In the Company of Like-Minded Women explores the complexities of bonds between sisters and family at the start of the 20th century when women struggled to determine their future and the “New Woman” demanded an equal voice. Three sisters are reunited in 1901 Denver following a family rift many years before. Each sister faces critical decisions regarding love, work, and the strength of her … convictions. The success of Colorado women in gaining the right to vote in 1893–twenty-seven years before the passage of national suffrage–and their continued fight for women’s rights, provides the background as the story unfolds.
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This historical fiction novel takes place in 1901 in Colorado. It’s a book about women’s rights – the right to vote, the right to go to college and get training for the job that they want and the right to make their own decisions. This book is full of interesting characters who will grab your interest from day 1. It has
-Lida, a widow with two children who has been trained to be a doctor but meets discrimination everywhere from the college to her attempts to practice her profession.
-Sarah Jane – Lida’s daughter, who at 14 is learning from her mother how to fight for what she wants out of life.
-Eva – her sister from St Louis who has come to spend the summer and bonds with Sarah Jane.
-Mildred – Lida’s other sister, also visiting for the summer but a bitter woman who thinks that women should stay at home where they belong.
Can the three totally different sisters become close again and realize the need to fight for the role of women in the new century?
I loved this book. The author gave us a lot of information about the suffragette movement as well as the temperance movement as part of the story line. The women were very well written and are a good reflection of the women who fought for women’s rights long before it was politically correct to do so.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
I love historical fiction. I really love historical fiction combined with a generational saga. Russell has effortlessly combined a story of three sisters making their way through the changing views on the role of women in early 20th century America.
Told through the eyes of each sister and a daughter, the character arcs and plot development are enviably written. Russell makes it seem an easy task to show the growth and development of the women in this book. I especially enjoyed Mildred’s transformation from the eldest sister still tied to their mother’s controlling nature and negative thinking to a modern suffragette and beloved aunt. The pacing of this story is perfect, aided by the shortness of each chapter. Russell even manages to change the narrative voice with each character, something I struggle with in my own writing. Any background story necessary is contained to a few paragraphs, but never more than a page. While Russell’s thoughts on woman’s rights are very clear, she doesn’t beat you over the head with them. Tying it all together is the historical accuracy of the plot’s background; utilizing the leaders of the suffragette movement and the colorful characters of Denver, Colorado in the early days of the last century.
This book is definitely a worthwhile read and many re-reads.
Learned a lot I didn’t know about women’s sufferage. Plus a really good read!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book…..and as a result had trouble putting it down.
This is the first book written partly about American women suffragettes, the other books I have read coming from an English perspective.
Recommend this book highly
Good lesson about the women’s suffrage movement and expectations of women in the early 1900’s. Very enjoyable book.
I very much enjoyed reading this book. The characters are well depicted and
the story line sends a strong message of equality between the sexes. I found it
interesting to learn what it was like living during the late 1890’s. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THIS BOOK.
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with a little history about women’s voting rights especially throughout Colorado, this was a fun book to read, a little wordy though.
This was one of those books that is just an enjoyable read when you want something a little lighter but still is more than just a happy ever after romance. Loved the characters and the author deals realistically with the issues in the lives of these characters.
I really liked the three sisters and their stories I would read more from this author
i like teh way the gals worked together and the strong characters. CW
I loved the book!!!!! Packed with history of Women’s Rights !!!
The author have us characters in a family of women during the early 1900s when the Suffragette and Temperance movements were in full flower. All the characters were very human, and showed growth and warmth in their relationships. While it could have been preachy and boring, this was actually an enjoyable read.
I found this book to be an enjoyable account of the workings of the women involved in womens sufferage, without going for the violence that ensued. Pages of violent action is just going for the adrenolin and down playing the strength of the women involved, and the dedication they all displayed.This book brought history to me on my level.
Lovely story. Kept my attention but it wasn’t one of those that I couldn’t put down.
Great cread
Well written and thoughtful, with authentic characters.
Delightful read of sisters coming together to love each other again.
In the Company of Like-Minded Women: Elaine Russell
This interesting novel is narrated by three sisters: a widow Lida, married Mildred, and youngest Eva, with input from Lida’s daughter Sara Jane and other relatives. The story unfolds in pre-Prohibition Denver, Colorado. Lida had overcome society’s obstacles to become a doctor. She had been cast out of her family because her narcissistic mother did not approve of her husband. Her sister Mildred found her way within the strictures of tradition-minded Lawrence, Kansas, catering to the whims of her overbearing mother. Like Lida’s marriage, Eva’s attraction to a suitable man was thwarted by her mother, who despised him for his family’s support of the North in the Civil War.
Mildred convinces her mother that she and Eva should leave Lawrence, so that Eva will be away from her suitor. They plan an extended stay with Lida and her children, in Denver. Lida wants to regain the close relationship she had with Mildred, and is initially unaware of Mildred’s ulterior motive to thwart Eva’s romance. Mildred is rigid and unpleasant with Lida, Sara Jane, and Lida’s accomplished friends. Mildred does, however, become fond of Lida’s little boy, Cole. She begins to thaw toward Lida and Sara Jane, and finds that many of Lida’s sufferagist friends join her temperance goals.
The sisters become their others’ support, as even the icy Mildred thaws toward them and her husband. Sara Jane learns from them as their romances unfold.
The novel is well-researched, pleasant, and believable.
Lots of interesting bits of history in this book, but it also felt like a regurgitation of information just to fill in space. Each person spoken about or was introduced ended up with a backstory. So for me there was too much unnecessary information given. It sweet story but without a lot of depth.
Fast reader, enjoyed the history