Another great story to read!!
This is an author who was recommended to me by a friend and since I had never read one of her books and saw this on the library shelves a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try it.
I'm hooked! If the author's other novels are as good as this one, I will definitely be reading more of her work.
STORY SUMMARY
The story is about a young Jewish girl growing up in the North End of Boston in the early 20th century. It opens in 1985 with Addie Baum speaking with her granddaughter, Ava. Addie is 85 and begins to reminisce with Ava because Ava asks her, "How did you get to be the woman you are today?".
Addie tells her life story beginning in 1915 when she was just 15 years old. That was the year she joined a library group in her neighborhood that was just for girls....and this is where she found her voice and her place in the world. It is where she made her best friends and where those friends helped to shape her life.
Addie's parents are immigrants who were unprepared for the United States. Her mother is often suspicious of various American things/customs. Addie has 2 sisters named Betty and Celia.
Addie is very smart, and very curious about the world. She explores short skirts, movies, the pop culture, and various opportunities that were beginning to open up for women. She had a goal of finishing high school and going on to college. She planned on having a career and falling in love vs. accepting an arranged marriage that was the custom for Jewish girls in those times.
Does Addie go to college?? Does she date? and marry?? what happens with her sister Celia? What does she learn as she becomes a young woman of Boston?? Read the book to find out!
MY THOUGHTS
I loved this character from the very beginning. I could very much relate to her and the relationship she had with her mother...it was SO similar to the one I had with my mother in my later teen years and early 20s.
I love how the author was very accurate in historical details and the emotion behind the story is amazing. It makes you laugh, cry, cheer, pray......you end up loving each and every character and the various personalities that seem to jump right off the page.
I also love how the author titled each chapter with a thought or phrase from one of the characters....typically from the voice of Addie. It was very well done.
It is a story about family, friendship and feminism and I loved that! I loved reading and learning more about our beloved city of Boston and how women lived and worked and played back in the 1920s.
This book is truly one of the best this year.
In my opinion, this is appropriate for ages 14 and older.
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.
1 comment:
Well I just finished this too and really enjoyed it. I have to say though that I did not like the Mother at all. And the Father made me mad too for not standing up and saying enough to the way the Mom treated her. But it was a good read and really took me into that era and what it would have been like for an immigrant young girl trying to find her way.
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