Reviews

This novel from 1917 is the good-hearted, darling story of a traveling book wagon. Helen is an old spinster (the book never fails to stress how old she is--at the ripe age of 39!) living with her flighty writer brother on their family farm, and she's tired of doing all of the work, while he swans off to publicize his books. When the fascinating Mr. Mifflin shows up, offering to sell her brother his marvelous book wagon, Helen buys it for herself. Her brother can see how he likes being stuck on the farm while she tours New England. Mifflin stays with her a while to show her the ropes of bookselling on the road and how he charms everyone he comes upon, including Helen. Their journey is filled with adventure and had a remarkably feminist tone for a book written by a man in 1917.

ego8's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

krista0610's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing

5.0

dysonswifey's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.25

tabithar's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars. Published in 1917, the book is clearly an outcome of its political climate. Morley presents to us a woman who is tired of being the caregiver for her bachelor brother who expects her to basically cook, clean, and do farm chores while he travels and writes. She feels unappreciated and when an alternate opportunity presents itself, cites that she wants an adventure and dumps her entire life savings into something that seems like an incredibly risky venture. When her brother tries to rescue her from it, she rebels all the more as she feels the trap she was in is not one she's willing to reenter. My biggest struggle is with "her" idea of freedom:

Spoiler

freedom to choose who she serves, freedom to choose to serve a random travelling bookseller who at least in this text appreciates her skills as a cook and her intelligence. At once I feel torn as the same person purporting to appreciate her intelligence seems intent on what appears to be taking advantage of someone who is discontent. At the same time, I realize this was a book written by a man who appears to be trying to help feminists of his day. These women wanted respect but not necessarily to have to provide completely for themselves. They wanted others to appreciate their intelligence AND the skills they had that were stereotypically female.

I think at the least this book would make for a good bookclub discussion and would be good to contrast with a book of the same time frame written by a female who was also feminist. There is apparently a followup novel and I'm curious to see where the author went with it.

julkatt's review against another edition

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5.0

this sweet little novella had me right out of the gate (or farmhouse). engaging, witty, quick, inspiring, and fun. i smiled the whole way through. was tickled to see that the author hailed from Haverford, PA (neighbor!) and shamed that i'd not heard of him before (Parnassus was written in 1915). will definitely look to get my hands on The Haunted Bookshop and other of his works.

mrssehardy's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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