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heidirgorecki's review
3.0
I liked the story itself of The Accidental Suffragist, and information on the Suffragist movement, but honestly the book really was rather 2 dimensional. I think the framework was there that it couldâve been so much better but it just lacked being fleshed out. Because of that it felt sort of flat and a little disappointing.
There were so many gaps in the story and a lack of character development that I couldnât really get invested in any of the characters or form an opinion. It was just odd. For example, most of the time I couldnât figure out if I liked Albert as a person or not because his character kept flipping between really poor qualities and really good ones but the author didnât flesh any of his character out or even his relationship with Helen. It made a lot of their interaction really confusing to me. Same with Walter - one chapter would talk about him not making eye contact but it never went into why or who he was. You just had to make assumptions.
Instead of better character development, at times there were chapters or topics that seemed extremely random and didnât lend any quality or context to the story. They just felt completely thrown in and pointless. Mentioned out of nowhere and never mentioned again like Albert with the woman at the bar, the pregnancy scare, etc.
There were also inconsistencies with the timeline. The years or months didnât always add up and I found myself going back and re-reading sections thinking I missed something only to solidify I read it right, the timing was just wrong.
Also there is were a number of typos and bizarre use of âYaâ or variations of. It was used interchangeably for âyouâ, âyourâ, âyouâreâ, âyesâ, âyeahââŚ. but only randomly. I donât know if the author intended to convey slang or a NYC accent or what but the dialogue would switch from normal grammar, to using âyaâ the next couple sentences, and then back to normal grammar again. It made it super awkward and confusing both trying to translate which word they were using for it, and what I was supposed to be envisioning the character to be. She should have just stuck with one form or the other consistently and also not used it for multiple words.
All in all, I liked the information and story of this book but I feel like it fell short of its potential and in effect, really being something I could fully enjoy the way it was written.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There were so many gaps in the story and a lack of character development that I couldnât really get invested in any of the characters or form an opinion. It was just odd. For example, most of the time I couldnât figure out if I liked Albert as a person or not because his character kept flipping between really poor qualities and really good ones but the author didnât flesh any of his character out or even his relationship with Helen. It made a lot of their interaction really confusing to me. Same with Walter - one chapter would talk about him not making eye contact but it never went into why or who he was. You just had to make assumptions.
Instead of better character development, at times there were chapters or topics that seemed extremely random and didnât lend any quality or context to the story. They just felt completely thrown in and pointless. Mentioned out of nowhere and never mentioned again like Albert with the woman at the bar, the pregnancy scare, etc.
There were also inconsistencies with the timeline. The years or months didnât always add up and I found myself going back and re-reading sections thinking I missed something only to solidify I read it right, the timing was just wrong.
Also there is were a number of typos and bizarre use of âYaâ or variations of. It was used interchangeably for âyouâ, âyourâ, âyouâreâ, âyesâ, âyeahââŚ. but only randomly. I donât know if the author intended to convey slang or a NYC accent or what but the dialogue would switch from normal grammar, to using âyaâ the next couple sentences, and then back to normal grammar again. It made it super awkward and confusing both trying to translate which word they were using for it, and what I was supposed to be envisioning the character to be. She should have just stuck with one form or the other consistently and also not used it for multiple words.
All in all, I liked the information and story of this book but I feel like it fell short of its potential and in effect, really being something I could fully enjoy the way it was written.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
checkmyshelf's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
teriboop's review against another edition
4.0
Helen Fox was a wife and mother of a struggling family living in a tenement in a poor area of New York. Helen and her husband both worked in factories along with their oldest daughter barely making enough to feed their family and keep a roof over their heads. A family tragedy struck at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that threatened to tear their family apart. As Helen stood in shock at the factory, leading suffragist Harriot Stanton Blatch swoops in to offer help and sympathies. Through her help and friendship Blatch introduces Helen to the cause of suffrage for women. By joining the cause with other suffragists, Helen's life changes, and not always for the better.
This novel covers the work of leading suffragists through Helen's eyes from 1912 through 1919 and touches on themes of factory work conditions and unionization, World War I, tenement housing, and economic/class disparity.
This appears to be the author's first work of fiction and I thought it was well done. The reader gets invested in Helen's life and family. You want to cheer Helen on when as she becomes a bold suffragist, standing up for herself while balancing a family and husband with traditional values. I thought there were a few awkward grammatical issues here and there, but the storyline is solid. I think I would have liked a little more to the ending as I felt things were hanging a little between Helen and her husband, and some of her family and friends. I also would have liked to have seen more connections to neighbors besides the one friend who helped the family out from time to time. I think there could have been a good sub-story there. Overall though, I thought the book was a good effort for a first novel.
I received this book gratis through the publisher for an honest review.
This novel covers the work of leading suffragists through Helen's eyes from 1912 through 1919 and touches on themes of factory work conditions and unionization, World War I, tenement housing, and economic/class disparity.
This appears to be the author's first work of fiction and I thought it was well done. The reader gets invested in Helen's life and family. You want to cheer Helen on when as she becomes a bold suffragist, standing up for herself while balancing a family and husband with traditional values. I thought there were a few awkward grammatical issues here and there, but the storyline is solid. I think I would have liked a little more to the ending as I felt things were hanging a little between Helen and her husband, and some of her family and friends. I also would have liked to have seen more connections to neighbors besides the one friend who helped the family out from time to time. I think there could have been a good sub-story there. Overall though, I thought the book was a good effort for a first novel.
I received this book gratis through the publisher for an honest review.
mharvie's review
4.0
The Accidental Suffragist follows the story of Helen Fox and her family in early 1900s New York City. Helen and her husband live with their four children in a cramped tenement apartment and work in the factories. After a family tragedy, Helen is met with an opportunity to fight for her rights and those of all women. This decision is met with judgement and derision from those around her. Helen faces extreme trials and comes out a changed person at the other side.Â
I loved reading about this time in history and the book had me cheering on Helen and the other suffragists. The cover design was also very thoughtful and showed the bond between a mother and daughter.Â
Thank you to @bookpublicityservices and the author for a free copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
I loved reading about this time in history and the book had me cheering on Helen and the other suffragists. The cover design was also very thoughtful and showed the bond between a mother and daughter.Â
Thank you to @bookpublicityservices and the author for a free copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
martasbooktherapy's review
4.0
3.75 stars
Spanning from 1912 through 1919, The Accidental Suffragist follows the path of Helen Fox as she goes from a factory worker living in the tenements of New York City to a key part of the women's suffrage movement.
Helen, her husband Albert, and their four children live together in a crammed two room apartment. The parents and oldest sibling, who is only 12, work to bring in enough money to keep the family fed, clothed, and housed. However, tragedy strikes when a fire breaks out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory where the daughter works (this true event, the deadliest industrial disaster in NYC history, actually took place in 1911). While outside the factory trying to learn whether her daughter survived or not, Helen meets various members of the Suffragettes and her life changes. Helen joins the movement, working in their New York City offices and traveling with the group trying to promote their agenda. Many aspects of her life are affected from her own self worth to her relationship with her husband, her children's roles in the home, and how she is viewed by her neighbors. The intersection of timing with World War I plays out over multiple years, showing some of the difficulties the suffragists faced.
The book depicts events clearly and addresses the disparity between classes while looking at the movement to gain women the right to vote in the United States. The culmination of the book in 1919 with the passage of the 19th amendment was a fulfilling ending to a tumultuous time.
Spanning from 1912 through 1919, The Accidental Suffragist follows the path of Helen Fox as she goes from a factory worker living in the tenements of New York City to a key part of the women's suffrage movement.
Helen, her husband Albert, and their four children live together in a crammed two room apartment. The parents and oldest sibling, who is only 12, work to bring in enough money to keep the family fed, clothed, and housed. However, tragedy strikes when a fire breaks out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory where the daughter works (this true event, the deadliest industrial disaster in NYC history, actually took place in 1911). While outside the factory trying to learn whether her daughter survived or not, Helen meets various members of the Suffragettes and her life changes. Helen joins the movement, working in their New York City offices and traveling with the group trying to promote their agenda. Many aspects of her life are affected from her own self worth to her relationship with her husband, her children's roles in the home, and how she is viewed by her neighbors. The intersection of timing with World War I plays out over multiple years, showing some of the difficulties the suffragists faced.
The book depicts events clearly and addresses the disparity between classes while looking at the movement to gain women the right to vote in the United States. The culmination of the book in 1919 with the passage of the 19th amendment was a fulfilling ending to a tumultuous time.
booksofjj's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing book that looks into the suffrage movement in America. I have to admit it and say I didn't know too much about the movement in the US but this book has helped to fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge. It is great to see such a range of opinions on the movement as well from those very devout suffragist to the husbands who struggled with what to believe.
asquared92's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I was lucky to receive a copy of this book from the author! I enjoyed this book. Helen was a compelling character who stumbled into the movement only to be saved by it. I enjoyed the dynamic between her and the other ladies working to ensure women got the vote! I felt at times the class divide couldâve been explored a little more. The relationship between Helen and Albert was well written and felt authentic for the time period and for the ideals Helen was growing to embrace. Helenâs relationship with her children was loving but not always as fleshed out as it could have been. The plot was paced well and I liked that the date was used to help clarify when things were speeding up. I also liked the occasional change in perspective. It made Albert more likable for me. The ending came a little abruptly, and I wouldâve liked a few more pages to see how things wrapped up with Helen and her family! However, the ending did fit the story and end with a hopeful tone! I definitely recommend this one to historical fiction fans who want a strong FMC taking control of her narrative!Â
jasminegalsreadinglog's review
4.0
Triggers: loss of a child, some non graphic assault and rape
The Accidental Suffragist is a story of a woman who gets introduced accidentally into the Suffrage movement. This Suffragist story is from a view point of a woman who lives in a tenement and works in a factory. Though all the main characters of the Suffragist movement like Alice Paul make appearances this novel is about how a normal woman for whom daily wages were very important. Helen is a very strong and wonderful character who fights for what she believes is right though she loves her family. The novel takes us through the march to Washington and a little later after that period. This story is both poignant, empowering and inspirational at the same time. It does not matter what background you come from or what your class is when you set your mind on something.
This novel though is a story of suffrage it is a very fast and light read especially if you want to know more about the suffragist movement. It lightly skims over the events surrounding the movement. Its more about Helen's story than anything else. I loved reading this book.
Thank you to @bookpublicityservices for introducing me to this book in exchange for a honest review.
The Accidental Suffragist is a story of a woman who gets introduced accidentally into the Suffrage movement. This Suffragist story is from a view point of a woman who lives in a tenement and works in a factory. Though all the main characters of the Suffragist movement like Alice Paul make appearances this novel is about how a normal woman for whom daily wages were very important. Helen is a very strong and wonderful character who fights for what she believes is right though she loves her family. The novel takes us through the march to Washington and a little later after that period. This story is both poignant, empowering and inspirational at the same time. It does not matter what background you come from or what your class is when you set your mind on something.
This novel though is a story of suffrage it is a very fast and light read especially if you want to know more about the suffragist movement. It lightly skims over the events surrounding the movement. Its more about Helen's story than anything else. I loved reading this book.
Thank you to @bookpublicityservices for introducing me to this book in exchange for a honest review.