lindasdarby's review against another edition
3.0
This book had so much potential but in the end it just wasn't very good. It took over half the book for the mail order brides to arrive in Nebraska. That is too much backstory in my opinion. Second she had a totally horrible character that was impossible to like. Why put a character in a book and make her so awful that even though I am supposed to sympathize with her I can't? Clara was great but her whole story seemed to be backstory and not really that interesting. The best character was Elsa and we didn't get enough of her. This book wasn't great. Kind of disappointing.
welkinvault's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Entertaining enough for my flight
schill27's review against another edition
4.0
Great book about a time period I have not read much about. I was afraid at the beginning that I would not like any of the characters, but almost all of them quickly grew on me. Can't wait until McNees has another book out!
nomadreader's review against another edition
4.0
(originally published at http://nomadreader.blogspot.com)
The basics: Shortly after the Civil War, Clara Bixby, whose husband ran off with another woman, reads about Destination, Nebraska in the newspaper, and she realizes it's the perfect business venture for her after she loses her job at a tavern in Manhattan City, New York. Clara writes to Destination's mayor and strikes a deal: she'll provide widows and single women willing to move to Destination to get married if the men will pay for their transport, plus a fee for her services.
My thoughts: In the past few years, I've realized how much I enjoy tales of the frontier life and homesteading. I enjoy the intrepid characters and their discoveries in these new, desolate lands. In Need of a Good Wife opens in New York, and I enjoyed getting to know the women and share their journey, both emotionally and geographically. The novel is narrated by three women, and I enjoyed the different perspective each woman brought to the story.
While I instantly connected with each of the three main characters, it took me longer to warm up to the men of Destination. O'Connor McNees took the time and effort to build an entire town of characters, and once I kept them all straight, I further appreciated the richness these characters brought to the story. The features of Destination were vivid, and I pictured the town as a sparse, dusty, small town filled with detail.
The verdict: In Need of a Good Wife is a gentle tale of homesteading in the post-Civil War. I breezed through its pages and enjoyed the large cast of characters of Destination, Nebraska. While O'Connor McNees introduces the harshness of a rural, farm life in the late 1800's, an aura of hope surrounds the novel, and ultimately, it's a tale of redemption and love.
The basics: Shortly after the Civil War, Clara Bixby, whose husband ran off with another woman, reads about Destination, Nebraska in the newspaper, and she realizes it's the perfect business venture for her after she loses her job at a tavern in Manhattan City, New York. Clara writes to Destination's mayor and strikes a deal: she'll provide widows and single women willing to move to Destination to get married if the men will pay for their transport, plus a fee for her services.
My thoughts: In the past few years, I've realized how much I enjoy tales of the frontier life and homesteading. I enjoy the intrepid characters and their discoveries in these new, desolate lands. In Need of a Good Wife opens in New York, and I enjoyed getting to know the women and share their journey, both emotionally and geographically. The novel is narrated by three women, and I enjoyed the different perspective each woman brought to the story.
While I instantly connected with each of the three main characters, it took me longer to warm up to the men of Destination. O'Connor McNees took the time and effort to build an entire town of characters, and once I kept them all straight, I further appreciated the richness these characters brought to the story. The features of Destination were vivid, and I pictured the town as a sparse, dusty, small town filled with detail.
The verdict: In Need of a Good Wife is a gentle tale of homesteading in the post-Civil War. I breezed through its pages and enjoyed the large cast of characters of Destination, Nebraska. While O'Connor McNees introduces the harshness of a rural, farm life in the late 1800's, an aura of hope surrounds the novel, and ultimately, it's a tale of redemption and love.
saycheeze37's review against another edition
3.0
This novel was great. Truly real characters with real problems. They weren't perfect, but for me that's want made them perfect. I love the idea of 'mail order brides' and I love that this didn't go the way of standard romance (you know strangers meet and fall head over heels). I enjoyed how the author untangled all the issues at the end, but didn't make the mistake of wrapping it all up with a bow. I can image how the characters are on the road to better times, but know that if another struggle hits they will be ready for it. The story of the these women just came alive for me. A great read.
the_naptime_reader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
Listened to this on audio book on a cross country road trip.
It did it’s job in that it was easy to follow and interesting historical fiction. The story itself was somewhat predictable.
Listened to this on audio book on a cross country road trip.
It did it’s job in that it was easy to follow and interesting historical fiction. The story itself was somewhat predictable.
sue_from_stack_those_books's review against another edition
5.0
I rather liked this book. it was a book about the trials and struggle in the early world depicted in the view of three women's story. I enjoyed Elsa greatly with her years of wisdom and Clara for her strength and honesty even when the judgemental views of other caused her much trouble.
I do not reread many books but I do believe this one will find a place on my shelves for just that purpose.
I do not reread many books but I do believe this one will find a place on my shelves for just that purpose.
krisis86's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. At first, the switching viewpoints was irritating and hard to get used to, but I handled it.
My favorite character was Elsa. I loved her. Looove. And I loved the mayor. I thought Clara needed a good swift kick in the head, and I basically wanted to keeeell Rowena for the whole novel.
Good character development. Kind of gets long towards the end, it could have been tightened up and shortened a bit. But it's not a bad read.
My favorite character was Elsa. I loved her. Looove. And I loved the mayor. I thought Clara needed a good swift kick in the head, and I basically wanted to keeeell Rowena for the whole novel.
Good character development. Kind of gets long towards the end, it could have been tightened up and shortened a bit. But it's not a bad read.
carpelibrumbookstore's review against another edition
In Need of a Good Wife, by Kelly O'Connor McNees
Staff Picks
$2.83 + tax at the Parkville Bookworm
In Need of a Good Wife is The Little House on the Prairie for adults.
In Need of A Good Wife is the story of three women in post-Civil War America, circa 1866 who travel west looking for a better life. Clara is a naïve New Yorker desperate to get away from her husband, and opts to organize a group of mail-order brides to head West. Elsa and Rowena are two of the mail order brides, but the two women couldn't be more different; Elsa is a middle-aged immigrant working in the laundry for a rich woman, and Rowena used to be a society matron who held fancy teas before she was widowed in the Civil War and fell on hard times.
Overall, I liked the book. It was certainly engaging, and seemed well-researched. I liked Clara, and I really liked Ully and Elsa a lot.
Staff Picks
$2.83 + tax at the Parkville Bookworm
In Need of a Good Wife is The Little House on the Prairie for adults.
In Need of A Good Wife is the story of three women in post-Civil War America, circa 1866 who travel west looking for a better life. Clara is a naïve New Yorker desperate to get away from her husband, and opts to organize a group of mail-order brides to head West. Elsa and Rowena are two of the mail order brides, but the two women couldn't be more different; Elsa is a middle-aged immigrant working in the laundry for a rich woman, and Rowena used to be a society matron who held fancy teas before she was widowed in the Civil War and fell on hard times.
Overall, I liked the book. It was certainly engaging, and seemed well-researched. I liked Clara, and I really liked Ully and Elsa a lot.