Julie Gerstenblatt

The time, place, and premise of Daughters of Nantucket by Julie Gerstenblatt are fascinating. The story, however, has a very modern feel. The neat package of the ending and the dramatic change in outlook of certain characters gives the story a less real rendering. Nevertheless, the book is successful in what I love about historical fiction - introducing me to a history that I may not otherwise have learned.

Read my complete review at rel="nofollow" target="_top">http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/daughters-of-nantucket.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.… (mehr)

Fantastic story of three women, a wealthy ship captain's wife, a free Black shipowner, and the astronomer Maria Mitchell, surviving the fire of 1846, which consumed the entire business district and two of the wharves and associated ships in Nantucket town. It was interesting to learn how progressive Nantucket was (and wasn't) in the 19th century. The good white folks were abolitionists but didn't fraternize with the Blacks.

When the story opens, the school committee is on the brink of re-segregating the schools. The Civil War has yet to take place. The ship captain's wife, Eliza Macy, is trying to save her daughter's failing store by opposing a permit for the Black women, Meg Wright, and her husband to open a competing store on the main street.

Maria Mitchell is trying to carve out a life as a closeted lesbian woman, while searching for comets from her rooftop.

They all end up together on the night of the fire, but I won't spoil the story.

I really enjoyed the story, but two things keep it from being a 5 star review. One is language. The characters do not speak in the vernacular of the time. Although there are many Quakers in the story, they never utter a "thee" or a "thou." Their language sounds very modern, which takes away from the historical validity of the tale. I guess the author was trying to appeal to a mass market, and hey, it would make a great movie.

And then there is the ending, where everything is wrapped up a little too neatly, like a Hallmark movie. It is too bad, because the author did her historical research, right down to the whalebone dildo that seafaring crews gave their wives to comfort them during their long absences from home!… (mehr)

I really enjoyed this historical fiction story. I had never heard of this fire in Nantucket and I enjoyed the descriptions of the fire and how it was finally put out. I loved the women featured in the story. I enjoyed reading about what some women in this town might have been going through and how they handled being alone because their men were at sea for so long. I loved reading how strong these women were but also how vulnerable they were. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.… (mehr)