Something Worth Doing by Jane Kirkpatrick Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1853, Abigail Scott was a 19-year-old school teacher in Oregon Territory when she married Ben Duniway. Marriage meant giving up on teaching, but Abigail always believed she was meant to be more than a good wife and mother. When financial mistakes and an injury forced Ben to stop working, Abigail becomes the primary breadwinner for her growing family. What she sees as a working woman appalls her, and she devotes her life to fighting for the rights of women, including their right to vote.

Following Abigail as she bears six children, runs a millinery and a private school, helps on the farm, writes novels, gives speeches, and eventually runs a newspaper supporting women's suffrage, Something Worth Doing explores issues that will resonate strongly with modern women: the pull between career and family, finding one's place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices women encounter when they compete in male-dominated spaces. Based on a true story of a pioneer for women's rights from award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick will inspire you to believe that some things are worth doing--even when the cost is great.

                  

MY BOOK REVIEW

The book begins with Abigail's family journey west from Illinois in 1852 and takes us to a few years before her death in 1915. Abigail "Jenny" Scott, a 20-year-old, who survived the trip across the Oregon Trail. Sadly, she lost her mother and brother. She is determined to be an independent woman who earns her own money. Once she arrived in Oregon she became a teacher. She loved it. Soon she finds herself dealing with an overbearing father who demands her to get married. A handsome man, Ben, who had a crush on her asks her for her hand in marriage. She was tired of dealing with her father so she agreed to marry him . They end up having two children. Both births had complications.  Every year the realization her dreams might not happen. Ben is not your common husband during that time period. He supports her learning. He took on the domestic duties and childcare while she travels around being a woman activist. She is fighting for women to have the right to vote and become equal to men. She worked alongside Susan B. Anthony. 

Kilpatrick did her research. Her details allow you to picture the harsh realities of life on the frontier land. the pace of the book was well done. Her books are usually based on people who make a difference in life. Abigail "Jenny" Scott is one of them, I highly recommend reading "Something Worth Doing"

"I received this book courtesy of Revell, for my honest opinion"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane is internationally recognized for her lively presentations and well-researched stories that encourage and inspire.

A New York Times Bestselling author, her works have appeared in more than 50 national publications including The Oregonian, Private Pilot, and Daily Guideposts. With more than 1.5 million books in print, her 30 novels and non-fiction titles draw readers of all ages and genders. Most are historical novels based on the lives of actual historical women often about ordinary women who lived extraordinary lives. Her works have won numerous national awards including the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award, USABestBooks.com, Will Roger's Medallion Award, and in 1996, her first novel, A Sweetness to the Soul, won the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage and National Cowboy Museum. Her novels have also been finalists for the Spur Award, the Oregon Book Award, the Christy, Reader's Choice, and the WILLA in both fiction and non-fiction. Several titles have been Literary Guild and Book of the Month choices and been on the bestsellers list for independent bookstores across the country, in the Pacific Northwest and the Christian Booksellers Association. Her books have been translated into German, Dutch, Finnish and Chinese.

Check Out her Website: CLICK HERE