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A Proper Pursuit
The World's Fair.
Chicago, 1893.
It seems a perfect backdrop for what Violet Hayes longs to experience: a little mystery, a little romance.
To be honest, it is more than a little mystery. She schemed her way to Chicago to discover the mother she barely remembered. As for romance...well, with the help of her grandmother and three great aunts, that is coming along nicely as well--perhaps too well. Each of her relatives--including her saintly grandmother--seems to have a separate agenda for her.
In the course of a summer, Violet's world will open wide before her eyes. But in the wake of discovery, she must find a way to determine which path--and which man--will ultimately be the right lifetime choice for her.
Chicago, 1893.
It seems a perfect backdrop for what Violet Hayes longs to experience: a little mystery, a little romance.
To be honest, it is more than a little mystery. She schemed her way to Chicago to discover the mother she barely remembered. As for romance...well, with the help of her grandmother and three great aunts, that is coming along nicely as well--perhaps too well. Each of her relatives--including her saintly grandmother--seems to have a separate agenda for her.
In the course of a summer, Violet's world will open wide before her eyes. But in the wake of discovery, she must find a way to determine which path--and which man--will ultimately be the right lifetime choice for her.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
710 people are currently reading
4343 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Austin
69 books5,578 followersFor many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
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October 24, 2023
3 stars, personally. Not sure when I'll share the full content review, but going to list some thoughts on this book for now. :)
I never thought this would happen, but I actually hit the character limit in this Goodreads review, so I can't even put all the content info, but I'll link it below and share my thoughts.
This was different, it was interesting. (The ending was quite abrupt, though, I must say.)
This book was my first book by this author, despite having heard about this author for a long time. I liked parts of it and wasn’t the biggest fan of others.
Violet is a character I can see some readers enjoying and others being annoyed at—and I can’t blame a reader for either reaction. She doesn’t come across as a 20-year-old, but that’s probably do to her being in finishing school for years and not knowing anything but the things that were taught there. She’s dramatic and it mostly works…she’s always coming up with stories about others and their possible pasts, which gives her a bit of a daydreaming personality, but it added to the book. She has an overactive imagination and that’s mainly due to reading romance novels.
The romance of this was interesting because there’s four guys mostly because of different family members introducing her to so many, but it didn’t really feel like Violet was leading them on as she doesn’t know what she wants except true love like she’s read in her friend’s romance books. Now while she might not lead them on, she doesn’t make the best decisions regarding them or other ideas. Such as feeling excited about going on a date with a man no one has vetted that feels dangerous, keeping things a secret or not correcting others’ thoughts to be able to be free from society’s rules (and since most won’t tell her about her mother, she decides to keep little things like that as well), wanting to try to break rules to see what it’s like, etc. She’s using others to track down information about her mother and they’re using her for different reasons as well. There’s Herman the bore, Nelson the rich and handsome, Louis the sold-out evangelist, and Silas the shady salesman that makes Violet’s heart race. And here in lies one of my problems with this book: Silas. Violet is attracted to him and him her, but because she thinks he’s a thief, she tries to talk herself out of falling for her and wonders what’s wrong with her to feel these emotions for him. It’s a fiction book, so it all works out, of course, but I’m not thrilled with that element story being about Violet falling for a man because he’s handsome, fun, makes her heart race, and is the kind of guy that girls like her are told to stay away from. She describes touching his hand as if she’s holding the wrong end of a flatiron, which plays even more to the element of her playing with fire and continues when they share kisses. *Spoiler*
I thought it was interesting because the whole story is told only in her POV—and in first person at that. It was different because of that, but a good different. I liked the setting being around the World’s Fair. I’m not sure why I like learning about it, but it’s fascinating.
I do think this book was a bit too long at times, but that could be because of the four love interests maybe? It was overall very entertaining, but the ending was very abrupt despite being over 400 pages long.
Violet’s grandmother and great-aunts are all very different from each other: one works with the poor, another is a part of the suffrage/women’s rights movement and makes comments against men, the third is married to a rich man and is a part of society, and the last one is grieving the death of her husband and living thirty years in the past.
There’s so many characters and very different lives within this story, it was interesting to see all the perspectives—on marriage, serving others, women’s rights, and many other topics because nearly no one has the same opinion or shares the exact same advice with Violet. This could be part of the problem on why she’s so confused on so many things, though! This is also why I hesitate to suggest this book for younger teens because just as how Violet is very impressionable. I didn’t always agree with Violet’s thoughts or actions, and it was very apparent how she could be swayed to one side or the other based on who she was with or currently experiencing. Which, yes, that can be realistic, but I think that’s an important note for potential young teen readers for many reasons, including the fact that Violet is attracted to a man who comes across as dangerous and she thinks is a thief for the large majority of the book.
There’s good lessons tucked into this book through some character development that happens, but with Violet’s flightiness and many suitors, I could totally see how those little messages could get lost. It was an overall entertaining read, but there were some content and moral concerns that I listed above that makes it better for older girls, in my opinion. I think some readers might brush off certain things or not notice certain details, but I would hate to not mention them as some of the morals and discussions in this book didn’t settle right with me.
Link to a full content review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
I never thought this would happen, but I actually hit the character limit in this Goodreads review, so I can't even put all the content info, but I'll link it below and share my thoughts.
This was different, it was interesting. (The ending was quite abrupt, though, I must say.)
This book was my first book by this author, despite having heard about this author for a long time. I liked parts of it and wasn’t the biggest fan of others.
Violet is a character I can see some readers enjoying and others being annoyed at—and I can’t blame a reader for either reaction. She doesn’t come across as a 20-year-old, but that’s probably do to her being in finishing school for years and not knowing anything but the things that were taught there. She’s dramatic and it mostly works…she’s always coming up with stories about others and their possible pasts, which gives her a bit of a daydreaming personality, but it added to the book. She has an overactive imagination and that’s mainly due to reading romance novels.
The romance of this was interesting because there’s four guys mostly because of different family members introducing her to so many, but it didn’t really feel like Violet was leading them on as she doesn’t know what she wants except true love like she’s read in her friend’s romance books. Now while she might not lead them on, she doesn’t make the best decisions regarding them or other ideas. Such as feeling excited about going on a date with a man no one has vetted that feels dangerous, keeping things a secret or not correcting others’ thoughts to be able to be free from society’s rules (and since most won’t tell her about her mother, she decides to keep little things like that as well), wanting to try to break rules to see what it’s like, etc. She’s using others to track down information about her mother and they’re using her for different reasons as well. There’s Herman the bore, Nelson the rich and handsome, Louis the sold-out evangelist, and Silas the shady salesman that makes Violet’s heart race. And here in lies one of my problems with this book: Silas. Violet is attracted to him and him her, but because she thinks he’s a thief, she tries to talk herself out of falling for her and wonders what’s wrong with her to feel these emotions for him. It’s a fiction book, so it all works out, of course, but I’m not thrilled with that element story being about Violet falling for a man because he’s handsome, fun, makes her heart race, and is the kind of guy that girls like her are told to stay away from. She describes touching his hand as if she’s holding the wrong end of a flatiron, which plays even more to the element of her playing with fire and continues when they share kisses. *Spoiler*
I thought it was interesting because the whole story is told only in her POV—and in first person at that. It was different because of that, but a good different. I liked the setting being around the World’s Fair. I’m not sure why I like learning about it, but it’s fascinating.
I do think this book was a bit too long at times, but that could be because of the four love interests maybe? It was overall very entertaining, but the ending was very abrupt despite being over 400 pages long.
Violet’s grandmother and great-aunts are all very different from each other: one works with the poor, another is a part of the suffrage/women’s rights movement and makes comments against men, the third is married to a rich man and is a part of society, and the last one is grieving the death of her husband and living thirty years in the past.
There’s so many characters and very different lives within this story, it was interesting to see all the perspectives—on marriage, serving others, women’s rights, and many other topics because nearly no one has the same opinion or shares the exact same advice with Violet. This could be part of the problem on why she’s so confused on so many things, though! This is also why I hesitate to suggest this book for younger teens because just as how Violet is very impressionable. I didn’t always agree with Violet’s thoughts or actions, and it was very apparent how she could be swayed to one side or the other based on who she was with or currently experiencing. Which, yes, that can be realistic, but I think that’s an important note for potential young teen readers for many reasons, including the fact that Violet is attracted to a man who comes across as dangerous and she thinks is a thief for the large majority of the book.
There’s good lessons tucked into this book through some character development that happens, but with Violet’s flightiness and many suitors, I could totally see how those little messages could get lost. It was an overall entertaining read, but there were some content and moral concerns that I listed above that makes it better for older girls, in my opinion. I think some readers might brush off certain things or not notice certain details, but I would hate to not mention them as some of the morals and discussions in this book didn’t settle right with me.
Link to a full content review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
January 26, 2009
I must say that when I started this book, I really wasn't sure if I would even stick with it to finish it. The only reason that I kept reading it all was because the writing was so good and intriguing. (It's written from first person perspective and you'll remember from my last review that I really don't care for first person perspectives) Usually about mid-way through a book, I can tell where the story is going. With this book, I wasn't sure. I love books that have a happy ending and tie things up neatly. I had no idea how this one was going to wrap up!
A little mystery, a little romance was exactly what Violet Hayes got when she left her father's home to search for her missing mother. She travels to Chicago to stay with her Grandmother and 3 great-aunts. My, her Aunts are characters. Austin had me wishing for Aunts just like them and then in the same breath being oh-so glad that I didn't! :o) Each of her Aunts has an agenda for her and it seems every one of them has a suitor for her as well.
Four men, three proposals, and a one big mystery make this book a must read!
A little mystery, a little romance was exactly what Violet Hayes got when she left her father's home to search for her missing mother. She travels to Chicago to stay with her Grandmother and 3 great-aunts. My, her Aunts are characters. Austin had me wishing for Aunts just like them and then in the same breath being oh-so glad that I didn't! :o) Each of her Aunts has an agenda for her and it seems every one of them has a suitor for her as well.
Four men, three proposals, and a one big mystery make this book a must read!
March 20, 2015
First of all, ignore the deathly boring cover. The cover features a little girl who looks like she belongs on the cover of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, while the book isn't about a child but Violet, who has just graduated finishing school and is out to find her role in life.
Whether that's marrying the stodgy Herman Beckett, intense Luis or Nelson, who clearly likes Violet and dislikes the pretenses of Chicago society. The same as her. But he isn't all he seems, and what if it's someone else that holds his heart, and not her?
Or she could follow her Aunt Matt and march for women's rights.
Then there's Silas, fun loving, exciting and dangerous to be around, Silas. He's completely wrong for Violet, at least that's what she tells herself.
What I really liked:
Violet starts out rather immature but, as the story progressed she started to grow up. I adored her Aunt Birdie, and felt so sorry for her when other people where thoughtless. Violet's Aunt Matt was interesting, she definitely didn't fit a mold. And her Grandmother… well I didn't dislike her or love her.
The Hero on the other hand, was completely likable, he was just right for Violet, together they will have all the excitement they need.
Dislikes:
Luis. Was. Tiresome. I wanted to stopper his mouth on several occasions. And he liked to preach at Violet or anyone who would listen. I skipped several pages of him droning on and on. Other than that, it was fabulous. You should be warned that though Violet gets her happy ever after some do not. At least, I don't feel that they did.
Mild PG
There is mention of wife beating, burlesque shows and that sort of thing.
Whether that's marrying the stodgy Herman Beckett, intense Luis or Nelson, who clearly likes Violet and dislikes the pretenses of Chicago society. The same as her. But he isn't all he seems, and what if it's someone else that holds his heart, and not her?
Or she could follow her Aunt Matt and march for women's rights.
Then there's Silas, fun loving, exciting and dangerous to be around, Silas. He's completely wrong for Violet, at least that's what she tells herself.
What I really liked:
Violet starts out rather immature but, as the story progressed she started to grow up. I adored her Aunt Birdie, and felt so sorry for her when other people where thoughtless. Violet's Aunt Matt was interesting, she definitely didn't fit a mold. And her Grandmother… well I didn't dislike her or love her.
The Hero on the other hand, was completely likable, he was just right for Violet, together they will have all the excitement they need.
Dislikes:
Luis. Was. Tiresome. I wanted to stopper his mouth on several occasions. And he liked to preach at Violet or anyone who would listen. I skipped several pages of him droning on and on. Other than that, it was fabulous. You should be warned that though Violet gets her happy ever after some do not. At least, I don't feel that they did.
Mild PG
There is mention of wife beating, burlesque shows and that sort of thing.
April 27, 2018
I LOVED this book! I loved that through Violet's grandmother and three aunts, we saw very different aspects of Chicago, the Word's Fair, and women's roles in 1893. Readers are swept into the suggragette movement, the gilded fancy-pants world (complete with the benefits and pitfalls of wealth) and into the charity work in Jane Addams' settlement house and the rallies of D.L. Moody. Violet's way of looking at and interacting with the world is so unique. This book had me laughing out loud in several places. I listened to the Audible version and highly recommend it. The voices were all done so well and added to the depth and hilarity.
I was entertained, educated, and moved by this book. Worth another read.
I was entertained, educated, and moved by this book. Worth another read.
February 23, 2020
Distraught over her father’s impending marriage and recently informed that her mother is alive, Violet travels to Chicago. She is presumably there to attend the Chicago World’s Fair and find a husband, but really plans to search for her mother.
Violet is introduced to several worlds in Chicago. Her grandmother works with the church and gives help to the poor. Her Aunt Matt is a suffragette, marching for rights for women. Another Aunt introduces her to Chicago’s high society, and her Aunt Bertie is lost in grief over her husband who died in the Civil War. As Violet searches for her mother, she finds herself having to choose between marrying for money, for love, for service, or not marrying at all, as each side is presented to her by her Grandmother and Aunts.
I am a huge fan of Lynn Austin’s writing. She transports you back to historical events in time and you feel as if you are there. We learn about the Chicago Worlds Fair, the Chicago Great Fire, and the Women’s Rights Movement as we follow Violet on her journey.
If you love history, romance, and strong, independent women, you will love this book.
Violet is introduced to several worlds in Chicago. Her grandmother works with the church and gives help to the poor. Her Aunt Matt is a suffragette, marching for rights for women. Another Aunt introduces her to Chicago’s high society, and her Aunt Bertie is lost in grief over her husband who died in the Civil War. As Violet searches for her mother, she finds herself having to choose between marrying for money, for love, for service, or not marrying at all, as each side is presented to her by her Grandmother and Aunts.
I am a huge fan of Lynn Austin’s writing. She transports you back to historical events in time and you feel as if you are there. We learn about the Chicago Worlds Fair, the Chicago Great Fire, and the Women’s Rights Movement as we follow Violet on her journey.
If you love history, romance, and strong, independent women, you will love this book.
October 8, 2021
This book took me through surprises and unimaginable coincidences.
Oh my! How I enjoyed this book...I'm so glad I got to read you dear😁
You know I completed this book at 3 AM and just sat there on my bed and was like that's Fantastic and Beautiful. I'm so so happy
Also the faith..so beautiful 💙
So, this is a historical fiction which is set in Chicago during the 1980s and the Great Chicago Fire plays a major role in unveiling several secrets in the present.
Violet set her goal to find her mother in this process she meets 3 suitors who try to pursue her each with different characters and personalities...She's now staying with her grandmother and her grandmother's sisters and each of them persuades her to choose one of them and GUYS!! KID YOU NOT - I have a grandmother who has 2 sisters and who just like her aunts & Grandma try to tell her -1) to marry pastors( someone with strong faith values )
-2) not marry at all
-3) follow love
Like her aunts even my aunts have the same life like one of them never married, one of them married for love and lost her husband early but still believes in the power of love, one of them a widow and spends all her time in church and helping others
Huh, I get the same suggestion as Violet 😂😂
Can you imagine my feelings while reading this..only violet has one aunt who tries to marry her for wealth
Through all this chaos Violet is dead set in finding her mother and she goes all through beyond efforts to do so and for it she seeks God, fights God, Finds His true Love and her true value, and also lastly finds true love
This was an incredible journey and I loved reading it so much it's so fun, interesting, and faith-filled with such beautiful meaning
Y'all I really say more without giving any spoilers
All I'm saying is I highly recommend this book for all historical fiction lovers and Christians
My favorite quote :
In the past, I had often tried to escape the grown-up world of sorrow through my imagination- dreaming that a handsome young lieutenant would ride to my rescue or that a great empresario would discover my musical talents and whisk me away. I had envisioned knights in shining armor and happily ever after scenes to escape from rules or boredom or pain; including a vision of my mother walking through our front door whole and well again. Now I knew that a lifetime of escape led to a lifelike Aunt Bertie's. My imagination was a gift, but I had to live in the real world. My eyes had been opened this summer to poverty and crime and abuse and I needed to use my imagination not to escape, but to help people like Irina and Katya, to make my own contribution as the women in the women's pavilion had done. I couldn't do it in the same way Jane Adams and my grandmother and Aunt Mat were, but I would find my way and my own time.
Lynn Austin, A Proper Pursuit
Oh my! How I enjoyed this book...I'm so glad I got to read you dear😁
You know I completed this book at 3 AM and just sat there on my bed and was like that's Fantastic and Beautiful. I'm so so happy
Also the faith..so beautiful 💙
So, this is a historical fiction which is set in Chicago during the 1980s and the Great Chicago Fire plays a major role in unveiling several secrets in the present.
Violet set her goal to find her mother in this process she meets 3 suitors who try to pursue her each with different characters and personalities...She's now staying with her grandmother and her grandmother's sisters and each of them persuades her to choose one of them and GUYS!! KID YOU NOT - I have a grandmother who has 2 sisters and who just like her aunts & Grandma try to tell her -1) to marry pastors( someone with strong faith values )
-2) not marry at all
-3) follow love
Like her aunts even my aunts have the same life like one of them never married, one of them married for love and lost her husband early but still believes in the power of love, one of them a widow and spends all her time in church and helping others
Huh, I get the same suggestion as Violet 😂😂
Can you imagine my feelings while reading this..only violet has one aunt who tries to marry her for wealth
Through all this chaos Violet is dead set in finding her mother and she goes all through beyond efforts to do so and for it she seeks God, fights God, Finds His true Love and her true value, and also lastly finds true love
This was an incredible journey and I loved reading it so much it's so fun, interesting, and faith-filled with such beautiful meaning
Y'all I really say more without giving any spoilers
All I'm saying is I highly recommend this book for all historical fiction lovers and Christians
My favorite quote :
In the past, I had often tried to escape the grown-up world of sorrow through my imagination- dreaming that a handsome young lieutenant would ride to my rescue or that a great empresario would discover my musical talents and whisk me away. I had envisioned knights in shining armor and happily ever after scenes to escape from rules or boredom or pain; including a vision of my mother walking through our front door whole and well again. Now I knew that a lifetime of escape led to a lifelike Aunt Bertie's. My imagination was a gift, but I had to live in the real world. My eyes had been opened this summer to poverty and crime and abuse and I needed to use my imagination not to escape, but to help people like Irina and Katya, to make my own contribution as the women in the women's pavilion had done. I couldn't do it in the same way Jane Adams and my grandmother and Aunt Mat were, but I would find my way and my own time.
Lynn Austin, A Proper Pursuit
January 17, 2011
I know it's cliche, but I have a HUGE wish list of books - and only so much time and money. This is one that had been on the list for a while and I'm a little ashamed to say that I didn't put as much emphasis on it because the cover just didn't grab me. Let me tell you something - what's inside is one of the most entertaining stories I've read in a long time. I instantly added Lynn Austin as a favorite author after finishing this book.
Violet is such an incredible character. She experiences so much through the course of this novel. She sees things she never dreamed of, meets interesting people, has to learn some harsh truths as well as some beautiful ones, solves some mysteries, gets several marriage proposals, sees life from varying perspectives, and has her very first kiss.
I laughed so hard while reading this book that I cried. I could picture everything in my mind so clearly - from the Liberty Bell made from oranges, to the frilly dresses at the parties and even the shocked looks on the faces of people when bloomers for women were suggested as an option. The descriptions made you feel like you were part of it. I can still remember exactly how Violet described Silas when she first saw him.
Speaking of Silas, that was another great thing about the book. Violet wasn't the only interesting character. Silas kept you guessing about what kind of person he really was and what he wanted, each of her aunts had their own strengths and personalities that made the book fun & interesting, her grandmother was yet another holder of mysteries and the one who led her to the "seedier" side of town to do charity work, Nelson is more than just another rich bachelor who "plays the game," and I could keep going.
The story was well-written, it had elements of mystery, a lot of wit and funny dialogue, romance... This was a great story. If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I hope you add it to your list. :o)
Violet is such an incredible character. She experiences so much through the course of this novel. She sees things she never dreamed of, meets interesting people, has to learn some harsh truths as well as some beautiful ones, solves some mysteries, gets several marriage proposals, sees life from varying perspectives, and has her very first kiss.
I laughed so hard while reading this book that I cried. I could picture everything in my mind so clearly - from the Liberty Bell made from oranges, to the frilly dresses at the parties and even the shocked looks on the faces of people when bloomers for women were suggested as an option. The descriptions made you feel like you were part of it. I can still remember exactly how Violet described Silas when she first saw him.
Speaking of Silas, that was another great thing about the book. Violet wasn't the only interesting character. Silas kept you guessing about what kind of person he really was and what he wanted, each of her aunts had their own strengths and personalities that made the book fun & interesting, her grandmother was yet another holder of mysteries and the one who led her to the "seedier" side of town to do charity work, Nelson is more than just another rich bachelor who "plays the game," and I could keep going.
The story was well-written, it had elements of mystery, a lot of wit and funny dialogue, romance... This was a great story. If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I hope you add it to your list. :o)
April 26, 2011
This was a fun book. The main character, Violet, is quirky and full of imagination. At first, she was a little annoying because I found her to be a bit naive. However, as I read the novel, I realized that much of the point of her story is the process of growing up.
Austin portrayed the historical aspect of the novel well. I love reading novels about the Women's Rights movement and women's suffrage, and this one delivered (Violet even wears-gasp-bloomers!)
I loved the list of mysteries that Violet feels that she must solve, and the hilarious aspect of her spinster grandmother and aunts all trying to fix her up with who they think is most suitable for her. There were a few times that I actually laughed out loud. I also loved how she came to trust in God by the novel's end and how the Christian aspects of the novel were never on the nose or preachy.
Overall, A Proper Pursuit was a sweet, light tale. Recommended, especially if you like history around the time of the Women's Rights Movement and spunky, sleuthing heroines.
Austin portrayed the historical aspect of the novel well. I love reading novels about the Women's Rights movement and women's suffrage, and this one delivered (Violet even wears-gasp-bloomers!)
I loved the list of mysteries that Violet feels that she must solve, and the hilarious aspect of her spinster grandmother and aunts all trying to fix her up with who they think is most suitable for her. There were a few times that I actually laughed out loud. I also loved how she came to trust in God by the novel's end and how the Christian aspects of the novel were never on the nose or preachy.
Overall, A Proper Pursuit was a sweet, light tale. Recommended, especially if you like history around the time of the Women's Rights Movement and spunky, sleuthing heroines.
March 24, 2016
This was a lovely novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the story line and humor.
Violet's search for her mother provided a bit of mystery to the novel. The biggest strength of the story however is the character growth that Violet developed under the guidance of her four aunts. Each of them focused on a different criteria for what is important in life.
A Proper Pursuit is highly recommended for fans of Jen Turano.
Violet's search for her mother provided a bit of mystery to the novel. The biggest strength of the story however is the character growth that Violet developed under the guidance of her four aunts. Each of them focused on a different criteria for what is important in life.
A Proper Pursuit is highly recommended for fans of Jen Turano.
February 13, 2018
have read this a million times.
SILAS
SILAS
December 29, 2024
This book is one of the best coming of age stories I've ever read. I absolutely adored Violet as a character. She has an overactive imagination and reminded me of Anne Shirley.
The character growth is *chef's kiss*.🤌 I absolutely loved all the different perspectives in this story, especially the ones showing the not so pretty side of The Gilded Age. This time period is one of my absolute favorites to read about and this one definitely DID NOT disappoint.
I love a good courting story and this book has 4 prospective matches! And I was so happy with who Violet ended up with in the end!
Read this book if you love a good historical read!
The character growth is *chef's kiss*.🤌 I absolutely loved all the different perspectives in this story, especially the ones showing the not so pretty side of The Gilded Age. This time period is one of my absolute favorites to read about and this one definitely DID NOT disappoint.
I love a good courting story and this book has 4 prospective matches! And I was so happy with who Violet ended up with in the end!
Read this book if you love a good historical read!
February 23, 2021
This book was so much fun! An entirely different view of the 1893 Chicago Fair than several that I have recently read. But I expected characters from those books to bump into Violet!
Violet is a true romantic with wild scenarios scrambling in her head. “ My imagination is a gift, but I had to live in the real world.” She does learn to grow up. “ Everything would change. That was the lesson I had learned this summer. Life was all about change.”
Her life is a study in contrasts: What she has been told her life should look like and new possibilities that present themselves when she visits her grandmother and three aunts in Chicago. Her grandmother the widow of a minister, one aunt is an avowed Suffragette, another a rich society wife and my favorite, Aunt Birdie who lost her husband in the Civil War. Although her mind tells her he is still fighting that war, she gives wisdom to Violet. She urges her to seek love in a marriage partner. Thus Violet is faced with conflicting opinions on which of four suitors she should accept.
Her grandmother’s advice: “Don’t make choices in life to please somebody else. The only One you ever need to please is God.”
One of the funniest quotes is about the symptoms of wearing a corset: “ heart palpitations, difficulty breathing and light headedness. The symptoms sounded suspiciously like a romance novels description of love. Could it be that thousands of women had married their husbands in the mistaken belief that they were in love, when all along their corsets had been too tight? How disappointing to watch their love mysteriously vanish once their corsets were unlaced.”
Lynn Austin is fast becoming my go-to author for a lighthearted story with real substance and life and spiritual lessons.
* I borrowed this ebook from Prime Reading. All opinions are my own.*
Violet is a true romantic with wild scenarios scrambling in her head. “ My imagination is a gift, but I had to live in the real world.” She does learn to grow up. “ Everything would change. That was the lesson I had learned this summer. Life was all about change.”
Her life is a study in contrasts: What she has been told her life should look like and new possibilities that present themselves when she visits her grandmother and three aunts in Chicago. Her grandmother the widow of a minister, one aunt is an avowed Suffragette, another a rich society wife and my favorite, Aunt Birdie who lost her husband in the Civil War. Although her mind tells her he is still fighting that war, she gives wisdom to Violet. She urges her to seek love in a marriage partner. Thus Violet is faced with conflicting opinions on which of four suitors she should accept.
Her grandmother’s advice: “Don’t make choices in life to please somebody else. The only One you ever need to please is God.”
One of the funniest quotes is about the symptoms of wearing a corset: “ heart palpitations, difficulty breathing and light headedness. The symptoms sounded suspiciously like a romance novels description of love. Could it be that thousands of women had married their husbands in the mistaken belief that they were in love, when all along their corsets had been too tight? How disappointing to watch their love mysteriously vanish once their corsets were unlaced.”
Lynn Austin is fast becoming my go-to author for a lighthearted story with real substance and life and spiritual lessons.
* I borrowed this ebook from Prime Reading. All opinions are my own.*
February 8, 2021
for the longest time I thought I had read this… turns out I just read the ending.🙃 It didn’t spoil the book for me, though… this is one of the best coming of age stories I have read in a long time, if ever. this is one you really want to take your time with… its not hard to follow, but if you read fast you’ll miss the good parts.
violet was quite the character - she’s quirky and adventurous, and I loved getting to see her grow into maturity. reading the story from her point of view made me feel more connected to the story. The world she steps into in Chicago is vibrant and diverse; thanks to her aunts and grandmother she is able to experience the highs and lows of Chicago society. the descriptions are so vivid it really makes you feel like you're there.
I love the way the historical aspects were weaved into the story. seeing Chicago through Violet's eyes allowed us to learn about the city with her, and I love when historical books are able to do that. It feels so much more natural than having characters spout off random facts.
her suitors, for the most part, I really liked. they all served a purpose for Violet in one way or another. each man provided her a different lesson, and the man she ended up with turned out to be perfect for her (and I ended up liking him the best).
this was a really enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more of Lynn Austin's work in the future!
violet was quite the character - she’s quirky and adventurous, and I loved getting to see her grow into maturity. reading the story from her point of view made me feel more connected to the story. The world she steps into in Chicago is vibrant and diverse; thanks to her aunts and grandmother she is able to experience the highs and lows of Chicago society. the descriptions are so vivid it really makes you feel like you're there.
I love the way the historical aspects were weaved into the story. seeing Chicago through Violet's eyes allowed us to learn about the city with her, and I love when historical books are able to do that. It feels so much more natural than having characters spout off random facts.
her suitors, for the most part, I really liked. they all served a purpose for Violet in one way or another. each man provided her a different lesson, and the man she ended up with turned out to be perfect for her (and I ended up liking him the best).
this was a really enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more of Lynn Austin's work in the future!
November 9, 2009
This book was a lot of fun. It won a Christy award, so it is clean (yea) and it's religious message was not overdone or overpowering (bonus). It's historical fiction and is set in Chicago during the world's fair just before the turn of the century. You get to march with suffragettes, wear bloomers, visit Jane Adam's Hull House, hear Robert Moody preach, and of course, visit the fair or "the white city." As a bonus, the residents reminisce about the Chicago Fire and you learn all about that, too!
The protagonist is a young lady just going out in the world and finding her way -- so there are also drawing rooms and parties and, of course, suitors. She's luckier than most, getting to choose between so many worlds, but she is thoughtful about it. She's also plucky and has a wild imagination. Oh, and I didn't even get into the plot about her mother, which I thought was tender and also telling of the difficulties of the time period.
Overall, well done. A light read, definitely, but fun.
The protagonist is a young lady just going out in the world and finding her way -- so there are also drawing rooms and parties and, of course, suitors. She's luckier than most, getting to choose between so many worlds, but she is thoughtful about it. She's also plucky and has a wild imagination. Oh, and I didn't even get into the plot about her mother, which I thought was tender and also telling of the difficulties of the time period.
Overall, well done. A light read, definitely, but fun.
May 1, 2013
A Proper Pursuit is a delightful romp through the year 1893 as Violet tries to find her true love. She goes to Chicago to stay with her grandmother and three great aunts. Each lady has a different kind of beau in mind for Violet but none of the beaus is exactly right. At the same time, she is trying to solve the disappearance of an important person in her life using each of the beaus to assist her. Only when Violet finds her real first love does she find exactly the right man for her.
I loved the characters in this story and how each of the 4 women caring for Violet represented a different aspect of women's attitudes of this time period. Violet grows and learns from these women as she realizes that each one represents a trait that is part of a well-rounded person. Each of the beaus also represented a "stereotypical" man in one aspect again showing Violet what to look for in the "just right" man for her.
I loved the characters in this story and how each of the 4 women caring for Violet represented a different aspect of women's attitudes of this time period. Violet grows and learns from these women as she realizes that each one represents a trait that is part of a well-rounded person. Each of the beaus also represented a "stereotypical" man in one aspect again showing Violet what to look for in the "just right" man for her.
January 19, 2016
Violet Hayes, graduate of Madame Beauchamps' charm school has no idea how the rest of her life will unfold but she knows a few things 1)She has to find a way to prevent her father's wedding to Mrs. O'Neill and her horrid children 2)In order to do so she has to find her mother and make her mother come back to Violet and her father and 3)she has to fall in love before she marries. Her father has other ideas. He wants Violet to marry the extremely boring Herman Beckett and stay stuck in slow Lockport the rest of her life. Violet dreams of adventure and schemes her way to Chicago to stay with her estranged grandmother and great-aunts. Along the way she meets the slimy blood tonic salesman, Silas McClure. To thwart her father, Violet strikes up a friendship with the man and gives him permission to call on her in Chicago. She soon discovers that her grandmother and two of her three aunts also have an agenda for Violet. Grandmother wants Violet to dedicate her life to God and marry her protogee, the pious minister-in-training, Louis Decker. Aunt Agnes, a wealthy socialite, wants Violet to marry for money and she has just the right candidate in Nelson Kent, grandson of one of her Society friends. Aunt Matt wants Violet to join the cause for woman suffrage and not marry ANYONE. Sweet Aunt Bertie, still in love with the memory of her late husband, urges Violet to marry for love. Violet is confused about what to think. She likes Nelson a lot but he has a secret and Violet isn't sure marrying him is the right thing to do. Louis is a good man but God comes first in his life. Only Silas allows Violet to break free from the stringent rules of Society and be the woman she is inside, but she knows his secret and knows he is ineligible in the eyes of her family. She must find her mother before it's too late and she's married off to someone she dislikes.
Set against the backdrop of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) and in Victorian society, this inspirational novel is the coming of age story of one young woman's attempt to discover her true path. It is based on the story of the Prodigal Son (Daughter in this case). It is a little preachy in parts and I absolutely hated that and wanted to punch the most pious character. I believe religion is personal and not meant to "be" any particular way and please people, just help the poor and the immigrants because they need help and stop preaching at them and forcing them to believe what you believe. Sadly, I know that the characters in this story were all too real, largely in Britain where they seemed to have more of an evangelical bent. I also wanted to rant against the religious zealots for believing an alcoholic could be cured by finding Jesus or whatever. I know they didn't know it was a disease but it still annoys me. I was also curious as to whether this character had issues with substance abuse BEFORE the Civil War or whether his drinking was part of an all-too-common problem at that time since they had little in the way of medicine for the wounded/anesthetic for the amputees and no idea what PTSD was or how to treat it. If we're meant to forgive this character, I need some back story. I think Jesus would forgive the character if the character's problems were a result of the war. /end rant
One more rant before I get to the good stuff. The representation of Gypsies is so outrageously stereotyped and ignorant, I was completely taken aback. This reflects the attitudes of the day, yes, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was in the plot. The character would refer to his or herself as Roma/Romani NOT Gypsy even back in 1893. Read Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey mysteries for a better representation around the same time period. The culture of music and dancing seems accurate for the Hungarian-Slovak people who settled in Chicago. [Sorry I'm an historian. I have to fact check and nit pick. I can't ignore it. At least not yet. Get back to me when I've been out of school longer.]
So now the good stuff. I really liked Violet. She annoyed me with her immaturity at times, but she's been so sheltered her whole life, so naturally she sounds younger than she is. I could relate to her restless, rebellious spirit and I liked her coming of age story. Her search for her mother kept me turning pages and her quest for true love intrigued me. Each of her suitors are so different and their trips to the Fair reflected their personalities and expectations for Violet's future. I disliked Herman for being stupid and a bit pompous. I loathed Louis for being a jerk and a religious zealot who could not see anything else but his love for Jesus. His perpetually dirty glasses were a good symbol of his true personality. I kind of liked Nelson but felt that he was too much the spoiled rich kid and don't think he will make a good husband other than the money. He didn't want to listen to any advice and just wanted an ear to listen to his whining pity party. Dude- grow up. I did not like Silas very much for all the warning bells that went off in Violet's head. More went off in my head, being much older and wiser, but yet he was the only one who truly let Violet be herself and appreciated her for it. By the end of the book, I quite liked him though I'm not sure if he would make a good husband.
The secondary characters were also culled from the stereotypes of the era but well drawn enough to make them interesting and some of them likable. I did not like Grandmother. Not only was she a religious zealot, she was using Violet for her own ends just as Agnes and Matty did. A grandmother shouldn't do that. Great-Aunt Matty would have been my favorite character if not for Aunt Birdie. Aunt Birdie is just so sweet and lovable. How could anyone not love her? My heart bled for her every time she brought up Gilbert. In some ways she reminded me of my beloved grandmother who had dementia in her final years. She would sometimes ask about her mother and older sister and telling the truth, that she was one of two surviving members of her childhood family, resulted in tears. Equivocating was easier and caused less stress so I can easily relate to Violet's family and their decision to not tell Birdie the truth. Aunt Matty becomes my second favorite character. I love her because she's a suffragist (suffragette was sort of a derogatory term) and dedicated to women's rights. Sometimes she was a bit too militant using Violet, but her message was the right one. She would be shocked and sad to discover that her fight isn't over even 100+ years later. I think Aunt Matt is the 1890s version of me!
The other characters I felt a little mixed about. Aunt Agnes was the least developed of the family members but I can easily see her like Violet in her younger days. It's tough to condemn her as mercenary when she did the thing girls of her generation and social class were brought up to do. There weren't any other options at that time. I also felt mixed about Violet's father. I didn't like his methods but his reasoning wasn't so misguided. He didn't really seem to know Violet very well. He was stuck being a single dad so she went off to boarding school and so now he's stuck with a young adult daughter he doesn't know what to do with. He struggles with what he believes is right and what he feels for Violet. He's kind of Herman grown up.
The author did her research on Chicago in the 1890s, especially Hull House and the slums. The Fair was sort of secondary to the plot and the descriptions were tantalizing but there weren't enough. I have to go look up the Women's Pavillion. It sounded like fun though, like Disney's Epcot Center.
I rate this book somewhere in between I liked it and I really liked it. I really liked PARTS of the story but not the whole thing.
Set against the backdrop of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) and in Victorian society, this inspirational novel is the coming of age story of one young woman's attempt to discover her true path. It is based on the story of the Prodigal Son (Daughter in this case). It is a little preachy in parts and I absolutely hated that and wanted to punch the most pious character. I believe religion is personal and not meant to "be" any particular way and please people, just help the poor and the immigrants because they need help and stop preaching at them and forcing them to believe what you believe. Sadly, I know that the characters in this story were all too real, largely in Britain where they seemed to have more of an evangelical bent. I also wanted to rant against the religious zealots for believing an alcoholic could be cured by finding Jesus or whatever. I know they didn't know it was a disease but it still annoys me. I was also curious as to whether this character had issues with substance abuse BEFORE the Civil War or whether his drinking was part of an all-too-common problem at that time since they had little in the way of medicine for the wounded/anesthetic for the amputees and no idea what PTSD was or how to treat it. If we're meant to forgive this character, I need some back story. I think Jesus would forgive the character if the character's problems were a result of the war. /end rant
One more rant before I get to the good stuff. The representation of Gypsies is so outrageously stereotyped and ignorant, I was completely taken aback. This reflects the attitudes of the day, yes, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was in the plot. The character would refer to his or herself as Roma/Romani NOT Gypsy even back in 1893. Read Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey mysteries for a better representation around the same time period. The culture of music and dancing seems accurate for the Hungarian-Slovak people who settled in Chicago. [Sorry I'm an historian. I have to fact check and nit pick. I can't ignore it. At least not yet. Get back to me when I've been out of school longer.]
So now the good stuff. I really liked Violet. She annoyed me with her immaturity at times, but she's been so sheltered her whole life, so naturally she sounds younger than she is. I could relate to her restless, rebellious spirit and I liked her coming of age story. Her search for her mother kept me turning pages and her quest for true love intrigued me. Each of her suitors are so different and their trips to the Fair reflected their personalities and expectations for Violet's future. I disliked Herman for being stupid and a bit pompous. I loathed Louis for being a jerk and a religious zealot who could not see anything else but his love for Jesus. His perpetually dirty glasses were a good symbol of his true personality. I kind of liked Nelson but felt that he was too much the spoiled rich kid and don't think he will make a good husband other than the money. He didn't want to listen to any advice and just wanted an ear to listen to his whining pity party. Dude- grow up. I did not like Silas very much for all the warning bells that went off in Violet's head. More went off in my head, being much older and wiser, but yet he was the only one who truly let Violet be herself and appreciated her for it. By the end of the book, I quite liked him though I'm not sure if he would make a good husband.
The secondary characters were also culled from the stereotypes of the era but well drawn enough to make them interesting and some of them likable. I did not like Grandmother. Not only was she a religious zealot, she was using Violet for her own ends just as Agnes and Matty did. A grandmother shouldn't do that. Great-Aunt Matty would have been my favorite character if not for Aunt Birdie. Aunt Birdie is just so sweet and lovable. How could anyone not love her? My heart bled for her every time she brought up Gilbert. In some ways she reminded me of my beloved grandmother who had dementia in her final years. She would sometimes ask about her mother and older sister and telling the truth, that she was one of two surviving members of her childhood family, resulted in tears. Equivocating was easier and caused less stress so I can easily relate to Violet's family and their decision to not tell Birdie the truth. Aunt Matty becomes my second favorite character. I love her because she's a suffragist (suffragette was sort of a derogatory term) and dedicated to women's rights. Sometimes she was a bit too militant using Violet, but her message was the right one. She would be shocked and sad to discover that her fight isn't over even 100+ years later. I think Aunt Matt is the 1890s version of me!
The other characters I felt a little mixed about. Aunt Agnes was the least developed of the family members but I can easily see her like Violet in her younger days. It's tough to condemn her as mercenary when she did the thing girls of her generation and social class were brought up to do. There weren't any other options at that time. I also felt mixed about Violet's father. I didn't like his methods but his reasoning wasn't so misguided. He didn't really seem to know Violet very well. He was stuck being a single dad so she went off to boarding school and so now he's stuck with a young adult daughter he doesn't know what to do with. He struggles with what he believes is right and what he feels for Violet. He's kind of Herman grown up.
The author did her research on Chicago in the 1890s, especially Hull House and the slums. The Fair was sort of secondary to the plot and the descriptions were tantalizing but there weren't enough. I have to go look up the Women's Pavillion. It sounded like fun though, like Disney's Epcot Center.
I rate this book somewhere in between I liked it and I really liked it. I really liked PARTS of the story but not the whole thing.
April 30, 2013
This is the second Lynn Austin novel that I've read and the second that I've truly struggled to pin-point any flaws in. Austin is a fabulous story-teller, and I'm still blown away by how she managed to create such a rich and unusual story. Initially I was a little worried that Violet's aunts and grandmother would be caricatured, given their incredibly different personalities, but as each women's backstory was revealed, they became far more real. The same can be said for Violet's multiple beaus. I wasn't entirely sure about the idea of Violet courting so many different men (I'm not a fan of love-triangles) but her time in Chicago provided a fascinating insight into the ways women were expected to live their lives in this period. Very little in this story felt romanticised, and I'm sure no reader is going to envy Violet being forced to choose between multiple marriages of convenience.
Possibly my favourite thing about this book is that I didn't know who Violet was going to end up with, or whether she'd actually find her mother. It was until the last fifty or so pages that I suddenly realised the truth of one of her beaus, and wondered if there was hope for him and Violet to be together. Up until then, I was wondering if Violet would return home, more mature and more knowledgeable about the world, but still waiting to meet the right man. It wouldn't have been the most romantic ending, but Austin seems to be more about realism than romance. Likewise, I wondered if perhaps Violet would never discover the truth about why her mother left, but the journey she'd gone on had helped her learn about herself instead. In the end, I was satisfied with how this storyline was concluded. Violet learnt a lot and still hoped for reconciliation with her mother, but everything wasn't tied up neatly.
Honestly, I can't sing this book's praises enough. The setting and historical details were spot on, and I particularly loved that Austin managed to show the different routes available for Violet without pin-pointing the one path in life that works for every woman. Aunt Matt had her heart-broken and threw herself into suffrage, but married women can also support the cause of women's rights. And not all issues are black and white, like Violet realises when she sees how the changes in the factories are making life difficult for women who have to work from home. And although her grandmother's work in the slums is admirable, the young aspiring minister she meets is too wrapped up in his work to give Violet the attention she longs for. It was sad yet encouraging to see how Aunt Agnes had made the best out of a companionable marriage, and Aunt Birdie was perhaps the most insightful out of all the women, even if she did obviously have memory problems. Violet doesn't have to choose one of these four routes for herself, but she can learn from her grandmother and aunts' experiences and figure out what she wants out of her own life.
Some readers might be disappointed that the ending is left so open, but I quite liked this. I'm sure that Violet still has a lot of growing to do--after all, most of this book took place during the space of six weeks--but I can still imagine the future I think Violet would have. All in all, this is a wonderful book and Lynn Austin is definitely becoming one of my favourite authors. And the best part about only recently discovering Lynn Austin? She has such a large backlist for me to explore! :) 5*
Possibly my favourite thing about this book is that I didn't know who Violet was going to end up with, or whether she'd actually find her mother. It was until the last fifty or so pages that I suddenly realised the truth of one of her beaus, and wondered if there was hope for him and Violet to be together. Up until then, I was wondering if Violet would return home, more mature and more knowledgeable about the world, but still waiting to meet the right man. It wouldn't have been the most romantic ending, but Austin seems to be more about realism than romance. Likewise, I wondered if perhaps Violet would never discover the truth about why her mother left, but the journey she'd gone on had helped her learn about herself instead. In the end, I was satisfied with how this storyline was concluded. Violet learnt a lot and still hoped for reconciliation with her mother, but everything wasn't tied up neatly.
Honestly, I can't sing this book's praises enough. The setting and historical details were spot on, and I particularly loved that Austin managed to show the different routes available for Violet without pin-pointing the one path in life that works for every woman. Aunt Matt had her heart-broken and threw herself into suffrage, but married women can also support the cause of women's rights. And not all issues are black and white, like Violet realises when she sees how the changes in the factories are making life difficult for women who have to work from home. And although her grandmother's work in the slums is admirable, the young aspiring minister she meets is too wrapped up in his work to give Violet the attention she longs for. It was sad yet encouraging to see how Aunt Agnes had made the best out of a companionable marriage, and Aunt Birdie was perhaps the most insightful out of all the women, even if she did obviously have memory problems. Violet doesn't have to choose one of these four routes for herself, but she can learn from her grandmother and aunts' experiences and figure out what she wants out of her own life.
Some readers might be disappointed that the ending is left so open, but I quite liked this. I'm sure that Violet still has a lot of growing to do--after all, most of this book took place during the space of six weeks--but I can still imagine the future I think Violet would have. All in all, this is a wonderful book and Lynn Austin is definitely becoming one of my favourite authors. And the best part about only recently discovering Lynn Austin? She has such a large backlist for me to explore! :) 5*
March 31, 2017
This book was a fun ride! Even though it didn't strike me on a spiritual level quite as much as some of Austin's other books, I really enjoyed it. Violet Rose Hayes is the most HILARIOUS character i've encountered in a long time. I found myself repeatedly laughing out loud and reading passages to my husband! Her innocence, proper education, age of decision, and general inability to conform (even if she tries) keep this book a light hearted romp through the challenges of adolescence.
Highlights for me were: The city of Chicago context, all the background on the World's Fair held here, and the explaination of Mr. D.L. Moody's evangelism campaign that took place during that time. Moody's ministry during the time of the Chicago Fire (which also plays a prominent role in the plot) is discussed as well.
I was particularly touched by the one sermon of Moody's that is printed... that brought the tears, and interestingly, reinforced the themes of the "Every story speaks His Name" children's Bible we are currently reading.
The other thing that hit me is the respect Austin gives her characters. This is not typical of other Christian Fiction writers I've encountered. People who make less than ideal choices are viewed negatively and type cast as the loosers. But with Austin, she shows that all people are faced with choices that are not ideal and the important thing is to BE WHERE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE. The perfect spot for one person may not be appropriate for another, but that doesn't mean we have to judge each other and tear at each other. I kept waiting for the 4 sisters to have it out, but Austin doesn't take the easy route. Rather, she takes the road most of us would seek in real life - to discuss real concerns while living with grace among those we love even though we don't always agree with their choices.
The more I read Lynn Austin, the more I like her and highly recommend her! Now, I've heard so much about it, I need to read "Devil in the White City..." for the non-fiction perspective on the Chicago World's Fair.
The Devil in the White City, Larson, 2002
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Highlights for me were: The city of Chicago context, all the background on the World's Fair held here, and the explaination of Mr. D.L. Moody's evangelism campaign that took place during that time. Moody's ministry during the time of the Chicago Fire (which also plays a prominent role in the plot) is discussed as well.
I was particularly touched by the one sermon of Moody's that is printed... that brought the tears, and interestingly, reinforced the themes of the "Every story speaks His Name" children's Bible we are currently reading.
The other thing that hit me is the respect Austin gives her characters. This is not typical of other Christian Fiction writers I've encountered. People who make less than ideal choices are viewed negatively and type cast as the loosers. But with Austin, she shows that all people are faced with choices that are not ideal and the important thing is to BE WHERE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE. The perfect spot for one person may not be appropriate for another, but that doesn't mean we have to judge each other and tear at each other. I kept waiting for the 4 sisters to have it out, but Austin doesn't take the easy route. Rather, she takes the road most of us would seek in real life - to discuss real concerns while living with grace among those we love even though we don't always agree with their choices.
The more I read Lynn Austin, the more I like her and highly recommend her! Now, I've heard so much about it, I need to read "Devil in the White City..." for the non-fiction perspective on the Chicago World's Fair.
The Devil in the White City, Larson, 2002
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 2, 2017
3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up for a few reasons.
This author is one my favorite Christian fiction writers. I've really loved some of her books. I will say this particular book of hers was not my favorite, but it had an overall 'feel good' feeling. First, I liked that the characters were all different. Some were stereotypes, but there were plenty of characteristics that made others unique. They all played well with each other. I enjoyed the family dynamic and the mystery in finding the mother. Plus, this takes place in the late 1800's, which is a time frame I enjoy reading about. Yes, it was a little sappy and predictable, but by the time this was happening, I was already pulled in by Violet and her aunts and grandmother. I wanted red bows for them in the end. So 4 stars.
This author is one my favorite Christian fiction writers. I've really loved some of her books. I will say this particular book of hers was not my favorite, but it had an overall 'feel good' feeling. First, I liked that the characters were all different. Some were stereotypes, but there were plenty of characteristics that made others unique. They all played well with each other. I enjoyed the family dynamic and the mystery in finding the mother. Plus, this takes place in the late 1800's, which is a time frame I enjoy reading about. Yes, it was a little sappy and predictable, but by the time this was happening, I was already pulled in by Violet and her aunts and grandmother. I wanted red bows for them in the end. So 4 stars.
April 3, 2017
kind of predictable-- but it was a good romance/fluff that was adorable and funny at times
December 12, 2024
A little mature content but nothing explicit.
April 21, 2020
This was such a good book! I learned so much of the history of that time period ( the poverty, the women and children who worked in factories, the women's rights movement, the Chicago worlds fair, etc.) It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Lynn Austin is such a good writer! I highly recommend!
January 18, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book so, so much. I just wish the last chapter were a little longer - as it was I read the third last and last (the second last being about something else) twice.
As with the other Austin book I read (A Woman's Place), I again felt like I learnt a lot: the great Chicago Fires; the huge World Exhibition in Chicago (might be called something else...); D. L. Moody and his yokefellows; the slums of Chicago; the women's rights movement - that was pretty cool, especially considering the book was set at the end of the 19thC; and proper etiquette.
I think that Austin is very good at writing humour, and I liked how humour offset a lot of the religious stuff.
The thing that makes this book so different to nearly every other book I've read is the sheer volume of imaginative play and daydreams and conjectures in it. It took me a chapter or two to get used to, because it's so different. It is really enjoyable. I love the "If you could choose questions" and the differing reactions to them. The mystery/detective side of it is fun, too.
Of course, the best bit of the book in my opinion was the romance story, which was very well done. It's a credit to Austin's writing and character building that even as far as 2/3rds through the book I still didn't know what choice (out of several!) Violet would end up making. I knew which ones I didn't *want* her to make, and the choice I did *want* her to make, but like her, I couldn't see how it would work out, until .
I thought the writing was sound, the only sentence which didn't sit right I now can't find and I'm wondering if it was actually in this book or another one. The issue was that it was near the start (if it was this book). And I don't even know for sure if it was incorrect, just that it sounded wrong in my head ("was" where I thought it should be "were", I believe). Also
I thoroughly recommend this book to people who enjoy Christian fiction, and I reservedly recommend it to those who don't. Remember, character building!
UPDATE:
After reading other reviews, I've found that most people didn't find the book preachy. I found this a little surprising, and I think it's largely due to Austin's ability to offset religious talk with something humourous or entirely selfish, which makes it quite amusing. I was also surprised that one person said it didn't get preachy until the end, but I thought it got less preachy and more genuine as it went on.
As with the other Austin book I read (A Woman's Place), I again felt like I learnt a lot: the great Chicago Fires; the huge World Exhibition in Chicago (might be called something else...); D. L. Moody and his yokefellows; the slums of Chicago; the women's rights movement - that was pretty cool, especially considering the book was set at the end of the 19thC; and proper etiquette.
I think that Austin is very good at writing humour, and I liked how humour offset a lot of the religious stuff.
The thing that makes this book so different to nearly every other book I've read is the sheer volume of imaginative play and daydreams and conjectures in it. It took me a chapter or two to get used to, because it's so different. It is really enjoyable. I love the "If you could choose questions" and the differing reactions to them. The mystery/detective side of it is fun, too.
Of course, the best bit of the book in my opinion was the romance story, which was very well done. It's a credit to Austin's writing and character building that even as far as 2/3rds through the book I still didn't know what choice (out of several!) Violet would end up making. I knew which ones I didn't *want* her to make, and the choice I did *want* her to make, but like her, I couldn't see how it would work out, until .
I thought the writing was sound, the only sentence which didn't sit right I now can't find and I'm wondering if it was actually in this book or another one. The issue was that it was near the start (if it was this book). And I don't even know for sure if it was incorrect, just that it sounded wrong in my head ("was" where I thought it should be "were", I believe). Also
I thoroughly recommend this book to people who enjoy Christian fiction, and I reservedly recommend it to those who don't. Remember, character building!
UPDATE:
After reading other reviews, I've found that most people didn't find the book preachy. I found this a little surprising, and I think it's largely due to Austin's ability to offset religious talk with something humourous or entirely selfish, which makes it quite amusing. I was also surprised that one person said it didn't get preachy until the end, but I thought it got less preachy and more genuine as it went on.
April 13, 2012
Violet Rose Hayes is a 20 year old woman in the late 1800s. Having finished charm school, she visits her aunts in Chicago under the guise of being presented to society and finding a proper husband, when in reality she visits to find out what happened to her estranged mother. As she stays with her aunts and grandmother, she discovers that these women all have different stories, different perspectives, and different paths they wish Violet to take in life. Her Aunt Agnes is determined to see to it that Violet is the toast of society and finds a husband of proper social stature and financial means, while her Aunt Matilda wishes to see Violet put herself first, not to marry for stature or money, but to become a suffragette. Her Grandmother would love to see Violet marry a man of God and live a life of purpose. And finally, her Aunt Birdie, who is suffering from dementia and lost her own husband during the war, wants her to marry for love. All the while, Violet is still trying to find out what happened to her mother while also secretly scheming to put a stop to her father's impending marriage to a woman whose husband died suspiciously.
Will Violet ever find out why her mother left the family when Violet was just 9 yrs old? Will Violet prove her suspicions of her father's fiance? Will she marry the society suitor- Nelson, the man of God - Louis, the boring hometown man- Herman, or the likely thief - Silas? Will she abandon traditional society and become a suffragette?
This is a well-written and interesting perspective on a young woman's life before the turn of the 20th century. If you enjoy historical fiction (without the Harlequin-romance type storylines), you'll really enjoy this book. At least I did.
Will Violet ever find out why her mother left the family when Violet was just 9 yrs old? Will Violet prove her suspicions of her father's fiance? Will she marry the society suitor- Nelson, the man of God - Louis, the boring hometown man- Herman, or the likely thief - Silas? Will she abandon traditional society and become a suffragette?
This is a well-written and interesting perspective on a young woman's life before the turn of the 20th century. If you enjoy historical fiction (without the Harlequin-romance type storylines), you'll really enjoy this book. At least I did.
March 7, 2017
This was a delightful book. Anyone giving it a one star rating just doesn't get Lynn Austin's writing. Oh, it may have been predictable in parts, but MANY books are. At least this one's "predictable parts" had a lot of unpredictable detail around them.
I read a lot of books, many of which are not noteworthy, and I'll forget them within a couple weeks. This one I won't. A Proper Pursuit was historical without sounding like it was inserting pages from a textbook. The history flowed creatively around a lot of plots. Many topics were addressed without sounding preachy or boring and honestly I learned a number of things. Topics... to name a few...
Civil War/slavery
Chicago fire
Chicago's Worlds Fair years later
Women's Sufferage
Poverty
Social elite/expectations
Immigration
Ms. Austin wove a fun story that made me laugh out loud many times around all these subjects. It needed to be read with a light heart and an expectation for fun. I loved, loved, loved some of her analogies or word pictures. Absolutely made me guffaw.
I unreservedly recommend this book.
I read a lot of books, many of which are not noteworthy, and I'll forget them within a couple weeks. This one I won't. A Proper Pursuit was historical without sounding like it was inserting pages from a textbook. The history flowed creatively around a lot of plots. Many topics were addressed without sounding preachy or boring and honestly I learned a number of things. Topics... to name a few...
Civil War/slavery
Chicago fire
Chicago's Worlds Fair years later
Women's Sufferage
Poverty
Social elite/expectations
Immigration
Ms. Austin wove a fun story that made me laugh out loud many times around all these subjects. It needed to be read with a light heart and an expectation for fun. I loved, loved, loved some of her analogies or word pictures. Absolutely made me guffaw.
I unreservedly recommend this book.
July 3, 2008
Well, this Lynn Austen book wasn't quite the tear jerker that some of her other books were. Of course - still a few tears in the end, but this wasn't as "deep" and not as much tragedy - still some, but not as much. I especially enjoyed the setting because I recently visited Chicago and heard alot of the history that was referred to here in one of the tours I took while I was there. This was centered around the Worlds Fair after the great Chicago fire (late 1800's). This author is a wonderful story teller and has this amazing way of putting the reader in the shoes of the characters in the book. Even though there were some tears, her books always leave you feeling good in the end :)! There was a little twist at the end that I wasn't expecting at all - that's always a nice treat. And, there were a few things that had me laughing out loud so hard. If/when you read it - the undertaker scene was hilarious – along with a few other things I don’t want to mention. Enjoy!
July 26, 2016
This book did not disappoint. I loved, loved, loved it! The story was told from Violet's (main character) perspective, which made it that much more enjoyable. I found myself trying to figure out things ahead of time and, although I was correct with quite a few, some things surprised me. There were serious moments as well as some hilarious ones that had me laughing out loud. There were parts of the ending that were disappointing, but that made the story all the more realistic to me. This is only the second book I've read by this author, but I look forward to reading more. I highly recommend A Proper Pursuit.
August 23, 2021
Somehow I ended up really liking this book. I didn’t care for most of the characters (except Silas) , everyone was too extreme, so it hit me as unrealistic. I enjoyed the twist and didn’t figure it out. I liked how it ended up for Violet , but was disappointed with the outcomes of some of the secondary characters. How sad for Nelson and WHY ON EARTH DIDN’T VIOLET’S DAD SWOOP IN AND RESCUE HIS WIFE?!?!?!?????!!!!! He could have helped for Maud another way!! Overall a great story and I loved the backdrop of the World’s Fair!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2010
A delightful read. Being from the Chicago area, I so enjoyed the setting which was 1890's Chicago. The great Chicago fire and the world's fair were incorporated into this story. I enjoyed how the author brought D.L. Moody into the story and how his ministry impacted many lives of this time period. Violet was the main character and many things impacted the choices that she made and the young woman that she matured into. Lovely, sweet story.
August 1, 2013
It was really hard to decide between three and four stars on this one. As I read I kept waffling between the two ratings. On the one hand, there were these cardboard characters who never seemed to break out of their molds and a narrator's voice that just the littlest bit contrived. But on the other hand, the story was charming, the main character was endearing and naive, and the message was sweet. I had to bump it up to four in the end.
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