By Jane Kirkpatrick
Abigail "Jenny" Scott wants to do something with her life, but 1852 meant she was under the rule of her father and her future husband whoever he may be. Abigail wants to make her own choices, to determine her own path. But few options were available to women, not if they wanted to be seen as respectable members of society.
When Abigail gains a teaching position in the Oregon Territory, most assume that she'll soon give it up for marriage, after all that is the duty of every woman. When a family situation arises Abigail finds herself marrying sooner than she expected. But Ben Duniway is a good match for Abigail and most importantly he doesn't see her as a way to increase his landholdings.
Though they don't see eye to eye, Ben encourages Abigail and her efforts to make a better life for not only herself but other women, as well. In a day when women, like children, were expected to be seen and not heard, Abigail was an exception. She championed the cause of women. She sought to see equality become the norm in how women were seen. She fought to make a better world for her daughters, and their daughters. She advocated for giving women the vote, having an equal share in making decisions, to become something more, to control their own lives.
Something Worth Doing shares the harsh realities of life on the frontier. Civilization came but it was a hard-fought effort by the men and women who settled there. The efforts were fought by both though women were considered too fragile to have an opinion on matters of politics or finances. But they were responsible for any and all debts that her husband may have accrued. This is Abigail's story, a story that is America, a story that has helped shape the world that we know today. Life was not easy but nothing worth having is easy, it takes work, and the very act of doing sometimes is enough to start a change.
What I most like about Jane Kirkpatrick's books is that they are based on the lives of real people, people who made a difference just by living their lives. Were they perfect? No, but they lived their lives as best they could. The people in Jane's books are relatable in that though they lived in a different era and century the issues and challenges of life are not so different from what we face today. The challenge to find one's place in the world and to meet and conquer the trials that come. Something Worth Doing should be the goal of everyone who lives. The something doesn't have to be momentous it can be a small act of kindness, a meal well made, or a book shared. Some fiction is good and some is excellent and this falls in the excellent category.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
About the Book:
In 1853, Abigail Scott was a 19-year-old school teacher in Oregon Territory when she married Ben Duniway. Marriage meant giving up on teaching, but Abigail always believed she was meant to be more than a good wife and mother. When financial mistakes and an injury force Ben to stop working, Abigail becomes the primary breadwinner for her growing family. What she sees as a working woman appalls her, and she devotes her life to fighting for the rights of women, including their right to vote.
Following Abigail as she bears six children, runs a millinery and a private school, helps on the farm, writes novels, gives speeches, and eventually runs a newspaper supporting women's suffrage, Something Worth Doing explores issues that will resonate strongly with modern women: the pull between career and family, finding one's place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices women encounter when they compete in male-dominated spaces. Based on a true story of a pioneer for women's rights from award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick will inspire you to believe that some things are worth doing--even when the cost is great.
