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A review by dragoninwinterfell
Ida, in Trouble and in Love by Veronica Chambers
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ida, in Love and in Trouble by Veronica Chambers tells a fictionalized version of the life of Ida B. Wells, a ground breaking journalist, women's rights activist, and civil rights activist. Utilizing the historical figure's diary and historical record, Chambers breathes fresh life into Ida and the time period of progress and injustice she inhabited.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It checked off all my boxes as far as historical fiction goes. But it might not be for everyone. For starters, it's very slow and character driven rather than action packed. I would argue that there's not a firm plot. The reader follows Ida in her day to day concerns as she navigates the nearly impossible balance of being an educated black woman in the post-Civil War era with career and activism aspirations who also wants romance and marriage. While I like this quite a bit, the book wouldn't be for anyone interested in a faster paced work.
That said, I absolutely loved how the author balanced Ida's goals for her career and the progress she wanted to create for the Black community with her courtships and hobbies. She felt like a fully fleshed out person. I also found the complexities of how she is both admired and punished for her achievements fascinating. She's able to earn an income and make positive change through her positions as a teacher and a journalist, but a number of men don't want a career focused wife. She works and speaks out for the Black community and women, earning acknowledgements, yet many she's helping snub her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It checked off all my boxes as far as historical fiction goes. But it might not be for everyone. For starters, it's very slow and character driven rather than action packed. I would argue that there's not a firm plot. The reader follows Ida in her day to day concerns as she navigates the nearly impossible balance of being an educated black woman in the post-Civil War era with career and activism aspirations who also wants romance and marriage. While I like this quite a bit, the book wouldn't be for anyone interested in a faster paced work.
That said, I absolutely loved how the author balanced Ida's goals for her career and the progress she wanted to create for the Black community with her courtships and hobbies. She felt like a fully fleshed out person. I also found the complexities of how she is both admired and punished for her achievements fascinating. She's able to earn an income and make positive change through her positions as a teacher and a journalist, but a number of men don't want a career focused wife. She works and speaks out for the Black community and women, earning acknowledgements, yet many she's helping snub her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!