Journal Entry 1 by davidotto from Sterling, Illinois USA on Monday, September 30, 2002

I found the lack of quotes when someone was speaking to be very distracting. Other than that, the story was interesting, but sometimes slow. 

Journal Entry 2 by davidotto from Sterling, Illinois USA on Wednesday, March 12, 2003

Sending book off to another BC'er in Missouri.

Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 3 by mrsordonez from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Saturday, March 15, 2003

I am so very excited to get this book! Enemy Women is the book that Missouri has chosen for it's Read MOre program, that is similar to the Chicago program, but is trying to get everyone in the *state* to read the same book. There are at least twenty activities around town (a speech about the (General) Grant house on Grant's Farm, etc.) sponsored by the library in connection with the book. The author will be giving a talk on her book and selling signed copies in about two weeks, so I have to get a move on. This will be moved to the very top of my TBR pile. Thanks so much davidotto! 

Journal Entry 4 by mrsordonez from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Tuesday, March 25, 2003

I went to a book signing by the author on 3/21/03. The signing was sponsored by the Read MOre program (the Missouri State book club) and the St. Louis County Library. I got to hear the author read passages from the book (which I still haven't read yet!) and she also answered questions (some of which had already been answered in a newspaper article the day before). Click here for the first Post-Dispatch article. Here is another one. This is a third. A fourth is here. My favorite question/answer was when (of course!) the first person to ask a question made a comment about the lack of quotation marks. Jiles held up her book and tilted it. She said, "I accidentally did this" (tipping the book) "and they all spilled out." She then went on to give her standard answer found in the linked articles. One of the interesting things I noticed was the comparisons that people made between this book and Cold Mountain (which I also have and need to read!). I am planning on reading this before the April 21st Book Discussion, also sponsored by the library. I may not be able to give up this book, now that it's signed! I will have to read it and see if it lives up to the hype.  

Journal Entry 5 by mrsordonez from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Tuesday, April 15, 2003

I have just finished this book, and am planning on starting a bookring for it for Missouri BookCrossers.

Essentially, I found the inspiration of the book to be a desire to describe Missouri during the Civil War period. There are lots of references to actual places (Frontenac, Florissant, real street names, etc.) However, I felt that the book was not plot-driven at all, and in some instances was rather weak. The lack of quotation marks did not bother me, although Jiles has been given much grief as to this. You just have to be paying attention when you read, there is enough clues as to who is speaking to figure it out without much effort. If you are interested in the dress and customs of the Civil War era (jobs, food, etc.) then this book is for you. If, however, this does not interest you very much, then it is not as worthy of a read, as the plot alone is hardly worth the time spent reading (very predictable).

***spoiler*** In order to read this, you need to use your mouse and highlight the blank area below...(thanks for the idea N8an!)

I was very disappointed, and felt that it was entirely coinciental how Adair came upon her horses after losing them. And even found Whisky twice. Also, how is it that she just happened to be at her old farmhouse when Will Neumann shows up after the war. The irony that he looses the use of one arm after joking about the same thing is entirely superficial. These things, in my opinion, contribute greatly to the weaknesses in the book. Also, Adair just happens to be one of the few people who survive consumption, while suffering the physical hardship of little food or shelter. I found some of the instances somewhat too perfectly planned, the death of Tom Poth, the fact that she never ran out of food or money, how she stole the carpet bag and later several items from a farmhouse, but no one ever seemed to take anything substantial away from her. Overall, I do not quite understand why this is a book club selection for Missouri, and also Good Morning America, when I find few outstanding redeeming qualities. I would categorize this book as "generally okay" and not anything exceptional.  

Journal Entry 6 by mrsordonez from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Sunday, April 20, 2003

Journal Entry 7 by Puppetlady from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Monday, April 28, 2003

The bookring has begun! I just received this from mrsordonez, who's organizing this thing. Will start reading immediately and send it on its way!

 

Journal Entry 8 by Puppetlady from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Monday, May 12, 2003

Mailed Enemy Women out to hotbooks 5/12/03. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 9 by hotbooks from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Monday, June 02, 2003

I thought the prose was too forced at first, flowery and un-needed. Once the story got going though, it held my interest. I had no issues with the lack of quotations. I am sending onto Nyisutter asap! 

Journal Entry 10 by nyisutter from St. Charles, Missouri USA on Friday, June 06, 2003

Received in the mail yesterday.  

Journal Entry 11 by nyisutter from St. Charles, Missouri USA on Wednesday, July 09, 2003

Finished reading this last night. Waiting for address to send it on.

I enjoy readig books that make history come alive, especially when set in an area I am familiar with. So for that reason I enjoyed reading the book. I did find the lack of quotation marks a little distracting at first, and although there were a few spots farther on in the book where I had to think for a moment to figure out what was spoken, I did get to the point where I could read it pretty well anyway.

*****Spoiler response****** Highlight to read
I do feel that the loss of Adair's family, horse and house was a pretty substantial loss. But, all in all, she did fair rather well considering the trials she went through. I also find it unbelievable that the major actually survived gangreine.

Thanks for the oppurtunity to read this book. I probably wouldn't have picked it up to read had it not been for this bookring.  

Journal Entry 12 by nyisutter from St. Charles, Missouri USA on Thursday, July 17, 2003

Mailed today to angelgirl5579 .

confirmation #: 0303 0130 0000 0236 1738 

Journal Entry 13 by AnonymousFinder on Wednesday, August 06, 2003

sending on its way 

Journal Entry 14 by brideofmessiah from Hillsboro, Missouri USA on Monday, October 27, 2003

Just arrived & will be next on my list!

Update 12/29/03:
It took me a while to get through this, as I've been having trouble with migraines lately. I too found the lack of quotation marks distracting...until about halfway through the book. By then I was hooked & it made no difference at all. This was a fun read, and having been a resident of MO for 17.5 years, and knowing that my (future) children will be born here it was neat to read about some of Missouri's history & the part she played in the Civil War. Definitely not the stuff of textbooks! :) Thanks for sharing this one! 

Journal Entry 15 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Monday, January 05, 2004

This arrived today & I will start reading it as soon as I finish my current book. I'm looking forward to it even though I've never been a big Civil War/history reader. 

Journal Entry 16 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Sunday, February 01, 2004

I finally picked this up a few days ago and was able to read it fairly quickly as there isn't much plot to get in the way. I thought the story had a great potential that was not met. There were so many "pieces of the puzzle" that just happened to fit into place for Adair. The story relied on predictable chance once too often for my taste. I did like the excerpts at the begining of each chapter even though they seemed fairly random. I will probably try to find some of those materials to read. I really didn't find the lack of quotation marks too distracting but thought it wouldn't have been difficult for an editor to add those at some stage (and had to wonder why they weren't).

While I found this book disappointing I did learn a bit more about the civil war in Missouri and will use this book as a "jumping off" point to learn more. This is a light read and might appeal to many but I think I would suggest it for a younger reader than it was meant for. 

Journal Entry 17 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Monday, February 02, 2004

On the way back to St. Louis. Thanks MrsOrdonez for starting this ring! 

Journal Entry 18 by mrsordonez from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Friday, July 16, 2004

I'm just journalling this again, because I guess I never noted that this book made it's way back home. Thanks to all who participated.