Helpful Score: 7
Wow, what a great book! It was incredibly complex for a debut novel, but Julie Klassen is an excellent storyteller and the characters just suck you in!
The cover is beautiful; it just adds to the realness of the story. I finished it in three days! 5 stars for this beauty, and I'm ready to read more of Julie Klassen!
The cover is beautiful; it just adds to the realness of the story. I finished it in three days! 5 stars for this beauty, and I'm ready to read more of Julie Klassen!
Helpful Score: 7
Julie Klassen's debut novel, Lady of Milkweed Manor, was a delight to read. The beautiful cover art first caught my eye, and the blurb on the back cover sounded intriguing enough, but one is often wary of debut novelists. I am happy to report that Klassen's work falls prey to none of the usual problems of first-time authors.
The story revolves around a young woman, Miss Charlotte Lamb, a young lady of high-society who finds herself pregnant and unwed in 19th century England. She is banished to a manor for women in her predicament - nicknamed Milkweed Manor due to the milkweeds that grow in abundance all around the place. Charlotte's story is one of heartache and growth, loss and life, and most importantly, love. The love between a mother and child, and the Father and his children is poignantly and thoughtfully portrayed.
She approaches her story with the grace and ease of a seasoned writer. The plot moves smoothly and elegantly, and though predictable at times, will still keep you glued to the page. Klassen's debut is truly a breath of fresh air in a genre that is sorely lacking in skillful writers and researchers. Which brings me to my second point: Klassen is clearly a careful and deliberate researcher, which is just as important to a period-piece as her polished prose. The author is able to effortlessly weave in fascinating and sometimes disturbing facts from the time period.
Lady of Milkweed Manor is definitely worth reading and I look forward to Klassen's future novels with great anticipation.
The story revolves around a young woman, Miss Charlotte Lamb, a young lady of high-society who finds herself pregnant and unwed in 19th century England. She is banished to a manor for women in her predicament - nicknamed Milkweed Manor due to the milkweeds that grow in abundance all around the place. Charlotte's story is one of heartache and growth, loss and life, and most importantly, love. The love between a mother and child, and the Father and his children is poignantly and thoughtfully portrayed.
She approaches her story with the grace and ease of a seasoned writer. The plot moves smoothly and elegantly, and though predictable at times, will still keep you glued to the page. Klassen's debut is truly a breath of fresh air in a genre that is sorely lacking in skillful writers and researchers. Which brings me to my second point: Klassen is clearly a careful and deliberate researcher, which is just as important to a period-piece as her polished prose. The author is able to effortlessly weave in fascinating and sometimes disturbing facts from the time period.
Lady of Milkweed Manor is definitely worth reading and I look forward to Klassen's future novels with great anticipation.
Helpful Score: 5
Upon finishing this novel, I sigh in complete contentment. This is near one of the best novels I have ever had the opportunity to fall deep within the pages and stay for a while.
From beginning to end I had my opinions of how things should go, with the slight twists and turns I never had a clue how the plot would be. Sometimes I could not read fast enough, as a matter of fact most of the time. I would not believe certain things were happening.
This is a perfect novel in regency time and I can see a bit of Austen and Jane Erye. I can easily say that readers of such will enjoy this story. It is alike, but completely unique and what a tale it tells.
Julie Klassen is beyond talented with this work and I am shocked to admit it a debut. You can bet that I will read her new novel coming out soon, The Apothecary's Daughter. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If I were able to surpass five stars, I have not a clue as to how many I would vote.
Throughout this book my heart was breaking. My soul was soaring with joy. It was one of those scenarios where you want to lay the blame, but within yourself you can see that the sinner is not much worse than yourself. Then you attempt to imagine what is going on and put yourself in their place. What would you do? How would you act? What would you want?
On a personal note, if too personal skip it, as a person who suffers depression, I can sometimes see how easy it would be to walk away from situations so hard with any foreseeable future or answer. But oh how incredible God can be when he works things out through time. His plan for us is so much more incredible than we could have ever thought. It really makes a person think.
From beginning to end I had my opinions of how things should go, with the slight twists and turns I never had a clue how the plot would be. Sometimes I could not read fast enough, as a matter of fact most of the time. I would not believe certain things were happening.
This is a perfect novel in regency time and I can see a bit of Austen and Jane Erye. I can easily say that readers of such will enjoy this story. It is alike, but completely unique and what a tale it tells.
Julie Klassen is beyond talented with this work and I am shocked to admit it a debut. You can bet that I will read her new novel coming out soon, The Apothecary's Daughter. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If I were able to surpass five stars, I have not a clue as to how many I would vote.
Throughout this book my heart was breaking. My soul was soaring with joy. It was one of those scenarios where you want to lay the blame, but within yourself you can see that the sinner is not much worse than yourself. Then you attempt to imagine what is going on and put yourself in their place. What would you do? How would you act? What would you want?
On a personal note, if too personal skip it, as a person who suffers depression, I can sometimes see how easy it would be to walk away from situations so hard with any foreseeable future or answer. But oh how incredible God can be when he works things out through time. His plan for us is so much more incredible than we could have ever thought. It really makes a person think.
Helpful Score: 3
This was an amazing story! I read the whole thing within 24 hours. She really captures the true essense of her characters, and keeps you guessing from one minute to the next about the plot.
"Charlotte Lamb is a parson's daughter who has fallen on hard times and is virtually left on her own. Going under another name in another town, she runs into an old friend and is terrified that more humiliation will be heaped upon her. But through the grace of God, he becomes her ally and friend. But he has a few secrets of his own-his regard for her when they were young, and the wife no one ever sees. When the person responsible for her fall from grace appears, will she have the strength to do what is honorable? Time will take all of them through many twists and turns of life. "
"Charlotte Lamb is a parson's daughter who has fallen on hard times and is virtually left on her own. Going under another name in another town, she runs into an old friend and is terrified that more humiliation will be heaped upon her. But through the grace of God, he becomes her ally and friend. But he has a few secrets of his own-his regard for her when they were young, and the wife no one ever sees. When the person responsible for her fall from grace appears, will she have the strength to do what is honorable? Time will take all of them through many twists and turns of life. "
Helpful Score: 2
This was a fast read and definately kept my attention. It was heartbreaking how much Charlotte had to give up when the gentleman got off nearly without any suffering. I was intrigued with the description of the life of a wet nurse. The time period was so different and I cannot imagine having someone do that service for me. One of the storylines reminded me of Rochester and sometimes the connections between character were very convinent, but I still was interested during my read.
Helpful Score: 1
In the style of a Jane Austen this was an intriguing story with very interesting factual quotes on that time period at the beginning of each chapter. Very enjoyable read!
Helpful Score: 1
I greatly enjoyed this well-written historical novel. As a good author of period fiction should, Klassen opens a window into the past which gives the reader a view into a world both familiar and strikingly different from ours. I loved learning about the now unheard of industry of wet-nursing and the frightful business of unwed mothers' homes in the England of the past. Of course, there is also a sweet love story here. I heartily recommend this book--as well as Klassen's other work, The Apothecary's Daughter.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was so different from anything I've read before. Not having ever read anything about lying-in hospitals from this time period, and knowing the in-depth research that had to be done before writing this book, I feel like I learned so much about the sad situation more than a few young ladies found themselves. Charlotte is outcast by her father and her elder sister has no compassion either. What is a young lady suppose to do? And how will she support herself and young child? You won't be disappointed with this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Being a first book from a new author, I was hesitant to get this but am so glad I did, it is now one of my favorite books of all time....definately will go on my keeper shelf. Will look forward for more books from Julie Klassen!
Helpful Score: 1
The story of Charlotte Lamb is a story that will pull at your heart strings. We come upon Charlotte when her Father and Sister have turned their back on her. Because she made the unfortunate mistake of getting pregnant. At the time of course that was the fastest way to ruin yourself, and so they shunned her and tossed her out to a lying in hospital. While Charlotte has to learn how to deal with things in a much different way, and constantly reminds herself of her sin, she does in the end make some friends.
The Lady of Milkweed Manor takes us through so many twists and turns in the story. We have beautiful highs and heart wrenching lows. From when Charlotte gives birth to her little babe, to finding that she needs to take the humiliating job of wet nurse, and excelling at it. This poor woman finds herself constantly sacrificing and constantly giving up her own chances, for the sake of others. She rarely asks why, and tends not to dwell on the negative, always pushing forward.
More than half way through I found myself wondering if Charlotte would ever have a happy ending. She is given the choice of one at one moment, but she doesnt take it. You can not help but feel pulled to her and find yourself urging her to take something for her own benefit. The Lady of Milkweed Manor is written beautifully. Julie Klassen does a wonderful job, and you will find yourself reading the book from cover to cover without looking up to see how much time has passed. And while it may take a while to come to happen, this story does make you believe happy endings do happen.
The Lady of Milkweed Manor takes us through so many twists and turns in the story. We have beautiful highs and heart wrenching lows. From when Charlotte gives birth to her little babe, to finding that she needs to take the humiliating job of wet nurse, and excelling at it. This poor woman finds herself constantly sacrificing and constantly giving up her own chances, for the sake of others. She rarely asks why, and tends not to dwell on the negative, always pushing forward.
More than half way through I found myself wondering if Charlotte would ever have a happy ending. She is given the choice of one at one moment, but she doesnt take it. You can not help but feel pulled to her and find yourself urging her to take something for her own benefit. The Lady of Milkweed Manor is written beautifully. Julie Klassen does a wonderful job, and you will find yourself reading the book from cover to cover without looking up to see how much time has passed. And while it may take a while to come to happen, this story does make you believe happy endings do happen.
I could not put this book down. I got it because I really liked The Apothecary's Daughter, but I didn't really know what it was about until I started reading. I was immediately hooked, and stayed up late to finish the book on the same day I started reading it.
**If you want to start the book not knowing what it was about like I did, stop reading now.**
I thought the world of laying-in hospitals, foundling wards, and wet nurses was intriguing, as well as the fascinating exploration of the treatment of depression and neurosis during pregnancy during this time period. Even though this book is set in Regency England, the experiences and fears of the women in the book were so relatable. As a mother, I could identify with the fears of pregnancy, the emotions nursing a child brings, and the joys of parenthood. Thankfully I have never experienced the more heartwrenching aspects of the story--the losses, the destitution, and the sacrifices.
This story was moving and kept me turning the page, wanting to know what would happen next. Would Charlotte get married? Would she be reunited with her son? Who would she marry? Would her family ever forgive her and accept her back? What would happen to her?
This book was wonderful. Yet another book by Julie Klassen that will reside on my keeper shelf.
**If you want to start the book not knowing what it was about like I did, stop reading now.**
I thought the world of laying-in hospitals, foundling wards, and wet nurses was intriguing, as well as the fascinating exploration of the treatment of depression and neurosis during pregnancy during this time period. Even though this book is set in Regency England, the experiences and fears of the women in the book were so relatable. As a mother, I could identify with the fears of pregnancy, the emotions nursing a child brings, and the joys of parenthood. Thankfully I have never experienced the more heartwrenching aspects of the story--the losses, the destitution, and the sacrifices.
This story was moving and kept me turning the page, wanting to know what would happen next. Would Charlotte get married? Would she be reunited with her son? Who would she marry? Would her family ever forgive her and accept her back? What would happen to her?
This book was wonderful. Yet another book by Julie Klassen that will reside on my keeper shelf.
This book was a real surprise. It was a new author to me, I would defenitely read her books again. I truly enjoyed this one!
I am so impressed with this author. It is a page turner and really love the history. I would read every book that she writes. "Apothecary's Daughter" is also an excellent read.
Julie Klassen's historical romances are quite different, and this debut novel of hers is a very satisfying read. Charlotte Lamb is turned out by her stern vicar father when she becomes pregnant by an unnamed man, and finds herself at the Manor Home for Unwed Mothers, nicknamed "Milkweed Manor" for the plants proliferating on its grounds. I found the historical background on the institutions of the time (18th century) and the practice of wet-nursing to be utterly fascinating, as well as the convolutions of the heroine's life as an unwed mother. To be sure, Charlotte's turns of fortune require much suspension of disbelief on the reader's part, but make for very entertaining reading. My only beef was the author's annoying penchant for switching from present to past memories without giving the reader sufficient warning, causing a lot of confusion. There were also many contrived scenes, but these are flaws a reader can (even if grudgingly) easily overlook. The ending is a little too pat, but by then the reader expects such from the author already, that it's not outrageously so. While I don't consider Klassen a keeper (I got this as a free ebook), I will be looking for her other books on my trading sites.
It was ok. It is a light romance but I still struggled with the part where the heroine is oblivious. The opening is very good and you get hooked. Enjoyable but nothing to rave about.
I enjoyed this book very much. I found the historical information fascinating, especially learning how people lived during that time. I highly recommend it.
This book was good and I did enjoy it; however, some parts do get a little long. About halfway through, I did start skimming for a few chapters, but all in all, it was good.
Terrific author who weaves a wonderful story. Keeps you interested until the last page.
** spoiler alert ** It showed in some ways that this was a first novel-some lines were just way too unrealistic to take seriously and made you aware it was a novel and you weren't "lost" in the story but one of the most impressive things about this book was its ability to show the domino effect of decisions. Charlotte being nice to Sally saved her son's life later, Sally not drugging Edmund led to her introduction to Thomas and future happiness, Daniel's kindness to Charlotte in her lowest time led to his future happiness, etc. I was surprised too that the author could actually get me sympathetic to Charlotte's decisions, even the one that led to her pregnancy. It is a good story about marrying for love vs. money and shows good relationship development between characters. I would read more from this author to see if she improves after being a writer for awhile.
