Massachussets

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

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What a compelling but sad story about a child (13) whose poverty striken family, send Emmeline to work in the hazardous cotton Mills on New Hampshire. The subsequent events find her then moving away from the area back to her family, but again, fate deals her a terrible hand. Based on a true story, very readable
@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful #persephoneclub

andrew61 A few spoiler comments. I was shouting as I read abt Maguire's seduction of Emmeline,an innocent 13 year old, who only wanted a friend rather than a predator. Then ostracised by her community! Such a judgemental society. Hannah, then her saviour , seems to befriend her but rips her child from Emmeline. Finally, what to say abt Matthew, I am still reeling when I thought happiness had finally arrived. Wish we were all sat around a table to discuss. 2d

Tamra @andrew61 yes, I wish we could discuss live! Matthew - I really didn‘t expect him to disappear completely. 😒 When I did some Googling, it does appear the real Emmeline was very much alone in the later years of her life. Even her son was absent. 2d

andrew61 @Tamra I found the relationship with her younger sister interesting, and it was sad that her family effectively abandoned her. It would have been curious to know what Matthew did next. 2d

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Tamra @andrew61 I was left wondering as well. 2d

Cathythoughts Great review. I wish we could discuss too. Maybe we‘ll get a zoom going someday … 2d

LeahBergen I was practically shouting, too! We would‘ve had such a loud and indignant, in-person book club 😆😆 2d

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2d

CarolynM Great review. There was so much that made me angry and the victim blaming was infuriating. 1d

31 likes8 comments

CarolynM

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

pick

#PersephoneClub

OMG! Speechless! Off to read all those spoiler comments in the other reviews now.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

TrishB That‘s a great reading match 😁 1w

Bookbuyingaddict Haven‘t started it yet but will do after my festive reads and over the holidays 👍😍💝 1w

Crazeedi Thanks for my card Carolyn, one is coming your way! Merry Christmas and happy new year ❤️ 7d

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Tamra I‘m glad you finished! 😬 It‘s hard to stop when you get started. (edited) 7d

Cathythoughts Speechless is right! What a story. 7d

LeahBergen That‘s just how I felt when I finished it!! 😮 7d

julieclair Can‘t wait to read this!!! 6d

Ruthiella You guys are making me want to drop everything and get a copy of this book! 😂 6d

CarolynM @Ruthiella Do it! 6d

CarolynM @Crazeedi You‘re very welcome😘 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you too🎄 6d

Read-n-Bloom Really like your bookmark! 6d

CarolynM @Read-n-Bloom I can‘t take any credit. Persephone books from the Persephone Bookshop come with a bookmark that matches their individual end papers which are usually inspired by the book. This book is about a girl sent to work in a cotton mill in the 1850s. 5d

Read-n-Bloom @CarolynM That is so 🆒! 5d

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Tamra

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

pick

A morality tale Rossner tells in riveting fashion! Loved it even more after watching this documentary. Highly recommend as a follow-up. https://youtu.be/IRN91TeXAYE?si=L5r0urNjlonFkqvH

⚠️Spoiler Warning!!! Do NOT watch the film unless you want to know the story before reading the book.

#PersephoneClub

Tamra I gasped and woke up my husband to tell him this is mash up of Lolita & Oedipus! 😳 Whether or not it‘s actually true, the very fact the villagers shunned her for believing both “sins” as true makes it a very sad tale. Women always bearing the brunt of social punishment for any appearance of impropriety. 1w

LeahBergen Wasn‘t it crazy?? That‘s why I couldn‘t say too much in my review of it on here when I was done. 😂 1w

LeahBergen And I‘m loving your “mill girl” themed photo! ❤️ 1w

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Tamra @LeahBergen 😉 1w

Vansa This sounds amazing, thanks for recommending 1w

CarolynM I‘m about 3/4 of the way through. Can‘t wait to read all the spoiler comments! 1w

Cathythoughts Great photo ❤️ Thankyou for that link. 1w

Cathythoughts @Tamra @LeahBergen Lolita & Oedipus ! Yes that‘s it. Em really went through the mill ( pun not intended) from the time she was so young and left home. That poor girl 💔 1w

CarolynM I was completely shocked by that twist too. It is horrifying to me that she was the “sinner” when she was the victim in both cases, firstly of a predator, then of her aunt the child stealer. And before that the victim of her family, sending her into a foreign, adult environment at such a young age with so little knowledge. 1w

Tamra @Cathythoughts think of how many girls. 😢 7d

Tamra @CarolynM good point about victimizing the victim. Never ends - still happening. 😑 7d

Tamra @Vansa I think you‘ll like it - reads like a page turning thriller! 🥹 7d

47 likes12 comments

Cathythoughts

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

pick

Emmeline , a great story. Looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks. It‘s a winner for me. I couldn‘t put it down. Now for a mince pie @andrew61 #PeresphoneClub

Tamra Cozy pic! ☺️ I started and it hooked me right away. I had forgotten it was based on a true story. 2w

Cathythoughts @Tamra Oh ! I didn‘t realize it was based on a true story 👍🏻 2w

Tamra @Cathythoughts there is a little note on the backside of the title page. 2w

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Cathythoughts @Tamra Oh yes I see it now. Oh dear ❤️. I never saw that earlier. 2w

Tamra @Cathythoughts well, it is little. 🧐 2w

Cathythoughts @Tamra I‘ll be looking forward to what you think of it all. 2w

LeahBergen Look at that mince pie! ❤️ And as we discussed on your other post, the first half was a bit better but still an all around pick. 👍 2w

LeahBergen @Tamra Yes, I ended up Googling the history/ pseudo history when I finished. Wait until you‘re done the book to do that (unless you already have 😆)! (edited) 2w

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen An absolute all round pick 👍🏻 loved it. I‘m averaging 1 to 2 mince pies per day 😂 2w

LeahBergen You‘re really restraining yourself! 😆 2w

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen 😂 .. then there‘s the cream to smother it with. 2w

Tamra @LeahBergen no I haven‘t and I won‘t! 😅😆 2w

Tamra @LeahBergen 😂 2w

andrew61 You deserve that Cathy after such an emotionally draining story. Looks very nice. 2w

AnnCrystal 😋👍💝. 1w

CarolynM Just about to start😊 1w

Tamra @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I‘m halfway thru. 😳🫣🫢 1w

LeahBergen @Tamra Eek! 😬 1w

Cathythoughts @Tamra 😳😳😳 1w

70 likes19 comments

Cathythoughts

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

Cosying up with Emmeline. I‘m at the halfway point … and I can‘t put it down!! #PersephoneClub

Tamra Oooooo, yay! Glad to know it‘s that good. Now that I‘ve finished Belle I can start Emmeline today. 😃 (edited) 2w

Cathythoughts @Tamra It‘s soooo good 👍🏻❤️ 2w

LeahBergen I couldn‘t put it down either! 2w

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BarbaraBB This sounds so good! 2w

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Emmeline !!!!! Where is it all going ! (edited) 2w

Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB It is 👍🏻 2w

andrew61 I finished it last night Cathy. The first half was remarkable and there is so much to say. Won't give anything away about the rest but 'enjoyed' it. 2w

Cathythoughts @andrew61 Just finished, yes I agree first half was brilliant.. a lot happens in this story. I enjoyed second half, but not as much as first half. (edited) 2w

LeahBergen @andrew61 @Cathythoughts I felt exactly the same way! I was really caught up in the first half. 2w

56 likes1 stack add9 comments

Kshakal

Christmas Bells | Jennifer Chiaverini

#bells #christmascheer @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 😍 2w

Eggs On my TBR 2w

33 likes2 comments

LiseWorks

Christmas Bells | Jennifer Chiaverini

December 14th #ChristmasCheer Bell #WinterGames24 #HolidayBookDragons @StayCurious @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty 🤍🔔 2w

Eggs On the TBR! 2w

21 likes2 comments

LeahBergen

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

pick

Oh, Emmeline. 😬

I can‘t say much else right now but I can hardly wait to discuss this with you all!

#PersephoneClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra I have to get started! I‘ve been preoccupied by Belle Greene. 😬 It‘s up next! 2w

LeahBergen @Tamra Oh, good. I need to discuss it with someone! 😂😂 2w

elkeOriginal Your shelves kill me every time 😵😉 2w

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LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I may have a problem 😆 2w

Suet624 This photo is so abundant. 2w

elkeOriginal A beautiful problem 💕 2w

Cathythoughts I need to get going with Emmeline, I should have time this weekend ❤️ 2w

LeahBergen @Suet624 I like that word choice! 😊 2w

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal 😘 2w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yay! 👏 2w

CarolynM Hoping to get started soon. 2w

LeahBergen @CarolynM Good. I really need some input. 😂 2w

andrew61 Exactly half way through Leah after a very disturbing chapter. All I can say, head in hands, is dear oh dear oh dear. 2w

LeahBergen @andrew61 Right?? 2w

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Just finished it Leah , I did see that ending coming 😳.. It was that first moment of meeting when she looked into his eyes, I thought she recognised something. Then his age , his boyishness, , I got suspicious… great book 2w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I suspected, too, and thought, “Noooo, it is NOT going there…” Haha!! 2w

Tamra I did not see the end coming! 🥹 I went down the rabbit hole and found the circa 1970s documentary. Based on the maker‘s description, it appears he brought the story & Nettie Mitchell to Rossner‘s attention. Applause to Nettie for illuminating the shame of shunning. @Cathythoughts 1w

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts I read another article by someone who did a deep dive into the genealogy and the dates and ages of her husbands don‘t match up. It seems like the whole story has had a bit of “local folklore” added to it over the years. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1w

Tamra @LeahBergen I got the same impression from the film, i.e. folklore. (edited) 1w

LeahBergen @Tamra Interesting! I‘m definitely going to watch it (you know… after my wrapping, baking, etc 😂). 1w

Tamra @LeahBergen 😅 Indeed! We could always use an extra week. 1w

Cathythoughts @Tamra @LeahBergen I read it as fiction , only after finding out it was true. It seemed a little far fetched , but truth is stranger than fiction. I took from it the danger and sadness of secrets , so many secrets ( shame ) buried over time wounded and festering. I wondered about the mother too , what happened to her and her relationship with Emmeline over the years. I liked the first half where Em‘s character had time to be explored. 1w

Cathythoughts I must look up the film 👍🏻 @LeahBergen @Tamra 1w

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @Tamra Stop ! There‘s some work in Christmas 😂 I‘m feeling like super woman 😂 so much to get done. 1w

Tamra @Cathythoughts I suspect it has essences of truth in it. I agree with you, the point is secrecy, shaming, social norms, poverty, patriarchy, etc. So interesting Mrs. Bass had her own similar secret, who better to be suspicious & judgmental, even though she did give warning? But how could it not be lost on a barely teen? 1w

Tamra @Cathythoughts🦸‍♀️ 1w

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts I definitely think there must be a bit of truth to it somewhere, just as you say. And I was wondering about the apathy of the mother, too. A fascinating read! 1w

Tamra @LeahBergen @cathythoughts the documentary highlights how desperate impoverished families were. I‘m thinking some of the apathy would stem from that; a woman/mother in those circumstances had to be dog tired and perhaps felt hopeless & helpless. However later in the story I got the impression the mother suffered from mental illness or dementia? (edited) 1w

LeahBergen @Tamra That‘s true. It‘s like she gave up and just couldn‘t handle or face anything more in her life. And yes, I think she definitely had some sort of mental illness/dementia going on at the end. And wasn‘t that sister a nasty piece of work? 😆 1w

Tamra @LeahBergen good lord yes! I wanted to slap her. 😜 1w

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @Tamra Yes , I agree that the mother had some form of mental illness, she seemed to shut down. 1w

CarolynM @Cathythoughts @Tamra I‘ve just finished & I‘m so glad I can talk to you about it, now that I‘ve recovered the power of speech. There is so much to be outraged about, not least the “morality” that kept poor Emmeline so ignorant she was completely vulnerable to a predator & had no hope of understanding the “warnings”. And the victim blaming from start to finish! It is horrible to think that any of it could be true, but we know that it could. 😭😤🤬 (edited) 1w

Tamra @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen agreed - so much fault to go around! I find the shunning without regard to the truths of the matter particularly disturbing (to the degree it occurred to the real Em). Reminds me of The Scarlet Letter as well. Humanity seems to have a penchant for shunning/ghosting/shaming/canceling, which is so effective in coercing conformity to norms since we‘re a social co-dependent species. 7d

LeahBergen @CarolynM @Tamra @Cathythoughts Right?? I was waiting impatiently for others to finish it!! 😆 It was just infuriating. All of her “sins” were completely unintentional and yet her family treated her as if she was evil to the core and out to specifically humiliate them. Gah!! 7d

53 likes34 comments

Bookbuyingaddict

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

#persephoneclub mine arrived today sorry Iv cheated and got a second hand copy rather than a Persephone - happy reading 📖 😀

LeahBergen That‘s a cool old edition! 3w

Cathythoughts Great cover ❤️ 3w

26 likes2 comments

LeahBergen

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

I‘m really enjoying the beginning of this book, #PersephoneClub people!

I Googled some images to see what Lowell looked like as a mill town and look … a little doffer. So young! 💔

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra She is cute, but the pic makes me thankful for child labor laws, in as much as they are passed and enforced. 🫤 3w

Leftcoastzen Oh my gosh , what a photo. 😳 3w

elkeOriginal 🥺 3w

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LeahBergen @Tamra Exactly. 😞 3w

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @elkeOriginal Right? 😢 3w

Cathythoughts Yes, so young, the poor girl. My copy arrived from Persephone yesterday, I‘ve just read the first few pages , very engaging. 3w

LeahBergen It is engaging, isn‘t it? I must‘ve been in the mood for some historical fiction as I liked it right away. @Cathythoughts 3w

rubyslippersreads I may have read this before (in which case I look forward to a reread), but I could also be confusing it with another novel about the Lowell Mills,

Call the Darkness Light

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I KNOW I‘ve read it before (in the 1980s) as I recognize the cover on the mass market paperback. I don‘t remember a thing, of course 😆😆 3w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I also recognize the cover of Call the Darkness Light but I don‘t THINK I‘ve read that one 3w

Cathythoughts Hi Leah , I just went to post you something for Christmas and the lady said , no post to Canada as there is a strike. I‘ll keep an eye on the situation and send it when the strike is over. ❤️🌲 3w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, how thoughtful you are! Thank you, Cathy. 😘 Yes, this stupid strike has been going on too long! 3w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, and I sent you a little book directly from Blackwell‘s. 😘 3w

Cathythoughts Thankyou Leah ❤️ that‘s very kind. As soon as the strike is over, I‘ll send on my gift… 👍🏻😁 3w

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