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fuette's review against another edition
1.0
I struggled to get to the end of this book. It started off strong, and I really felt for Helen and Albert and their family. But, the rest of the story dragged on and on. Some of the time jumps took me out of the story, they just felt abrupt. The end of the story was anticlimactic too, it just felt like the story was incomplete.
barnesbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
This book gives an interesting look at a working-class mother's experience with the women's suffrage movement. Gichon clearly did good research on the major historical events of the era, even bringing up Occoquan Workhouse and the Night of Terror, which I had never heard of before. It is a quick and knowledge-filled read.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for the gifted copy!
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for the gifted copy!
jenniferreads2's review against another edition
4.0
Great read! It gave an honest look into women’s plight during a time when women rights was extremely opposite to today. Helen’s story was heart breaking but also acts as an important reminder of where we’ve been when contrasted to where we are. For those who may not be aware of the history of the treatment of women and women’s rights this read and Helen’s journey would be a great place to start to get some eye opening information of the past. Some may have heard of the Suffragist movement or the Night of Terror from school or history textbooks but this work of historical fiction does well to give the reader a more realistic look into how that time period might have been through the eyes of someone who actually lived it. Overall quick engaging read with historical importance.
jessicamwhite's review against another edition
4.0
A quality read! The Accidental Suffragist is the story of Helen Fox in the aftermath of a factory tragedy, as she is drawn into the work of 1910s suffragist work. I enjoyed the character of Helen and the insight to the experiences of the suffragist cause in the years leading up to it. She is a very relatable character who while she believes in her cause her priority is still very much being there for her family.
While well written I had noticed a few things that were distracting in the book, turns of phrase that would not have been historically accurate, as well as confusion on my part as to the ages of her children. But all in all a solid, enjoyable read.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this ebook for free, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
While well written I had noticed a few things that were distracting in the book, turns of phrase that would not have been historically accurate, as well as confusion on my part as to the ages of her children. But all in all a solid, enjoyable read.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this ebook for free, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
sheesalt's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book. You will be carried away to another time that still seems so timely. Gichon does brilliant work putting us right into the middle of the suffragist movement while enlightening us to all of the trials and tribulations for women at this hugely significant time!
thereadingpotato's review against another edition
3.0
The Accidental Suffragist follows Helen Fox, a hardworking mother who is drawn to the suffrage movement after a sudden tragedy strikes her family. This book spans the decade leading up to women getting the right to vote in the US, including those that shaped the movement in real-life like Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Harriot Stanton Blatch.
With incredibly short chapters, this one reads fast. The writing was easy to follow, and I liked the focus on women’s rights in America. I would have enjoyed an Author’s Note that specified which characters and events were real, but after a little of my own research, I did discover that all of the events that take place are based on real-life, which I definitely appreciated.
Because this book spans so many years in such short chapters, it does feel a little choppy at times. There is a lot of material covered very quickly. I also would have enjoyed more dimensionality from the characters, especially the well-known figures in the suffrage movement who were put into the story.
Overall, this is an interesting glimpse into the immense hardship and sacrifice that led to the passing of the 19th Amendment. If you are intrigued by a quick read about the women’s suffrage movement or enjoy light historical fiction, then this would be ideal for you.
A big thank you to the author and publisher for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
With incredibly short chapters, this one reads fast. The writing was easy to follow, and I liked the focus on women’s rights in America. I would have enjoyed an Author’s Note that specified which characters and events were real, but after a little of my own research, I did discover that all of the events that take place are based on real-life, which I definitely appreciated.
Because this book spans so many years in such short chapters, it does feel a little choppy at times. There is a lot of material covered very quickly. I also would have enjoyed more dimensionality from the characters, especially the well-known figures in the suffrage movement who were put into the story.
Overall, this is an interesting glimpse into the immense hardship and sacrifice that led to the passing of the 19th Amendment. If you are intrigued by a quick read about the women’s suffrage movement or enjoy light historical fiction, then this would be ideal for you.
A big thank you to the author and publisher for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
bonniereads777's review against another edition
4.0
This is gritty historical fiction set in a time when women had few rights, and their fight for the right to vote would get dirty and even bloody. The protagonist, Helen, is a poor housewife in New York City who also has to work and eke out a meager existence for her family. She has just lost her daughter in a factory fire and her whole family is hurting. She stumbles into a job with the Suffragettes, who are fighting for the right to vote for women. Her husband’s actions puzzle me throughout the book. He is a piece of work who is supposed to love her deeply, but 21st Century women will probably not see any evidence of that. He stands as a symbol for what the average man thought and did at that time. Helen’s actions show tremendous growth throughout this book, but not as much growth as I would have wished. That being said, I think that this is a very real depiction of what life would have been like for women of that time period, and although I would have liked Helen to stand up to her husband more, that is probably not realistic. Women of that time period were treated like property, and it did not change overnight.
The description of the protest in Washington DC and what happened afterward is as realistic as it is horrifying. The Accidental Suffragist is the very definition of real historical fiction. This is no fairy tale. This book is about the suffering and subjugation of women in American in and prior to the early 20th Century, and the blowback, indignation, and violence that resulted from their fight to rise above it.
The description of the protest in Washington DC and what happened afterward is as realistic as it is horrifying. The Accidental Suffragist is the very definition of real historical fiction. This is no fairy tale. This book is about the suffering and subjugation of women in American in and prior to the early 20th Century, and the blowback, indignation, and violence that resulted from their fight to rise above it.
emilyisoverbooked's review against another edition
3.0
The Accidental Suffragist by Galia Gichon
It’s New York in 1912, and Helen Fox’s daughter Abigail tragically dies in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Too young to be working, Abigail was only there to help support her family so they could put food on the table. Helen meets women suffragists soon after the fire and quickly joins up with the movement in an attempt to make Abigail’s tragedy blossom into something beneficial.
The Accidental Suffragist is a compelling story of a woman who knows poverty, estrangement, loss, and horror. This was a unique look inside the women’s suffrage movement during and directly after WWI, and I couldn’t help but cheer for Helen as she fought through to gain her voice and independence and seek equality for women.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for the copy of this book!
It’s New York in 1912, and Helen Fox’s daughter Abigail tragically dies in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Too young to be working, Abigail was only there to help support her family so they could put food on the table. Helen meets women suffragists soon after the fire and quickly joins up with the movement in an attempt to make Abigail’s tragedy blossom into something beneficial.
The Accidental Suffragist is a compelling story of a woman who knows poverty, estrangement, loss, and horror. This was a unique look inside the women’s suffrage movement during and directly after WWI, and I couldn’t help but cheer for Helen as she fought through to gain her voice and independence and seek equality for women.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for the copy of this book!
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
We know there were some persistent women in the early 1900s that battled for the rights of women, especially to vote. This novel is a look into that movement and while fiction, some of the events did happen such as the protest in Washington with many suffragettes arrested, jailed, beaten, and abused by those that held them captive.
Helen may not have ever expected to end up working for a suffragette movement but when her daughter is killed in a factory fire, she happened to be in the right place at the right time to meet some of these women. It was hard to read how many women in that time had to ask permission from their husbands to take a different job, go on a trip, and so much more. I know that was very common at that time, but we have come a long way and I am thankful to these women that fought for my rights as I have them today.
Helen thrives in this new position and while she knows not many women in her neighborhood would stand with these women to march, she knows that she is doing it for them and for her daughters so that they do not have to end up working in a low-end job. It is a hopeful book because we see the results of the efforts of women such as Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter Harriet Stanton Blatch, who fought for our rights and didn't back down. While many of the women were not from poorer families, they still fought for all women to be considered equal. I would like to think I would have been one of the women protesting and marching to make this world a better one.
We also see the relationship with Helen's husband evolve. It isn't always smooth sailing but perhaps that was because he was frustrated in his life and couldn't see the silver lining. He didn't understand what motivated her until he found a cause he could get behind in his own life regarding his job. I think that opened his eyes to what motivated Helen.
Overall this is a fascinating book that might make you appreciate what these women endured to make our lives better.
We give this book 4 paws up.
Helen may not have ever expected to end up working for a suffragette movement but when her daughter is killed in a factory fire, she happened to be in the right place at the right time to meet some of these women. It was hard to read how many women in that time had to ask permission from their husbands to take a different job, go on a trip, and so much more. I know that was very common at that time, but we have come a long way and I am thankful to these women that fought for my rights as I have them today.
Helen thrives in this new position and while she knows not many women in her neighborhood would stand with these women to march, she knows that she is doing it for them and for her daughters so that they do not have to end up working in a low-end job. It is a hopeful book because we see the results of the efforts of women such as Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter Harriet Stanton Blatch, who fought for our rights and didn't back down. While many of the women were not from poorer families, they still fought for all women to be considered equal. I would like to think I would have been one of the women protesting and marching to make this world a better one.
We also see the relationship with Helen's husband evolve. It isn't always smooth sailing but perhaps that was because he was frustrated in his life and couldn't see the silver lining. He didn't understand what motivated her until he found a cause he could get behind in his own life regarding his job. I think that opened his eyes to what motivated Helen.
Overall this is a fascinating book that might make you appreciate what these women endured to make our lives better.
We give this book 4 paws up.