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176th out of 403 books
—
1,476 voters
The Education of Harriet Hatfield
by
May Sarton
'Harriet Hatfield begins a new life at the age of 60 after her lover of 30 years has died and left her comfortably well off. But when Harriet opens a bookstore for women in a blue-collar neighborhood of Boston, she is viciously attacked for her lesbianism. Ms. Sarton's powerful potrayal of the shy, reserved woman's battle becomes a moving statement about the place of the o...more
Paperback, 324 pages
Published
April 1st 1993
by W. W. Norton & Company
(first published 1989)
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This book is my first venture into May Sarton's fiction; I've enjoyed her poetry and especially her memoirs over the years. The book is an exploration of topics of gay life, including coming out of the closet and AIDS, both within the larger issue of public reaction to gay people in their midst. It was important to remember this story was written in the late 1980's, when these were especially hot topics, and a diagnosis of AIDS was a death sentence. The story is immensely readable and provides a...more
I found this book to be charming and endearing. After Harriet's loss of her lifelong partner Vickie, she begins to realize how dependent and sheltered her life was in that relationship. She never regrets being with Vickie as she is the love of her life and always will be however she starts to step outside of her comfort zone and opens a feminist bookstore in a diverse but somewhat conservative area. With a few threats and attacks on her opening such a place, she never stops remembering why she w...more
I enjoyed this book a lot. Not a huge page-turner...just a slow-paced, enjoyable book. May Sarton has extraordinarily taken just plain old life and chronicled everyday conversations without it being dull and boring. There is a lot of introspection in this book, and perhaps that's why I like it particularly right now, as I'm in an introspective mood.
The main character is a woman who has lost her partner of 30 years, and has decided to open a feminist bookstore. Of course, when you do any major u...more
The main character is a woman who has lost her partner of 30 years, and has decided to open a feminist bookstore. Of course, when you do any major u...more
This novel is way too redundant with often choppy dialogue (and, at times, choppy narration). Sarton has some nice things to say, but the problem is that the people who will read this book will already agree with her and the people who should read this book won't read it. Additionally, it was clear she wrote the story with the express purpose of fitting the subject she wanted to "preach" about; it was not a smooth marriage of plot and theme. I was ready to like this one, so I'm a tad disappointe...more
I enjoyed this book so much. Very low-key writing, but very well thought-out. Probably it helps that I have read several other books of hers. She touches on so many issues, from homosexuality and homophobia, to class differences; noting that racism is similar to sex discrimination.
Most interesting was her comment that, during the 30 years she [the main character] was in a relationship, her life centered around that relationship. And after her partner died, she felt very alone, and yet found tha...more
Most interesting was her comment that, during the 30 years she [the main character] was in a relationship, her life centered around that relationship. And after her partner died, she felt very alone, and yet found tha...more
This book was wonderful. I would love to own my own bookstore or have a reading room. The woman in this book does just that but with a few struggles I would not have to deal with.
I love this book because of how it shows an older woman continues to grow. Sarton also does a great job of showing the importance of women supporting women.
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Absolutely great - it really looks at the question of labels!
This review says it all for me. Lovely, easy reading. "I enjoyed this book a lot. Not a huge page-turner...just a slow-paced, enjoyable book. May Sarton has extraordinarily taken just plain old life and chronicled everyday conversations without it being dull and boring. There is a lot of introspection in this book, and perhaps that's why I like it particularly right now, as I'm in an introspective mood."
Another great book by Ms. Sarton! This is not a journal but fiction. An outcast Lesbian opens a book store for women in New England. Just read and see how the community reacts to her. Have we really come that far???
well to do lesbian struggles to open and run a book shop in Boston in the mid 1900s. Interesting Sarton, not memoir, but clearly based on herself in many aspects.
I gleaned so little enjoyment from this book that I can't even muster the energy to properly review it. Definitely not Sarton's best. (Probably her worst.)
May 19, 2013
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May Sarton (May 3, 1912-July 16, 1995) was an American poet, novelist, and memoirist born in Wondelgem, Belgium. Many of her novels and poems are pellucid reflections of the lesbian experience.
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