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 expectedโand 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 theyโve both found happiness in the midst of their mourningโuntil Henryโs first wife and children show up, alive and having finally escaped captivity.
I quite enjoyed this fictionalized account of a true story and actual legal case from the late 1800โs. I am looking forward to a great book club discussion about this story. Many womenโs issues, what ifโs, and the fact that the truth is often stranger than fiction will be brought to the table. Never before had I considered the concept of polygamy by accident! Surprisingly, I liked the two wives equally which I didn’t think I would. The bonding of these two women in such remarkable circumstances was surprising, yet it speaks to the power of what women will to do to keep their family whole. Kudos to the author for making both women so likable and relatable. Look forward to reading more from this author.
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control โ from the author of The Laws of Human Nature. I... read more
Review:The Measure by Nikki Erlick was a book I waited far too long to read. I just couldnโt stomach the idea that everyone in the world would find out their relative life span. The whole idea of this scared me but when my book club chose to read it, I dug in with enthusiasm.Iโm so glad I did. This book is more about life and how we live it, rather than about dying. Itโs told by a cast of eight characters who are deeply affected by the strings they received. The length of the string parallels the length of your life. All the characters are struggling with their results because even if he or she gets a long string, there will still be people they know will be gone soon.How the world at large handles the strings was so well done. People are switching boxes hoping it could change their destiny. Support groups are offered. Protests occur. The world is in a very different place. Much of this book made me think about the differences between fate and destiny. This story offers many intertwined connections between the characters that makes for a powerful and meaningful ending. Iโm so looking forward to whatโs next from this author. @nikkierlick @williammorrowbooks William Morrow ๐ Would you open a box that told you how long your lifespan is?#themeasure #scifilight#bookreader #bookclubpick #goodbookfairy... See MoreSee Less
Thanks, this one sounds very interesting and I’ll add it to my ever lengthening “to read” list.
Marilyn B.