k_lee_reads_it's review
4.0
A look at the early years of a couple and the work marriage was and still is. The author tells the reader from the beginning that the book is based on the letters and writing of Harriet Beecher and Calvin Stowe, but still a work of fiction. Because of that note I found the narrative interesting, and did not over think. If you want only the facts of their history, this is not the book. If you want a book about the give and take of the first years of marriage and the near loss of self identity during the early years of having children, especially several children quickly, this book will deliver.
readerturnedwriter's review against another edition
5.0
For some reason, I was reluctant to actually pick this up, but once I did, I couldn't put it down!
I loved this book! Watching Hattie's struggle to find time for herself while taking care of a family was so relatable. Their marriage had many struggles, but I loved that both of them had to change and come together in the end. And I cried and cried in the book.
It has a large focus on her marriage and motherhood, and not as much on her motivation to write about slavery. It talks a little about that, but it's not the focus. I didn't mind, but I know some people might.
Overall, this was one of my favorite reads of the year. Uncle Tom's Cabin is one of my favorite classics and I loved learning more about the author's life and struggles.
I loved this book! Watching Hattie's struggle to find time for herself while taking care of a family was so relatable. Their marriage had many struggles, but I loved that both of them had to change and come together in the end. And I cried and cried in the book.
It has a large focus on her marriage and motherhood, and not as much on her motivation to write about slavery. It talks a little about that, but it's not the focus. I didn't mind, but I know some people might.
Overall, this was one of my favorite reads of the year. Uncle Tom's Cabin is one of my favorite classics and I loved learning more about the author's life and struggles.
melissasbookshelf's review
4.0
Loved this fictional account of the early life of Harriet Beecher Stowe and what inspired her to write Uncle Tom's Cabin. I never knew much about her life. This book tries it's best to bring her character to light. Despite it being historical fiction, the author takes pains to stay true to Harriet's character and her personality.
watoozi's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not a huge Josi K fan, but this book was specifically recommended to me and I loved it. My love for Uncle Tom’s Cabin has deepened and expanded now that I know the author a bit more.
Most ‘romance’ novels end with the couples’ marriage. Rarely do we get to peek behind the curtain once they say “I do.” This book details how Hattie and Calvin actually make a real marriage work, even flourish. Two imperfect people can actually create something beautiful, more than the sum of their value. But it takes real communication and sacrifice.
I’m sure the majority of this book is fiction, but it is still a lovely tribute to an incredible couple. I wish more idealistic brides read books like this.
Most ‘romance’ novels end with the couples’ marriage. Rarely do we get to peek behind the curtain once they say “I do.” This book details how Hattie and Calvin actually make a real marriage work, even flourish. Two imperfect people can actually create something beautiful, more than the sum of their value. But it takes real communication and sacrifice.
I’m sure the majority of this book is fiction, but it is still a lovely tribute to an incredible couple. I wish more idealistic brides read books like this.
ghumpherys's review against another edition
5.0
Josi Kilpack has a way of taking historical figures and making them come alive in her stories. I appreciate her notes that indicate which parts of the story are based on facts and which she added to make the story flow. It was so interesting to learn about the life of Harriet Beecher Stowe - someone who was only a name to me before. A wonderful read!
nicolepeck's review against another edition
5.0
***This is my second attempt at posting this review. It disappeared when I pushed save the first time, and I had worked very hard to make it "just right." :'(***
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, as, realistically, all I knew about Harriet Beecher Stowe was that she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin and all I knew about Uncle Tom's Cabin was how it was portrayed in the musical The King and I! However, I quickly became drawn into Harriet's world and could relate to exactly how she was feeling. She was a strong, independent personality yet she loved Calvin and wanted a life with him and quickly had to adjust to the expected combined roles of wife/homemaker/mother when she wanted to be more carefree, to write as her heart desired, and often instead burned the meals and left messes everywhere, while Calvin struggled because he wanted a more structured household. As she was criticized for her actions, she struggled deeply with her feelings of inadequacy, her desires, and the expectations of her husband and their families. As this built, I could relate to her struggles -- those feelings of wanting to be recognized for you, your desires, your wants, your contributions, and your own value to those around you, as well as your place in the world within our many roles. Yet, Calvin's feelings and desires were presented as equally important and valid as well, so that I could relate to both characters and their struggles in their union and making their way together in their marriage. I laughed many times throughout this book but deeply felt the feelings Harriet felt. I liked so many of the characters in the story as well. Mother Stowe's coming to help implement order in the home and her rules for how things should be done made sense but also were sometimes funny. There is also a strong presence of religion in this book, yet it's not preachy or pushy; it's just simply a part of the characters' lives and beliefs.
The final scene in the book, fast-forwarding to 15 years after their marriage, where Harriet has her "vision" that leads to her writing Uncle Tom's Cabin was extremely well done and wrapped up the story perfectly. The way the scene is set in the church and her children's and Calvin's actions and how they all interact with each other had me laughing and relating so well. I never really have had a desire to read Uncle Tom's Cabin. Though a classic, it always felt like one of those books that was only a required reading, not an enjoyable read (which is mainly why I read, entertainment not education, an escape from daily life). Now, however, I would like to read it, knowing more about the author and coming to like her through the telling of this story.
I also really liked how the story was told, starting with Calvin's and Harriet's marriage and then only the first few years of their marriage and how they had to deal with everything so quickly and adjust to each other's sense of order or disorder -- ha ha -- and come together as a great example of how a marriage should be -- not perfection but working together and complementing each other and being able to be yourself yet valuing each other as individuals.
The chapter notes at the end of the book also help the story so much for me. While I enjoy the fictionalized account, I flip back to the chapter notes as I finish each chapter so that I can weave the reality and the fiction together and know where literary license was taken but yet when it is based on fact. The chapter notes also helped portray to me the attention to detail and research the author puts into the story to make it as true to the characters' personalities and lives as she can be.
While I struggle with giving 5-star ratings to many books, I rounded this one up from 4.5 stars because I did relate so much to Harriet and loved the ending!
As a side note, the cover is stunning and the title paints such a beautiful picture of Harriet's evolution of love for not only Calvin but her family and children into becoming a better mother and person while still being true to herself.
I really have come to love this author's historical proper romance books, and they are quickly becoming some of my favorites. I definitely look forward to reading each of these books and hope the author continues to write them and can't wait to see which literary figures she chooses to research and bring to life for me next.
***I won this book from the author via a Facebook giveaway.***
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, as, realistically, all I knew about Harriet Beecher Stowe was that she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin and all I knew about Uncle Tom's Cabin was how it was portrayed in the musical The King and I! However, I quickly became drawn into Harriet's world and could relate to exactly how she was feeling. She was a strong, independent personality yet she loved Calvin and wanted a life with him and quickly had to adjust to the expected combined roles of wife/homemaker/mother when she wanted to be more carefree, to write as her heart desired, and often instead burned the meals and left messes everywhere, while Calvin struggled because he wanted a more structured household. As she was criticized for her actions, she struggled deeply with her feelings of inadequacy, her desires, and the expectations of her husband and their families. As this built, I could relate to her struggles -- those feelings of wanting to be recognized for you, your desires, your wants, your contributions, and your own value to those around you, as well as your place in the world within our many roles. Yet, Calvin's feelings and desires were presented as equally important and valid as well, so that I could relate to both characters and their struggles in their union and making their way together in their marriage. I laughed many times throughout this book but deeply felt the feelings Harriet felt. I liked so many of the characters in the story as well. Mother Stowe's coming to help implement order in the home and her rules for how things should be done made sense but also were sometimes funny. There is also a strong presence of religion in this book, yet it's not preachy or pushy; it's just simply a part of the characters' lives and beliefs.
The final scene in the book, fast-forwarding to 15 years after their marriage, where Harriet has her "vision" that leads to her writing Uncle Tom's Cabin was extremely well done and wrapped up the story perfectly. The way the scene is set in the church and her children's and Calvin's actions and how they all interact with each other had me laughing and relating so well. I never really have had a desire to read Uncle Tom's Cabin. Though a classic, it always felt like one of those books that was only a required reading, not an enjoyable read (which is mainly why I read, entertainment not education, an escape from daily life). Now, however, I would like to read it, knowing more about the author and coming to like her through the telling of this story.
I also really liked how the story was told, starting with Calvin's and Harriet's marriage and then only the first few years of their marriage and how they had to deal with everything so quickly and adjust to each other's sense of order or disorder -- ha ha -- and come together as a great example of how a marriage should be -- not perfection but working together and complementing each other and being able to be yourself yet valuing each other as individuals.
The chapter notes at the end of the book also help the story so much for me. While I enjoy the fictionalized account, I flip back to the chapter notes as I finish each chapter so that I can weave the reality and the fiction together and know where literary license was taken but yet when it is based on fact. The chapter notes also helped portray to me the attention to detail and research the author puts into the story to make it as true to the characters' personalities and lives as she can be.
While I struggle with giving 5-star ratings to many books, I rounded this one up from 4.5 stars because I did relate so much to Harriet and loved the ending!
As a side note, the cover is stunning and the title paints such a beautiful picture of Harriet's evolution of love for not only Calvin but her family and children into becoming a better mother and person while still being true to herself.
I really have come to love this author's historical proper romance books, and they are quickly becoming some of my favorites. I definitely look forward to reading each of these books and hope the author continues to write them and can't wait to see which literary figures she chooses to research and bring to life for me next.
***I won this book from the author via a Facebook giveaway.***
wannabe_bibliothecary's review against another edition
4.0
The fact that I kept listening is evidence of how good this book is. Harriet Beecher Stowe is a sympathetic figure. I enjoyed the portrayal of her and Calvin’s relationship. Lovely book.
piepieb's review
3.0
This book was fine. It's not you, book, it's me.
However, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It says right there in the title: The life and love of... I was hoping that this novel would cover more of Stowe's classic Uncle Tom's Cabin, but the bulk of it was Harriet marrying Calvin (Hattie was his second wife) and the children she subsequently bore. Thank God for modern-day birth control!!
It was mentioned a couple of times in the story that Hattie and Calvin's first wife, Eliza, were friends, and I was expecting Hattie to maybe reminisce of spending time with her friend, maybe missing her. Nope. Eliza could have been any old girl off the street -- I didn't see any relationship between her and Hattie at all.
At the beginning of the book Hattie came across as wild and spoiled and I didn't like the way she neglected housework to try and prove a point to her husband. I don't like some chores, either, but I get them done. You don't get to pick and choose what to do. If I let the sweeping and vaccuming and dishes stack up, our apartment would be a pigsty.
Overall, this book was written well, I just didn't like the main character and it's not what I expected. If you're wanting, say, the origins of Uncle Tom's Cabin, you won't find it here... give this book a hard pass. But, if you're wanting a sweet historical romance of a man and a woman trying to find themselves as they juggle a new marriage and new babies, then that's exactly what you're getting here.
However, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It says right there in the title: The life and love of... I was hoping that this novel would cover more of Stowe's classic Uncle Tom's Cabin, but the bulk of it was Harriet marrying Calvin (Hattie was his second wife) and the children she subsequently bore. Thank God for modern-day birth control!!
It was mentioned a couple of times in the story that Hattie and Calvin's first wife, Eliza, were friends, and I was expecting Hattie to maybe reminisce of spending time with her friend, maybe missing her. Nope. Eliza could have been any old girl off the street -- I didn't see any relationship between her and Hattie at all.
At the beginning of the book Hattie came across as wild and spoiled and I didn't like the way she neglected housework to try and prove a point to her husband. I don't like some chores, either, but I get them done. You don't get to pick and choose what to do. If I let the sweeping and vaccuming and dishes stack up, our apartment would be a pigsty.
Overall, this book was written well, I just didn't like the main character and it's not what I expected. If you're wanting, say, the origins of Uncle Tom's Cabin, you won't find it here... give this book a hard pass. But, if you're wanting a sweet historical romance of a man and a woman trying to find themselves as they juggle a new marriage and new babies, then that's exactly what you're getting here.
cakt1991's review
5.0
Full review here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.wordpress.com/2018/04/23/review-of-all-that-makes-life-bright-by-josi-s-kilpack/
jbenando's review
5.0
Being a wife and mother is probably the toughest job ever. This book give us a glimpse into Harriet Beecher Stowe's life and she would most definitely agree with me.
I received an arc for an honest review. Full review to come.
I received an arc for an honest review. Full review to come.
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