Woman in the Photo

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

pick

What started off as a book I struggled to get into became one of resilience and determination. The dual timeline narrative looks at Johnstown, PA, in 1889, around the time of the great flood (and one of the worst disasters in American history) and a modern day young woman learning about her bloodline. I especially liked the historical chapters! #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

BethM This was a solid read. Started slow but ended up really catching me. 3y

CaramelLunacy I almost always end up preferring the historical sections in dual timeline stories - am always eager to get back to them! 3y

megnews @CaramelLunacy me too. And I prefer dual timelines where both sections are historical than one being present day. 3y

Librarybelle @CaramelLunacy @megnews The historical pieces can be so eye opening and sometimes inspiring in that it makes me want to learn more about that time era. 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

Time for the #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead end of month discussion!

I have the questions under spoiler. Any overall comments, feel free to comment below (and tag anything spoiler that could be a spoiler, please).

Thanks for joining this month!

catebutler, kspenmoll, BethM, megnews, CoffeeNBooks, CarolineLovesToRead

megnews Thanks for hosting. I hadn‘t heard of this incident or the book and enjoyed reading it. I learned a lot. 3y

kspenmoll This was a fun read- thanks for hosting us! 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

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6. In a society where men held all the positions of power, in what ways did the women of this story make a difference? ~from Reading Group Guide

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

megnews Elizabeth had empathy and compassion for those affected by this tragedy, frankly even before it occurred. From the time she knew about the possibility she tried to speak up. And when she had to decide between a life of comfort and doing what was right, she stayed to help. 3y

kspenmoll @megnews Agree with your assessment of Elizabeth. Lee learned to see herself as an independent woman & watched her Mom grow into that role with her grit & determination when left w nothing due to trusting her husband. 3y

Librarybelle @kspenmoll @megnews Both Elizabeth and Lee are strong, and even Valerie too. I like that Elizabeth realized her shortcomings and opened her eyes to how her lifestyle affected those who lived outside of the club. These women did not let anything stop them from finding the truth or righting a wrong or even just surviving. 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

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5. Did Clara Barton become the historical figure she became because of her upbringing or in spite of it? ~from Reading Group Guide

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

megnews I think both. 3y

BethM I agree- both. Interesting bc I didn‘t know much about her either. 3y

megnews @bethm neither did I and I‘d love to read a historical fiction on her life. I see there are a few available. Going to look into that. I read one on Dorothea Dix‘s crusade to reform asylums awhile that was very good. It was a Christian fiction book

One Glorious Ambition: The Compassionate Crusade of Dorothea Dix

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kspenmoll @megnews such a great idea! I only know the basic information about her emerging from Civil War… 3y

CarolineLovesToRead I had not heard of her before. I would love to read more of her story 3y

Librarybelle @megnews @BethM @kspenmoll @CarolineLovesToRead I agree that both are true. I think more is coming out about Clara Barton and her work, especially since her DC office was recently rediscovered behind a wall. There is a nonfiction title about her work during the US Civil War that is on my to read list:

Clara Barton's Civil War: Between Bullet and Hospital

BethM @Librarybelle behind a wall?! 3y

Librarybelle @BethM Yes! If I remember correctly, it was walled in during a building renovation. When it was uncovered, it was like time stood still…everything was as it was left. 3y

megnews @kspenmoll @Librarybelle @BethM @CarolineLovesToRead I haven‘t read it yet and can‘t vouch for it but I see a historical novel based on Louisa May Alcott and Clara Barton called

The Glory Cloak: A Novel of Louisa May Alcott and Clara Barton

kspenmoll @Librarybelle Behind a wall? That is wild! 3y

Librarybelle @kspenmoll It is! 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

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4. How many similarities between Elizabeth Haberlin and Lee Parker can you name? ~from Reading Group Guide

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

kspenmoll I am thinking that they both chose to take ownership of their lives.Elizabeth by choosing to accept moral responsibility & stay to rebuild.Lee took ownership as she journeyed into her past,in order to find as much as she could about her self/history. Both faced these situations with courage. Neither gave up.Elizabeth lost her birth family when she did this.Lee lost her intact family when her Dad & brother left. Both had jewelry as talismans. (edited) 3y

Librarybelle I like that, @kspenmoll - they both took ownership of their lives. I agree too about the jewelry as talismans. They both played piano as well. I‘m so glad Lee felt a kinship with Elizabeth! 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

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3. Should the members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club - essentially a timeshare - have been held legally accountable for the Johnstown disaster? ~from Reading Group Guide

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

megnews As selfish, cold, and callous as those who were aware of the problem were, I don‘t know that the individual members should be held legally responsible. Morally, yes. Someone should own the property correct? And failed to make repairs to ensure this wouldn‘t happen? Those people should have been held legally responsible. 3y

BethM I agree with @megnews but it seemed like it was a cohort ownership - like membership in the club meant ownership. I think the fact that they were successful with the act of god defense is nonsense. Interestingly none of the legal assessment reports on the dam were released until something like 2016- where it acknowledged it was not an act of god. 3y

megnews @BethM Exactly! The failure of a man made dam is not an act of God. I couldn‘t really figure out about the ownership but if that‘s the case, then yes all members should be held accountable legally. I‘d like to say they would be today but we all know money can get you out of just about anything. 3y

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kspenmoll I think they should not only be morally responsible, but legally as well. The group just walked away without thought or concern. 3y

CarolineLovesToRead I agree. Someone should have been held accountable. I don‘t quite understand why it took so long for information on this incident to be released 3y

Librarybelle @megnews @BethM @kspenmoll @CarolineLovesToRead It is so sad it took until 2016 for findings to come to light! Most of the club members‘ reputations in western PA, such as Pittsburgh, are not very positive. This is cited as one of the reasons. Between the club and his steel mills, Andrew Carnegie is not a beloved icon of Pittsburgh (I lived in Pitt for a year, and the things I heard about him…yikes!). 3y

BethM @CarolineLovesToRead I think it took so long to come to light bc there was a lot of generational wealth that probably suppressed it. 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

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2. In what way, if any, do the events leading up to the Johnstown Flood resonate today? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

megnews I think Hurricane Katrina is another example of this. Man made levees caused by flaws and/or lack of upkeep caused a lot of death and destruction. 3y

megnews I think another example is gentrification. Wealthier people move in and create businesses, and long time members of the neighborhood are displaced. It‘s not the type of disaster seen here, but it is a slow destructive process. 3y

BethM Also I think you can see it in a lot of our disregard for nature. Oh we‘ll do xyz to the forests/ozone/ocean bc nothing bad will happen and if it does it‘s not our problem. 3y

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megnews @BethM true. I get so aggravated when I see another big box store being built when there‘s several empty right down the road! I think another example is using imminent domain to displace people. I know someone this happened to TWICE and they were only paid for half their land either time because that‘s all the jurisdiction wanted. 3y

kspenmoll I agree with everyone, but especially with all the natural disasters we have been facing lately. @megnews Hurricane Katrina definitely correlates with its engineering flaws. 3y

Librarybelle @megnews @BethM @kspenmoll Totally agree! History has a way of repeating itself… 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

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1. The historical piece of this novel is predominantly set around the Johnstown Flood of 1889. How much did you know about this catastrophe prior to reading the novel? Are you inclined to learn more after reading this novel?

Johnstown Flood National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

megnews I had never heard anything about this disaster until reading this book. I definitely googled quite a bit while reading. 3y

BethM I knew nothing but I did a bunch of internet searching because of this book! Did you know it was the largest loss of life until 9/11? 3y

megnews @bethm I did see that and was astounded even more that I‘d never heard of it. Pretty well kept secret and proves the point of who writes history. I hadn‘t realized the records weren‘t released until 2016 though. How awful that those who survived had to forge their own way. Adds another layer to the catastrophe. (edited) 3y

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kspenmoll I would have known nothing either about the Flood, but In an earlier buddyread we read D. McCullough‘s book

Johnstown Flood

CarolineLovesToRead I had never heard of this catastrophe. So much loss. I too looked it up and was shocked at how many lost their lives 3y

Librarybelle @megnews @BethM @kspenmoll @CarolineLovesToRead I live just a couple hours away from Johnstown, and while it didn‘t really make our history lessons in school, I do remember knowing about the Flood from conversations as a child. I‘ve been to Johnstown once many years ago, and it is in such a deep valley. I‘d love to go back, just to be able to fully immerse with what I know now about the history. 3y

megnews I love reading about a place before I visit. It makes your connection to it and it‘s history so much more reall 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

Check in time for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead . I know some in the group finished, and others have stopped reading or are still reading (like me!)…any thoughts or impressions to share?

The next post will be the discussion questions on the 30th! My thoughts are in the comments⬇️⬇️⬇️

catebutler, kspenmoll, BethM, megnews, CoffeeNBooks, CarolineLovesToRead

Librarybelle The reading is going better for me as I get farther into the book. I‘m annoyed, admittedly, by Elizabeth‘s behavior at times, though I suppose she shows how naive she is to the world outside of her upper class/upper middle class circle. This section of reading ended on lots of foreboding. 3y

megnews I definitely think it‘s how naive she would be, think, and act being in the world she is. 3y

CarolineLovesToRead I‘ve finished and enjoyed the last half of this book. I still love the story of Lee the most but Elizabeth‘s actions in the last part of the book had me liking her more. Won‘t say any more until we have our last discussion. 3y

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BethM

Woman in the Photo | Mary Hogan

pick

3.5 ⭐️. Some parts felt slow, and some eye rolling, overly dramatic parts where unnecessary to the central plot. That being said I enjoyed this on audio and the las 20 or so chapters flew and were totally engaging. A little dissatisfied with the ending to Lee‘s story. Overall though I love books that make me research more about things I‘d never known about! #literarycrew

Librarybelle

Librarybelle Yay! Glad you liked this one, and I totally agree about books that make you want to learn more! 3y

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kspenmoll

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

pick

To be honest,I was not initially enamored with this historical novel.The present timeline & Lee & her mother did not feel authentic to me.The novel follows two women‘s lives,one 18 yr old Lee in present CA & one 24 yr old Elizabeth in 1888-9 PA.One is barely surviving economically,the other comes from wealth.Both are connected,but just how is the central mystery to be solved.The significance of the Johnstown PA flood of 1889 is essential as well.

Librarybelle Thanks for joining us this month! 3y

BethM I‘m at chapter 40 and I‘m all in! It went from an ok story to totally gripping! 3y

kspenmoll I decided to give the novel a pick because all seemed to fall into place in the end & both women grew through their experiences. 3y

kspenmoll @BethM That is how I felt in the end. 3y

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BethM

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

I‘ve really been slacking on the physical exercise. The only good thing about mama factory office days are access to the gym 😂

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Deblovestoread

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

#WondrousWednesday

📚Added to Litsy TBR based on @megnews review
🍍Hard to choose just one so I‘ll add papaya and strawberries
🤩The Lincoln Highway, A Spindle Splintered and Cloud Cuckoo Land
💖An upcoming trip with my dad to see my favorite aunt and a couple of my uncles.

Tagging anyone who would like to play along!

Eggs

megnews 😊 3y

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megnews

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

pick

Finished this month‘s #LiteraryCrew and #BookSpin book on audio this evening. Historical fiction with dual timelines is at the top of my usual picks and this one is no exception. Based on a real tragedy I had never heard of and which could have been so easily avoided.

Librarybelle, TheAromaofBooks

Librarybelle Glad you enjoyed this! I live a couple hours drive from Johnstown, and even growing up, I was pretty familiar with the tragedy. If you would like to learn more, I would highly recommend David McCullough‘s nonfiction book about it:

Johnstown Flood

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! I may have to look this one up - we watched a documentary on this flood a while back and it was SO interesting! 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

Check in time for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead ! Any thoughts or impressions to share thus far? My comments are under the spoiler below…

catebutler, kspenmoll, BethM, megnews, CoffeeNBooks, CarolineLovesToRead

Librarybelle I‘m pretty underwhelmed at this point and had wished I could be more engaged at this point with it. I cannot seem to connect with the writing style, and the change from 1st person to 3rd person for the different time periods. I haven‘t quite reached the end of the second reading suggestion yet, so maybe it will pick up some for me??? 3y

Librarybelle @Jerdencon Not sure if you saw this or not for this month…I noticed I did not have you on my list initially for tagging. Sorry! 3y

kspenmoll I am liking the Elizabeth parts, not so much the Valerie/Lee present parts. I cannot seem to become engaged. It is strange to shift from 1st person to 3rd in the same novel. Wondering what was the author‘s purpose? @Librarybelle 3y

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Librarybelle @kspenmoll I am very curious too! I may have to see if she has ever commented on that choice. I agree with you about the Elizabeth parts being more interesting than the Valerie/Lee parts. 3y

BethM I‘m actually more intrigued with the Valerie/Lee parts! 3y

BethM Im listening to this one, but I can see where I might not like it as much on the page. Off hand idk what chapter I‘m at. 3y

CoffeeNBooks I had to bail on this one. 😕 It was only available as an audiobook from the library, and I'm not a huge fan of audiobooks to begin with- I have to really love the story and the narrator to stick with it. I was having a hard time with the two different stories, and I think it might have been better if I had been reading instead of listening. From just the little I listened to, though, I liked the Elizabeth storyline better. 3y

CarolineLovesToRead I‘m about halfway through. Both stories are interesting to me but the Lee story pulls at me more. Can‘t wait to find out more about how they connect 3y

megnews I‘m with @CarolineLovesToRead I‘m starting ch 34 and I‘m enjoying both storylines. 3y

Librarybelle I love how we‘re all approaching this differently with our thoughts! It should be a good discussion! And Harper, so sorry…I completely understand about audio. Since last year, my audio listening has grown a lot, but I focus on narrators I like and stick to very specific genres. @BethM @CoffeeNBooks @CarolineLovesToRead @megnews @kspenmoll 3y

Jerdencon I‘m such a reading slacker the past few months - haven‘t even gotten the book! 3y

Jerdencon Might have to skip this month and join next month! 3y

Librarybelle @Jerdencon Totally fine! Next month is Belgravia, and I hope to make the official post this weekend announcing it. 3y

BethM @CarolineLovesToRead @megnews same! I‘m at chp 19. 3y

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kspenmoll

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

Elizabeth observed the lake outside her summer cottage window and remarked on its blue hue.
I was compelled to look up just what shade of blue Bristol glassware was in 1880s. Gorgeous cobalt blue- what a beautiful blue the manmade lake at the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club (a playground for the Pittsburg ultra rich) was that 1888 summer day in Johnstown, PA. #literarycrew

Librarybelle

Librarybelle Oh! Nice image! 3y

KristiAhlers Now I‘m going to have to go in search of a copy of this book 3y

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kspenmoll

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

#Bookreport #August29toSept4

Finished all but the bottom 3 books. Continuing 2ch Sophie‘s World listening to The Ludwig Conspiracy, started The Woman in the Photo.
#sophiesworld #audio #literarycrew

Cinfhen

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kspenmoll

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

#literarycrew #JohnstownFlood #backgroundknowledge

We are coming full circle to The Johnston Flood by David McCullough that we read a few years ago. #buddyread

Librarybelle

Librarybelle So true! 3y

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Librarybelle

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

We‘re returning to our monthly #BuddyRead schedule for #LiteraryCrew . Here is the suggested reading timeline for the month. This is a read at your own pace buddy read, and I will post periodic check in posts, with discussion on the last day of the month.

Tagging those who plan to read The Woman in the Photo, but all are welcome. If you would like to me to tag you in posts for this selection, comment below!

catebutler, kspenmoll, BethM, megnews, CoffeeNBooks, CarolineLovesToRead

CarolineLovesToRead Thanks @Librarybelle just got the book and can‘t wait to start it 3y

kspenmoll Got the book! 3y

Librarybelle Yay, @CarolineLovesToRead and @kspenmoll !! 3y

45 likes3 comments

Bookish_B

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

so-so

I definitely enjoyed the second half more than the first and I think the story set in the present was a bit underdeveloped and maybe unnecessary? But what I appreciated and enjoyed about this book was learning a bit about the Johnstown flood and Clara Barton (the founder of the American Red Cross). I‘ve added a couple of nonfiction books to my list about both of them so I can learn more. I love when that happens!

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Crazeedi

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

pick

I had to read before it went back, so read today. Two stories intertwine, present day is about Lee(adopted), who wants to know about her real mother. The other story is about Elizabeth and set in 1888-1889 at South Fork Club near Johnstown, PA. Elizabeth is from the upper class, has never known any other world. Lee is living with her mother, trying to find herself. I'm intrigued by books set at the time of the flood, this one doesn't disappoint.

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Daniellesbooks1

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

so-so

I really enjoyed Elizabeth‘s story and learning more about the Johnstown flood. If the entire book had been about her, coming of age and female empowerment I would have loved the book. I really could have done without Lee‘s story, the pop culture references and “why me” attitude drove me nuts.

1 like

Giabow

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

"Dearest girl, I prefer a man who would rather gaze at me than at his own reflection."
Sounds like too many men I know.

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CocoReads

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

bailed

Bailing for now. I can't focus on it so I'm going to try again another time.

JonathanDunne Chances are you won't focus either the next time. That's just me. 8y

JonathanDunne And hello!😃 8y

CocoReads Thanks @JonathanDunne luckily it's a library book so I won't feel guilty about not finishing it. 8y

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CocoReads

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

Squeezing in a quick chapter at work before moving in to the next thing on my list.

acorter Nice! 8y

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BookmarkTavern

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

One book from grandfather, four from library (two for book clubs), and five audiobooks on Overdrive. Because a data entry position where you're not allowed to talk while working is boring AF. #somethingborrowed #booktober #overdrive @RealLifeReading

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Luv2readbookz

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

pick

I knew nothing about the Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania in 1889 that killed over 2200 people. But after reading this book want to learn more.

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Librarylady

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

It's a "feet up on the couch" afternoon as I enjoy The Woman in the Photo by Mary Hogan.

[DELETED] 2232195534 Want to hear about this one. I read about it recently. 😀 8y

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MeJeMiller

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan

so-so

Not bad. I couldn't really connect but that's a me thing. It's a good book of female empowerment. Not something I would necessarily read again but okay

1 like

MeJeMiller

The Woman in the Photo: A Novel | Mary Hogan