JUSTICE IS A WOMAN

by Catherine Cookson

The day Joe Remington brought his new bride to Fell Rise, he had already sensed she might not settle easily into his home just outside the Tyneside town of Fellburn.  Making plain her disapproval of Joe's familiarity with the servants, questioning the donation of food to striking miners' families--these objections and more soon rubbed Joe and the local people up the wrong way, a problem he could easily have done without, for this was 1926, the year of the General Strike, the effects of which would nowhere be felt more acutely than in this heartland of the North-East.

Then when Elaine became pregnant, she saw it as a disaster and only the willingness of her unmarried sister Betty to come and see her through her confinement made it bearable.  But in the long run, would Betty's presence only serve to widen the rift between husband and wife, or would she help to bring about a reconciliation?

Catherine Cookson's powerful new novel spans the years of change leading into the Second World War and explores the many facets of a marriage based on initial passion rather than love.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Novels, Historical Romance

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.

Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.

For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.

Reviews

[Rudolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book revolves around the main character of Betty who even though is not part of the Remington family captures the love and attention of everyone. Time and again her selfless behavior is lauded. The reader, with every turn of the page might want to learn to have the patience and perseverance like her. You kind of pity and empathize with her situation. I was confused sometimes with the use of word "me" in place of "my". I think it has to do with the writing of that time.

Towards the end of novel Catherine Cookson convinces you that nature too wanted her life to turn out that way. This novel leaves you with the happy feeling that entire family is finally at peace even if they are not under their own roof or physically together.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite Catherine Cookson stories but I can't say I have an all time favourite.
So many books and so hard to choose. Storytelling at it's best. Recommended.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit, it took me a while to get into this. Started reading it, thought 'no good will come of this' after the first few chapters and read another book! Went back to it and glad I did. It explores, though not in any great depth, the social changes that were happening before WWII, and the experiences of women of different classes. Very little is black and white in this book, there are just many shades of grey. A good read.

[Arifa Anjum · Rating 4 out of 5]

We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.” – Kavita Ramdas

Hey guys🌹🖐Hope you are doing well.After a lot of procrastinating,i am here with an another review.

🌻So the book titled as JUSTICE IS A WOMAN is a great book by CATHERINE COOKSON.It may seems boring initially but with each page turn,it makes you curious to know what next.

The day Joe Remington brought his new bride to Fell Rise, he had already sensed she might not settle easily into his home just outside the Tyneside town of Fellburn. Making plain her disapproval of Joe's familiarity with the servants, questioning the donation of food to striking miners' families - these objections and more soon rubbed Joe and the local people up the wrong way, a problem he could easily have done without. For this was 1926, the year of the General Strike, the effects of which would nowhere be felt more acutely than in this heartland of the North-East.

Then when Elaine became pregnant, she saw it as a disaster and only the willingness of her unmarried sister Betty to come an see her through her confinement made it bearable. But in the long run, would Betty's presence only serve to widen the rift between husband and wife, or would she help to bring about a reconciliation?

🌻I love the character of Betty.She was so calm and have a lot of patience.She was a perfect example of a classical and strong woman.Whereas her sister Elaine is totally opposite of that.There were lots of twists and turns till the end of the book.

🌹This is my first book in Domestic Fiction and i liked it.

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nearly passed this book by as I thought I'd read it years ago but I soon realised I hadn't. As a Catherine Cookson fan I felt a bit indifferent to the story at first. It's not like her usual work as it's set in a later period than most of her stories and it took me a little while to get into it.

In my opinion, the latter half is where the action started and then I couldn't put it down. The characterisation was spot on and I love it when Catherine includes some humour into her characters. I was a bit baffled however, why she called two people 'Mary'!

So many books have predictable endings which really spoils it for me but the end part here includes some unexpected revelations, certainly I didn't see it coming and that for me, is a perfectly written book. If it wasn't for the slow beginning, I would have awarded it five stars.

[Luisa S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Main Character Betty deserves more recognition, and so is this book. I found myself prolonging my finishing this novel mostly because I did not want it to end (just yet), but at the same time I also wanted to know what happens to each main character. Great storytelling, writing.

[Chloe Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing as the times it was set in was quite a few years ago, and a completely different era etc with different rules and whatnot, there was quite a few things in this book that i didn’t completely understand. However, I did enjoy this book despite not understanding everything!

[Cheryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I enjoyed this book! I always enjoy reading Catherine's stories :)
I didn't like Elaine! Who would? Not even her sister Betty it seems...

[Chantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Cookson Classic, you can't beat them.

[Elizabeth Cammock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Catherine Cookson read

[Dianne Hiscox · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always it was a great story with lots of twists and turns. It touched on subjects that kinda of shocked me but I enjoyed it all. I highly recommend this book to all. Enjoy reading it

[marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant reading

It was up to her usual standards. Always glued to her books. Would like to have known what sex Betty's baby was

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of her better ones but it was enough for me to complete.

[Sandra Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading Catherine Cookson I just think they are easy to read, stories are always great lots of twists and turns I'm never disappointed can't put the book down so late nights reading

[Margarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Takes place century ago so it was hard to stomach the norms regarding women's rights.

[Mookie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm super annoyed because I had written a very long, detailed review about this, and it promptly self-deleted. Gah. Short side: I would not read again. Very well written, interesting take on class-perspectives, but Cookson fell into her tendency of repeating the same ideas/themes/opinions over and over. My first review was much more forgiving! But as of now I can only recall the negatives.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read
Synopsis:
The day Joe Remington brought his new bride to Fell Rise, he had already sensed she might not settle easily into his home just outside the Tyneside town of Fellburn. She made plain her disapproval of Joe’s familiarity with the servants, and questioned the donation of food to striking miners’ families. These persistent and frequent objections soon rubbed Joe and the local people up the wrong way, a problem he could easily have done without, for this was 1926, the year of the General Strike, the effects of which would nowhere be felt more acutely than in this heartland of the North-East.

Then when Elaine became pregnant, she saw it as a disaster and only the willingness of her unmarried sister Betty to come and see her through her confinement made it bearable. But in the long run, would Betty’s presence only serve to widen the rift between husband and wife, or would she help to bring about a reconciliation?

Catherine Cookson’s powerful novel spans the years of change and hardship leading into the Second World War and explores the many facets of a marriage based on initial passion rather than love.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** "Justice is a Woman" by Catherine Cookson is set in her usual NE England. Frivolous flapper marries serious bloke from a mining town, just before the whole country goes on strike. Vain and selfish, she asks her sister to help her through pregnancy, and on. The colored chauffeur parentage is obvious[, but the marital conflict ends with an actual bang]. The romance extends to bare skin, and adultery is accepted, yet the style is mostly bittersweet longing.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back Cover Blurb:
It is 1926, the year of the General Strike. Joe's bride Elaine is unsuited to life near the Tyneside town of Fellburn and only her sister Betty can make Elaine's pregnancy bearable. But will her presence serve to widen the rift between husband and wife, or will it help create a reconciliation?

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.

[Phyllis Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book. Curious about her novels after listening to the biography. Interesting. Probably wouldn't take the time to read more of her, but would certainly listen to other audio books.

[Ladan F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifuly sad book.

[Janet Randon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As ever another good read.

[Lynne Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because this *is* a Catherine Cookson book, I do like it, but not one of my favorites.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book by Catherine Cookson. This time based in the years preceeding WWII. I don't want to spoil it by telling anything more.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of Catherine Cookson's that's not to be missed.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book