BOOK REVIEW FOR - FRONTIER GRIT - BY MARIANNE MONSON

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

These are the stories of twelve women who "heard the call" to settle the west and who came from all points of the globe to begin their journey: the East Coast, Europe, and as far away as New Zealand. They endured unimaginable hardships just to get to their destination and then the next phase of the story begins. These are gripping miniature dramas of good-hearted women, selfless providers, courageous immigrants and migrants, and women with skills too innumerable to list. All the women in this book did extraordinary things. One became a stagecoach driver, disguised as a man. One became a frontier doctor. One was a Gold Rush hotel and restaurant entrepreneur. Many were crusaders for social justice and women's rights. All endured hardships, overcame obstacles, broke barriers, and changed the world, for which there are inspiring lessons to be learned for the modern woman.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I often tell my husband that there is a reason I was born at this time.  I don't think I would have had the faith, or endurance to do what these women did.  Mostly, I don't think I would have been able to live in a time when women were mere accessories, and not "real" people.  BUT,  I LOVE, love, love reading about women who decided to take their fate into their own hands and paved a way for women today.

There are 12 wonderful women to learn about in these pages.  All of them forged a path for women today.  

Each story is so wonderful.  I am blown away at what these women accomplished in their life times.  I am only going to share a few of the ones I loved the most.

Mother Jones, born Mary Harris Jones was born in Country Cork, Ireland in 1837.   She spent her life speaking on behalf of child workers, steelworkers, etc.  Some of my favorite quotes from her story are:

"I am not a suffragist nor do I believe in 'careers' for women, especially a 'career' in factory and mill where most working women have their 'careers.  A great responsibility rests upon women - the training of the children.  This is her most beautiful task."  

and 

"I have never had a vote, and I have raised hell all over this country!  You don't need a vote to raise hell!  You need convictions and a voice!"

Next, was Martha Hughes Cannon.  She was a doctor, a scholar, and the first woman to ever hold the office of a state senator.  She ran against her own husband and won.  Amazing.  

Some of my favorite quotes from her story are:

"Woman can, when allowed to do so become a most powerful and most potent factor in the affairs of the government.  Women suffrage is no longer an experiment, but it is a practical reality, tending to the well-being of the State."

and

The Chicago Record stated "Mrs. Doctor Martha Hughes Cannon...is on of the brightest exponents of the women's cause in the United States"

There are so many more wonderful stories.  Some of the things said about these women make me even more proud to be a woman.  Although many of the things said about them will never be said about me, it makes me feel like I could change the world if I tried.  These women never, ever, let things get in their way.

Source:  I was given this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Marianne Monson has worked with books her whole life, as an editor, a passionate reader, and an author. She is the author of nine books and counting, including historical fiction, children's books, and young adult novels. She teaches at Portland Community College, and her two children love writing almost as much as she does.

A BIG THANK YOU TO: