Scan barcode
alisoun's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I think first of all we need to acknowledge this book is being read through two time lenses. First the lens of 1996 looking back to 1890 and secondly, me in 2023 reading a 1996 book about 1890. The ablelism and language used in this book is deeply disturbing, but also of it's time. It's also shamed within the text.
Please read trigger warnings prior to read this review.
Annie is a young woman who is considered "mad" by her parents. She is kept from view and basically kept as a child. She wear children's clothes and is allowed to free roam as long as she remains quiet. Her parents are both physically violent and abusive towards her. She has been discouraged (with violence) from making any noise.
In the first chapter Annie is raped by the Hero Alex's brother. This is told through the POV of a local boy who's knows Annie's family. We see the towns attitude towards her - she is "simple" and sweet but he also feels her family beating her is to be expected. The rape is not on page, but it's very tense leading up to it.
The hero Alex kicks his brother out (and wow his development with his brother is amazing imo, it's a huge point of contention as his love for Annie grows because he also raised his brother since he was 16 and blames himself for his father and step mother's death). Alex offers to marry Annie if she becomes pregnant.
Well of course she does! Alex believes himself sterile after mumps and wants a child to raise. He believes a nice or nephew is his best option. Annie's mother in particular wants Annie sent away. Annie's father wants her out of sight, out of mind (a bit of a motto of his) so he can continue a political career. Annie's maternal great uncle went "mad" and Annie's mother has a lot of fear that's what Annie is. This is also why Annie doesn't have any chance to try and prove she isn't.
Annie tells us as the reader, about 20% in, that she's Deaf. She knows she is and has no way to communicate it to anyone around her for fear of punishment.
This book is mostly told from the POV of Alex. He's a very Good Man who made bad choices in how he raised his little brother (mainly spoiled him). He's also brought down many pegs by his housekeeper when she says, adamantly, Annie is not "mad" and she can communicate. There is also the complications of Annie being kept ignorant by her parents. She has no idea how baby's are made. She has no idea how baby's are born. She didn't even know she was married until Alex tells her - all three of her sisters for new dresses and presents when they were married and she got none of it.
Eventually it's communicated that she will birth her baby and how and when it'll happen. The poor thing believes she will lay an egg as that's where she's seen most babies in the wild come from.
There's a scene when she comes across a really difficult breech horse birth Alex and his stable hands are working on and is just so horrified by what she sees she runs and hides in the attic and starts crying very loudly.
Alex finds her and when she sees him she keeps silent, but he knows she needs to cry. He gets the tool of her father's violence:
"Shaking with rage, Alex slapped the strop across the table’s surface. Then he fished his pocketknife from his trousers. With jerky movements, he unfolded the blade, and then he set upon the length of leather in a frenzy, hacking it into pieces, then hacking the pieces into pieces. “Scream!” he roared at her. “Scream, yell, cry! I don’t care, Annie! Do you understand me? I won’t punish you for making noise. I will never punish you. Never!”
it breaks my heart that she didn't even know her baby was born of the rape until after the baby is born and she wants to have sex again. Alex says we need to sort out contraception or you could become pregnant again and only then does she realise that sex makes babies.
Alex is convinced to send Annie and their new baby away to a school for the Deaf which just doesn't work lol. She tells him he isn't listening by drawing him a picture of him without ears! I like that they decide they will keep studying at home and go at a slower pace, but I am also saddened that I'm not sure Annie made Deaf friends. Maybe she did! I want her to be happy but also have a community she can call on and be a part of.
Now my critiques of the book:
I think some of the consent in the sex scenes wasn't great. This is especially important as Annie is a victim survivor of rape! Alex could have been a consent king and didn't quite meet the mark for me.
I also think her father was completely forgotten. Her mother had somewhat of a relationship arc with her daughter but her father is completely absent. Kind of wanted him to die of his health compliants tbh.
This book is good but heavy. Many emotions were felt! Overall I loved it!
Please read trigger warnings prior to read this review.
Annie is a young woman who is considered "mad" by her parents. She is kept from view and basically kept as a child. She wear children's clothes and is allowed to free roam as long as she remains quiet. Her parents are both physically violent and abusive towards her. She has been discouraged (with violence) from making any noise.
In the first chapter Annie is raped by the Hero Alex's brother. This is told through the POV of a local boy who's knows Annie's family. We see the towns attitude towards her - she is "simple" and sweet but he also feels her family beating her is to be expected. The rape is not on page, but it's very tense leading up to it.
The hero Alex kicks his brother out (and wow his development with his brother is amazing imo, it's a huge point of contention as his love for Annie grows because he also raised his brother since he was 16 and blames himself for his father and step mother's death). Alex offers to marry Annie if she becomes pregnant.
Well of course she does! Alex believes himself sterile after mumps and wants a child to raise. He believes a nice or nephew is his best option. Annie's mother in particular wants Annie sent away. Annie's father wants her out of sight, out of mind (a bit of a motto of his) so he can continue a political career. Annie's maternal great uncle went "mad" and Annie's mother has a lot of fear that's what Annie is. This is also why Annie doesn't have any chance to try and prove she isn't.
Annie tells us as the reader, about 20% in, that she's Deaf. She knows she is and has no way to communicate it to anyone around her for fear of punishment.
This book is mostly told from the POV of Alex. He's a very Good Man who made bad choices in how he raised his little brother (mainly spoiled him). He's also brought down many pegs by his housekeeper when she says, adamantly, Annie is not "mad" and she can communicate. There is also the complications of Annie being kept ignorant by her parents. She has no idea how baby's are made. She has no idea how baby's are born. She didn't even know she was married until Alex tells her - all three of her sisters for new dresses and presents when they were married and she got none of it.
Eventually it's communicated that she will birth her baby and how and when it'll happen. The poor thing believes she will lay an egg as that's where she's seen most babies in the wild come from.
There's a scene when she comes across a really difficult breech horse birth Alex and his stable hands are working on and is just so horrified by what she sees she runs and hides in the attic and starts crying very loudly.
Alex finds her and when she sees him she keeps silent, but he knows she needs to cry. He gets the tool of her father's violence:
"Shaking with rage, Alex slapped the strop across the table’s surface. Then he fished his pocketknife from his trousers. With jerky movements, he unfolded the blade, and then he set upon the length of leather in a frenzy, hacking it into pieces, then hacking the pieces into pieces. “Scream!” he roared at her. “Scream, yell, cry! I don’t care, Annie! Do you understand me? I won’t punish you for making noise. I will never punish you. Never!”
Alex is convinced to send Annie and their new baby away to a school for the Deaf which just doesn't work lol. She tells him he isn't listening by drawing him a picture of him without ears! I like that they decide they will keep studying at home and go at a slower pace, but I am also saddened that I'm not sure Annie made Deaf friends. Maybe she did! I want her to be happy but also have a community she can call on and be a part of.
Now my critiques of the book:
I think some of the consent in the sex scenes wasn't great. This is especially important as Annie is a victim survivor of rape! Alex could have been a consent king and didn't quite meet the mark for me.
I also think her father was completely forgotten. Her mother had somewhat of a relationship arc with her daughter but her father is completely absent. Kind of wanted him to die of his health compliants tbh.
This book is good but heavy. Many emotions were felt! Overall I loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, and Pregnancy