Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool

by Helen Lundström Erwin

Sweden, at the turn of the 20th century. Two women, an unwed mother and a suffragette, living lives so different from each other it’s as if they were separated by time, not just circumstance. They don’t know it, but destiny is pulling them toward each other and their fates are interlinked.

Anette spins lies to hide that she’s an unwed mother with many children. And with different fathers for most of them, a staggering truth she can barely admit even to herself. Without the ability to protect herself from unwanted pregnancies, she moves each time she gets pregnant, telling the same tale as always, she’s a widow.

Hanna closes her café for the night and opens the door to her activist friends, creating a space safe from curious husbands and disapproving eyes. Inspired by the pioneer temperance woman Emelie Rathou, who linked alcohol abuse with the oppression of women, they join forces with the rest of the nation and the world and begin the long fight for Women’s Suffrage.

Helen Lundström Erwin, author of the acclaimed James’ Journey, has created a well-researched, and riveting second historical novel. By introducing revolutionary women like Elise Ottesen-Jensen, the co-founder of International Planned Parenthood Federation, you’ll be transported back in time, joining our foremothers while they fight for reproductive justice and the right to vote.

341 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2021

About the author

Helen is the only novelist in the world who has a setting from one of their books in the Metaverse. The Foremothers Café is a Virtual Reality world inspired by Hanna’s café from her novel, Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool. Readers can read the book, then travel back in time to Lund, Sweden, and enter one of its major settings.
Helen’s books take you back to the activism and debates of the early reproductive rights, suffrage, and abolitionist movements of the 19th and 20th century.
She is especially inspired by people who had the courage to challenge the beliefs they were raised to accept, thus breaking the cycle of racism, sexism, and injustice.
Helen has received awards and grants for her work and has been featured in Forbes Magazine, on Women’s Herstory Podcast, in the documentary 48 Hours in the Metaverse, in SWEA Magazine, and more.
Find out more here, https://helenerwin.com

Reviews

[Daniel Damiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

One may not think that the women's suffrage and rights movement in late 1800s-early 1900's Sweden would have such relevance to the United States in the present, but Erwin's "Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool" certainly does. This historical novel tells two engaging tales of two different women on different paths as they contend with the restrictions imposed on women who very much live in a man's world. But to Erwin's credit, she does not make her book about victimization - but about the birth of a movement born out of human experience. Highly recommended.

[Judy Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was a pleasure that I looked forward each time I picked it up. I love the imagery and movement of the author's story telling, and very much enjoyed the richness of historical detail. Because of Ms. Erwin's remarkable knowledge of historical documentation and research, the elements of another time fluidly transport the reader to another era. It is a wonderful ride, and a very intriguing story that took my breath away many times. The fact that this is based on truth and such an important topic as women's rights, makes me feel very passionate that this story should be shared as widely as possible. I hope everyone reads it. Besides it being a new and important piece of American literature, the characters are delightful, the relationships fascinating, the diaglogue brilliant, and the climax of the women's stepping stone towards equality very moving. I highly recommend it.

[Omar Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read! Very interesting overall. I enjoyed the way the characters developed throughout the story. The book does well to describe complex relationships, times, mindsets, and emotions, in very simple yet elegant ways.

[Isla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book I've read by this author. I love how she gets into her characters heads showing how they hide their deepest secrets. Also, this book has a world in Virtual Reality called The Foremothers Cafe. You can go into the cafe from the book! All the details from the story are there.

Lots of history in this book which I love. I hadn't realized how complicated early feminism was and that most suffragists were actually against contraceptives. Who would have thought?
Reading this book really gave me insight to why, and given the social standards of the time, I can see their perspective. The best part though, is that you also get to know the other side of the contraceptive issue— the ones who were for contraceptives — and you see how these two sides had similar feminist goals coming at it from two different directions.
Amazing book.

[History Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book is set in Sweden over a hundred years ago, which I loved, it is very relevant to today, especially if you live in the United States where more and more states make abortion impossible to get.
What I loved the most about this book is that it's a parallel story of two women, one with opportunities and privilege which gave her the ability to become politically active, while the other has to struggle just to get through the day. I loved how the author made you see to how it was when there was no birth control and how high the price was for women just for falling in love.

[Maggie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.
It spans between 1889 to about 1925 and it's very interesting to see how life changed for women during this time.
I really, really liked how the women had different opinions on the politics of the times. Even the women who fought for the same cause argued with each other.
There are two main characters, both living in the same town at first but with completely different circumstances.
Unbeknownst to both women their lives touch several times, but the woman who has the cafe is just talking about the issues, while the unwed mother has to live it.

[Tina Larsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engrossing historical novel takes readers on a journey to early 20th-century Sweden, presenting a compelling portrayal of the lives of women during that period. The author expertly weaves together the narratives of Anette, an unmarried mother, and Hanna, a suffragette, illustrating the obstacles they confronted. With vivid storytelling, Erwin transports readers to the struggles and illuminates the restricted options for women at the time. A highly recommended read for enthusiasts of historical fiction.

[Emmeline Everdeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. This book is a shining example for why Historical Fiction is my favorite genre of book. The characters are authentic both in a literal and figurative sense. I think the author’s great grandmother would be incredibly proud the book and the way she was portrayed. Absolutely loved the book!
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only. I reviewed it because I loved it.

[Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is a work of interesting literary and historical value.
Anette, an unwed mother with many children, is a tragic and emblematic figure of the condition of women in a patriarchal and oppressive society. Hanna, a suffragette, is a figure of courage and determination.
The novel is well-written and well-structured, with well-characterized characters and an engaging plot. It is an important historical account of women's struggle for their rights.

[Iris Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had no idea we owed so much to our Swedish Sisters!
I could so relate to what was going on in "Sour Milk", given what's going on in today's society. Characters were compelling and kept me wanting to read more. So much research must have gone into this book. Thanks very much for opening our eyes!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Even though I’m from Malaysia and the story is set somewhere totally different, I could still connect with the characters and their struggles. It’s inspiring to see how strong and brave the women were, and the writing made it easy to imagine everything. A really good read if you like historical stories with meaning.

[Teresaflegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hesitated because of the title. Once I got started it I couldn't put it down. Finished it in a day and 1/2. It's about the authors grandmother . I had no idea this is how the poor managed in Sweden. Two stories are intertwined about abolition and suffrage. I found it fascinating.

[Melin Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving and engaging read. Helen Lundström Erwin captures both the struggles and strength of women in such a relatable way — I’d happily recommend this book.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. In part because of the insight into cultural attitudes towards women and the suffrage movement in Sweden but also because of its emotional impact on the main characters and what they did to survive or experience for independence - which is thanks to women like them is now taken for granted.
Great read for historical fans but also good for those who like stories of relationship dynamics and survival

Received a complimentary copy of the book from Voracious Readers Only

[Ben Thaddeus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen Lundström Erwin's protagonists, Hanna and Anette are both strong and brave women on very different journeys. Anette's future is ruined when she is ostracized for being an unwed mother, then has to lie to survive while she keeps getting pregnant. Hanna is an entrepreneur and a community organizer in a man's world, and galvanizes the local suffragettes to join the movement for women to vote.
Their struggles for women's rights and dignity wind up making a difference, in the suffrage movement, and in covertly educating women about birth control which was illegal.
This book takes you back in time, and you can tell how well-researched it is as every scene is illustrated with detailed settings and heartfelt emotion. You inhabit the characters, over a span of decades, and feel their stakes at every turn of events. It's a real historical epic.

[Julie Smithson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool embraced me with many emotions as I learned about women's suffrage, the way of life for unwed mothers and the social implications of standing up for women's rights to be able to vote, and protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies.
Helen Lundström Erwin captured the story of her family's struggle and inner strength of her GammelFarmor during a time of historical change within those years in Sweden through women's groups leading the movement in their communities.
This book will move you, give you strength and empower you sharing the power of solidarity of women coming together to make change for generations leading to where we are today.
Thank you for sharing your story Helen.

[Maria K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book by Helen Lundström Erwin!
This book was a fascinating read! The historic facts are very interesting and intriguing to follow the very different lives of 2 women at the turn of the century i Sweden and the challenges they face. Helen's historical knowledge is well researched and documents the time era very well. She portrays the women's characters so well and switches back and forward between their 2 lives in a perfect symbiosis. The story was so intriguing and even if this book is set back in time it is so very relevant to what many issues women around the world are facing today.
Can’t wait to read more books from this author!

[David Josuha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sour Milk is a great read. I found myself lost in the personal stories of the main characters, one who's life was shaped by her culture and another who played an active role in shaping that culture right back. The story is especially fascinating when read against the current fights for equality. Attitudes didn't change overnight. It is a highly entertaining read that gives great depth and color to rights that we take for granted today.

[Judith Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen Erwin has thoroughly researched this important period in the history of women's suffrage in Sweden and tells their story in a way that immerses you completely in their lives. She has a personal interest in one of the main characters and writes of her misfortunes with sympathy and understanding, both for her plight and that of others in similar situations. It is a good read and one which taught me a great deal about the many problems facing women during this time.

[Marcia Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend the book ‘Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool by Helen Lundstrom Erwin. It is a well written and fascinating book. I couldn’t put it down. The story really shows you how hard life was for women when there was no access to birth control. I felt swept up in the lives of the two main characters, Annette and Hanna, and felt like I was there with them in Sweden at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th.

[Maria Malmström · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleverly told parallel stories about two women in Sweden at the turn of the century. Their personal faiths are very different, though they actually live in the same area, but from very diverse background and class. But what they have in common is being oppressed because they are women. Extra spice to the story is that it’s based on two real women, one of them the authors own great grandmother.

[K.A. Mulenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful book that highlights how hard it was for women in Sweden in the 19th century/early 20th century. You can tell that the author did extensive research! A very enjoyable book.