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Home Maker the (Revised)
Home Maker the (Revised) | Dorothy Canfield, Mark J Madigan
42 posts | 27 read | 52 to read
Although this novel first appared in 1924, it deals in an amazingly contemporary manner with the problems of a family in which both husband and wife are oppressed and frustrated by the roles they are expected to play. Evangeline Knapp is the perfect, compulsive housekeeper, while her husband, lester, is a poet and a dreamer. Suddenly, through a nearly fata accident, their roles are reversed: Leter is confined to home in a wheelchair and his wife must work to support the family. The changes that take place between husband and wife and particularly between parents and children are both fascinating and poignant.
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Deblovestoread
The Home Maker | Dorothy Canfield, Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love your graphic 💜 2mo
Eggs Pretty 🩵💜🩵 2mo
50 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Gissy
Home-Maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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#12Booksof2023 @Andrew65

I didn‘t read much that month. I should say this was my favorite that month and also Joyland by Stephen King-very unpopular opinion in this one but I liked Joyland

Andrew65 I love Joyland! 10mo
BarbaraBB I loved this one too. 10mo
Gissy @Andrew65 maybe slow but many psychological things happened there. I like character driven stories. 10mo
Gissy @BarbaraBB Yes and that edition is so pretty 10mo
BarbaraBB I have the same. It‘s so pretty indeed 10mo
46 likes5 comments
review
Gissy
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

#PersephoneClub2023 (February) When at the beginning of this novel, I saw Mrs. Knapp behavior, I couldn‘t stand her, a controller OCD mother-woman. But then, behind her behavior I saw a frustrated, depressed woman repressed for not fulfilled her goals in life, but “obliged” to follow “society stereotypes mother-woman roles”. What a change in the dynamic of this family after Lester accident. The roles in each member will change, for good⬇️

Gissy I think the author was amazing in explaining through the characters self talking/reflexions, about how emotionally “trapped” an individual could be by following stereotyped roles. It could be devastated. We still don‘t see an open communication here, it would be “against” what is established by society to accept these new roles, so Lester condition has a “purpose” it will be “an excuse” to continue with these new roles. ⬇️ 2y
Gissy Based on what I read, the author didn‘t consider herself as a “feminist” but she gave a voice to this woman to express herself. I really liked this novel taking I‘m analyzing it from that time perspective was amazing. I think we still see some bias in these type of roles in our time. 4.5⭐️ @LeahBergen Love this cover😍
April 2023 #BookSpinBingo (#6) @TheAromaOfBooks
#Orilium Magical Readathon YouTuber @BookRoast career-Star Whisperer ⬇️
2y
Gissy Class Pstonics and Divination-promotor-clouds on the cover or title
GoodReads 52 books AroundT #ATY2023 prompt #33
2y
See All 9 Comments
jlhammar Pretty photo and wonderful review! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2y
LeahBergen Great review! I kept thinking about the time perspective, too, as I read it and thought how shocking that marital relationship would be for that era. 2y
Gissy @LeahBergen That‘s true. I read that the author‘s husband helped her so she could have time to write.

I follow Britta Bohler, a YouTuber, who said that she reads these novels to have a picture of the thinking process of the era, what these women like to write, read, a stamp of their lives even when not necessarily she agree with some roles. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to discover these amazing books📚🥰
2y
Gissy @jlhammar Thank you🤗 2y
LeahBergen That‘s the perfect way to sum up why we read (and enjoy) novels from this era! 😊 2y
40 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
elkeOriginal
Home Maker the (Revised) | Dorothy Canfield, Mark J Madigan
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Pickpick

This #persephoneclub read was astonishing. SO ahead if its time! A brilliant portrayal of a 1920s family where ‘home-maker‘ is flipped on its head with father taking the role on. The result = previously unhappy parents finding utter fulfillment in the role reversal. Absolutely beautifully written showing so many viewpoints (even Stephen!) of their now flourishing family life. Imagine the sadness/bitterness if they continued as they were!

elkeOriginal It was SO sad how much pressure they felt from society. Heart-breaking. 2y
Tamra So glad you enjoyed it! It really was ahead of its time. 2y
See All 9 Comments
Cathythoughts Great review! X ❤️ 2y
jlhammar It really is remarkable. So glad I read this one. Wonderful review! 2y
LeahBergen Wonderful review! I was so invested in this family (and NEED them all to have that “happily ever after” 😆). 2y
LeahBergen And I love that spoon! 2y
elkeOriginal And I love how so many of their illnesses were disappeared once the stressors of their previous life were adjusted. Proving society‘s role requirements were just not right for this family. 2y
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen Agreed! Stephen‘s reactions brought tears to my eyes. I love this family! 2y
33 likes9 comments
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CarolynM
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Another sad #BookReport. I really need to stop seeing people and doing stuff and spend more time reading instead 😆

Ruthiella That‘s the spirit! 😂 2y
BarbaraBB Ha! You really should 🤣 2y
Bookwomble Sociability is overrated! 😄 2y
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen Having fun should always be a priority! 😆 2y
Rissreads Yep stay home! 🤣 2y
CarolynM @Ruthiella @BarbaraBB @Bookwomble @LeahBergen @Rissreads I‘ve got a busy few days ahead, but after that I‘m going to shut myself away for a bit🤣 2y
52 likes6 comments
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rubyslippersreads
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Thought some of you might be interested in this article about Dorothy Canfield Fisher and The Home-Maker. (Perri Klass is also a #BetsyTacy fan.)

https://www.newyorker.com/books/second-read/the-author-who-brought-the-montessor...

#persephone #persephoneclub #persephonebookclub #persephonebooks

CarolynM Thanks for the link. I‘ll read it when I get a minute😬 2y
LeahBergen Well, look at that! So cool. 👍 2y
Aimeesue Excellent! Thanks for the link! 2y
jlhammar How timely! Definitely going to check that out. Thank you so much! 2y
59 likes4 comments
review
Bookbuyingaddict
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Pickpick

#persephoneclub finished last night , I really enjoyed it , moments of utter sadness and simple misunderstandings, I can see how it would have been radical for the time . Out of the 3 persephones I‘d rate this as no3 , no 1 being highwages - Dorothy Whipple is a genius a lot of authors compared to Austen she is the real deal I think , and no2 to bed with grand music the other also wrote little boy lost which is equally a great read.what‘s next ?😊

jlhammar Glad you enjoyed it. I'm definitely going to have to order myself a Whipple to try eventually. Looking forward to our April read 2y
LeahBergen I‘m glad to hear you enjoyed this, too. And Dorothy Whipple is such a favourite of mine; she‘s hard to beat! 2y
29 likes2 comments
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Bookbuyingaddict
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Another persephone winner 🏆 loving 🥰 it and loving the ambience scenes on YouTube perfect back ground reading
#persephonebookclub
#bookspinbingo
#februaryreads
#februarybingo

LeahBergen What a great match! 2y
30 likes1 comment
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elkeOriginal
Home Maker the (Revised) | Dorothy Canfield, Mark J Madigan
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Best. Description. Ever.

Oh, bebe Stephen you are a big little character!

#persephonebookclub #persephone #persephoneclub
#impofdarkness

LeahBergen 😆😆 So good. 2y
jlhammar 😂 Love it! 2y
29 likes2 comments
blurb
Bookbuyingaddict
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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#persephonebookclub #persephone
Wer late ⏰ but Iv finally started it , this will be the third Persephone Iv read so far this year and at the moment my least favourite . Remove the children and it‘s describing my life since loosing our cleaner in lockdown !! I‘m going to work today for a rest 😂!!

LeahBergen 😆😆 2y
27 likes1 comment
review
CarolynM
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

Gender roles, societal expectations, parental styles, child development, psychosomatic illness, toxic masculinity & consumerism all receive attention in this surprising story from the 1920s. No wonder it ruffled a few feathers back then. The characters are so well written, the children particularly finely drawn. I was glad it ended the way it did, but couldn‘t help feeling a little dread for the family‘s likely fortunes post 1929.
#PersephoneClub

julesG You're the second person to review this book today. Just saw @Oryx's review. 2y
julesG Duh! #persephoneclub 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ 2y
TrishB Such a lovely pic ♥️ 2y
See All 16 Comments
CarolynM @julesG 😆 😘 2y
CarolynM @TrishB Thank you😘 2y
Cathythoughts Great review. and Perfect pic Carolyn ! I really enjoyed her writing. 2y
CarolynM @Cathythoughts Thanks Cathy😘 2y
TheAromaofBooks Oh! She wrote Understood Betsy, which I absolutely love. I may need to find this one! 2y
batsy Great review. All I've seen are positive reviews from the group ... Adding to the TBR! 2y
rockpools Lovely review. 2y
andrew61 Great review. Yes, I'm not sure either how they will survive the depression. 2y
Cuilin Sounds great. Stacked 📚 2y
jlhammar Lovely mug and great review! I agree, this was surprising and I especially loved her insightful writing of children. Oooh, and I hadn't even thought ahead to what the Great Depression might have in store for this family. Nothing good, I'm sure. 2y
Tamra Good point re: 1929 crash! Yesterday I brought my book to class to share with students about the very real struggle against gender social conditioning. (edited) 2y
LeahBergen Great review! And eek… I hadn‘t even THOUGHT about the looming Great Depression in the US. 😮 I was surprised by this one, too, and kept wondering how the reading public first perceived bits as I was reading them. 2y
Sparklemn I love your mug, too! 2y
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review
Oryx
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

I loved this one. It's in my top 3 Persephone that I've read so far. I have to admit I did read this awhile ago, but I'm posting now to join in with the #persephoneclub read. I liked this one so much I also gifted it to 2 friends. It's a really interesting examination of gender roles that makes it still a relevant read today. And just a good engrossing read on top of that.

Cathythoughts Nice review 👍🏻♥️I loved it too. I just ordered another by her 2y
TrishB And a lovely pic ❤️ 2y
rockpools That‘s strong praise! 2y
See All 6 Comments
jlhammar Love the photo! It really was an engrossing read. I felt so invested in the well-being of this family. And surprising that something written 100 years ago can still have such relevance. 2y
Tamra @jlhammar yes - very relevant! 2y
LeahBergen Nice review! I can definitely see myself gifting this book to friends, too. 2y
76 likes6 comments
review
andrew61
Home Maker the (Revised) | Dorothy Canfield, Mark J Madigan
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Pickpick

Lester + Eva Knapp seem discontented with their family roles, + their children are lost. When an incident occurs, life turns upside down. I really enjoyed this book, which reflects on society's expectations of parental stereotypes, what children need from their parents, + the importance of Teddy bears. Another thumbs up for
#persephoneclub @LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Cathythoughts @Aimeesue @CarolynM @jlhammar @elkeOriginal @Gissy

jlhammar The importance of teddy bears 😆 Love it. Glad you enjoyed. Yay for Persephones! Can‘t wait for our next! 2y
Tamra Great review, and agreed it still gives us food for thought today! 2y
Aimeesue Nice review! 2y
See All 8 Comments
dabbe Da snuggly puppy on the couch! 😍 2y
elkeOriginal THE IMPORTANCE OF TEDDY BEARS! 2y
LeahBergen Wonderful review. I loved this early ‘thumbing the nose‘ at societal expectations! 2y
Cathythoughts Great review ! Societal expectations , so good to see them pushed aside here, and the importance of teddy bears goes so deep ❤️ 2y
CarolynM Great review! The sympathy for the children as individuals struck me as unusual for the time. 2y
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review
Cathythoughts
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

What an interesting turn of events we have here. I had tears for this family. Wonderful, insightful writing! And what an ending. Loved this one ♥️
#PersephoneClub

Tamra 😊 I‘m glad you kept the momentum! The moment when they thought they‘d have to return to the pattern of their former lives was so raw & intense. Not something I expected. 2y
Cathythoughts @Tamra I wasn‘t expecting that either. I was terrified for them. What a great ending 😁the relief! Those little children were adorable 🥰 2y
jlhammar I felt much the same. So glad you loved it. And yes, that ending! 2y
See All 12 Comments
Cathythoughts @jlhammar It was great. So we‘ll written. 2y
andrew61 I really enjoyed it as well Cathy. 2y
batsy Lovely photo ❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @andrew61 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @batsy Thanks Suba. The kitchen for the Homemaker 😂 2y
LeahBergen I was so relieved that it ended that way! 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I know ! Wouldn‘t you get so invested in those characters ❤️ 2y
CarolynM I'm still reading🙂 Enjoying it so far. 2y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM oh good 👍🏻❤️ 2y
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Cathythoughts
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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#Bookreport #WeeklyForecast

Reading is so slow at the moment ! But … this #PersephoneClub Bookclub pick is a page turner, and has me back in the reading zone , thank god ! Great characters, storytelling, a great read. I‘m about 100 pages in and I don‘t want to put it down.

Happy reading week all. ♥️
Hi Cindy 😁

Cinfhen That‘s wonderful ☺️glad a bookclub book has pulled you in 2y
TrishB Enjoy ♥️ 2y
Tamra Don‘t put it down Cathy! 😆 Enjoy! 2y
See All 11 Comments
erzascarletbookgasm ❤️👍 2y
jlhammar Glad to hear you're enjoying it so far! 2y
LeahBergen Yay! I‘m glad to hear you‘re enjoying it. Have a great week. 😘 2y
Cathythoughts @TrishB 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @Tamra 😂 ok ! I will not put it down 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @jlhammar It‘s great 😁👏🏻 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks Leah! You too 😘 2y
65 likes11 comments
blurb
CarolynM
Home Maker the (Revised) | Dorothy Canfield, Mark J Madigan
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Just getting started. The passage about the teddy bear struck a chord with me. This is my daughter's bear. Once upon a time he was pure white in a red velvet suit. She carted him everywhere with her from the time she could walk until she started school (well, except when he was lost & we all dropped everything to search for him😬) She's 23 now and he still sleeps in her bed and comes out whenever she's feeling fragile.
#PersephoneClub

BarbaraBB That is such a loving story ❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts How absolutely gorgeous 🥰 love this story ❤️ 2y
See All 18 Comments
Reggie Awwww 2y
LeahBergen Oh, this is so lovely. Look at Teddy! 😭 2y
TrishB Lovely ♥️ 2y
squirrelbrain How lovely! 🐻❤️ 2y
Tamra Sweet! 2y
youneverarrived So so sweet ❤️ 2y
jlhammar How perfect! He looks so well-loved. That really was such a touching scene in the book. 2y
dabbe Absolutely precious.❣️ 2y
Gissy Priceless! 😍❤️❤️❤️ 2y
Centique Oh wow! He is a treasure 😍 2y
Jeg Much loved. 2y
Amiable My son, who is now 29 and a Marine helicopter pilot, still has his beloved childhood Teddy! 2y
Cathythoughts I hope my parcel gets to you very soon 🤞🏻 2y
Freespirit What a lovely childhood memory for your daughter Carolyn ❤️ 2y
Rissreads ♥️ 2y
72 likes18 comments
review
Tamra
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

There is wisdom is the old adage, “Ain‘t nobody happy if mama ain‘t happy.”

Definitely a progressive novel and I can see why contemporary critics suggested Fisher return to writing in a traditional vein, as in “fairy tales” more appropriate for women.

I enjoyed Fisher‘s short essay on successful marriages! Basically, by whatever “pattern” a couple achieves a reasonably happy & healthy unit is all good. 😊 #persephoneclub

jlhammar Ha, love that! Great review. Is that essay included in your edition? I‘m going to have to see if I can find that somewhere. 2y
Tamra @jlhammar it appears to be from the LA Examiner, 1924. (edited) 2y
See All 9 Comments
ImperfectCJ I read this one almost 10 years ago and remember loving it. It was so different than I expected, so modern-sounding...even more than modern in some ways. 2y
Tamra @ImperfectCJ agreed, it took me by surprise. As I‘m sure it did her readership. 2y
LeahBergen Great review! That essay wasn‘t included in my edition but there was a good afterword that talked about DCF‘s marriage and how her husband was basically “The Home-Maker” in their relationship. 2y
Tamra @LeahBergen oh that is interesting! She‘s writing from experience. 2y
Cathythoughts Nice review 👍🏻I‘ve just started and I can see I won‘t be able to put this down. Great storytelling and characters. Also I‘m so curious as she is set on the same pedestal as Edith Wharton in the introduction ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
andrew61 Great review. I will reintroduction once I'm finished as i love to learn about the author's life story. 2y
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review
LeahBergen
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this thought-provoking, ahead-of-its-time 1924 novel.

Eva, a house-proud, unhappy mother, finds her world turned upside down when her husband is paralyzed in an accident. Will their lifestyle be accepted when she finds a fulfilling career and her husband flourishes as a “househusband”? I was fully invested in their sweet childrens‘ lives, too!

What did you think, #PersephoneClub ? 😀

Cathythoughts Great review Leah! Sounds like a good one 👍🏻I havnt started yet I‘m afraid I‘m way behind.. but hope to start this weekend. 2y
Cathythoughts And I love this picture ❤️ 2y
See All 30 Comments
andrew61 Great review leah. I am halfway through. I love the characters, really enjoying the story. 2y
batsy A gorgeous stack of Persephones 😍 2y
Bookbuyingaddict Mine hasn‘t arrived yet 😕I have also got saplings and Marianne haven‘t read those yet and they were sisters , they knew mr knight , to bed with grand music and expiation 👍😆x x. 2y
tpixie Great Review! The premise sounds great! Lovely cover! 🥰🥰🥰 2y
Aimeesue Nice review! I love this cover. It reminds me of the staircase in my grandparent's house where my cousins and I would sit around reading comic books for HOURS. Must be the lighting and the quilt. 🙂 2y
quietjenn What a picture! Glad people are enjoying the book. 2y
Tamra Fantastic pic & review! 😊 2y
jlhammar That is one beautiful stack of books! Wonderful review. How she wrote children was one of the stand-outs for me as well. Her knowledge of and passion for the Montessori method of child-rearing and education really comes through. 2y
Gissy I‘m still waiting for my copy🙁🤷🏽‍♀️I will read as soon as it arrives. Does Waterstone know where PR is?😂 2y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! I think you might enjoy this when you get to it. 😊 2y
LeahBergen @andrew61 Thanks, Andrew! 2y
LeahBergen @batsy The Persephone Classics are always pretty. 😊 2y
LeahBergen @Karons1 I hope yours arrives soon! It always takes a long while for Persephone orders to get to me here in Canada. 2y
LeahBergen @tpixie Thanks! 😘 2y
LeahBergen @Aimeesue That‘s such a lovely memory! 2y
LeahBergen @quietjenn I saw your review on Goodreads and agree with your comments on the preachy bits. 😆 2y
LeahBergen @Tamra Thanks! 😘 2y
LeahBergen @jlhammar It certainly did come through, didn‘t it? I enjoyed learning more about her and her own marriage in the introduction and afterword. 2y
LeahBergen @Gissy I know what it‘s like! My orders take a long time to arrive here in Canada. I also recently read that UK mail was disrupted by strikes and they were asking people to hold off on sending international mail because they had a backlog. 2y
Tamra @LeahBergen @quietjenn preachy bits? I got the same vibe in parts. 😉 This makes me realize I‘m more willing to forgive/overlook it in older works, but less so for contemporary writing. I need to ponder why. 2y
LeahBergen @Tamra That is EXACTLY me. I‘ll be reading a vintage book and happily say, “oh, a product of its time” or some such thing. In a modern book? I‘ll cuss and eye roll. 😆😆 2y
quietjenn @LeahBergen @Tamra yeah, usually I'm pretty good about going with it, but sometimes I am grumpy. 😅 I also read it as a pretty crappy e-book, so that probably didn't help. 2y
elkeOriginal @Aimeesue I was surprised to see the credit in the back that this cover is a Norman Rockwell! 2y
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen You have so many of the illustrated Classics versions! I have, a couple of times, chosen those over the grey because the art was so inviting… 2y
Aimeesue @elkeOriginal OMG - THAT'S why it reminds me of my grandmother's house. We lived very near Rockwell's Studio, and she had a lot of his prints in her house. I actually worked in one of the buildings in his "Christmas on Main Street" piece for a while. ? 2y
elkeOriginal @Aimeesue Amazing! It IS grandma‘s house 😉 2y
CarolynM Great review. I‘ve just finished, still thinking about my review. 2y
88 likes5 stack adds30 comments
blurb
Bookbuyingaddict
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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#persephoneclub

@Aimeesue
@LeahBergen @jlhammar @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @sisilia @CarolynM @Oryx @elkeOriginal @BookNAround @Eyelit @Gissy @Tamra @andrew61 @HeatherBlue @Cathythoughts @rsteve388 @Kristin_Reads @willaful @mom_of_4
it‘s on the way 😆sorry I‘m late ⏰ 😀il start it as soon as it arrives 🙌 happy 😃 reading , the reviews look great & a super cosy read , Iv never read a bad Persephone have any of you? 😊 xx

Aimeesue You're not late! I only just started. Enjoy! 2y
jlhammar Hope it arrives soon. I think you‘ll get through it quickly once it does. Once I started, I didn‘t want to stop! 2y
LeahBergen I‘m still reading (and loving!) it and no, I don‘t think I‘ve read a bad Persephone yet. 😆 2y
Cathythoughts I hope you get it soon ! I havnt started yet .. so I‘ll be keeping you company 👍🏻❤️ (edited) 2y
Gissy Same here, I‘m still waiting for my copy🤷🏽‍♀️ 2y
23 likes5 comments
blurb
Aimeesue
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Im not sure why, but I feel like this one should be read by candlelight, or in a cozy bedroom. Definitely with your teddy bear.
True story: I have a teddy bear I sleep with, because I have shoulder issues and it fits better than any of the pillows I've tried. I am scared to wash him for fear that he will lose his shape and be rendered useless for shoulder support purposes. The terror is real, friends. 🧸
#Persephoneclub

jlhammar Lovely photo. I thought the scene where Stephen is reunited with his Teddy was beautifully written. “What the smell of incense and the murmur of prayers are to the believer, what the first whiffs of his pipe to the dog-tired woodsman, what a green-shaded lamp over a quiet study table to the scholar, all that and more was Teddy to Stephen.” 2y
Aimeesue @jlhammar ❤️❤️🧸❤️❤️ Lovely scene! 2y
Tamra Love it! 💙 2y
See All 7 Comments
LeahBergen Don‘t wash Teddy!! 😊 2y
rubyslippersreads I was so worried about Teddy! 🧸 2y
Aimeesue @LeahBergen No way! It's just not safe! 2y
Aimeesue @rubyslippersreads @tamra I haven't finished yet, so I continue to live in a state of apprehension. 😄 2y
42 likes7 comments
review
jlhammar
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

Really loved this. Maybe I was just feeling emotional, but I was moved. It was wonderful to watch the evolution of this family from stifled to thriving. DCF looks critically at the gender and child-rearing norms of the day and invites an open mind. What does it really mean to make a home? Something very different to Lester than to Eva. I‘ll always smile thinking of Lester‘s newspapers on the floor solution.

#PersephoneClub

Tamra It is a compulsive read - I‘m forcing myself to slow down! 🙃 2y
LeahBergen I just picked it up today and read about 85 pages! I‘ll come back to read your review when I‘m done. 😊 2y
batsy Plus that cover is just lovely 💕 2y
See All 11 Comments
Gissy My book has not arrived yet! ☹️ 2y
jlhammar @Gissy Oh no! Hope you get it soon. 2y
Bookbuyingaddict @jlhammar @Gissy mine hasn‘t arrived either 🙈 2y
LeahBergen Great review! I liked the newspapers on the floor idea, too. 😆 2y
Cathythoughts Lovely review! I‘m only getting to it this weekend 👍🏻❤️ 2y
jlhammar @LeahBergen Thanks! I really just loved that whole scene, when Mattie is shocked and Lester replies “That's a sample of the way WE do business.“ 😆 2y
jlhammar @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! Hope you enjoy. 2y
CarolynM Great review. The social norms were horribly damaging to this family! 2y
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Tamra
Home Maker the (Revised) | Dorothy Canfield, Mark J Madigan
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Ooof, passages like this bump me right out of the flow of the narrative. 🫤 Novel of its time.

#Persephoneclub

TheBookHippie 😵‍💫 2y
jlhammar Yes, it was like a record scratch when I read that. 2y
See All 7 Comments
Tamra @jlhammar that‘s a good way to describe it! 2y
batsy Oh, yikes! 2y
rubyslippersreads @jlhammar That‘s a perfect description. Very jarring. 2y
LeahBergen Yes! This bit jolted me right out of the narrative. 😬 2y
47 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
Tamra
Home-Maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Breakfast with Eva. Oh my, the first two chapters certainly set a tone. 😳

No Persephone edition this time - this edition was on my shelves. 👍🏾 #persephoneclub

LeahBergen I like the cover art! 2y
Tamra @LeahBergen definitely is fitting. 😅 2y
rubyslippersreads Do I see Return to Jalna peeking out? 2y
Tamra @rubyslippersreads yes! Have you read it? I haven‘t yet. 😅 2y
60 likes4 comments
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jlhammar
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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After reading the preface last night and learning there was a 1925 silent film adaptation, had to do a little browsing. Found some fun movie posters. “It will start a red hot discussion!” - what a great tagline! Another poster read “Do you believe every man should be a money-getter?”

#PersephoneClub

LeahBergen “One of the year‘s good pictures”. Love it!! 2y
Aimeesue @LeahBergen Right? 🤣 2y
Tamra Fun! 2y
See All 10 Comments
quietjenn Excellent! 2y
Kristin_Reads Love it! 2y
willaful Fascinating! 2y
sisilia Wow an excellent find! 2y
rubyslippersreads At first I thought that couldn‘t possibly be blood, but now that I‘m further along in the book, I‘m fairly sure someone is going to kill somebody. 😆 (edited) 2y
Cathythoughts A silent film adaptation!! Wow wow, I‘d love to see that. Must read the book first though 😁 2y
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jlhammar
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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“She was scrubbing furiously at a line of grease spots which led from the stove towards the door to the dining-room.”

So excited to be starting our #PersephoneClub pick for the month!
#FirstLineFridays

batsy Ooof! I can feel her torment 😆 2y
LeahBergen 👏👏 And what a pretty teacup! 2y
BarbaraBB This book is so freaking good! 2y
See All 6 Comments
Tamra Oh, dreadful chore! 2y
jlhammar @BarbaraBB It really is! Loving it so far. 2y
jlhammar @LeahBergen Thanks, Leah! 2y
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LeahBergen
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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It‘s now February so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@Aimeesue ‘s pick for us this month is The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

Tamra Thank you! 2y
Bookbuyingaddict Looking forward to it haven‘t started yet 😅x. X x 2y
See All 17 Comments
jlhammar Yay! Hoping to get started this weekend. 2y
JenniferP I absolutely loved this book! Hope you all enjoy! 2y
LeahBergen @Karons1 @jlhammar I hope to get started in the next day or two, as well. 👏 2y
LeahBergen @JenniferP Good to hear! I‘m really looking forward to this one. 😊 2y
elkeOriginal Pulling off the shelf for the bedside stack now! 📚 2y
quietjenn I'll probably sit this one out, since I read it relatively recently. But will definitely follow the conversation! 2y
CarolynM I was going to comment first thing this morning that my Persephone order hadn‘t arrived yet, but I came back from my morning walk to find my letterbox full of books! Still waiting on one, but fortunately I don‘t need that one just yet🙂 2y
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Me, too! 😄 2y
LeahBergen @quietjenn Totally makes sense! It‘s always fun to follow along with the comments though, isn‘t it? 2y
LeahBergen @CarolynM Isn‘t that the way it always works? 😆 2y
Cathythoughts Exciting! Thanks Leah. I‘ve been eyeing it recently in anticipation ❤️ 2y
Oryx Hi. Thanks for tagging - just a slight typo in my tag - but looking forward to joining in. I read this one already and loved it - will post my thoughts closer to middle of the month with everyone else ❤️ 2y
LeahBergen @Oryx Yikes! How did I miss that? So sorry. I‘m looking forward to your thoughts! 2y
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Cathythoughts
Home-Maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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I received this lovely gift. I love it , feels very appropriate as I‘m getting the house sorted for Christmas. I have my suspicions…. Who is it from ?

squirrelbrain Sounds so good! 2y
batsy Oooh! 😍 2y
See All 9 Comments
Cathythoughts @batsy I know 😁🥰 2y
LeahBergen And it‘s our first read for #PersephoneClub in 2023! 👏 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen it is , and I thought it was from you. I havnt received any other BD parcels ( only the Georgette Heyer) …. The post is slow ! I wonder if you have received my BD package?! 2y
LeahBergen Oh dear! BD shows it shipped to you on December 5th. I hope it didn‘t get lost. I haven‘t received one from you yet but our post is very slow right now, too! 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I‘m sure we will both get them soon 🤞🏻😘 2y
BarbaraBB This is such a good book! I hope you‘ll love it! 2y
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jlhammar
Home-Maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Ready for #PersephoneClub 2023! I couldn‘t believe these arrived just days after ordering. I was expecting weeks. They are currently reprinting Harriet so will try to order that later. So looking forward to reading these.

BarbaraBB This is the most beautiful image I saw all day 😍😍 (edited) 2y
squirrelbrain ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
Ruthiella Beautiful! 😍 2y
See All 9 Comments
Tamra Yay!! 2y
Caroline2 😍 2y
LeahBergen Wow! That WAS speedy. They usually take about 3 weeks to reach me here in Canada. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
quietjenn Impressive! 2y
Cathythoughts Very exciting! You‘re ready to rock ❤️ 2y
elkeOriginal Love the photo with the bookmarks! 2y
63 likes9 comments
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LitsyEvents
Home-Maker | Dorothy Canfield
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repost for @LeahBergen:

Here it is: our #PersephoneClub reading schedule for 2023! Thanks to all of our group members for voting.

Anyone on Litsy is welcome to join us for any monthly read; this is a casual #BuddyRead where we simply comment and chat on each other‘s posts and reviews.

original post: https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2514821

LeahBergen Thank you! 👍 2y
Bookbuyingaddict Thanks ☺️ x x. X 2y
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LeahBergen
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Here it is: our #PersephoneClub reading schedule for 2023! Thanks to all of our group members for voting.

Anyone on Litsy is welcome to join us for any monthly read; this is a casual “buddy read” where we simply comment and chat on each other‘s posts and reviews.

@Aimeesue @andrew61 @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @Gissy @jlhammar @LeahBergen @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads

(See more below 👇)

LeahBergen @willaful has left as a voting member but will be reading along with us for some picks. 😊 We are now 10 members (for tagging, posting, voting, etc). I thought I‘d wait until the end of the year to do our choices for 2024, if that‘s okay with those of you who didn‘t get to suggest two choices yet? We‘ll be able to see any new Persephone publications by then. 😆 2y
See All 38 Comments
sisilia Excited for this… I read the tagged book and loved it! 2y
Tamra Thank you Leah - I‘m looking forward to them! 🎉 2y
quietjenn Hooray! Very excited and I have some books to order in the new year 😉. Thank you for all your organizational skills. It definitely makes sense to not choose the others until later. 2y
Eyelit Looking forward to it! 2y
Aimeesue Yay! 2y
jlhammar Thanks, Leah! Really looking forward to all of these. Can‘t wait to place my first Persephone order! 2y
elkeOriginal Thanks for all of your organizing @LeahBergen !! Excited for this year of reads! 2y
Cathythoughts Thanks so much Leah! You‘re great for organizing all this. Looking forward to them all. 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Gissy Thank you for this wonderful book club🤗I‘m so excited to bring home those beauties to my home and read them😍How can I find the books you read this year? I will like to read those eventually. Now, I have to place the order and wait🥰 2y
rubyslippersreads Thanks for being our librarian! 😁 2y
Kristin_Reads Yay! I‘m looking forward to this. Thank you 😀 2y
LeahBergen @sisilia Good to hear! I‘ve had it on my shelves for ages. 🙄 2y
LeahBergen @Tamra Me, too! 👏 2y
LeahBergen @quietjenn I‘m looking forward to my Persephone order, too. 😆 2y
LeahBergen @Eyelit Me, too! 2y
LeahBergen @Aimeesue 👏👏 2y
LeahBergen @jlhammar And it probably won‘t be your last order! 😆😆 2y
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal You‘re so welcome. I can hardly wait. 😆 2y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts No problem, Cathy! 😘 It‘s going to be another good reading year. 😄 2y
LeahBergen @Gissy Ordering the books is certainly part of the fun! 😆😆 I‘ll tag you on the post that lists our 2022 reads. We enjoyed them all! (edited) 2y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads 😆😆 I like that! 2y
LeahBergen @Kristin_Reads It‘s great to have you reading along with us. 😊 2y
BarbaraBB Such great choices!! The Home Maker is fantastic! I have copies of Harriet and There were no windows- I might read along with you when you read them, if that‘s okay? 2y
LeahBergen @BarbaraBB Yes, yes! Please do! 😄 2y
BarbaraBB Thanks! I will then! And I can‘t wait for your thoughts on The Home Maker! 2y
Cathythoughts And I‘ve already been shopping. .. the first two books are ordered. Such fun X 2y
CarolynM Thanks Leah😘 Good decisions all round. I think it will be a very good reading year! 2y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I‘ve been shopping, too. 😆 2y
LeahBergen @CarolynM I think so, too! 👏 2y
LeahBergen Here‘s our 2023 reading list, @Jess_Read_This ! 😊 2y
Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen well.. I‘m a bit embarrassed to have liked the photo and not realized the list was there! 🫢🥴 2y
LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This 🤣 Well, I did a lot of grey Persephone posts around that time and they pretty much all look the same! 🤣 2y
Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen You are too kind and gracious over my scrolling faux pas 😂 2y
LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This Well, I‘ve liked posts and then only realized later that they were talking about something horrible going on in their lives. 😬😬 2y
Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen 😬Same… sometimes the brain and moving scrolling hand aren‘t in sync lol. We try though! 😂 2y
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review
Andrea313
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

What a complete charmer of a book! After a terrible accident that prevents her husband from working, a stifled and frustrated housewife takes a job herself while her husband tends to the house and children. They all come alive in different ways once they're able to throw off societal expectations and upend gender norms. Unexpectedly dark at times, but also joyful and tender, this is one of my favorites of the year so far. #PersephonePick

Tamra I just had this one in my hands today! I‘ll bump it up on the TBR. 3y
BarbaraBB I loved this one too 3y
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Andrea313
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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I got way behind this month with the books I'd intended to read, and I'm just now getting around to my July #PersephonePick. But I'm very happy to have finally arrived! I've been looking forward to this one. 💜

LeahBergen I recently bought this one, too. I‘ll be watching to see how you like it! 😊 3y
BarbaraBB I looooved this one! 3y
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Oryx
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

I loved this! This might be my favourite Persephone to date. Written and set in the 1920s, it's the story of a role reversal in marriage, with the mother going to work, and the father becoming the home-maker. It's so readable, and I was totally invested in this family being ok!

LeahBergen Ooo, good to hear! I must get to this one soon. 3y
BarbaraBB Loved this one too!! 3y
Caroline2 Sounds fab! Stacked. 😉 3y
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Oryx
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Even though I'm loving Malibu Rising, I've also got completely sucked in by The Home-maker. I made the mistake of following Persephone on Instagram and suddenly this book ended up at my house....

Daisy going about her day in the background, sasquatch style

TrishB Great pic 😁🐶 3y
squirrelbrain Funny how these bookshops send us books completely out of the blue! 😁🤷‍♀️ 3y
Cathythoughts Stacking 👍🏻❤️😁 3y
See All 6 Comments
erzascarletbookgasm Look at Daisy! Adorable! 😁💕 3y
Oryx @Cathythoughts just finished it, and I'd definitely recommend this one. 3y
Cathythoughts Oh good ! I may have to take the next step ... & get it 👍🏻😁 3y
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review
sisilia
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

4⭐️ The women have always been the natural home-makers. When an accident happened, Evangeline was forced to work and earn the money, while Lester stayed home taking care of the kids and the houseworks. Surprisingly, the arrangement was what both thought as ideal. The thought of a role-reversal must be unforgiven in the 1920s when this novel was published.👇🏻

sisilia It is still not 100% acceptable in the current era; and worse, some think that stay-at-home mums are just plain lazy 🙄 As always, the best thing to do is not to bother about what others think, and just do what works best for you 3y
BarbaraBB I loved this one! 3y
sisilia @BarbaraBB It‘s so well-written 3y
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starlight97 Love the plant! 🌿 3y
sisilia @starlight97 I have so many of them. They keep having babies 😹 3y
starlight97 @sisilia I know what you mean 😂 3y
batsy Lovely photo and I love that Persephone cover! 3y
sisilia @batsy I bought it because of the cover 😆 3y
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JenniferP
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Well, reading a lovely book but not in a lovely setting. Took my littlest to the ER - hoping it‘s just strep throat! We‘re in for a long night though - it‘s busy.

Graywacke Oye, good luck. Strep would be easy - antibiotic and done! 5y
Leftcoastzen Good luck. I hope he feels better soon. 5y
JenniferP @Graywacke @Leftcoastzen Yep, it's strep. I'm sure he'll feel better by tomorrow so I'm glad I took him in - despite the 3 hours at the ER! 5y
BarbaraBB Oh that must have been a hard night. I am happy he‘ll be fine. Have a very merry Christmas despite the ER and enjoy the book (one of my favorites this year ❤️) 😘 5y
JenniferP @BarbaraBB merry Christmas to you too! I picked this book because I remembered how much you liked it! My little one is already feeling much better this morning - the magic of penicillin! 5y
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LeahBergen
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Congratulations, @Librarybelle on your great, big Litfluence!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I‘ve been dying to get my hands on the tagged book ever since reading @BarbaraBB ‘s glowing reviews. Thanks for the fun giveaway! 😘😘

#200KGiveaway

Librarybelle Thank you! This looks so good! 5y
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BarbaraBB
The Home-maker | Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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September wasn‘t the best month for me. I didn‘t read much, partly because I didn‘t really like any of the books I read. All 2 or 3 star reads, with the exception of the tagged one - that one I looooved 💜.

#SeptemberStats #SeptemperWrapUp

Kalalalatja That‘s too bad! A lot of my reading time this month was spent on a bad book, too, and looking back, I wish I had bailed 😅 5y
LeeRHarry I had similar luck - hopefully October will be a better month for us 😊 5y
BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja O really? Which one? 5y
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Liz_M You didn't like Severence? Maybe I won't try to hunt it down. 5y
BarbaraBB @LeeRHarry Let‘s hope so indeed, it gets a bit frustrating, reading disappointing books! 5y
BarbaraBB @Liz_M I did like it, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. I don‘t remember much about it even now! 5y
Kalalalatja This 👉 I think part of it was timing, but it just bored me, and felt like a chore I had to get through 5y
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review
BarbaraBB
The Home Maker | Dorothy Canfield, Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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Pickpick

An apparently cozy novel about a family where the man becomes paralyzed and is home bound, which means that the mother has to go to working. However, there is so much under the surface. Written in 1924, Canfield Fisher breaks in each sentence with traditional role patterns, as experienced by both adults, their children and their community. A beautiful, poignant book.

#ReadingUSA2019 #Vermont

Ruthiella Definitely on my list!😀 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Sounds good 👍 5y
Librarybelle This sounds good! 5y
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen Lovely review ❤️ 5y
Suet624 I just saw you read this for Vermont for your Reading USA challenge. It‘s an interesting choice considering how many authors Vermont has. 5y
BarbaraBB @Suet624 It was not really a choice, I read that one (and loved it!) and it coincidentally fitted the prompt! 5y
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Chrisbookarama
The Home Maker | Dorothy Canfield, Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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"the fanatic feminists were right"

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Betty
The Home Maker | Dorothy Canfield, Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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#BookPyramid of #PersephoneBooks end papers topped off by the shop. Learned about it here on Litsy this week. #PhotoadayNov16

23 likes1 comment
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BooksForYears
The Home Maker | Dorothy Canfield, Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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#PhotoADayNov16 Day 4 - Set in a Small Town

One of the few #PersephoneBooks set in America, THE HOME-MAKER, published in 1924, explores gender roles in an early twentieth century, small, Midwest town. A housewife must become the breadwinner when her husband becomes seriously injured and is confined to their home with the children.

#SetInASmallTown #Feminism #GenderRoles

Wilkie I just ordered this book for my Mum's birthday💖 8y
BooksForYears @Wilkie What a fab gift! 8y
Eyelit I loved this one! Good choice 😃 8y
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missjenniferlowe The quilt in your picture looks lovely! Did you make it? 8y
Lacythebookworm Persephone ❤️❤️ 8y
Laura317 I'm crushing on the quilt, too! 8y
Arbol I read this about a decade ago and I was blown away at how ahead of her time this woman was. I have wanted to buy a copy ever since - I'm so glad to find out it has been republished. It really is a wonderful book. 8y
Bradleygirl Oh goodness. I love her Understood Betsy beyond reason, so must add this to the stack. 8y
BooksForYears @Bradleygirl And I'll be adding UNDERSTOOD BETSY to my stack! 8y
rubyslippersreads Love Understood Betsy; excited to learn about this. 8y
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