What do you think?
Rate this book
Legend of St Dwynwen #1
A Young Wife
Amsterdam, 1912.
When fifteen-year-old Minke Van Aisma travels to Amsterdam to care for the dying wife of a wealthy man, she has no idea what adventures await her. Within hours of his wife’s death, her employer proposes marriage, and within days the couple has set sail for the oil fields of Argentina. They settle in the rough coastal town of Comodoro Rivadavia, where Minke eventually learns that her husband is not a successful trader, but a morphine producer. The future that seemed so bright takes an even darker turn the morning their toddler son, Zeff, is kidnapped. Soon after, morphine production is outlawed and her husband must immediately emigrate to New York. Already pregnant with their daughter, Minke has little choice but to wait for the new baby’s arrival, then follow Sander to America, and leave her firstborn behind forever. However when she arrives in New York and discovers that her husband has betrayed her, she takes her daughter and leaves him, finds work as a seamstress, and vows to return to Argentina and find her son. How she manages to find her child, and how she takes her revenge on the people who orchestrated his abduction, is a triumphant tale of personal sacrifice, determination, and love. A sweeping saga that crosses three continents--from the opulent life in Amsterdam during the 1900s, to rough living on the Argentine coast, to the impoverished life of a recent immigrant to New York--A YOUNG WIFE is a journey no reader will forget.
When fifteen-year-old Minke Van Aisma travels to Amsterdam to care for the dying wife of a wealthy man, she has no idea what adventures await her. Within hours of his wife’s death, her employer proposes marriage, and within days the couple has set sail for the oil fields of Argentina. They settle in the rough coastal town of Comodoro Rivadavia, where Minke eventually learns that her husband is not a successful trader, but a morphine producer. The future that seemed so bright takes an even darker turn the morning their toddler son, Zeff, is kidnapped. Soon after, morphine production is outlawed and her husband must immediately emigrate to New York. Already pregnant with their daughter, Minke has little choice but to wait for the new baby’s arrival, then follow Sander to America, and leave her firstborn behind forever. However when she arrives in New York and discovers that her husband has betrayed her, she takes her daughter and leaves him, finds work as a seamstress, and vows to return to Argentina and find her son. How she manages to find her child, and how she takes her revenge on the people who orchestrated his abduction, is a triumphant tale of personal sacrifice, determination, and love. A sweeping saga that crosses three continents--from the opulent life in Amsterdam during the 1900s, to rough living on the Argentine coast, to the impoverished life of a recent immigrant to New York--A YOUNG WIFE is a journey no reader will forget.
289 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2011
16 people are currently reading
1767 people want to read
About the author
Pam Lewis
16 books40 followersI was a city girl, born in Burbank California to a pair of ambitious parents who moved the family every few years as my father sought greater responsibilities in the then-bourgeoning aviation industry.
We finally settled in New York City long enough for me to attend high school. I was shy, too tall too soon, and only excelled at school when I finally set my sights on Stanford University and squeaked in on so-so grades.
I married immediately after college, and went to work as a programmer until the birth of my sons Lukas and Joshua Casey, who are now well into their adulthoods. While they grew I worked at a motley assortment of jobs including Welcome Wagon lady, treasurer to a small corporation, reporter, freelance writer and swim instructor. When more serious money was required, I put my head down, gritted my teeth and wrote marketing copy for insurance companies in which the objective was to make readers see their diminishing health and retirement benefits as a welcome change. For this I apologize. As an antidote, I wrote fiction furiously every morning, more as pleasure and therapy than with an eye to publication, which, at that point in my life, seemed unlikely. On the cusp of my 59th year, however, Speak Softly, She Can Hear was taken by Simon and Schuster, then Perfect Family and now, with the publication of A Young Wife, a third.
A Young Wife is something of a departure from my earlier books. It’s a more sweeping story, told on a grander scale than the others. It also has some of its roots in family history.
During our many moves, my California grandmother’s rare visits were highlights. She told me stories of a disaster at sea, a burning ship, circling sharks and a husband’s heroism. She spoke of her life as a very young bride in a place called Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. She recalled handsome gauchos who rode into town on fabulous horses decked in turquoise and silver, and of their thunderous races down the dusty main street.
I had many questions. Why had she and her husband gone there? Who was this husband? Why did my mother refuse to speak of him, not even to give me his name?
Much later in my life, I learned that at age fifteen my grandmother was hired to tend a dying relative in the home of my then thirty-five-year old grandfather, that he took her to South America to start a store there, and that he ultimately abandoned her in New York City with four young daughters and few skills. Most astonishingly, that she continued to love him until she died.
This scant but rich information was a rare gift for a fiction writer. The exotic settings, the passion, and his devastating betrayal became the bones on which to build a story. I was glad not to know everything—virtually nothing of my grandfather—so that my imagination was free to make up the rest.
I married immediately after college, and went to work as a programmer until the birth of my sons Lukas and Joshua Casey, who are now well into their adulthoods. While they grew I worked at a motley assortment of jobs including Welcome Wagon lady, treasurer to a small corporation, reporter, freelance writer and swim instructor. When more serious money was required, I put my head down, gritted my teeth and wrote marketing copy for insurance companies in which the objective was to make readers see their diminishing health and retirement benefits as a welcome change. For this I apologize. As an antidote, I wrote fiction furiously every morning, more as pleasure and therapy than with an eye to publication, which, at that point in my life, seemed unlikely. On the cusp of my 59th year, however, Speak Softly, She Can Hear was taken by Simon and Schuster, then Perfect Family and now, with the publication of A Young Wife, a third.
A Young Wife is something of a departure from my earlier books. It’s a more sweeping story, told on a grander scale than the others. It also has some of its roots in family history.
During our many moves, my California grandmother’s rare visits were highlights. She told me stories of a disaster at sea, a burning ship, circling sharks and a husband’s heroism. She spoke of her life as a very young bride in a place called Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. She recalled handsome gauchos who rode into town on fabulous horses decked in turquoise and silver, and of their thunderous races down the dusty main street.
I had many questions. Why had she and her husband gone there? Who was this husband? Why did my mother refuse to speak of him, not even to give me his name?
Much later in my life, I learned that at age fifteen my grandmother was hired to tend a dying relative in the home of my then thirty-five-year old grandfather, that he took her to South America to start a store there, and that he ultimately abandoned her in New York City with four young daughters and few skills. Most astonishingly, that she continued to love him until she died.
This scant but rich information was a rare gift for a fiction writer. The exotic settings, the passion, and his devastating betrayal became the bones on which to build a story. I was glad not to know everything—virtually nothing of my grandfather—so that my imagination was free to make up the rest.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
July 4, 2017
3.5 stars, this was good! Pam Lewis is a good storyteller.
January 20, 2011
I read this for Book of the Month Club as a pre-publication read and recommend it. It's due out in 7/11, so keep an eye out for it. I was unfamiliar with this author, but plan to read her previous books. This is the tale of a 14-year-old Dutch girl who is married off to an older man, whom her family declares is a "good catch." She has no idea what she is getting into. Although the coming of age story has been told many times, Ms. Lewis introduces us to Minke and the genre feels refreshed. She grows to love her husband and is willing to follow him anywhere, even Argentina, where she discovers he is in the morphine production business. He is, however, not a good businessman as he is lazy and a gambler. His friend, Cassian, really keeps the business going and becomes Minke's salvation in the end.
I don't want to have any spoilers in this review because I want readers to introduce themselves to Minke, a girl of heart, love for life, and optimism who is terribly naive for a long time, but when called upon to deal with reality becomes a real fighter. Please join her in her journey.
I don't want to have any spoilers in this review because I want readers to introduce themselves to Minke, a girl of heart, love for life, and optimism who is terribly naive for a long time, but when called upon to deal with reality becomes a real fighter. Please join her in her journey.
May 13, 2011
I think this story has a good plot and wraps up well in the end, but I didn't like any of the characters. They were a very hard group to like. Seems everyone except the heroine, Minke, is nasty and cruel.
In the beginning, Minke is a "nurse" for an invalid, skeleton like woman addicted to morphine. The rest of the household consists of Sander, a man old enough to be her father that seems to care not a whit about his dying wife, a daughter that steals her mother's drugs and wishes her dead, and a humpback boy.
For full review, please click on the link below:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
In the beginning, Minke is a "nurse" for an invalid, skeleton like woman addicted to morphine. The rest of the household consists of Sander, a man old enough to be her father that seems to care not a whit about his dying wife, a daughter that steals her mother's drugs and wishes her dead, and a humpback boy.
For full review, please click on the link below:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
July 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this loosely based, true story. I enjoyed reading about Argentina and what it was like coming to the USA thinking it was the land of opportunity for everyone. Well written, and it held your attention for all of what was happening within the story.
April 4, 2023
Good plot at a decent pace. Interesting characters although somewhat predictable.
July 7, 2011
I received an Advance Reader’s Edition of A Young Wife, by Pam Lewis, through a Goodreads giveaway. From the moment I began reading, I was completely engrossed. While mostly a serious read, it was also a quick read and very entertaining.
Minke van Aisma, 15 years old, is chosen by an older wealthy man to travel to Amsterdam to care for his dying wife. The day his wife dies, Sander DeVries proposed marriage to Minke within days they sail to Argentina. Minke doesn’t really know her husband’s business details, but she believes he is a merchant and will open a store when they reach Comodoro Rivadavia. Minke is completely in love with her husband, even after his true colors begin to show.
Shortly after reaching Argentina, Minke discovers that she is pregnant. She loves being a mother to their son Zef, and is excited when she learns that she is pregnant again. Her husband does not seem to share her enthusiasm. Soon, Minke’s sister Fenna arrives from the Netherlands, very unexpectedly, but it turns out that Sander has sent for her, claiming she is to help Minke with Zef. On one of her daily trips to the beach, riders appear and kidnap Zef before her very eyes. Inquiries are made, but with no results. Sander claims to get a confession out of a young man, one of Minke’s only friends, and kills him. He must leave Argentina immediately. He and Fenna go to New York, to find work and set up a house. Minke is too advanced in her pregnancy to travel, so remains behind with Sander’s physician uncle, Cassain.
After Elly is born and is old enough to travel, the three go to New York. Terribly excited to see her beloved husband, Minke is left disappointed at her frosty reunion. Knowing something to be amiss, she soon discovers exactly what. Conditions not what she expected, she is forced to find a job. With the help of her employers, she unravels the mystery of what happened to her first child, Zef.
In the acknowledgements, Pam Lewis explains that this book is loosely based on the events of her grandmother’s life, who was also born in the Netherlands, moved to Comodoro Rivadavia, and subsequently New York. There is no other information provided about the similarities between the lives of Minke and her grandmother, but I would be interested to know more. While the story was also a coming of age story for Minke and about how she found her own strength and independance, the personal cost was also quite high. (However, Minke was only in her 20s at the end of the book, with plenty of time for a lifetime of happiness.) I can only hope that the grandmother’s life began on a happier note.
I enjoyed the story and the writing style. There were also a few emotional scenes, but I felt that these could have been improved with more in depth character development. There were also characters that I would be interested to know more about, but as that information was not necessary to the plot, I understand why it was left out. Also, I felt that the end was a bit abrupt. I will assume that Minke has a happy ending, (not that the book ended unhappily, quite the opposite), but a bit more confirmation of that would have been nice as well.
Overall, A Young Wife, is a book I very much enjoyed. It actually reminded me a bit of Honolulu, by Alan Brennert, in that it was about a young wife coming to America with a less than ideal family situation. Anyway, full of adventure, a bit of mystery and romance, A Young Wife held me captivated.
Minke van Aisma, 15 years old, is chosen by an older wealthy man to travel to Amsterdam to care for his dying wife. The day his wife dies, Sander DeVries proposed marriage to Minke within days they sail to Argentina. Minke doesn’t really know her husband’s business details, but she believes he is a merchant and will open a store when they reach Comodoro Rivadavia. Minke is completely in love with her husband, even after his true colors begin to show.
Shortly after reaching Argentina, Minke discovers that she is pregnant. She loves being a mother to their son Zef, and is excited when she learns that she is pregnant again. Her husband does not seem to share her enthusiasm. Soon, Minke’s sister Fenna arrives from the Netherlands, very unexpectedly, but it turns out that Sander has sent for her, claiming she is to help Minke with Zef. On one of her daily trips to the beach, riders appear and kidnap Zef before her very eyes. Inquiries are made, but with no results. Sander claims to get a confession out of a young man, one of Minke’s only friends, and kills him. He must leave Argentina immediately. He and Fenna go to New York, to find work and set up a house. Minke is too advanced in her pregnancy to travel, so remains behind with Sander’s physician uncle, Cassain.
After Elly is born and is old enough to travel, the three go to New York. Terribly excited to see her beloved husband, Minke is left disappointed at her frosty reunion. Knowing something to be amiss, she soon discovers exactly what. Conditions not what she expected, she is forced to find a job. With the help of her employers, she unravels the mystery of what happened to her first child, Zef.
In the acknowledgements, Pam Lewis explains that this book is loosely based on the events of her grandmother’s life, who was also born in the Netherlands, moved to Comodoro Rivadavia, and subsequently New York. There is no other information provided about the similarities between the lives of Minke and her grandmother, but I would be interested to know more. While the story was also a coming of age story for Minke and about how she found her own strength and independance, the personal cost was also quite high. (However, Minke was only in her 20s at the end of the book, with plenty of time for a lifetime of happiness.) I can only hope that the grandmother’s life began on a happier note.
I enjoyed the story and the writing style. There were also a few emotional scenes, but I felt that these could have been improved with more in depth character development. There were also characters that I would be interested to know more about, but as that information was not necessary to the plot, I understand why it was left out. Also, I felt that the end was a bit abrupt. I will assume that Minke has a happy ending, (not that the book ended unhappily, quite the opposite), but a bit more confirmation of that would have been nice as well.
Overall, A Young Wife, is a book I very much enjoyed. It actually reminded me a bit of Honolulu, by Alan Brennert, in that it was about a young wife coming to America with a less than ideal family situation. Anyway, full of adventure, a bit of mystery and romance, A Young Wife held me captivated.
January 4, 2012
When Minke is 15, a distinguished older man in a yellow car arrives at her parents’ home looking for a girl to come to Amsterdam to nurse his ailing wife, Elisabeth. Minke’s time with Elisabeth in the attic of her lavish home is short, but the two form a bond as Elisabeth relates her travels to Argentina through sporadic opium-induced dreams. Then, suddenly and almost without warning, Elisabth passes away and Sander DeVries—the man who came to fetch Minke—proposes to Minke, hoping to secure a new wife less than three days after his last has died. At first scandalized, but later charmed by Sander and his promises of adventure and beauty in Argentina, Minke accepts and the two are married in the old way, breaking a ring in the company of her family. Minke and Sander board a ship for Comodoro Rivadavia, along with Sander’s business partner, Cassian, an enigmatic doctor charged with looking after Minke while Sander sees to his business ventures onboard. Minke’s life settles into a series of peaks and valleys. She falls deeply in love with Sander, enjoying their nights together and his passion. But Sander often leaves her alone and in the dark, about himself and their future. The nature of his business is murky, mixed up in oil, shipping, and morphine, and he shows streaks of jealousy and possessiveness as Minke befriends some of the men onboard. At her first sight of Argentina, Minke is disappointed by the barren, dirty town, its houses with walls of corrugated iron and dirt floors, but she soon embraces her new surroundings, befriending the wild gauchos who ride into town to trade, much to the dislike of her husband. Minke will soon find out that Sander is not the man she thought he was and will have to fight for a happy future for herself and her children.
A Young Wife is compelling, partially as it’s based on the true story of the author’s maternal grandmother. It’s the second book I’ve read this year that tells of women’s struggles to carve out better lives for themselves and their children in male-dominated societies. (More on the first here.) Minke’s voice is honest and clear and Lewis weaves a beautiful narrative. Some elements are a bit expected, but in general the story is fact-paced and engrossing. I could have done without Minke’s secondary love interest and found Cassian inconsistent, sometimes acting in sinister capacities for Sander and sometimes proving Minke’s ally. But these niggling points aside, it struck me that while Minke’s story is a coming-of-age tale, it’s also about a woman learning to understand a man and the progression of their relationship. We see Sander through Minke’s eyes and though there are clues that he’s duplicitous, we always have Minke’s understanding and also her love for him, especially in the first portion of the book. As their story unfolds, we see what Minke thought was a love story dissolve into a tragedy. But with this dissolution, Minke learns about herself and grows up. She is, after all, a very young wife.
Would I recommend? I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. It has many elements that I am drawn to: a strong female narrator, a historical basis, and travel to exotic locales. Though a few plot points didn’t come together for me, A Young Wife is emotionally honest a worth a look for fans of historical fiction and romance.
For more of my reviews, visit yearofmagicalreading.wordpress.com
A Young Wife is compelling, partially as it’s based on the true story of the author’s maternal grandmother. It’s the second book I’ve read this year that tells of women’s struggles to carve out better lives for themselves and their children in male-dominated societies. (More on the first here.) Minke’s voice is honest and clear and Lewis weaves a beautiful narrative. Some elements are a bit expected, but in general the story is fact-paced and engrossing. I could have done without Minke’s secondary love interest and found Cassian inconsistent, sometimes acting in sinister capacities for Sander and sometimes proving Minke’s ally. But these niggling points aside, it struck me that while Minke’s story is a coming-of-age tale, it’s also about a woman learning to understand a man and the progression of their relationship. We see Sander through Minke’s eyes and though there are clues that he’s duplicitous, we always have Minke’s understanding and also her love for him, especially in the first portion of the book. As their story unfolds, we see what Minke thought was a love story dissolve into a tragedy. But with this dissolution, Minke learns about herself and grows up. She is, after all, a very young wife.
Would I recommend? I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. It has many elements that I am drawn to: a strong female narrator, a historical basis, and travel to exotic locales. Though a few plot points didn’t come together for me, A Young Wife is emotionally honest a worth a look for fans of historical fiction and romance.
For more of my reviews, visit yearofmagicalreading.wordpress.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2021
Absorbing - well written - a story spanning 3 continents.
When 15-year-old Minke first glimpses her future husband, she knows he is older, wealthy, and that it is her older sister, not Minke, who is expecting to be hired to nurse his dying wife. However, Mr. Sander DeVries is persuasive - Minke is the one he thinks is most suitable - and in spite of her objections she ends up in a household not in harmony: the daughter is jealous of Minke and does not get along with DeVries, the brother is earnest but with physical limitations, and the dying woman is painfully counting her days. The wife soon passes away and before Minke has time to sort things through, the worldly Mr. DeVries comes courting - persuading everyone (except for the delightful old "yenta"-type neighbor who wields a poker iron - the traditional way to drive off a spurned suitor) - that marrying him is the right decision.
They set off across the Atlantic for business ventures in the growing frontier of Argentina. But Minke never knew Mr. DeVries's line of work and he avoids answering unwanted questions by giving unrelated answers.
Minke's story spans 3 continents - her fortunes soaring from wealthy 1st class traveler, to an immigrant arriving at Ellis Island hoping she will not be turned away.
She is young, naive and trusting when the story begins - and also a loyal, honest, and true friend; traits that earn her allies when she needs them the most when she faces betrayal and treachery.
I loved the descriptions of Argentina in its frontier days; the wonderful Wiley family in New York; and the whole immigrant experience with its richness and texture. Thank you goodreads-first reads!!
When 15-year-old Minke first glimpses her future husband, she knows he is older, wealthy, and that it is her older sister, not Minke, who is expecting to be hired to nurse his dying wife. However, Mr. Sander DeVries is persuasive - Minke is the one he thinks is most suitable - and in spite of her objections she ends up in a household not in harmony: the daughter is jealous of Minke and does not get along with DeVries, the brother is earnest but with physical limitations, and the dying woman is painfully counting her days. The wife soon passes away and before Minke has time to sort things through, the worldly Mr. DeVries comes courting - persuading everyone (except for the delightful old "yenta"-type neighbor who wields a poker iron - the traditional way to drive off a spurned suitor) - that marrying him is the right decision.
They set off across the Atlantic for business ventures in the growing frontier of Argentina. But Minke never knew Mr. DeVries's line of work and he avoids answering unwanted questions by giving unrelated answers.
Minke's story spans 3 continents - her fortunes soaring from wealthy 1st class traveler, to an immigrant arriving at Ellis Island hoping she will not be turned away.
She is young, naive and trusting when the story begins - and also a loyal, honest, and true friend; traits that earn her allies when she needs them the most when she faces betrayal and treachery.
I loved the descriptions of Argentina in its frontier days; the wonderful Wiley family in New York; and the whole immigrant experience with its richness and texture. Thank you goodreads-first reads!!
June 15, 2011
I received Pam Lewis’ novel, A Young Wife, as a First Read. Lewis writes so well and the story is engaging. I was a couple of steps ahead of the main character Minke van Aisma throughout the book –but then she was only 15 years old (and I am not). Minke, a compassionate and devoted caretaker for her employer’s dying wife, is horrified when he proposes marriage on the same day his wife dies, but she gets over it pretty quickly and is swept into what she believes will be a wonderful life with a wealthy, mature man of her dreams.
She consumates her marriage on board a ship from the Netherlands to Argentina and then reality sets in. She begins to learn that very little is as it had appeared, but she bravely sets about to succeed at the hard life her new husband has brought her to. I liked Minke’s character -- she seems quiet and maybe even weak at first but has lots of backbone when it counts. Learning about the prevalence of the manufacture and trade of morphine was interesting because its casual use didn’t carry the stigma then that it does today. My only disappointment is that tho the book immediately engaged me, certain major events as they occurred were glossed over with little elaboration only to be suddenly wrapped up nice and tidy in the last chapter.
I loved the cover too, but Minke, being from The Netherlands, is described as having white blond hair. That would have made a beautiful cover photo!
I do recommend this book as an engaging and quick read.
She consumates her marriage on board a ship from the Netherlands to Argentina and then reality sets in. She begins to learn that very little is as it had appeared, but she bravely sets about to succeed at the hard life her new husband has brought her to. I liked Minke’s character -- she seems quiet and maybe even weak at first but has lots of backbone when it counts. Learning about the prevalence of the manufacture and trade of morphine was interesting because its casual use didn’t carry the stigma then that it does today. My only disappointment is that tho the book immediately engaged me, certain major events as they occurred were glossed over with little elaboration only to be suddenly wrapped up nice and tidy in the last chapter.
I loved the cover too, but Minke, being from The Netherlands, is described as having white blond hair. That would have made a beautiful cover photo!
I do recommend this book as an engaging and quick read.
June 26, 2011
This is another book that I won through the FirstReads program and definitely a great read! In the Netherlands in 1912, at the age of 15, Minke is taken from her family to work as a nurse to a wealthy older man's dying wife. After she dies, he proposes to her and after Minke marries him, they sail to Argentina, where he's talked about the two of them starting up a new life in this soon-to-be prosperous place. It's a hard life there, and only a few years later, Minke finds herself following her husband to New York, where she lives as a poor immigrant trying to create a better life.
Although parts of this book were a little predictable, it was a quick read and yet felt like a sweeping saga because it covered so much ground. Minke is a likable character and I couldn't help but sympathize with her. It's easy to think how different her life would have been had the story taken place in the current times, but what made this such a compelling read for me is the fact that she really didn't have much of a choice or say in so much of what happened.
The author did a great job describing life in the Netherlands, Argentina, and America during the early 20th century; images came to my mind easily. I wish the ending had gone on a little longer, but it was still very satisfying as a whole. I loved being able to follow Minke through so many struggles, rooting for her to suceed the entire way when she was forced to go through so many hardships. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others!
Although parts of this book were a little predictable, it was a quick read and yet felt like a sweeping saga because it covered so much ground. Minke is a likable character and I couldn't help but sympathize with her. It's easy to think how different her life would have been had the story taken place in the current times, but what made this such a compelling read for me is the fact that she really didn't have much of a choice or say in so much of what happened.
The author did a great job describing life in the Netherlands, Argentina, and America during the early 20th century; images came to my mind easily. I wish the ending had gone on a little longer, but it was still very satisfying as a whole. I loved being able to follow Minke through so many struggles, rooting for her to suceed the entire way when she was forced to go through so many hardships. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others!
June 21, 2012
I have to admit, I first picked up this book MONTHS ago to read - but the narration was kind of stiff for me, and I put it down for another day. I picked it up recently, and forced myself to allow the narrative more time to develop, and you know what? I'm really glad I did that. Because once the story picked up - it completely whisked me away.
Minke is merely fifteen years old, and she goes to Amsterdam to take care of a sick woman, the spouse of a wealthy businessman. When the woman dies, much to Minke's surprise, the widower of her patient proposes marriage to her. She accepts, and within days she is whisked off to Argentina with her new, and much older, husband. But all is not as it seems, her husband is not the man she believed him to be, and as a consequence of his actions, their first-born Zeff is kidnapped. And when her husband's business gets into hot-water, she has to leave behind her first born and emigrate to New York with her husband, pregnant with her daughter. But Minke cannot really leave Zeff behind, and she emancipates herself from her treacherous husband, and finds work as a seamstress eventually making her way back to Argentina so that she can find Zeff. Her search, and her hardships, make this story unique, triumphant, and incredibly interesting. Especially given that the story happens to be based on a true story. I don't know how much of it is true, and how loosely this story was adapted, I just know that once I got into the book, I really enjoyed it.
Minke is merely fifteen years old, and she goes to Amsterdam to take care of a sick woman, the spouse of a wealthy businessman. When the woman dies, much to Minke's surprise, the widower of her patient proposes marriage to her. She accepts, and within days she is whisked off to Argentina with her new, and much older, husband. But all is not as it seems, her husband is not the man she believed him to be, and as a consequence of his actions, their first-born Zeff is kidnapped. And when her husband's business gets into hot-water, she has to leave behind her first born and emigrate to New York with her husband, pregnant with her daughter. But Minke cannot really leave Zeff behind, and she emancipates herself from her treacherous husband, and finds work as a seamstress eventually making her way back to Argentina so that she can find Zeff. Her search, and her hardships, make this story unique, triumphant, and incredibly interesting. Especially given that the story happens to be based on a true story. I don't know how much of it is true, and how loosely this story was adapted, I just know that once I got into the book, I really enjoyed it.
October 20, 2011
This book was...pleasant. It was an easy and quick read with a satisfying ending. The book opens with a young Dutch girl, Minke, being selected to go and care for a rich distant relative. She nurses her cousin but she ultimately dies under strange circumstances, and the poor womans husband proposes to Minke immediatly after. The tail follows her adventure after their marriage.
Lewis's writing keeps you reading, painting detailed but uncomplicated settings - allowing the reader to feel the mood of each place without boring them with every small detail. The main character is interesting and frustratingly accurate for her age. As a reader I found myself getting frustrated with her naiveity, but then I would have to remind myself that through the first half of the book she's a mere 15 or 16 years old and most young women that age would do nearly the same or worse given the same cirsumstances. The only complaint I have about Lewis's character developement was that the antagonist in the stories motivations are never really made clear. You wonder WHY he acts the way he does, how he came to be that way, what his story was previous to the books timeline.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone looking for light reading.
Lewis's writing keeps you reading, painting detailed but uncomplicated settings - allowing the reader to feel the mood of each place without boring them with every small detail. The main character is interesting and frustratingly accurate for her age. As a reader I found myself getting frustrated with her naiveity, but then I would have to remind myself that through the first half of the book she's a mere 15 or 16 years old and most young women that age would do nearly the same or worse given the same cirsumstances. The only complaint I have about Lewis's character developement was that the antagonist in the stories motivations are never really made clear. You wonder WHY he acts the way he does, how he came to be that way, what his story was previous to the books timeline.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone looking for light reading.
May 17, 2013
I really loved the story. I would give it a five, but I didn't like the raunchiness of the sex talk. It's not much and there's no real sex scene apart from the first time, but Minke's mother talks to her about it and there is talk between Sander and Minke of the beginning of their marriage. I'm not against talking about sex. I just didn't like some of the words used. Call me prude, but I am what I am.
I feel so bad for Minke. She's surrounded by such awful people. I'm surprised her husband's uncle, Cassian, chose to befriend her. He could have fallen in the ways of Sander. He worked with Sander and Sander was his nephew so it would have been easy for him to do so. But, he didn't. Minke needed him and he was there for her. Without him the story would have been less manageable.
The story is very predictable as it goes along, but it's interesting enough that even though one can guess what is going to happen the reader wants to find it out anyway, keep turning the page. The ending is satisfying. It's not everything I wanted, but it's enough and that makes it good.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I feel so bad for Minke. She's surrounded by such awful people. I'm surprised her husband's uncle, Cassian, chose to befriend her. He could have fallen in the ways of Sander. He worked with Sander and Sander was his nephew so it would have been easy for him to do so. But, he didn't. Minke needed him and he was there for her. Without him the story would have been less manageable.
The story is very predictable as it goes along, but it's interesting enough that even though one can guess what is going to happen the reader wants to find it out anyway, keep turning the page. The ending is satisfying. It's not everything I wanted, but it's enough and that makes it good.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
June 8, 2011
Now, this is a book that really had just about everything that you could want in a novel: murder, adultery, drugs, gambling, three different continents, love, marriage – and yet it is based on a true story. I really hope that 90% of what unfolds in the book actually didn’t happen. If they did – the woman the main character is based on must have been one tough woman.
There are very few novels that make me want to call in sick to work in order to finish, and "A Young Wife" was one of them. I actually got off my bus, started walking to work, paused, and had to make the decision to continue on to work. A serious page turner, without veering into supreme melodrama.
Pam Lewis really crafted a story which has so many moments that leave you in shock. I actually don’t want to spoil it by giving any summation of the story. But just know that it is an incredible tale of what happens to a young woman who gets caught up in a tangled mess of lies and all from the fact she trusted the one person she thought she could rely on – her husband.
ARC provided by GoodReads First Reads.
There are very few novels that make me want to call in sick to work in order to finish, and "A Young Wife" was one of them. I actually got off my bus, started walking to work, paused, and had to make the decision to continue on to work. A serious page turner, without veering into supreme melodrama.
Pam Lewis really crafted a story which has so many moments that leave you in shock. I actually don’t want to spoil it by giving any summation of the story. But just know that it is an incredible tale of what happens to a young woman who gets caught up in a tangled mess of lies and all from the fact she trusted the one person she thought she could rely on – her husband.
ARC provided by GoodReads First Reads.
September 16, 2011
A Young Wife is a well written book that takes in into the early decade of the twentieth century in Holland, Argentina and New York. For that alone it is worth reading. The story follows a young woman, Minke, sent to Amsterdam to care for the dying wife of a relative. Upon her death the husband, Sander, proposes to her through her parents and within one day or two sails for a booming frontier town in the pampas of Argentina.
Why the sudden departure? What is Sander realling selling? How does opium figure in his trade? As the story develops in this rugged part of Argentina Minke befriends some interesting characters even as puzzles about her husband and his partner, a gay physician multiply. It is a saga of love, betrayal, loss in which we see the indominatable energy of this young woman. 3 to 4 of 5.
Why the sudden departure? What is Sander realling selling? How does opium figure in his trade? As the story develops in this rugged part of Argentina Minke befriends some interesting characters even as puzzles about her husband and his partner, a gay physician multiply. It is a saga of love, betrayal, loss in which we see the indominatable energy of this young woman. 3 to 4 of 5.
December 8, 2011
Sometimes I read good reviews of a book and when I don't like it, I wonder what I missed. I can understand why some people might like this book but I am not one of them. I found the main character Minke to be stupid rather than naive and unsympathetic rather than a character I wanted to root for. The plot twists (her husband is a drug maker, her baby is stolen but it turns out the husband sold him for money) were unbelievable and preposterous rather than surprising. The supporting characters veered toward flat portrayals of good or evil. I did like the setting - rural Netherlands and then the pampas of Argentina (two places I haven't read about before) but found the plot too Lifetime moviesque and Minke too annoying for a heroine. Can definitely be skipped.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2011
Won from first reads. Enjoyed reading the book. It was a little slow in the middle due to not being able to connect with the characters. They did not seem as developed as the characters in the first part and the last part of the book. Minke van Aisma was able to grow as a character through her journey with marriage and loss. She discovers what real love is and the story takes place in three different countries.
April 3, 2016
Lees mijn recensie over dit boek op mijn blog, https://surfingann.blogspot.nl/2016/0....
July 28, 2018
Truly, Pam Lewis missed her calling. If she had been born a century earlier, she would have been well-suited to working at a Western Union office, because she excels at telegraphing: "Hey, [character] IS TOTALLY , guys! Just sit on that for a couple of chapters, and I'll tell you again." "I'm certainly not going to drop any kind of obvious hints whatsoever that I would never." Yowza. You can see every plot "twist" coming from miles away, like a storm rolling in on the prairies.
Also, aside from collections of short stories, I've never encountered a book in which the chapters seemed so disconnected from each other. Something devastating would occur on the last page of one chapter, and everyone would be back to normal by the following page, with no real explanation given for the miraculous resolution. It was almost like Lewis threw drafts of her chapters up in the air and reassembled them based on where they landed. Truly a bizarre manuscript.
Finally, I found the characters and setting dull and flat. Pick a character--odds are that he or she will be an awful person who delights in causing others pain for no apparent reason. We can't envision the Netherlands, New York, or even Argentina in any kind of detail because Lewis lacks the richness of imagination and vocabulary to bring those places to life. They remain elusive and meager, rendering A Young Wife a disappointment in every aspect.
Also, aside from collections of short stories, I've never encountered a book in which the chapters seemed so disconnected from each other. Something devastating would occur on the last page of one chapter, and everyone would be back to normal by the following page, with no real explanation given for the miraculous resolution. It was almost like Lewis threw drafts of her chapters up in the air and reassembled them based on where they landed. Truly a bizarre manuscript.
Finally, I found the characters and setting dull and flat. Pick a character--odds are that he or she will be an awful person who delights in causing others pain for no apparent reason. We can't envision the Netherlands, New York, or even Argentina in any kind of detail because Lewis lacks the richness of imagination and vocabulary to bring those places to life. They remain elusive and meager, rendering A Young Wife a disappointment in every aspect.
July 31, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. This was the 2nd Giveaway I had received from Goodreads. I loved Minke and her innocence. It was nice to follow her on her journey, from Amsterdam to Argentina and then to the US. I just read the authors story and how her Grandmothers life parallels Minke's, this made the book even more special and meaningful. I will definately recommend this to others. The only problem I had with the book was the timeline. It starts in 1912, and she is in New York after having her 2nd child in April of 1913, that's only 14 months. It just seemed as more time would have passed.
April 1, 2020
I didn't expect much from this book. The description felt vague; I had an idea of what the main character would be like, but not much to go on for the plot. This book was lacking for me. The characters were a bit deplorable; I didn't find myself taking a liking to any of them. The ending very much redeemed the story, but the pacing felt like it lagged throughout the first two-thirds of the book and picked up greatly for everything to be resolved at the end. Glad I stuck with it to find out what happened to Minke.
February 17, 2019
A well crafted story that has enough plot twists to keep you engaged throughout. I really enjoyed watching Minke evolve from a shy teen to a very capable woman and mother. If you are interested in American immigration history and what new arrivals experienced at Ellis Island you will experience it for yourself through the eyes of Minke, her infant daughter and family friend.
May 17, 2021
The story took me to the wonderful descriptions of Argentina. I am planning to go there, travel the north, and this story is part of my preparations!
July 16, 2024
This book is absolutely magnificent, so real and powerful and gosh it disappointed me and absolutely filled my heart 💗 A roller coaster of emotions, ending in bliss 🥰
July 28, 2025
I enjoyed this story though i wanted more. I want more details about Minka and her life as she grows older and the Gouchos and how they live and who they are.
February 17, 2017
A little slow in the beginning, perhaps of the historical theme. Had to complete to find out the ending. Although fiction, learned a little about immigrating into other countries.
July 26, 2011
I received this book as an advanced read from goodreads.com.
Young Minke van Aisma is excited and intrigued when a strange man, apparently a distant cousin, comes to their small fishing village in The Netherlands see about Minke's sister, Fenna, going with him to Amsterdam to take care of his ailing wife. One look at Minke and Sander DeVries decides to take her instead. She instantly begins to care for Elizabeth DeVries and is enthralled by her stories of Argentina, of the gauchos and great lightening storms. It sounds like nothing Minke could even imagine. She chooses to ignore the rude and assuming nature of Elizabeth's daughter and doesn't quite seem to understand her shielded warnings about Sander. When Elizabeth suddenly dies, Sander asks Minke to marry him right away, as he is due to leave for Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina in mere days. The draw of this foreign country and her attraction to what Sander can offer her gets the best of her and she accepts.
On board the ship taking them to Comodoro, Minke becomes very close to Sander's doctor and business partner, Cassian, as Sander is often enraptured with is business plans. She has been thoroughly convinced that they are going to a brave, new world that will delight and tempt her senses. The reality of life in Comodoro is much different, in the beginning, and she finds herself lonely. She seems unbearably linked to another couple from the ship, Tessa and Frederick Dietz, who hold themselves better from everyone else in Comodoro, including Minke. She is also finally informed as to what Sander actually does for a living: he and Cassian produce and trade morphine. She feels lied to and slightly cheated to what has been promised to her.
It is only once she has her son, Zef, that she begins to feel a purpose and joy to life again. She learns to deeply love Comodoro and simply adores the wild, exciting life her and her son will be able to live, even if her life with Sander becomes less than enjoyable and a surprise visit from her bold and vicious sister, Fenna, threatens the tenuous bond this family has established. But one horrible day when Zef is approximately a year old, he is kidnapped right in front of Minke's eyes and Sander determines of his own volition that a young male friend of Minke, someone Sander has been jealous of for some time, is the culprit and kills him in the streets. Sander is forced to flee Comodoro for America and take Fenna along to establish a prosperous and beautiful home for them once Minke and Cassian can follow. Minke is not able to go right away, you see, because she has found herself pregnant once again. She has no choice once her baby girl is born but to follow behind her husband and hope she will one day be able to look for Zef again. It is assumed that he has been sold by the gauchos to a wealthy family somewhere in the world, and she will stop at nothing to somehow find him.
The reality of what Minke, Cassian and Elly (Minke's daughter) find in America upon arrival is once again a complete dissapointment to what has been promised to her. Sander has lost his money to gambling and Fenna has established herself as the woman of their dirty and derilict apartment. She seems to finally understand what Elizabeth's daughter had so cruelly alluded her to but did not come right out and say: Sander will do anything to get what he wants out of life, whether it be lying, stealing or murder. Minke is forced to make up her mind and decide what she needs to do to give her and Elly the best life possible. And what she will need to do to get her son back and make a family for them once again.
Under the cloudy mist of morphine, these characters float through life doing what they feel is justified to get what they want. Even Cassian, a sympathetic character, only speaks his version of the truth and hides much from those around them. Only Minke is willing to trudge through life with a clear head and an honest heart. Only she will be able to determine what she deserves as a life, and what she will do to get it.
This is an enjoyable read for lovers of historical fiction and novels set in exotic locations. I had trouble liking many of the characters, but really enjoyed the way that Minke seemed to be able to keep her spunk no matter what befalled her. Most women would have crumbled faced with what she was forced to go through, but she keeps moving and fighting and, ultimately, lives her life as she sees fit. While she is not a strong enough character in my opinion to make me love this book, she is still an admirable heroine. I enjoyed the story, but not to the extent that I will be reading it again. I enjoyed the ride but am ready to move on.
Young Minke van Aisma is excited and intrigued when a strange man, apparently a distant cousin, comes to their small fishing village in The Netherlands see about Minke's sister, Fenna, going with him to Amsterdam to take care of his ailing wife. One look at Minke and Sander DeVries decides to take her instead. She instantly begins to care for Elizabeth DeVries and is enthralled by her stories of Argentina, of the gauchos and great lightening storms. It sounds like nothing Minke could even imagine. She chooses to ignore the rude and assuming nature of Elizabeth's daughter and doesn't quite seem to understand her shielded warnings about Sander. When Elizabeth suddenly dies, Sander asks Minke to marry him right away, as he is due to leave for Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina in mere days. The draw of this foreign country and her attraction to what Sander can offer her gets the best of her and she accepts.
On board the ship taking them to Comodoro, Minke becomes very close to Sander's doctor and business partner, Cassian, as Sander is often enraptured with is business plans. She has been thoroughly convinced that they are going to a brave, new world that will delight and tempt her senses. The reality of life in Comodoro is much different, in the beginning, and she finds herself lonely. She seems unbearably linked to another couple from the ship, Tessa and Frederick Dietz, who hold themselves better from everyone else in Comodoro, including Minke. She is also finally informed as to what Sander actually does for a living: he and Cassian produce and trade morphine. She feels lied to and slightly cheated to what has been promised to her.
It is only once she has her son, Zef, that she begins to feel a purpose and joy to life again. She learns to deeply love Comodoro and simply adores the wild, exciting life her and her son will be able to live, even if her life with Sander becomes less than enjoyable and a surprise visit from her bold and vicious sister, Fenna, threatens the tenuous bond this family has established. But one horrible day when Zef is approximately a year old, he is kidnapped right in front of Minke's eyes and Sander determines of his own volition that a young male friend of Minke, someone Sander has been jealous of for some time, is the culprit and kills him in the streets. Sander is forced to flee Comodoro for America and take Fenna along to establish a prosperous and beautiful home for them once Minke and Cassian can follow. Minke is not able to go right away, you see, because she has found herself pregnant once again. She has no choice once her baby girl is born but to follow behind her husband and hope she will one day be able to look for Zef again. It is assumed that he has been sold by the gauchos to a wealthy family somewhere in the world, and she will stop at nothing to somehow find him.
The reality of what Minke, Cassian and Elly (Minke's daughter) find in America upon arrival is once again a complete dissapointment to what has been promised to her. Sander has lost his money to gambling and Fenna has established herself as the woman of their dirty and derilict apartment. She seems to finally understand what Elizabeth's daughter had so cruelly alluded her to but did not come right out and say: Sander will do anything to get what he wants out of life, whether it be lying, stealing or murder. Minke is forced to make up her mind and decide what she needs to do to give her and Elly the best life possible. And what she will need to do to get her son back and make a family for them once again.
Under the cloudy mist of morphine, these characters float through life doing what they feel is justified to get what they want. Even Cassian, a sympathetic character, only speaks his version of the truth and hides much from those around them. Only Minke is willing to trudge through life with a clear head and an honest heart. Only she will be able to determine what she deserves as a life, and what she will do to get it.
This is an enjoyable read for lovers of historical fiction and novels set in exotic locations. I had trouble liking many of the characters, but really enjoyed the way that Minke seemed to be able to keep her spunk no matter what befalled her. Most women would have crumbled faced with what she was forced to go through, but she keeps moving and fighting and, ultimately, lives her life as she sees fit. While she is not a strong enough character in my opinion to make me love this book, she is still an admirable heroine. I enjoyed the story, but not to the extent that I will be reading it again. I enjoyed the ride but am ready to move on.
April 4, 2024
Een van de meest mooie verhalen die ik heb gelezen. Je wordt totaal in het leven meegenomen. Prachtig einde
September 17, 2021
Family history story.
January 24, 2013
For the most part, this was an enjoyable read- enough so that I would have no problem reading any of Pam Lewis’ other works, though from what I understand by reading the back blurb, are not historical fiction. That’s a bummer, because she has an eye for detail that really submerses her readers into turn of the century Argentina, New York, and Amsterdam.
When the story opens, we meet a very young Minke as she is about to embark on the first of her travels to become a nurse to a wealthy man’s ailing wife. From there, it’s little time before the plot shoots off, as the wife dies maybe a chapter later (under suspicious circumstances that aren’t resolved until much later,) and Minke finds herself engaged to the master of the house himself and on the way to Argentina.
In Argentina, life progresses as one would expect: she finds her footing as a new wife, explores her surroundings, and ultimately has a son who is kidnapped. Up until this point, I was happily along for the ride, but here’s where it started losing its five star rating. After the kidnapping of her son (which is blamed on Minke’s male friend, whom her husband was jealous of and therefore shot and killed- or so you’re led to believe,) the family business starts going downhill and Minke and her husband are forced to relocate themselves and the rest of their family to New York City in search of work. Minke has another child, her sister is having an affair with her husband, and Minke’s only friend is her husband’s best friend (who it is now revealed is also his uncle!) who she forgives for not saying, “oh, by the way, I totally knew your sister was banging your husband. My bad.”
But that’s not all! Minke, tired of dealing with her husband’s stupidity and philandering ways, gets some lady balls and finds herself a job and board for her and her daughter. She cuts contact with her sister and her husband (easier said than done, because they bump into each other a few more times,) and pretty much only hangs around with the uncle-friend when she’s not being pestered by the other household servants who work with her. While flipping through a newspaper one day, Minke catches sight of the old neighbors (the ones who ruined her family business, pretty much,) and surprise! There’s her stolen kid.
Now, granted, I understand that in order for closure to happen in this novel, the son had to be found. However, the way the book ended, it seemed to me like Lewis knew what she wanted to happen, but lost sight of how to get there in the very end. I won’t ruin everything for you, but basically the reclaiming of the kid did not seem plausible- particularly the vapid, sideswiped way she described the whole civil suit between Minke and the neighbors over who really had a right to the son (who the husband had sold to them, surprise! And even bigger surprise, her sister knew about it!) For reasons that aren’t really explained, Minke decides she’s going back to Argentina (which, granted, she talked about going back to look for her son, but hey, he was down the street the whole time.) And the thing that bugged me the most? Lewis wanted to have one of those nice, tie-up-all-the-ends epilogues, but she forgot one major part: she does not tell us what happens to uncle-friend Cassian. We hear all about Minke’s nephew-step-son going to a good school, but not about her best friend who helped her get back (in a possibly illegal manner, or does kidnapping from kidnappers cancel out?).
All in all, I’m left with mixed feelings. I want to give the first half of this book 5 stars, and the last half a passable 3. It’s a light read, but it could have done with some more thinking.
When the story opens, we meet a very young Minke as she is about to embark on the first of her travels to become a nurse to a wealthy man’s ailing wife. From there, it’s little time before the plot shoots off, as the wife dies maybe a chapter later (under suspicious circumstances that aren’t resolved until much later,) and Minke finds herself engaged to the master of the house himself and on the way to Argentina.
In Argentina, life progresses as one would expect: she finds her footing as a new wife, explores her surroundings, and ultimately has a son who is kidnapped. Up until this point, I was happily along for the ride, but here’s where it started losing its five star rating. After the kidnapping of her son (which is blamed on Minke’s male friend, whom her husband was jealous of and therefore shot and killed- or so you’re led to believe,) the family business starts going downhill and Minke and her husband are forced to relocate themselves and the rest of their family to New York City in search of work. Minke has another child, her sister is having an affair with her husband, and Minke’s only friend is her husband’s best friend (who it is now revealed is also his uncle!) who she forgives for not saying, “oh, by the way, I totally knew your sister was banging your husband. My bad.”
But that’s not all! Minke, tired of dealing with her husband’s stupidity and philandering ways, gets some lady balls and finds herself a job and board for her and her daughter. She cuts contact with her sister and her husband (easier said than done, because they bump into each other a few more times,) and pretty much only hangs around with the uncle-friend when she’s not being pestered by the other household servants who work with her. While flipping through a newspaper one day, Minke catches sight of the old neighbors (the ones who ruined her family business, pretty much,) and surprise! There’s her stolen kid.
Now, granted, I understand that in order for closure to happen in this novel, the son had to be found. However, the way the book ended, it seemed to me like Lewis knew what she wanted to happen, but lost sight of how to get there in the very end. I won’t ruin everything for you, but basically the reclaiming of the kid did not seem plausible- particularly the vapid, sideswiped way she described the whole civil suit between Minke and the neighbors over who really had a right to the son (who the husband had sold to them, surprise! And even bigger surprise, her sister knew about it!) For reasons that aren’t really explained, Minke decides she’s going back to Argentina (which, granted, she talked about going back to look for her son, but hey, he was down the street the whole time.) And the thing that bugged me the most? Lewis wanted to have one of those nice, tie-up-all-the-ends epilogues, but she forgot one major part: she does not tell us what happens to uncle-friend Cassian. We hear all about Minke’s nephew-step-son going to a good school, but not about her best friend who helped her get back (in a possibly illegal manner, or does kidnapping from kidnappers cancel out?).
All in all, I’m left with mixed feelings. I want to give the first half of this book 5 stars, and the last half a passable 3. It’s a light read, but it could have done with some more thinking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews