Our book for August is
The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran (2010). Here's the synopsis from the publisher's web site:
When Henry Oades accepts an accountancy post in New Zealand, his wife, Margaret, and their children follow him to exotic Wellington. But while Henry is an adventurer, Margaret is not. Their new home is rougher and more rustic than they expected—and a single night of tragedy shatters the family when the native Maori stage an uprising, kidnapping Margaret and her children.
For months, Henry scours the surrounding wilderness, until all hope is lost and his wife and children are presumed dead. Grief-stricken, he books passage to California. There he marries Nancy Foreland, a young widow with a new baby, and it seems they’ve both found happiness in the midst of their mourning — until Henry’s first wife and children show up, alive and having finally escaped captivity.
Narrated primarily by the two wives, and based on a real-life legal case, The Wives of Henry Oades is the riveting story of what happens when Henry, Margaret, and Nancy face persecution for bigamy. Exploring the intricacies of marriage, the construction of family, the changing world of the late 1800s, and the strength of two remarkable women, Johanna Moran turns this unusual family’s story into an unforgettable page-turning drama.
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Our book for August is The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran (2010). Here's the synopsis from the publisher's web site:
14 comments:
It's August and time to begin reading our latest book. Come click on the links (an excerpt and the author's web site), and let's get started.
Lynne said- It has been almost a month now since I ordered The Wives of Henry Oades from our interloan branch of our library.
My fingers are crossed that it will show up in time for me to read and discuss it with you this month.
I hope you are able to get the book soon, too, Lynne. I was fortunate and able to get the book. It is one that draws one in from the beginning.
I have a copy "in transit" from the library system. I should have it in hand within a few days!
Well, my library does not have 'The Wives of Henry Oades' and I am now #28 on the list for 'The Help' - better than #80 like I was when I first signed up. Will catch up someday!
Susan, would you like to suggest a book you already have?
Thanks Bonnie, but no, I love your book list, they all look very interesting. I think I just need to plan ahead!
I actually have both 'The Help' and 'The Wives...' in my Amazon cart, I should just get them and then can donate them to the library!
Do you have the September book picked out yet?
Okay, everybuddy, we need to make a list of books we are interested in reading and discussing. Have you heard of anything good? Who wants to start by suggesting a book?
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
Has anyone read this? I know nothing about it except I picked it up at the library yesterday, the thing that caught my eye was a recommendation by Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help.
Here it is on Amazon.
I have The Postmistress on my to-read list. I've read a few mixed reviews, but overall people seem to enjoy it.
A few other books from my to-read list that might make for a good discussion: The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa, Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris, and American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld.
BTW I picked up The Wives of Henry Oades from the library yesterday afternoon, so I'll be starting to read it shortly. I have enjoyed reading some of the information on the author's website.
Hola Bonnie & Co.
Some of you already know this but my husband was in a moderately bad car accident with a semi back in March and in late June, my m-i-l was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. I just wanted to let everyone else know and to say this is why I haven't read the last two selections. I haven't really read much of anything in the past two months.
Lately, I've tried to check in here once a week or so or when I get comments in my email. I didn't know where to post this and didn't want to post it on the main page since this blog isn't private.
I'm glad to see ya'll are picking books for the fall because this is one of my favorite online books clubs (along with TBN) for discussion because there is often more depth of discussion here. So I'm glad B is planning on keeping it open cause once things settle down I'm so looking forward to reading with ya'll again.
I have several months of magazine subscriptions I'm catching up on and two issues of a literary quarterly I'm working on. If I am feeling like starting a book by mid-month, TWOHO is one of the two I'd consider.
Jennifer, I'm sorry to hear about what you've been going through. The Wives of Henry Oades would keep your interest, I think, and thus perhaps take your mind off all the bad things. Please keep us informed.
When you comment on ANY post, ten of us are notified -- I'm limited to ten people, so it's the ten most active. It doesn't matter which post you choose because we'll be notified from any of them.
Today I will be finishing the book as it has to be returned to the library Monday at the latest.
I agree with what Shirley has posted on the first set of questions and don't know what I could add beyond that.
Maybe on the next set I will think of something more to say.
Lynne
I want to put this with the right book, though Janice commented on the most recent post with it.
Janice said, "I first heard about The Wives of Henry Oades on your blog. Have you seen the story behind the story of Henry Oades in the New Zealand Herald?"
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10639033
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