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A review by meferguson75
Terrible Virtue by Ellen Feldman
2.0
Rating: 2.5 stars
Note: I received this book via a Goodreads Give Away in exchange for an honest review.
Terrible Virtue was the type of book that would appeal to me - historical fiction about a strong woman, a pioneer in her time on the front of birth control, Margaret Sanger. I knew little about her life; as this book was labeled as fiction I wasn't expecting a biography with carefully footnoted facts. However, being experienced in the genre, I did expect her life and experiences to be set into context to place and time. I do not feel that Terrible Virtue succeeded in this regard.
Ms. Feldman would mention notable socialist or feminist figures but not in relation to their activities and not in reference to how they related to Ms. Sanger's work. Both World Wars, the Jazz Age, the Depression, etc. were mentioned in passing but with no reference to how it impacted Sanger, her family or her work. Many times these huge cultural events that spanned years were addressed in a single sentence. Family members/friends would be mentioned once and never addressed again.
In my opinion, Terrible Virtue focused on two topics - the "why" of Margaret Sanger's fight for access to birth control for women and her "free love" lifestyle. In doing so, it inevitably covered the impact on her marriage and relationships with her children but did not delve deeply into these topics. On these topics I felt the author portrayed Margaret as a "Jekyll and Hyde" - selfish and egotistical in her personal life but caring to the poor women having too many babies.
In regards to the writing style, I did not enjoy the book sections written in voice of her children, sister, lovers, etc. I felt these sections, meant to counteract Margaret's own narrative, were jarring to the reader. The book did not flow for me. I also felt there were too many loose ends, you never know what happens to the people that you do care for (Edith, the children).
Note: I received this book via a Goodreads Give Away in exchange for an honest review.
Terrible Virtue was the type of book that would appeal to me - historical fiction about a strong woman, a pioneer in her time on the front of birth control, Margaret Sanger. I knew little about her life; as this book was labeled as fiction I wasn't expecting a biography with carefully footnoted facts. However, being experienced in the genre, I did expect her life and experiences to be set into context to place and time. I do not feel that Terrible Virtue succeeded in this regard.
Ms. Feldman would mention notable socialist or feminist figures but not in relation to their activities and not in reference to how they related to Ms. Sanger's work. Both World Wars, the Jazz Age, the Depression, etc. were mentioned in passing but with no reference to how it impacted Sanger, her family or her work. Many times these huge cultural events that spanned years were addressed in a single sentence. Family members/friends would be mentioned once and never addressed again.
In my opinion, Terrible Virtue focused on two topics - the "why" of Margaret Sanger's fight for access to birth control for women and her "free love" lifestyle. In doing so, it inevitably covered the impact on her marriage and relationships with her children but did not delve deeply into these topics. On these topics I felt the author portrayed Margaret as a "Jekyll and Hyde" - selfish and egotistical in her personal life but caring to the poor women having too many babies.
In regards to the writing style, I did not enjoy the book sections written in voice of her children, sister, lovers, etc. I felt these sections, meant to counteract Margaret's own narrative, were jarring to the reader. The book did not flow for me. I also felt there were too many loose ends, you never know what happens to the people that you do care for (Edith, the children).