Book Set in '50s, follows matriarch from adolescence on

[Elizabeth]

I only remember one scene - the daughter of the protagonist is upset that her father is telling her she can't go to college, because they only saved money for her younger brother to go. He doesn't want to.

The whole scene takes place by a pond the father is building in the backyard... help?

[Cheryl]

Oh that situation always peeves me. I've read it in several books - but I can't remember any of them (and I don't remember a pond in any, anyway). I do hope someone knows this book.

Um, when did you read this? Do you think it might have been written back in the fifties or sixties, or is newer?

For adults, or teens? Takes place in the US?

[Elizabeth]

I read this in the early 90s. I don't remember when it was written, but it must have been a YA book. I want to say it's set in the South, but I"m not sure!

[M—]

I remember a pond in one story that shares that plot, but the details don't match and it's later than your time-frame to boot: McKinley's "A Pool in the Desert" published in the Water YA anthology (2002).

Differences include -- The daughter is the protagonist. The pond in the back yard is visited in more than one scene, mostly by the daughter. Her parents pulled her from (high)school prior to graduating in order to have her work inside the home. The father doesn't want any of his children to attend school, but the protagonist is able to protect her younger brother and sister a bit from their parents.

[Cheryl]

Well, keep bumping every month or two, to catch the eye of new members and to give us all a chance to read more books.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Elizabeth are you still looking for this book?

[Elizabeth]

Yep. Still haven't found it.

[Michele]

Do you recall when the book was set -- 1950s, 1960s, later? Anything about why they would skip over her to send her brother?

[Elizabeth]

She may have been born just after the war ... I want to say she reaches college age in the early 60s?

[Michele]

Set in the U.S.?

[Elizabeth]

Yep.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking?

[Elizabeth]

Step. No one has heard of it.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking now?

[Elizabeth]

Yup. Still can’t place it. That scene by the pond is so vivid to me - still the feeling of patriarchy and the education of women is less important than that of men.

[Kate]

Elizabeth ~~
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