Karen K. (kkowert) - , reviewed on 4/14/2010 + 44 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

This book is set in 1760s in a Cape Code town where the English custom of leaving a widow 1/3 of the husbands estate and also leaves the widow to be cared for financially by the nearest male relative is the norm. Unfortunately for Lyddie, the main character, her son-in-law is a tight fisted, cruel, heartless brute who does not care for Lyddie at all except for the income he can get from selling her home and all her possessions after her husband of 20 years is killed in a fishing accident.

Since Lyddie is used to managing the household by herself due to her late husbands frequent absence from home as a fisherman, she decides to claim the rights to 1/3 of her property and continue to live in her own home alone. Her actions draw Lyddie into a war for independence for herself set against the backdrop of the country beginning to think of independence from England. The sketchy character development left me with too many questions as I was reading this book what happened to her relationship with her daughter that they barely know or care about each other? Why dont her grandchildren know her? I was too distracted by trying to figure out some of the relationships between her, her family and other characters to completely enjoy the book.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details