Something Worth Doing by Jane Kirkpatrick is an eye-opening look at the lives of women in 19th century America. As someone who views that period through a lens of Laura Ingalls Wilder mixed with historical romance books, it was a bit jarring to read about a woman who describes herself as strident. I’m not going to lie, I had to look that one up. A quick search defines strident as “loud and harsh; grating,” also “presenting a point of view, especially a controversial one, in an excessively and unpleasantly forceful way.” I think that the first definition was a more accurate description of Abigail Scott Duniway, but I could see how people in her time saw her as the second.
To be honest, I cared more for Jenny Scott – Abigail’s nickname before she married – who had a softness to her before marriage and life in general wore her down like a child’s teddy bear. She was still smart and headstrong in those early days, but you got the feeling that she smiled and laughed more often then too. I guess marrying a man before you were sure about whether you loved him or not could do that to you. But even after she realized that Ben was a good husband to her and an advocate for her passions, her cynicism could be overwhelming at times.
That feels unfair now that I’ve typed it. I hate doing laundry even with the wonderful modern inventions of the washing machine and dryer. There are days that I wish that I could quit working and do what I really love. Heck, hire a housekeeper so that I don’t have to vacuum my house ever again. And I can. Because women like Abigail broke the mold and fought for women’s suffrage. Equality has a long way to go yet, but because of women’s rights activists, I am not limited to certain jobs or activities because of my gender. I realize now that tact is a four-letter word when one needs ferocity and tenacity to breakdown oppression.
Kirkpatrick’s ability to create a captivating story from pieces of personal correspondence and archival research is truly remarkable. I would have to read all of the author’s source material to ascertain where the real Abigail Scott Duniway ended and the fictional shading to bring her to life began. With the exception of a small section where the narrative shifts to Ben’s point of view, the entire novel is seamless. I felt fully immersed in the time period and was excited to see which business venture Abigail tackled next. I related to her struggle of pursuing her dreams while taking care of her family at the same time. Although her mission was much more noble than any of my own undertakings.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history, but especially to women who want more adventure in their life or those who worry that they are spreading themselves thin. I know that’s a wide spread, but there are so many connections to today’s modern woman that make this book a real gem.
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