The Locale: Jessica's
The Book: The nail-biting climax of one of the greatest political victories in American history: the down and dirty campaign to get the last state to ratify the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote.
"Anyone interested in the history of our country's ongoing fight to put its founding values into practice--as well as those seeking the roots of current political fault lines--would be well-served by picking up The Woman's Hour." --Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Hidden Figures
Nashville, August 1920. Thirty-five states have ratified the Nineteenth Amendment, twelve have rejected or refused to vote, and one last state is needed. It all comes down to Tennessee, the moment of truth for the suffragists, after a seven-decade crusade. The opposing forces include politicians with careers at stake, liquor companies, railroad magnates, and a lot of racists who don't want black women voting. And then there are the 'Antis'--women who oppose their own enfranchisement, fearing suffrage will bring about the moral collapse of the nation. They all converge in a boiling hot summer for a vicious face-off replete with dirty tricks, betrayals and bribes, bigotry, Jack Daniel's, and the Bible.
Following a handful of remarkable women who led their respective forces into battle, along with appearances by Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Frederick Douglass, and Eleanor Roosevelt, The Woman's Hour is an inspiring story of activists winning their own freedom in one of the last campaigns forged in the shadow of the Civil War, and the beginning of the great twentieth-century battles for civil rights.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35743037-the-woman-s-hour
Sarah's Summary: Thanks for hosting Sunday, Jessica. As always, the food was amazing (I need to go to Chicken Salad Chick more frequently) and I really enjoyed my limoncello and prosecco! It was delicious! The decorations really made it- we missed our chance for our photo op! I was embarrassed that I had not finished the book but I was in good company. I actually purchased this one so perhaps I will finish it eventually. It was fascinating time in our history and I, like Holly, don’t remember learning much about it, perhaps a line in a history book. We certainly should teach our kids more detail about the 19th amendment and the struggles for sure.
We elected to meet at Cascades, weather permitting, the Sunday afternoon of Word of South (April 5th) for a picnic. If the weather doesn’t cooperated (and history shows it is often wet) Holly will host at her house. Otherwise, it sounds like a lovely opportunity to have a picnic in the park, surrounded by all things literature. I suggest we regroup closer to the date to look over the schedule for Sunday to see when/were to meet. I am slated to be in Fort Myers for soccer that weekend but if that changes, I’ll be there! As a reminder, we are reading “The Giver of Stars” by Jojo Moyes.
Keeping with the theme, we voted to read “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson for our May meeting at Kristine’s house. I have the date of that meeting as May 3rd, please correct me if I’m wrong.
Next up to present is Tassy and after her Jolynda. Safe travel for those going away for Spring Break and we’ll see you all in April!
The Vote: Kristine presented...
- Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang
- The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson WINS!!
- Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden
Up Next: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes @ Holly's on April 5th.
Next to Present: Tassy
Then:
- Jolynda
- Brenda
- Susan
- Gina
- Jana
- Susan H.
- Sarah
- Jessica
- Kristine
- Holly
