flourished that now attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Arranged over the course of a calendar year, from snowy scenes in January to festive recipes in December, specially commissioned photography of Austen’s home and possessions are brought together with extracts from her books, reproductions of her letters, and stories of her life throughout the seasons. Highlights include the first time Austen read a published copy of Pride and Prejudice to an enraptured audience in her drawing room, affectionate letters to her sister Cassandra reproduced in full and an exquisite miniature portrait of Tom Lefroy, the man she nearly married.

Read this book for a unique and intimate insight into Austen’s world. Dip into it as you will, or visit each month, and enjoy a full year of Austen—her life, works and letters, people and objects she knew, and of course her idyllic, inspiring home.

CURATOR BIO

Jane Austen’s House is the inspiring Hampshire cottage where the beloved author lived for the last eight years of her life. It houses an unparalleled collection of Austen treasures. Highlights include Jane’s jewelry, letters, first editions of her novels, and the table at which she wrote her much loved novels. Visitors can step back in time to 1816 and follow in Austen’s footsteps as they explore the rooms where she lived and wrote. It has been open to the public as a museum since 1949 and is an international center for Jane Austen studies.

Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

 

Title: Last Twilight in Paris

Author:  Pam Jenoff

Narrated by:  Thérèse Plummer, Saskia Maarleveld

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 31 minutes

Source: Review Copy from NetGalley.  Thank you!

What is the genre of the book you are currently reading?  I am currently reading a historical fiction novel.

In 1953, Louise discovers a necklace in a secondhand shop that brings back memories from her time in France working for the Red Cross during WWII.  Her friend had the necklace from a musician, and she was killed immediately after Louise last saw her holding the necklace.  Will Louise be able to solve the mystery of the necklace?

Helaine is estranged from her Jewish parents for marrying a non-Jew, cellist Gabriel. Gabriel goes missing when he is forced to play in concerts by the Nazi around Germany. Helaine is arrested and forced to work in Levitan.  Will Helaine and Joe be reunited?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a dual timeline novel.  I enjoyed the characters and both storylines equally.

·       This was a good strong story and very engaging.

·       This book was also a story of marriage for both couples.  Joe and Helaine have been estranged due to war experiences and not wanting to talk about them.  I like how they work on their marriage and come to an understanding.

·       The intriguing mystery of what happened to Louise’s friend Fanny during the war had a satisfying conclusion.

·       There was a great authors note on Levitan, a real store in Parish where Jews are forced to sort plunder from Jewish homes and get it ready to sell.  Also, it was disturbing about how the Red Cross had a checkered past in WWII.  They knew what was going on in the concentration camps but did nothing about it.

·       I read this book mostly on my Kindle, but I did finish it on audiobook.  It was engaging in both formats.

·       This was the February pick for the Brenda Novak Book Group.  There was a great virtual book club with the author on Brenda Novak’s Facebook page.  This book group meetings are always enjoyable.

Overall, Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff was an engaging dual timeline WWII historical fiction novel.  I liked the unique storyline.

Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title: Counting Backwards

Author:  Jacqueline Friedland

Narrated by:  Amanda Stribling, Carolyn Jania

Publisher: Harper Muse

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 45 minutes

Source: Audiobook review Copy from NetGalley and physical book review copy from @jackiefriedland @harpermusebooks @austenprose.  Thank you!

What's a book that you think has a stunning cover design?  I love the pomegranate on the cover of this novel, and it works so well with the theme of the novel.

Jessa Gidney is a Manhattan lawyer and has recently been passed over for partner.  She miscarried a year before and has been having problems getting pregnant again which has been causing friction with her husband, Vance.  When she meets Isobel Perez as part of her firm’s pro bono work, she realizes that there is much more to the case than just a deportation order.  Why are the women at the deportation center being sterilized?

In 1920s Virginia, Carrie Buch has lived a hard life. She was separated from her mother and raised by a foster family who just wanted free labor.  After she is raped, the system continues to let her down. What is her connection to Jessa?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel had a rough start with a couple arguing about fertility as they try to get pregnant, Luckily, the story picked up after that and became a compelling story that I couldn’t put down.

·       The look into our countries history with eugenics was both horrifying and thought provoking.  It’s important and timely now as unfortunately these types of cases persist.  Who gets to decide whether a woman is allowed to bear children?

·       This is a dual timeline novel which spends equal time with Jessa and Carrie.  They are both interesting characters.

·       The author is a lawyer which gives the novel an authentic feel.

·       I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook.  It was a fascinating story with great narrators.

·       There is a great list of additional reading at the end of the novel.

·       There is also a fascinating author’s note on how the author first read about the real-life Carrie Buck and her case while she was a high school senior.  I am horrified on how Carrie Buck was treated.

Overall, Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland is a compelling dual narrative novel that examines a dark time in our country’s history that also is seeping into current events surrounding women’s rights and immigration.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A routine immigration case, a shocking legacy. Jessa Gidney's quest for justice draws her into the heart of an abhorrent conspiracy. As she uncovers her personal ties to a heartbreaking past, her life takes a dramatic turn, in this emotionally riveting novel inspired by true events.

New York, 2022. Jessa Gidney is trying to have it all--a high-powered legal career, a meaningful marriage, and hopefully, one day, a child. But when her professional ambitions come up short and Jessa finds herself at a turning point, she leans into her family's history of activism by taking on pro bono work at a nearby ICE detention center. There she meets Isobel Pérez--a young mother fighting to stay with her daughter--but as she gets to know Isobel, an unsettling revelation about Isobel's health leads Jessa to uncover a horrifying pattern of medical malpractice within the detention facility. One that shockingly has ties to her own family.

Virginia, 1927. Carrie Buck is an ordinary young woman in the center of an extraordinary legal battle at the forefront of the American eugenics conversation. From a poor family, she was only six years old when she first became a ward of the state. Uneducated and without any support, she spends her youth dreaming about a different future--one separate from her exploitative foster family--unknowing of the ripples her small, country life will have on an entire nation.

As Jessa works to assemble a case against the prison and the crimes she believes are being committed there, she discovers the landmark Supreme Court case involving Carrie Buck. Her connection to the case, however, is deeper and much more personal than she ever knew--sending her down new paths that will leave her forever changed and determined to fight for these women, no matter the cost.

Alternating between the past and present, and deftly tackling timely-yet-timeless issues such as reproductive rights, incarceration, and society's expectations of women and mothers, Counting Backwards is a compelling reminder that progress is rarely a straight line and always hard-won. A moving story of two remarkable women that you'll remember for years to come.

ADVANCE PRAISE

"Jacqueline Friedland's ripped-from-the-headlines story is an Erin Brockovich for our times."— Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost

". . . a riveting, compelling story--but it's also an important one, reminding us that history's darkest aspects can echo forward into our present day and that there is so much work left to do in the fight for freedom and equality."— Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The German Wife

AUTHOR BIO

Jacqueline Friedland is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of historical and contemporary women's fiction. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she earned a law degree from NYU and a Master of Fine Arts from Sarah Lawrence College. Jackie regularly reviews fiction for trade publications and appears at schools and other locations as a guest lecturer. She lives just outside New York City with her husband, four children, and two dogs. Connect with her online at JacquelineFriedland.com