This is an incredibly deep dive into some historical fiction based on the author's family ties. There is so much detail and it weaves several generations of families. The list of characters in the front is indispensable and you will need to refer frequently (or at least I did). I commend the author on the details and immense information. I would definitely recommend to read it in physical form in order to reference the aforementioned list of characters. ( )

3.75 stars

This book is based on some real people discovered during the author’s genealogical research. It follows a few families from the early 1800s to just into the early 1900s (the bulk is during the 19th century). There is a historical note at the end that talks about some of what really happened.

(Early 1800s): Rachel and Joseph are in love and want to marry when Joseph tells Rachel that he is leaving to go to war. Rachel is devastated. She eventually marries someone who abuses her and her life ends up in jeopardy.

(Later 1800s): a few generations later, drunkard Jacob Marks (a descendant of Joseph) successively marries three women, each younger than the last. His first wife, Mary, falls down the stairs and dies; His second wife, Bess, disappears; his third wife, Tilda(? Or Thirza… these are two very similar names in the book and I can’t remember which one was Jacob’s third wife), is “lucky” enough to have close family nearby who start asking questions when she, too, disappears.

I thought this was really good, but for a while it went back and forth in time (which usually doesn’t bother me too much), and what was trickier was figuring out all the people and how they were related. There is a cast of characters at the front of the book, but even when I referred to it, I still had trouble figuring things out. That’s what took it down a ¼ star for me. However, I thought the storyline was very good. ( )

This book could so easily be Historical Fiction.
Three families through several generations are inexplicably tied together in a complex tapestry of life, making a truly unput-downable book.
The characters and setting take the reader back into the 1800’s and early 1900’s so for a few fantastic hours we are transported from our present day lives. So much has changed, and yet, so much is the same.
A very enjoyable book; highly recommended. ( )

What a fascinating way to weave together the stories of three families related to each other even though some of them didn't know it, and use family genealogy as the basis for a fiction piece. As I was reading I reflected on how much has changed, and how much hasn't changed. I really felt like I knew all of the characters and was invested in what happened to them.

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Etourdissant ! Un ébranlement de conscience ! Les destins de toute une famille du coté paternel de l'auteur, sont disséqués avec élégance jusq'aux moments où l'inimaginable se produit... et se répète !
De cette lignée fracassée par le malheur, la cause des femmes est soigneusement relatée deux siècles durant et le lecteur, effaré, apprend que rien n'a changé... ou si peu. quel sera l'avenir de ces enfants nés de mères mortes des violences conjuguales ?
Leurs boulversants portraits est le même qu'à notre époque : ils se sont débattus, en famille d'accueil ou à l'orphelinat... sans finalement trouver la sécurité d'un foyer aimant, et où leur fratrie est odieusement séparée !

Un cri d'angoisse ! Le rythme est effréné !
C'est un Appel à l'aide de ces malheureux, qui dure depuis déjà des siècles, sinon depuis l'aube de l'humanité. Un hurlement inaudible de ces femmes dont les maris abusent, battent, et parfois tuent.

Lisez ce livre ! Une épopée historique sur la vie et la condition des femmes, des petites gens, domestiques, femmes de ménage, mais aussi le comportement outrancier des châtelains qui ne convoitaient que les femmes à leur service, et la fortune des alliances arrangées.

De ces siècles de privilèges concédés aux riches, l'histoire passionnante, suit la trâme d'un secret de famille tellement honteux que presque tous les descendants (sauf un) n'ont pu se relever et sont morts... Le suspense est palpable, le monde ouvrier misérablement pauvre contraste férocement avec la bourgeoisie de l'époque. Et surtout, la seule alternative à une pauvresse, est d'épouser au plus vite un homme, bon si possible, afin de n'être pas un fardeau pour ses parents vieillissants...

Barbara Cole m'a plongé à une époque d'il y a deux cents ans, comme s'il s'agissait d'aujourd'hui ! L'effroyable joug domestique qu'exerçaient les maris sur leurs épouses, est malheureusement d'actualité encore de nos jours, où une femme meure sous les coups chaque minute dans le monde.

Un vibrant récit qui plaide pour ces femmesqui n'ont nulle porte de sortie. Une histoire nécéssaire, pour oeuvrer en leur faveur et protéger l'enfance.

Magistrale ! ( )