compass_rose's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I got into the story, setting and characters right away and it was a quick read. The backdrop of women's (lack of) rights in Colonial America is enlightening and maddening, and makes you even more sympathetic to the Widow Berry's situation. But it's not a depressing read at all.
kblincoln's review against another edition
5.0
Sally Gunning has done her homework. She knows what Colonial Cape Cod folk ate, read, fished, and cooked. But strangely enough, she also seems to be able to look into their hearts: a widowed woman stubbornly set against signing away her rightful 'widow's thirds' of her husbands estate just to satisfy a son-in-law's greed, a Native American who walks a line between his own nation/beliefs and that of the white man's village, a lawyer who is caught up in the beginning stirrings of ideas about property that will lead to American Independence.
The strength in Lyddie Berry's story aren't the completely believable way that historical period is brought to life, but the way in which the author takes you on the journey her characters take even when their choices are difficult and controversial.
Lyddie Berry's whaling husband dies, and it is the way of those times that she should go to live in her son-in-law's house and be taken care of. But Lyddie doesn't want to be consigned to a corner and have all her worldly posessions controlled by her son-in-law, she wants to make her own way, even if it means tieing her name in a scandalous way to her native american neighbor.
Read The Widow's War to learn history. Read the Widow's war to follow along a nascent feminist in colonial America. Read the Widow's war to cheer and cringe at Lyddie's defiance.
But mostly read The Widow's War to make you ponder where your own limits are; who are you willing to defy, what are you willing to do to make your way in life? And what are the limits of your own self will?
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Corn chowder for the earthy, fundamental tastes of colonial history, with the underlying sweetness of the characters who will linger on your tongue long after the pages are turned.
The strength in Lyddie Berry's story aren't the completely believable way that historical period is brought to life, but the way in which the author takes you on the journey her characters take even when their choices are difficult and controversial.
Lyddie Berry's whaling husband dies, and it is the way of those times that she should go to live in her son-in-law's house and be taken care of. But Lyddie doesn't want to be consigned to a corner and have all her worldly posessions controlled by her son-in-law, she wants to make her own way, even if it means tieing her name in a scandalous way to her native american neighbor.
Read The Widow's War to learn history. Read the Widow's war to follow along a nascent feminist in colonial America. Read the Widow's war to cheer and cringe at Lyddie's defiance.
But mostly read The Widow's War to make you ponder where your own limits are; who are you willing to defy, what are you willing to do to make your way in life? And what are the limits of your own self will?
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Corn chowder for the earthy, fundamental tastes of colonial history, with the underlying sweetness of the characters who will linger on your tongue long after the pages are turned.
ladyofbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Although the writing was good and there was plot it felt as though nothing happened. I read through it, and while I was interested in seeing a woman attempting to fight for her rights before women had any sort of right, it was just...slow paced. I liked it but at the same time this was dull and I felt my attention wandering more than once away from this book. A solid 3 ⭐. For historical buffs, you may like this though there is a hefty bit of religion, racism, and sexism in this book.
readingthethings's review against another edition
4.0
࿐ྂ ˳✧༚˚ THIS BOOK IS FABULOUS. What I love about this author is that she doesn’t attempt to write from a feminist viewpoint as if the character is actually from our own era. In this novel, we have a pre-revolutionary American woman whose husband dies at sea, and she is about to sign away her one-third right to his property when it occurs to her she could simply not sign, and keep one-third of the house, and the guy will have to deal with it.
The portrayal is SO HONEST and most definitely has a New England feel. I’ve read a biography on a real-life woman of the era ([b:Jane Franklin, Ben’s sister|17262121|Book of Ages The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin|Jill Lepore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364251099l/17262121._SX50_.jpg|23858919]) and the delivery of strong convictions paired with keen intelligence fits the way a woman of the time would have felt and expressed herself then — I think. It’s different from the portrayal of Martha Jefferson, who lived in the South and was a fairly well-to-do woman (in lifestyle, if not in reality.)
The woman in this book is all sea-salty and devout and not wealthy at all and yet not devout ENTIRELY and beginning to pull out of a patriarchal outlook and begin to question things — in a most delicate and honest and true to the period kind of way. I quite applauded her skepticism and courage, and felt that noose tightening as she made choices throughout the story. It reminded me a little of [b:Flight of the Sparrow|18693612|Flight of the Sparrow|Amy Belding Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1383838349l/18693612._SX50_.jpg|26542156] by Amy Belding Brown, in the VERY best way.
Extremely well done, and I couldn’t put it down! ࿐ྂ ˳✧༚˚
The portrayal is SO HONEST and most definitely has a New England feel. I’ve read a biography on a real-life woman of the era ([b:Jane Franklin, Ben’s sister|17262121|Book of Ages The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin|Jill Lepore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364251099l/17262121._SX50_.jpg|23858919]) and the delivery of strong convictions paired with keen intelligence fits the way a woman of the time would have felt and expressed herself then — I think. It’s different from the portrayal of Martha Jefferson, who lived in the South and was a fairly well-to-do woman (in lifestyle, if not in reality.)
The woman in this book is all sea-salty and devout and not wealthy at all and yet not devout ENTIRELY and beginning to pull out of a patriarchal outlook and begin to question things — in a most delicate and honest and true to the period kind of way. I quite applauded her skepticism and courage, and felt that noose tightening as she made choices throughout the story. It reminded me a little of [b:Flight of the Sparrow|18693612|Flight of the Sparrow|Amy Belding Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1383838349l/18693612._SX50_.jpg|26542156] by Amy Belding Brown, in the VERY best way.
Extremely well done, and I couldn’t put it down! ࿐ྂ ˳✧༚˚
patricia_an's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the writing. It was original and natural at the same time. The story was focused, no words wasted. I would have liked a bit more of the widow's thinking process, rather than just her somewhat abrupt actions, and she was much more alone than I suspect most real people are. In a real community of women whose husbands are away at sea much of the time, it seems like she would have at least one or two true female friends.
missywinesalot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
shiradest's review against another edition
4.0
I really like this book, in spite of the fact that it's set in a fishing town . It is written in close third -person, and is very well written, and very reminiscent of book I just finished reading the Innkeeper of Ivy Hill , by Julie Klassen.
nae1226's review against another edition
4.0
Married for twenty years to Edward Berry, Lyddie is used to the trials of being a whaler's wife in the Cape Cod village of Satucket, Massachusetts--running their house herself during her husband's long absences at sea, living with the daily uncertainty that Edward will simply not return. And when her worst fear is realized, she finds herself doubly cursed. She is overwhelmed by grief, and her property and rights are now legally in the hands of her nearest male relative: her daughter's overbearing husband, whom Lyddie cannot abide. Lyddie decides to challenge both law and custom for control of her destiny, but she soon discovers the price of her bold "war" for personal freedom to be heartbreakingly dear.
apetruce's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad historical novel about women's property rights in the 1700s or thereabouts. (You didn't inherit your husband's property if he died -- your closest male relative did -- maybe your son-in-law). A strong lead female who makes unconventional, but not unbelievable, decisions not unlike those that might have paved the way for more equitable rights today.
catladyreba's review against another edition
3.0
This was the selection for my book club this month, chosen in part to celebrate National Women's History Month. Well, let me tell you, this book certainly drives home the gratefulness and relief I feel to be born into a Century where women have rights. This story was extremely well-written, with several twists and a heroine who never lost her will and tenacity to hold onto what was rightfully hers. I liked the setting, but it never overwhelmed the story, as I feel often happens with books set in early New England. The story flowed well, and was easy to read in that sense, but content wise, at times it was difficult. I highly recommend this book, I think it will make everyone, especially American women, feel a little more grateful for their freedom.