In 1853, Abigail Scott was a 19-year-old school teacher in Oregon Territory when she married Ben Duniway. Marriage meant giving up on teaching, but Abigail always believed she was meant to be more than a good wife and mother. When financial mistakes and an injury force Ben to stop working, Abigail becomes the primary breadwinner for her growing family. What she sees as a working woman appalls … her, and she devotes her life to fighting for the rights of women, including their right to vote.
Following Abigail as she bears six children, runs a millinery and a private school, helps on the farm, writes novels, gives speeches, and eventually runs a newspaper supporting women’s suffrage, Something Worth Doing explores issues that will resonate strongly with modern women: the pull between career and family, finding one’s place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices women encounter when they compete in male-dominated spaces. Based on a true story of a pioneer for women’s rights from award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick will inspire you to believe that some things are worth doing–even when the cost is great.
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Something Worth Doing is a fictionalized novel about early suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway. She is another strong historical person who is new to most of us. She was an early suffragist who worked hard to get women the right to vote and questioned women’s roles during the later part of the 1800s. Along with working for women’s rights, Abigail was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, novelist, newspaper woman who spent over 40 years working for equality for women.
Even though Abigail lived over 150 years ago she faced some of the same problems that women face today -the pull between career and family and the prejudice women encounter when they compete in a male-dominated world. This is also a timely book to celebrate 100 years since women gained the right to vote when the 19th Amendment was ratified. Thank you to all the women who faced scorn and ridicule for fighting for what they believed was right.
Something Worth Doing by Jane Kirkpatrick is a marvellous Christian historical novel. The tale is woven around the true life of Abigail Scott Duniway, a champion for women’s rights from the mid nineteenth century.
The book is absolutely fascinating, a real treasure trove. Abigail Scott Duniway was an amazing woman who not only fought for women’s rights but raised a family on the frontier too.
The reader witnesses the strength needed to be a female pioneer. Life was incredibly hard on the trail and it took real strength to keep on going daily.
Life dealt losses. Everyone works through loss differently. No one size fits all. You have to work through loss the best you can.
The rights for women consumed Abigail Scott Duniway’s life. She campaigned tirelessly, sometimes to the detriment of her family. When she felt like giving up, she pressed on. She was tenacious.
Behind Abigail Scott Duniway was her husband Ben. Her supported her and loved her always.
We witness the power of words and of education. As a young teacher Abigail Scott Duniway believed “This schoolhouse was her arena to awaken minds to the possibilities…” Abigail Scott Duniway believed in encouraging others to dream, strive and achieve.
Equality was important to Abigail Scott Duniway. She lived in a land that fought a Civil War for the rights of the Negro race – although the reality was they would still be fighting for equality a century later. She believed in equality for all. Education and voting rights were the keys to unlock this dream that all men should be free.
I found the whole account mesmerising and inspiring. It was a fascinating read. I shall let Abigail Scott Duniway have the final word:
“No one knows what they can accomplish until they undertake it.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Jane Kirkpatrick can take a tiny thread of history and weave it into a beautiful, engaging story with characters you feel you know.
In this wonderful telling of Abigail Scott Duniway, an early suffragist, Jane proves that there are some things are definitely worth doing.
Abigail is a strong character who has taken up the fight for suffrage. It is not an easy task but one she believe in. The author gives us historical facts that make the story realistic. I loved how Abigail stood up for the rights of women. It’s hard to believe at one time, women weren’t allowed to vote or have jobs that were considered for men only.
Her husband was a big supporter of hers and she raised her children with compassion. I think a Abigail needed to be reminded that her husband loved her and was a big supporter of her. It was hard to fight against the people who thought women should do laundry, wash dishes, cook and tend to children. It’s like she had no voice and she was determined to change things.
I admired her ability to stand up for the rights of women and continue on with the knowledge that she would someday make a difference. I love reading about the pioneer days and the hard work that was involved to survive. The author gives a beautiful description that places readers right there in the story.
I loved everything about the story and appreciate the lesson on standing up for your rights, I never want to take for granted the rights we have and never forget those before us that lead the way to more fair treatment of everyone,
I received a copy of this book from Librarything Early Reader Program. The review is my own opinion,
Something Worth Doing, by Jane Kirkpatrick, tells the tale of one of the lesser-known suffragists, Abigail (Scott) Duniway, Oregon’s “Mother of Equal Suffrage” and the “Pioneer Woman Suffragist of the Great Northwest”, who devoted more than four decades of her life to the cause of women’s rights. For the complete review, go to https://kindredconnection.wordpress.com/2020/12/01/something-worth-doing/.
It seems like most historical novels make their main character someone who interacts with well-known historical figures. This one places Abigail Scott Duniway as the main character, a woman who really was one of the moving forces in achieving women’s suffrage.There is a lot of material about Abigail/Jenny, so I assume the story is quite close to the real woman. While I appreciate being able to vote, I didn’t like the main character. Time after time, she put her husband and six children behind her ambition to gain the vote for women. She is selfish and outspoken with a very sharp tongue. She has both friends and enemies, depending on their opinion of the suffrage issue and their willingness to go along with her opinion on how to pursue it. I kept waiting for her to realize that caring for her family is something worth doing.
Thank you Revell for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Something Worth Doing
By: Jane Kirkpatrick
REVIEW
I have to mention the gorgeous cover art. It’s stunning! Something Worth Doing is a story I liked and disliked. I like Jane Kirkpatrick’s work. Her research is evident in the historical details and facts of the story, and she writes so beautifully. My dislike is of the character of Abigail. She read as selfish and indifferent toward her children, and this bothered me. I know she fought for something important and valuable, but I have an unpopular opinion about this. I think women can’t always have it all, and I’m okay with that. I could not tune in to Abigail’s mindset, so I had no connection with her. This is just a personal preference of opinion, and I am certain this story will resonate with scores of readers.
Abigail spent a lifetime working to obtain the right to vote for women in Oregon and the nation. Jane Kirkpatrick tells her story in her usual wonderful way drawing out her characters while providing a history lesson that holds you spell bound until the last page.
One can see Abigail reacting to today’s political scene in much the same way she did in her day. A must read as are all of Jane’s books.
Something Worth Doing is the fictionalized historical account of the life of Abigail Duniway, an early American suffragist living in the Oregon Territory.
Something Worth Doing was an interesting read, though an unusual one for me. The topic is feminism, told from the perspective of a frontier woman living in the mid 1800s. Abigail was a very determined woman, and from her youth, her focus was on the unfairness of women’s lives when compared to men’s. She believed the first step to women being viewed as equals was to get them the right to vote, and Abigail spent her life trying to get that goal.
She was also married to a good man and had a number of children. As she battled for women’s rights and at times financially supported her family, she struggled with balancing family life with her career. She made mistakes, but in the end, she determined that it was “something worth doing, no matter the cost.”
The author brought Abigail’s story to life, telling her story more in novel form than as a biography. (I’m not sure how much of the emotions and conversations are accurate to history.)
One thing I thought was interesting was that I was reading the book ‘Lies Women Believe’ at the same time that I read this book, and the viewpoints between the two books differed. Both said that women were equal with men, but SWD focused on women’s rights and equality while LWB focused on the importance of family and of God. I wonder, could women retain their equality while being willing, sometimes, to sacrifice their own rights for the sake of loving their God and families?
I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are entirely my own
Jane Kirpatrick’s historical fiction, Something Worth Doing: A Novel of an Early Suffragist, is the story of Abigail Scott Duniway, a woman with a fierce love of justice and liberty for all. For all, including women. The story covers the years 1853 when Abigail was a 19-year-old school teacher to 1912, when Oregon women finally were granted the right to vote.
When Abigail and Ben Duniway were married, she had to give up her teaching job in Oregon Territory and do what women did: perform the drudgery of housework and child-bearing. She resented that a woman’s life was dictated by men, that she was subject to the will of her husband A woman could keep no income she made for herself should her husband choose to take it, she could not own property, the lives of their children were dictated by their father. Fathers, husbands, even brothers controlled the women in their lives.
Ben Dumiway was a good man and he dearly loved his wife. Although he made the major decisions about their lives, he recognized Abigail’s dreams and desires. When financial mistakes and a serious injury forced Ben to stop working, Abigail became the primary breadwinner for her growing family. Finally, she realized that perhaps there was something she could do for the plight of women, and she devoted her life fighting for the rights of women, including the right to vote.
Abigail and Ben had six children–all born at home. In addition to helping on the farm, she ran a millinery and a private school, wrote novels, gave speeches, and eventually ran a newspaper supporting women’s suffrage. Through it all, Ben was loving and patient with her absences. In one year, she delivered 296 speeches; in her lifetime, more than 1,500. Disappointments mounted as referendums for the women’s vote were defeated, but Abigail and her fellow workers pressed on, finally succeeding in 1912 when Oregon women finally were granted the right to vote.
The issues presented in Something Worth Doing will resonate with women of today. Many of us can relate to women not receiving equal pay for equal work, and for the prejudice women encounter when competing in a male-dominated world. Multiple award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick has written a passionate story of a pioneer for women’s rights. The life of Abigail Scott Duniway shows that courage and devotion to a cause is worth doing, that it can make a difference.
The cover of this book is what initially caught my attention, and then I read the back of the book and it beckoned me to read it. The story is about Abigail who at the age of 19 married Ben Duniway. She ended up having to quit teaching and due to hardship, became the breadwinner of the family. It is based on a true story of a pioneer for women’s rights and Jane Kirkpatrick interweaved that experience into the story.
To be fully honest, despite the positivity of the book, women’s rights, I just couldn’t get into the story. I think my problem was that I didn’t like Abigail right off the back, and in turn, I found each turn of the page a long read before the next page. However, that is only my opinion. Because then I passed the book to my mom and she absolutely loved it. She raved about it for days after she finished the book.
Jane Kirkpatrick gives us the story of suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway in her new release, Something Worth Doing. Beginning with the Scott family’s trek across the rugged northwest to their new home in Oregon in 1852, Kirkpatrick weaves a colorful tapestry of the toils and trials of Abigail’s young life which bring her to the point of action in the suffragist movement. From her early days of editorial writing through the process of building a school, millinery, and newspaper to advance the causes of women, the author walks the reader through all the emotional toil Abigail Duniway invested to improve the conditions in which women lived in her time, with a great goal of improving conditions for generations to come.
Something Worth Doing is an excellent choice for the historical fiction fan who is interested in the suffragist movement. I appreciate the way Jane Kirkpatrick highlighted this influential historical figure and filled in the gaps between the information we have. Though Abigail’s grit was her driving force, I appreciate the way the author includes the great support given by her husband, children, and others who were dedicated to the cause.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions in this review are my own and are completely genuine.
Something Worth Doing is a well-researched historical novel taking place in the mid 1800’s. It is about Abigail Scott Duniway, who fought for suffrage in the Pacific Northwest. From the time she was a young girl Abigail noted the unfairness between male and female. A woman looked forward to being a wife, child bearer, housekeeper, seamstress, gardener and any other chore that was needed with no voice of her own, only men could make the decisions whether right or wrong and the woman must abide by the decision. Abigail Scott had a strong mind and educated herself and was determined to make a difference in the voice of women being heard. Thus began a lifetime of dedicating herself to Women’s Rights, mostly in being able to vote. All of this and being married and a mother of six children. We women of today owe our freedoms to vote, work outside the home and even have our own places of business to women like Abigail Duniway and Susan B. Anthony. {who is also in the book} …….**I was provided with a copy of Something Worth Doing by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**
WOW! What an incredible book!! I love reading historical fiction and Something Worth Doing by Jane Kirkpatrick did not disappoint. Something Worth Doing is a novel about suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway who worked hard to get women the right to vote. She was a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, sister, and newspaper writer who spent 40 years working for equality for women.
I admired Abigail’s commitment and courage raising a family while encouraging women to fight for their right’s. Abigail becomes the bread winner when her husband is injured and loved that he supported her dreams.
How does a woman balance work, children and the home? Abigail did just that. Take a step back in time to the mid-1800’s in the Oregon Territory. I highly recommend the book.
This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews.
Abigail (Jenny) Duniway was a woman who in her day felt for all women and wanted so much more for her sisters, daughters, and the future women of the world. More than what her late mother had. Something Worth Doing is based on the true story of Abigail who fought for women’s rights, especially the right to vote the best way she could, with her written words.
What really impressed was how the author wrote Abigail’s feelings and thoughts and how really they are the universal concerns of women. I felt for Abigail, her wants buried by just survival and all the work a women of that day had to do. Concerns of her household, the very real dangers she and her husband faced. The loss of their home and livelihood. The real fears and unconditional love she had for her children.
Ben, her husband was a good guy. He didn’t always understand her, but he did love her. Abigail wanted to be his partner for life, not be treated like another possession. They had their troubles. But what marriage doesn’t. Especially when one makes an unwise decision that affects all the family.
I was caught up in this story. I feel the author caught the essence of who Abigail was. She was a woman, wife, mother, suffragist, fighter, and most of all she was a woman of worth. I appreciate all the more what our ancestors fought so hard for and won for us.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Book Review–“Something Worth Doing” by Jane Kirkpatrick
A Novel of An Early Suffragist
Jane Kirkpatrick did an excellent job writing this book about Abigail Scott Duniway. It is filled with facts yet is written more like the telling of a story instead of a documentary.
She leads the reader through the life of Abigail from the time she is a child up until 1912 which was three years before Abigail’s death. Abigail did live to cast her vote in Oregon’s 1914 election, which was the first year women were allowed to vote in Oregon. Abigail did not live to see the 19th Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1919 though as she passed away in 1915.
Abigail was a women to be admired for her tenacity and hard work. Though her life was full of tragedies and hardships she never gave up on her dreams and always found a way to keep moving forward.
She accomplished so much good in her 81 years of life.
We women of today can thank Abigail Scott Duniway and many other early women who worked and fought so hard to win us the right to vote, and we women of today would all do well to read this book of Abigail’s life to see all she and the others in the Suffragist Movement went through to give us in the USA the freedoms we have today.
This book was also even more interesting to me as I live in Oregon, a mere 5.5 miles from Lafayette, Oregon where Abigail lived for many years and taught school. Currently the town has recently built a memorial park dedicated to her and of course, she is remembered and memorialized in Portland and Oregon City as well, so this book just brought history close to home for me.
I recommend all women to read this book. It is entertaining as well as educational.
I was given a copy of this book free by Revell Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.
Something Worth Doing is a riveting account of one woman’s lifetime struggle to improve the rights of women, especially those in the western United States. Any woman, whether married or not, a mother or not, or working out of the home or not can relate to this story. A woman’s work is never done, and I’m thankful for women like Abigail Scott Duniway who chose to dedicate so much of their life to a greater cause.
This story, while based on a historical figure and true events, is fiction, but it reads more like a biography and less like a typical novel, which I loved. I sped through chapter after chapter, enthralled by the ordinary and extraordinary parts of Abigail’s life. It captured the struggle, the frustration, and the beauty of a woman’s world in the 1800s, particularly in the West.
The work and expectations of women in Abigail’s time were outrageous, and yet they persevered, like women often do. And while so many rights have been added to women since Abigail’s fight for the vote, the expectations still placed on women to be the perfect mother, the successful boss lady, and still maintain a tidy home continue to be overwhelming. Any woman can see herself in this story. I know I did. When Abigail doubted her desire to keep fighting for suffrage at the expense of time with her family, I saw the modern stresses of women, trying to attain dreams while still balancing the care of their family and home.
So, while this book is historical, it is still so relevant in the insight it provides on one progressive woman’s impact on history and our lives today.
Any woman who enjoys historical fiction will like this book. I know I spoke of this story and Abigail to all who would listen!
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I find it very fitting that this book was published during the 100th year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and I applaud author Jane Kirkpatrick for reminding us just how difficult the passage of this amendment truly was. One of the women who worked so vehemently is someone I’d never heard of and I found Abigail Scott’s life story to be a remarkable journey of determination, persistence, and finally, success. Her life wasn’t easy and she endured many heartaches and backsets along the way, but in the end, Abigail Scott Duniway lived to register to vote in Multnomah County, Oregon and she also served on a jury!
This story begins in 1852, when seventeen-year-old Abigail hears her brother proclaim that “You can’t control anything, you females. Not a thing. Lucky for you us men protect you.” What follows is the chronicle of her efforts to prove that women were very capable, they could take care of themselves, they deserved respect, and they needed the chance to voice their opinions. Women needed the right to vote!
There are several pages of author’s notes that relate many of Abigail’s accomplishments and Kirkpatrick has been able to incorporate these facts into an engaging and entertaining fictional story based on biographical facts. Abigail experienced the hardships of traveling the Oregon Trail in the mid 1800s and she entered the work force while while raising her small children. As she pursued her passion to advance the rights of all women, Abigail even worked as a novelist and a newspaper publisher so that she could make sure that the word was being spread. Yes, Abigail Scott Dunlevy was a true pioneer and she paved the way for those of us who have followed!
Kirkpatrick has once again proven her exceptional ability to find unique topics and then create stories that we all want to read. I recommend Something Worth Doing to all who enjoy Christian historical fiction. I give it 4.5 Stars!
I received a copy of this book from Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review, I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.
I love Jane Kirkpatrick’s stories because she does a fantastic job of researching her history! This particular novel is based on a true story, which is very fascinating. I was intrigued by all the history surrounding women’s rights and felt that the story was well researched and well written. The tone of this story is more serious than other fictional works I typically read, but I did learn a lot. I think the book was a little dry at times. I appreciate the author’s hard work in writing a character that is flawed, with mistakes along her journey, but she still triumphed and paved the way for women. Overall, I liked this book, although I think those who like history and even nonfiction works may enjoy this more than others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Something Worth Doing is yet another reason why Jane Kirkpatrick is among my favorite historical fiction writers. I love how she uses real people and real events from days gone by and write a beautiful story. This one is no different. The historical details were so detailed that I felt like I was transported back in time to when Abigail lived. I enjoyed getting to know her and admired her bravery and courage.
I am giving Something Worth Doing a very well deserved five plus stars. I loved every single page.
I received Something Worth Doing from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.