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Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women
"A profound observation of humanity that overflows with hope and possibility." — Jenny Gates, editor
Intertwining stories bring together three women and the heaviness of choice. In a small prairie town where the landscape is both beautiful and isolating, we meet an artist, a caregiver, and a dying woman, each bonded by their parallel struggles with fulfillment and the inconsistencies of human connection.
Confined to monotony and caring for her mother, Sally enlists the curative elements of her art to ease a growing sense of guilt. An elderly Mary, meanwhile, grapples with a loss of independence and the ghosts of meaningful conversations. Her unmarried caregiver, Beth, reconciles the emptiness of a home without children with the possibilities ahead of her, and a renewed connection with Sally.
A poignant and emotional narrative imbued with such volatile topics as abortion, illness, mortality, and the quiet sadnesses that threaten to consume us, The Story of Three Sad Women is a vulnerable and brave look at womanhood.For fans of Margaret Laurence, or Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, Dropseed is an emotional journey that explores the complexities of womanhood and the power of redemption. Don't miss out on this powerful and thought-provoking novel.
Intertwining stories bring together three women and the heaviness of choice. In a small prairie town where the landscape is both beautiful and isolating, we meet an artist, a caregiver, and a dying woman, each bonded by their parallel struggles with fulfillment and the inconsistencies of human connection.
Confined to monotony and caring for her mother, Sally enlists the curative elements of her art to ease a growing sense of guilt. An elderly Mary, meanwhile, grapples with a loss of independence and the ghosts of meaningful conversations. Her unmarried caregiver, Beth, reconciles the emptiness of a home without children with the possibilities ahead of her, and a renewed connection with Sally.
A poignant and emotional narrative imbued with such volatile topics as abortion, illness, mortality, and the quiet sadnesses that threaten to consume us, The Story of Three Sad Women is a vulnerable and brave look at womanhood.For fans of Margaret Laurence, or Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, Dropseed is an emotional journey that explores the complexities of womanhood and the power of redemption. Don't miss out on this powerful and thought-provoking novel.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2024
6 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 26, 2024
In a Nutshell: A literary fiction about three women and their individual struggles. Great nature imagery and intriguing flawed characters, but too overwritten for my liking. Readers who like descriptive prose and don’t mind meandering storytelling are bound to enjoy this better. I was the wrong reader for this book. So please take this review with a pinch of salt.
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Plot Preview:
As a character-oriented narrative focussed on three complex women who are dealing with various levels of trauma, guilt, and regrets, this book is obviously not a light read.
The tagline itself offers us a vital clue. I find it interesting that it reads “the story of three sad women” instead of “the sad story of three women.” Book captions often describe the story with various adjectives (captivating, thrilling, traumatic, emotional…) but by putting the adjective right next to the noun “women”, the sadness is somewhat emphasized. It also hints at inner sorrow than at a kind of situational despondency.
True to this promise, each of the three women who drive this story are sad, for varying reasons. But most of their misery comes from paths not taken. The what-ifs of life are always troublesome, and these three ladies have plenty of such regrets over choices ignored and decisions made under emotional duress. This leads to a highly introspective plot, where inner musings dominate action, where there’s an atmosphere of melancholy in and around the characters, and where flashback worries are given more importance than present conundrums.
The above paragraph is the crux of why this book would work excellently for a few readers, and also why it didn’t work as well for me. As a reader, I always prefer plot over prose. This book does have a plot, but it is hidden under many layers of purple prose. Almost every scene contains a great amount of description and pondering. A simple Kindle search for thought verbs such as ‘muse’, ‘recall’, ‘ponder’, ‘wonder’, ‘observe’, ‘think’, and ‘reflect’ proves how much time is invested in the characters’ inner deliberations.
At times, the musings come even in between ongoing conversations, which aren’t limited to the present timeframe but go into random (sometimes, even multiple) flashbacks and then return to the present scene and continue the dialogue. Sometimes, the digressions and/or descriptions went on for so long that I even forgot what contemporary scene the meandering had sprung up from. My Capricorn head always prefers structure, so this arbitrary narration left me struggling to concentrate. I don’t need linear storytelling but I need to see the structure of the plot clearly.
Let me mention one point that this geeky Capri brain admired: the precision of the division. Each of the three perspectives lasts for exactly a third of the book. I was delighted to see the change in POV occur at the 33% and 67% marks respectively.
I must add, many of the descriptions, especially the nature-related ones, are really good when read in isolation. It is very clear that the author loves nature (the title also proves this), and her appreciation of it seeps into every line that focusses on natural beauty. But there can be too much of a good thing, and after a while, I just hopped over the imagery.
To add to my woes, the characters in the book seem to be fond of two specific styles of thinking. No matter what life event they are reflecting upon, their inner thoughts are either poetic or philosophical. Even when they are talking to each other, their conversations often sound more theatrical than realistic, thanks to the segues into abstract reflections. As many of my friends know, I am severely allergic to both poetry and philosophy. I would have been okay had these been far and few between, but unfortunately for me (and the book), they dominate the narrative.
That said, the characters do help the cause of the book to some extent. Though they are all ‘sad women’, each of them has a distinct personality and a distinct issue to tackle. The one who appears vulnerable is actually strong, the one who appears to have a happy familial relationship is the most insecure, and the one who cares so much for others is also the one who forgets to care for her own needs. They aren’t necessarily likeable or relatable characters, but this isn’t a problem. Lit fic thrives on grey personalities, and the three women are perfect fits for this genre.
In short, it’s not the book; it’s me. I did like the characters and the realism of this character-oriented literary narrative. But as a reader who is quite fussy about writing styles, I never enjoy any book with too many expansive descriptions, observations or philosophical ponderings over life and its unfairness. Give me succinctness and substance over a periphrastic style any day. (This is also why I fare miserably while reading Booker Prize winners. ‘Tomb of Sand’ was one of my biggest reading flops, though it has exceptional descriptive prose.)
Perhaps if you are a reader who enjoys the beauty of artistic writing without wondering where the characters came from or where the story is going, you might enjoy this debut indie work more. Do note that there is some (mildly) triggering content (mentioned in the GR blurb), so pick it up when in the right headspace.
3 stars.
My thanks to author Nettie Magnan for providing me with a complimentary copy of “Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Sally is a frustrated middle-aged ex-artist who is tired of the monotony of her life. Now with the added task of caring for her ailing mother, Sally seeks a change, but can she do so at the cost of her responsibilities?
Mary, Sally’s mother, is not happy about how she has been reduced to complete dependence because of her illness. Her crankiness is often a cover for her frustration and her regrets. Is it too late for her to find peace?
Beth, Mary’s caretaker, knows she has a tough patient, but even handling Mary is better than going to an empty home. Her future seems especially dim to her eyes, but can she reroute her lonely life towards happier connections before it is too late?
The story comes to us mostly in the third-person perspective of the above three characters, with the book divided into neat one-thirds for each character’s point of view.
As a character-oriented narrative focussed on three complex women who are dealing with various levels of trauma, guilt, and regrets, this book is obviously not a light read.
The tagline itself offers us a vital clue. I find it interesting that it reads “the story of three sad women” instead of “the sad story of three women.” Book captions often describe the story with various adjectives (captivating, thrilling, traumatic, emotional…) but by putting the adjective right next to the noun “women”, the sadness is somewhat emphasized. It also hints at inner sorrow than at a kind of situational despondency.
True to this promise, each of the three women who drive this story are sad, for varying reasons. But most of their misery comes from paths not taken. The what-ifs of life are always troublesome, and these three ladies have plenty of such regrets over choices ignored and decisions made under emotional duress. This leads to a highly introspective plot, where inner musings dominate action, where there’s an atmosphere of melancholy in and around the characters, and where flashback worries are given more importance than present conundrums.
The above paragraph is the crux of why this book would work excellently for a few readers, and also why it didn’t work as well for me. As a reader, I always prefer plot over prose. This book does have a plot, but it is hidden under many layers of purple prose. Almost every scene contains a great amount of description and pondering. A simple Kindle search for thought verbs such as ‘muse’, ‘recall’, ‘ponder’, ‘wonder’, ‘observe’, ‘think’, and ‘reflect’ proves how much time is invested in the characters’ inner deliberations.
At times, the musings come even in between ongoing conversations, which aren’t limited to the present timeframe but go into random (sometimes, even multiple) flashbacks and then return to the present scene and continue the dialogue. Sometimes, the digressions and/or descriptions went on for so long that I even forgot what contemporary scene the meandering had sprung up from. My Capricorn head always prefers structure, so this arbitrary narration left me struggling to concentrate. I don’t need linear storytelling but I need to see the structure of the plot clearly.
Let me mention one point that this geeky Capri brain admired: the precision of the division. Each of the three perspectives lasts for exactly a third of the book. I was delighted to see the change in POV occur at the 33% and 67% marks respectively.
I must add, many of the descriptions, especially the nature-related ones, are really good when read in isolation. It is very clear that the author loves nature (the title also proves this), and her appreciation of it seeps into every line that focusses on natural beauty. But there can be too much of a good thing, and after a while, I just hopped over the imagery.
To add to my woes, the characters in the book seem to be fond of two specific styles of thinking. No matter what life event they are reflecting upon, their inner thoughts are either poetic or philosophical. Even when they are talking to each other, their conversations often sound more theatrical than realistic, thanks to the segues into abstract reflections. As many of my friends know, I am severely allergic to both poetry and philosophy. I would have been okay had these been far and few between, but unfortunately for me (and the book), they dominate the narrative.
That said, the characters do help the cause of the book to some extent. Though they are all ‘sad women’, each of them has a distinct personality and a distinct issue to tackle. The one who appears vulnerable is actually strong, the one who appears to have a happy familial relationship is the most insecure, and the one who cares so much for others is also the one who forgets to care for her own needs. They aren’t necessarily likeable or relatable characters, but this isn’t a problem. Lit fic thrives on grey personalities, and the three women are perfect fits for this genre.
In short, it’s not the book; it’s me. I did like the characters and the realism of this character-oriented literary narrative. But as a reader who is quite fussy about writing styles, I never enjoy any book with too many expansive descriptions, observations or philosophical ponderings over life and its unfairness. Give me succinctness and substance over a periphrastic style any day. (This is also why I fare miserably while reading Booker Prize winners. ‘Tomb of Sand’ was one of my biggest reading flops, though it has exceptional descriptive prose.)
Perhaps if you are a reader who enjoys the beauty of artistic writing without wondering where the characters came from or where the story is going, you might enjoy this debut indie work more. Do note that there is some (mildly) triggering content (mentioned in the GR blurb), so pick it up when in the right headspace.
3 stars.
My thanks to author Nettie Magnan for providing me with a complimentary copy of “Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
July 31, 2024
If you like The Hours... I recommend this. The rich style of writing is somewhat similar even if the stories are very different. Of the three female characters, Mary was my favorite, and the stress involved for her caregivers was palpable and well written. She was grumpy and loveable and it made me wonder why we don't see more elderly narrators in literature. The Beth character broke my heart but the women's stories all turned out so bittersweet. I only wish it was available on audio because that's what I prefer... but anyway, I think this novel is really beautiful... and rare. An absolute gem.
August 6, 2024
Although I’m not a woman, this was certainly an emotional rollercoaster I wasn’t prepared for. Such a deep and powerful read delivered in a wonderful way. The storytelling was delivered in a brilliant and poignant way.
March 1, 2025
Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women
By Nettie Marie Magnan
This is a well-written novel told from the perspective of three women, who are interconnected not only because they know one another, but because they are all grieving over past trauma, and experiencing guilt and inner sorrow.
The first of these stories starts with Sally, who has taken a trip from colorful wildflowers and prairie grass to the stark, white, sterile halls of a city clinic. Her story immediately draws us in as her character lets us know that her trip is a secret she has kept from her husband. Sally and her husband were married at a young age, and Sally soon gave birth to a son. Sally had to put away all of her dreams and aspirations of becoming an artist for her life as a wife and mother. Now, that son is grown and is engaged to be married himself. But when she may finally find herself at a time in her life when she can realize those dreams again, she finds herself pregnant. She goes through mental anguish and guilt as she makes the decision, alone, to have an abortion. Although this is a time of guilt and sadness for her, she feels hope for the future, something she has not felt before.
The second story is about Sally’s mother, Mary. Mary has cancer and is receiving palliative care at home. She is often left alone and reflects back on happy times with her husband. But there were also dark times during her life when she turned to alcohol. Her alcoholism during her two sons’ teenage years was tumultuous and was the reason they both left home. But Mary turned her life around and was able to focus on raising Sally, the youngest of her three children. Although she knows she is soon going to die, she can look back at her life and remember those times that were happy and meaningful to her.
The third and final story is of Beth, a childhood friend of Sally’s who is a caregiver to Mary. Beth has awful dreams and suffers from depression. After Mary’s death, Beth contemplates suicide. However, she reconnects with Sally. They both want to rekindle their old friendship. This gives hope to both women. They begin to appreciate life for what it is.
The biggest negative I had while reading this novel were the lengthy descriptions. This mostly occurred in descriptions of nature. During reading of these sections, I would be in a hurry for the author to get back to the storyline.
By Nettie Marie Magnan
This is a well-written novel told from the perspective of three women, who are interconnected not only because they know one another, but because they are all grieving over past trauma, and experiencing guilt and inner sorrow.
The first of these stories starts with Sally, who has taken a trip from colorful wildflowers and prairie grass to the stark, white, sterile halls of a city clinic. Her story immediately draws us in as her character lets us know that her trip is a secret she has kept from her husband. Sally and her husband were married at a young age, and Sally soon gave birth to a son. Sally had to put away all of her dreams and aspirations of becoming an artist for her life as a wife and mother. Now, that son is grown and is engaged to be married himself. But when she may finally find herself at a time in her life when she can realize those dreams again, she finds herself pregnant. She goes through mental anguish and guilt as she makes the decision, alone, to have an abortion. Although this is a time of guilt and sadness for her, she feels hope for the future, something she has not felt before.
The second story is about Sally’s mother, Mary. Mary has cancer and is receiving palliative care at home. She is often left alone and reflects back on happy times with her husband. But there were also dark times during her life when she turned to alcohol. Her alcoholism during her two sons’ teenage years was tumultuous and was the reason they both left home. But Mary turned her life around and was able to focus on raising Sally, the youngest of her three children. Although she knows she is soon going to die, she can look back at her life and remember those times that were happy and meaningful to her.
The third and final story is of Beth, a childhood friend of Sally’s who is a caregiver to Mary. Beth has awful dreams and suffers from depression. After Mary’s death, Beth contemplates suicide. However, she reconnects with Sally. They both want to rekindle their old friendship. This gives hope to both women. They begin to appreciate life for what it is.
The biggest negative I had while reading this novel were the lengthy descriptions. This mostly occurred in descriptions of nature. During reading of these sections, I would be in a hurry for the author to get back to the storyline.
February 17, 2025
This book was beautifully written with a meaningful message for those facing similar struggles as the characters. What I particularly admired was how each character’s narrative was uniquely flawed and no one was portrayed in an objectively good or bad manner. This complexity added depth to the characters and their stories. It paints a realistic picture of someone who is struggling with issues such as depression, loneliness, and grief, while still making mistakes along the way. Despite these flaws, each character’s narrative was equally captivating in their perspectives, thoughts, and beliefs. Moreover, the writing was thought-provoking and emotionally rich, with vivid imagery and descriptive language. I especially appreciated the symbolism and use of flowers throughout the book. Overall, I enjoyed this read and look forward to the author’s next book.
December 26, 2024
Dropseed is a tapestry of grief and sorrow interwined through the lives of three women. The story begins with a moral predicament, flowing through the highs and downs of these three women like three rivers coming together at times and flowing apart at other times.
The author's writing is emotive and the small descriptions through the eyes of the characters make the story resonating and immersive. I loved the way the author used the title "Dropseed" and the way she described it in the book.
I will conclude with three words, "Go for it!"
The author's writing is emotive and the small descriptions through the eyes of the characters make the story resonating and immersive. I loved the way the author used the title "Dropseed" and the way she described it in the book.
I will conclude with three words, "Go for it!"
April 17, 2025
So many things I enjoyed about this novel. I love the way the three women's stories intertwined more and more as the story went on, and the way the strained mother/daughter relationship was written, especially as someone who cared for an elderly parent. The ending was perfect and I like the references to nature and small towns. Only one or two parts dragged a tiny bit but overall the book is beautifully written. I recommend.
July 27, 2025
Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women is a beautifully written literary novel that intertwines the lives of three women, a daughter, her mother as she faces the end of her life and a former friend and her mother’s lonely caregiver.
I had a tough time getting into this novel, largely it was a me problem rather than anything particular about the book, although it does require a certain headspace. This was likely my issue coming off another deep read. The novel starts with some perhaps triggering personal themes related to Sally’s story which are not for the faint of heart. Her struggle will resonates at least partially with the ennui and malaise that plagues many women as they face middle age and transitions in their lives. Largely this is a book of reflections, the paths not taken and the resilience in hope.
The descriptions of getting lost in art, nature, and reveries are gorgeously rendered and truly lovely, but do impact the flow of the plot. The plot is slow moving focusing more on the inner lives of each woman. This is not an easy or quick read. It demands the readers attention, but is well worth it.
Thank you to the author and to BookSirens for the advanced review copy I received for free. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I had a tough time getting into this novel, largely it was a me problem rather than anything particular about the book, although it does require a certain headspace. This was likely my issue coming off another deep read. The novel starts with some perhaps triggering personal themes related to Sally’s story which are not for the faint of heart. Her struggle will resonates at least partially with the ennui and malaise that plagues many women as they face middle age and transitions in their lives. Largely this is a book of reflections, the paths not taken and the resilience in hope.
The descriptions of getting lost in art, nature, and reveries are gorgeously rendered and truly lovely, but do impact the flow of the plot. The plot is slow moving focusing more on the inner lives of each woman. This is not an easy or quick read. It demands the readers attention, but is well worth it.
Thank you to the author and to BookSirens for the advanced review copy I received for free. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
July 21, 2025
It’s unfortunate that the title of this book is “Dropseed: The Story of Three Sad Women,” because it turned me off from wanting to read it for a long time. I was given an advanced reader’s copy by BookSirens, but I’m not sure why I originally was interested in reading it. Not wanting to read about three sad women for many months, I finally bit the bullet and began to read this book, finishing its 335 pages in about 24 hours. While the three women in question do harbor sadness, that is not the prevailing sentiment of their lives nor the way that their stories end. Rather, sadness is a part of each of their lives, but all of them understand and appreciate the goodness and joy that their lives have held and may continue to hold in the foreseeable future. Thus, I think the book’s title is somewhat misleading, as I found the overall message of the book to be optimistic. My opinions are voluntary.
August 1, 2024
I can't even decipher the humongous emotions this book took me though. Sally's POV and her connection with her art to soothe her mother and her own grief. My God. This is an absolute must read if you loved Ocean Wuong or Sally Rooney. It touches those unexplored parts of your own sentiments that one steers away from. It's beautiful. It's breathtaking and it's uplifting.
5, maybe 10 stars.
Thank you Author.
You created a book that breathes.
5, maybe 10 stars.
Thank you Author.
You created a book that breathes.
August 7, 2024
Dropseed by Nettie Magnan weaves the lives of three women in a prairie town, exploring themes of choice, guilt, independence, and redemption. Through Sally, Mary, and Beth's intertwined journeys, the novel delves into abortion, illness, and mortality. A poignant exploration of womanhood, Dropseed is a must-read for Margaret Laurence and Sue Monk Kidd fans, offering a powerful and emotional narrative.
December 23, 2025
I agree with another reviewer who compared this novel to The Hours... but I do prefer this one. Three woman affecting one another's lives, trapped in a sense by their own thoughts and perceptions of middle-age and of life's disappointments, events written in an absolutely beautiful way. But with a bit more of a happy ending than The Hours offered. The writing is very heavy and rich, so I will probably put it down for a while and then reread.
August 18, 2024
Nettie Magnan's "Dropseed" is a haunting exploration of womanhood, weaving together the lives of three women in a small prairie town. Magnan's lyrical prose captures the raw beauty of their struggles, creating a powerful and unforgettable portrait of resilience and hope amidst life's inevitable sorrows. This is a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page.
October 30, 2024
I won this book as a librarything giveaway. This was very reminiscent of books by Alice Munro. A wonderful, in depth look at the lives of these three women and how life has worn them down. I thought it would be depressing but these women were struggling but hopeful. It was a little verbose and I found myself skimming at times but overall an interesting read.
August 7, 2024
It is a beautiful book written from the perspectives of three women about their life and experiences, about their joys and challenges.
If you want to read books written by women about the experiences of womanhood, you will love this book.
If you want to read books written by women about the experiences of womanhood, you will love this book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews