A review by nicolepeck
All That Makes Life Bright: The Life and Love of Harriet Beecher Stowe, by Josi S. Kilpack
5.0
***This is my second attempt at posting this review. It disappeared when I pushed save the first time, and I had worked very hard to make it "just right." :'(***
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, as, realistically, all I knew about Harriet Beecher Stowe was that she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin and all I knew about Uncle Tom's Cabin was how it was portrayed in the musical The King and I! However, I quickly became drawn into Harriet's world and could relate to exactly how she was feeling. She was a strong, independent personality yet she loved Calvin and wanted a life with him and quickly had to adjust to the expected combined roles of wife/homemaker/mother when she wanted to be more carefree, to write as her heart desired, and often instead burned the meals and left messes everywhere, while Calvin struggled because he wanted a more structured household. As she was criticized for her actions, she struggled deeply with her feelings of inadequacy, her desires, and the expectations of her husband and their families. As this built, I could relate to her struggles -- those feelings of wanting to be recognized for you, your desires, your wants, your contributions, and your own value to those around you, as well as your place in the world within our many roles. Yet, Calvin's feelings and desires were presented as equally important and valid as well, so that I could relate to both characters and their struggles in their union and making their way together in their marriage. I laughed many times throughout this book but deeply felt the feelings Harriet felt. I liked so many of the characters in the story as well. Mother Stowe's coming to help implement order in the home and her rules for how things should be done made sense but also were sometimes funny. There is also a strong presence of religion in this book, yet it's not preachy or pushy; it's just simply a part of the characters' lives and beliefs.
The final scene in the book, fast-forwarding to 15 years after their marriage, where Harriet has her "vision" that leads to her writing Uncle Tom's Cabin was extremely well done and wrapped up the story perfectly. The way the scene is set in the church and her children's and Calvin's actions and how they all interact with each other had me laughing and relating so well. I never really have had a desire to read Uncle Tom's Cabin. Though a classic, it always felt like one of those books that was only a required reading, not an enjoyable read (which is mainly why I read, entertainment not education, an escape from daily life). Now, however, I would like to read it, knowing more about the author and coming to like her through the telling of this story.
I also really liked how the story was told, starting with Calvin's and Harriet's marriage and then only the first few years of their marriage and how they had to deal with everything so quickly and adjust to each other's sense of order or disorder -- ha ha -- and come together as a great example of how a marriage should be -- not perfection but working together and complementing each other and being able to be yourself yet valuing each other as individuals.
The chapter notes at the end of the book also help the story so much for me. While I enjoy the fictionalized account, I flip back to the chapter notes as I finish each chapter so that I can weave the reality and the fiction together and know where literary license was taken but yet when it is based on fact. The chapter notes also helped portray to me the attention to detail and research the author puts into the story to make it as true to the characters' personalities and lives as she can be.
While I struggle with giving 5-star ratings to many books, I rounded this one up from 4.5 stars because I did relate so much to Harriet and loved the ending!
As a side note, the cover is stunning and the title paints such a beautiful picture of Harriet's evolution of love for not only Calvin but her family and children into becoming a better mother and person while still being true to herself.
I really have come to love this author's historical proper romance books, and they are quickly becoming some of my favorites. I definitely look forward to reading each of these books and hope the author continues to write them and can't wait to see which literary figures she chooses to research and bring to life for me next.
***I won this book from the author via a Facebook giveaway.***
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, as, realistically, all I knew about Harriet Beecher Stowe was that she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin and all I knew about Uncle Tom's Cabin was how it was portrayed in the musical The King and I! However, I quickly became drawn into Harriet's world and could relate to exactly how she was feeling. She was a strong, independent personality yet she loved Calvin and wanted a life with him and quickly had to adjust to the expected combined roles of wife/homemaker/mother when she wanted to be more carefree, to write as her heart desired, and often instead burned the meals and left messes everywhere, while Calvin struggled because he wanted a more structured household. As she was criticized for her actions, she struggled deeply with her feelings of inadequacy, her desires, and the expectations of her husband and their families. As this built, I could relate to her struggles -- those feelings of wanting to be recognized for you, your desires, your wants, your contributions, and your own value to those around you, as well as your place in the world within our many roles. Yet, Calvin's feelings and desires were presented as equally important and valid as well, so that I could relate to both characters and their struggles in their union and making their way together in their marriage. I laughed many times throughout this book but deeply felt the feelings Harriet felt. I liked so many of the characters in the story as well. Mother Stowe's coming to help implement order in the home and her rules for how things should be done made sense but also were sometimes funny. There is also a strong presence of religion in this book, yet it's not preachy or pushy; it's just simply a part of the characters' lives and beliefs.
The final scene in the book, fast-forwarding to 15 years after their marriage, where Harriet has her "vision" that leads to her writing Uncle Tom's Cabin was extremely well done and wrapped up the story perfectly. The way the scene is set in the church and her children's and Calvin's actions and how they all interact with each other had me laughing and relating so well. I never really have had a desire to read Uncle Tom's Cabin. Though a classic, it always felt like one of those books that was only a required reading, not an enjoyable read (which is mainly why I read, entertainment not education, an escape from daily life). Now, however, I would like to read it, knowing more about the author and coming to like her through the telling of this story.
I also really liked how the story was told, starting with Calvin's and Harriet's marriage and then only the first few years of their marriage and how they had to deal with everything so quickly and adjust to each other's sense of order or disorder -- ha ha -- and come together as a great example of how a marriage should be -- not perfection but working together and complementing each other and being able to be yourself yet valuing each other as individuals.
The chapter notes at the end of the book also help the story so much for me. While I enjoy the fictionalized account, I flip back to the chapter notes as I finish each chapter so that I can weave the reality and the fiction together and know where literary license was taken but yet when it is based on fact. The chapter notes also helped portray to me the attention to detail and research the author puts into the story to make it as true to the characters' personalities and lives as she can be.
While I struggle with giving 5-star ratings to many books, I rounded this one up from 4.5 stars because I did relate so much to Harriet and loved the ending!
As a side note, the cover is stunning and the title paints such a beautiful picture of Harriet's evolution of love for not only Calvin but her family and children into becoming a better mother and person while still being true to herself.
I really have come to love this author's historical proper romance books, and they are quickly becoming some of my favorites. I definitely look forward to reading each of these books and hope the author continues to write them and can't wait to see which literary figures she chooses to research and bring to life for me next.
***I won this book from the author via a Facebook giveaway.***