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A Woman in Time: A Novel
A woman challenges the constraints of life in Prohibition-era Appalachia in this sweeping and richly rewarding novel about endurance, survival, and redemption.
The McKenzie women, empowered with a formidable history rooted in the foothills of Appalachia, have passed down their folk-healing wisdom through generations. Rosalee, the last living headstrong daughter in Granny McKenzie’s line, soaked up everything she could about the secrets of the forest before a series of tragedies left her alone, without the protection of the women who came before her.
The close-knit ties of Rosalee’s childhood are long gone. Now, at her eastern Kentucky farm, she bears a marriage with a volatile bootlegger. She struggles with the demands of motherhood. And her independence is relegated to its “proper place”: under the thumb of men. Her optimism dimming, Rosalee finds solace in the Kentucky woods, a space that holds secret powers of protection from a life Rosalee can no longer control. To the graves of her female ancestors, beside the waters of an enchanting spring, Rosalee returns time and again to consider her future—and discovers a mysterious connection to her past.
As Rosalee wrestles with her isolation, with being a wife in an increasingly dangerous marriage, and with being a woman of her time, she must draw on her strength and resilience to survive—and to protect—on her own terms.
The McKenzie women, empowered with a formidable history rooted in the foothills of Appalachia, have passed down their folk-healing wisdom through generations. Rosalee, the last living headstrong daughter in Granny McKenzie’s line, soaked up everything she could about the secrets of the forest before a series of tragedies left her alone, without the protection of the women who came before her.
The close-knit ties of Rosalee’s childhood are long gone. Now, at her eastern Kentucky farm, she bears a marriage with a volatile bootlegger. She struggles with the demands of motherhood. And her independence is relegated to its “proper place”: under the thumb of men. Her optimism dimming, Rosalee finds solace in the Kentucky woods, a space that holds secret powers of protection from a life Rosalee can no longer control. To the graves of her female ancestors, beside the waters of an enchanting spring, Rosalee returns time and again to consider her future—and discovers a mysterious connection to her past.
As Rosalee wrestles with her isolation, with being a wife in an increasingly dangerous marriage, and with being a woman of her time, she must draw on her strength and resilience to survive—and to protect—on her own terms.
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First published August 30, 2022
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About the author
Bobi Conn
3 books163 followersBobi Conn was born in Morehead, Kentucky, and raised in a nearby holler, where she developed a deep connection with the land and her Appalachian roots. She obtained her bachelor's degree at Berea College, the first school in the American South to integrate racially and to teach men and women in the same classrooms. After struggling as a single mother, she worked multiple part-time jobs at once to support her son and to attend graduate school, where she earned a master's degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing. In addition to writing, Bobi loves playing pool, cooking, being in the woods, attempting to grow a garden, and spending time with her incredible children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
August 26, 2022
A Woman in Time is a portrait of Kentucky Appalachian life starting in 1899 and running through the 1930s. The rural atmosphere, history, and vibrant descriptions of mountain life are wonderfully written. I am thankful that the dialogue isn't overexaggerated with slang or accent, which authors tend to do when writing specifically Appalachian characters. The prose itself is poetic and beautiful; you can tell that Bobi Conn cherishes her heritage with the descriptions and language she uses.
While beautifully written, I do have issues with the story. A Woman in Time is a long suffering history of intergenerational trauma, abuse, and mental illness spanning 40 years and 5 generations. The McKenzie women were described as tough fighters, scrappy and stubborn. But our main character Rosalee suffers in silence with an abusive husband for a decade while others tell her how strong her Aunt and Great Granny were. There is an excessive amount of sexual assault and spousal abuse that I was uncomfortable with; most of the "women" are young teen brides. For over 300 pages, tragedy after tragedy, we witness Bessie, Mary Ann, Rosalee, Irene, Barbara, and Bethany endure abuse, pain, and grief. This is a slow paced novel that reads more like a biography of Rosalee's very sad life. The climax of the story hits at around 40 pages till the end. I do wish that Bessie and her remedies in the first 30 pages were the focus of the book instead, because granny witchcraft and folk healing are incredibly interesting to me.
I feel conflicted giving this review, because I really wanted to like this novel. As an Appalachian native with generations of family born and raised in the mountains, I thought this would be an important story to me. I just didn't connect the way I wanted to. For someone who is unaware of the history and poverty that the Appalachian people have endured, a book like this would probably be an eyeopener. For me, though, it was a bleak reminder of the harsh realities of being descended from Appalachian women.
3 stars.
Thank you to Bobi Conn and Little A for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While beautifully written, I do have issues with the story. A Woman in Time is a long suffering history of intergenerational trauma, abuse, and mental illness spanning 40 years and 5 generations. The McKenzie women were described as tough fighters, scrappy and stubborn. But our main character Rosalee suffers in silence with an abusive husband for a decade while others tell her how strong her Aunt and Great Granny were. There is an excessive amount of sexual assault and spousal abuse that I was uncomfortable with; most of the "women" are young teen brides. For over 300 pages, tragedy after tragedy, we witness Bessie, Mary Ann, Rosalee, Irene, Barbara, and Bethany endure abuse, pain, and grief. This is a slow paced novel that reads more like a biography of Rosalee's very sad life. The climax of the story hits at around 40 pages till the end. I do wish that Bessie and her remedies in the first 30 pages were the focus of the book instead, because granny witchcraft and folk healing are incredibly interesting to me.
I feel conflicted giving this review, because I really wanted to like this novel. As an Appalachian native with generations of family born and raised in the mountains, I thought this would be an important story to me. I just didn't connect the way I wanted to. For someone who is unaware of the history and poverty that the Appalachian people have endured, a book like this would probably be an eyeopener. For me, though, it was a bleak reminder of the harsh realities of being descended from Appalachian women.
3 stars.
Thank you to Bobi Conn and Little A for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2022
I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I can’t recall the last time I picked up a historical novel or a literary fiction novel. They are the kind of thing I really need to be in a certain mood to seek out on my own, but when Bobi Conn’s novel came across my radar, I must have been in that very specific mood. And I’m very glad I was because I enjoyed this quite a bit.
Conn weaves a tale of women finding their strength at a time where they felt like they had none. Her characters were realer than real—I felt their struggles, fears, anger, joy—all of it. Even the “bad guys” offered me moments where I just felt sorry because they were thrust into lives and worlds they weren’t prepared for. They did some truly terrible things and I’m not absolving them of any of it, but this book definitely touches on how life doesn’t always go the way we planned. Everyone reacts to that in a different way. I hoped for the people who felt burdened by their roles in life. I pitied people who refused to try. I raged at people who took out their lack of understanding on others. The human condition really shines in this book.
I had a connection to Rosalee that other readers may not have, but I’ll mention it anyway. Through much of the book, Rosalee grapples with the constraints of motherhood, both as she prepares to become a mother and after she has children. As someone who, for as long as I can remember, never wanted kids of my own, this felt very genuine. Parenthood, much like college or a long-term relationship with one person, is not for everyone. Years ago, I might have felt intimidated to admit I didn’t want kids, didn’t want to have the responsibility of being a parent, wanted the freedom to do what I wanted without having to be concerned with raising children. Thanks to characters like Rosalee, I feel very comfortable saying that, no, I never wanted kids, and that doesn’t make me selfish or unwilling to grow up or any “less of a woman.” It is what it is, and I appreciated finding that part of myself in this character.
I couldn’t quite tell if there was a bit of magical realism baked into this or if it was just meant to be symbolism. Either way, the feminine power of it worked very well. I can whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone wanting a story rooted in history and that makes you think. I would definitely read more from Conn and look forward to future books.
More reviews at kitnkabookle.com
I can’t recall the last time I picked up a historical novel or a literary fiction novel. They are the kind of thing I really need to be in a certain mood to seek out on my own, but when Bobi Conn’s novel came across my radar, I must have been in that very specific mood. And I’m very glad I was because I enjoyed this quite a bit.
Conn weaves a tale of women finding their strength at a time where they felt like they had none. Her characters were realer than real—I felt their struggles, fears, anger, joy—all of it. Even the “bad guys” offered me moments where I just felt sorry because they were thrust into lives and worlds they weren’t prepared for. They did some truly terrible things and I’m not absolving them of any of it, but this book definitely touches on how life doesn’t always go the way we planned. Everyone reacts to that in a different way. I hoped for the people who felt burdened by their roles in life. I pitied people who refused to try. I raged at people who took out their lack of understanding on others. The human condition really shines in this book.
I had a connection to Rosalee that other readers may not have, but I’ll mention it anyway. Through much of the book, Rosalee grapples with the constraints of motherhood, both as she prepares to become a mother and after she has children. As someone who, for as long as I can remember, never wanted kids of my own, this felt very genuine. Parenthood, much like college or a long-term relationship with one person, is not for everyone. Years ago, I might have felt intimidated to admit I didn’t want kids, didn’t want to have the responsibility of being a parent, wanted the freedom to do what I wanted without having to be concerned with raising children. Thanks to characters like Rosalee, I feel very comfortable saying that, no, I never wanted kids, and that doesn’t make me selfish or unwilling to grow up or any “less of a woman.” It is what it is, and I appreciated finding that part of myself in this character.
I couldn’t quite tell if there was a bit of magical realism baked into this or if it was just meant to be symbolism. Either way, the feminine power of it worked very well. I can whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone wanting a story rooted in history and that makes you think. I would definitely read more from Conn and look forward to future books.
More reviews at kitnkabookle.com
September 16, 2022
I have started to develop a real soft spot for Kentucky fiction and memoirs- there is something about Appalachia that feels comforting and resilient, as if these authors have finally decided to let their stories be heard instead of letting the "hillbilly" reputation speak for them. A Woman in Time is such a beautiful example, where main character Rosalee gives readers a perspective of life growing up homesteading during prohibition times. Using the knowledge gained from the women before her, Rosalee navigates marriage, motherhood, sickness, hard times, and many other obstacles through hard work, gumption, and a little Appalachian medicine. Conn's writing is very beautiful, although there is a heavy dose of foreshadowing throughout. Rosalee has a powerful voice that grows in confidence through the hardships she overcomes. While I really enjoyed the read, it was a tad predictable at times (because of the foreshadowing) and a slower pace, so it might not be for everyone. However, I would still recommend the read to others.
December 30, 2022
A Most Depressing Read
This was probably the most depressing book I’ve ever made the mistake of reading. There was not really any closure or end to all the sadness or unanswered questions. While the writing was well-done, the story was a long and tedious string of sad and unjust events with no reprieve. The ending left me wanting for some justice, or at least some answers as to why these young women had suffered so much at the hands of cruel and selfish men. I only kept reading in hopes that something would be redeemed through it all, but no redemption came.
This was probably the most depressing book I’ve ever made the mistake of reading. There was not really any closure or end to all the sadness or unanswered questions. While the writing was well-done, the story was a long and tedious string of sad and unjust events with no reprieve. The ending left me wanting for some justice, or at least some answers as to why these young women had suffered so much at the hands of cruel and selfish men. I only kept reading in hopes that something would be redeemed through it all, but no redemption came.
Read
September 19, 2022This reminded me a bit of Dolly Parton's story although this had much more abuse of the women. It was also difficult to comprehend the illegal alcohol "business" and how easy it was to make it, deliver it and use it to bribe the members of law enforcement who were tasked with shutting down these operations.
I did find it hard to understand why none of these women took action sooner, especially with having a shotgun at their disposal. There were also some items that I felt needed more closure: where did Jimmy go, did he ever get back to Rosalee, who was Anna (real or dreamt), what was in the last tonic that Barbara created and which led to the demise of Samuel?
I like to believe that after Samuel's death, the remaining survivors could have good lives without the violence that had scarred them for many years.
I did find it hard to understand why none of these women took action sooner, especially with having a shotgun at their disposal. There were also some items that I felt needed more closure: where did Jimmy go, did he ever get back to Rosalee, who was Anna (real or dreamt), what was in the last tonic that Barbara created and which led to the demise of Samuel?
I like to believe that after Samuel's death, the remaining survivors could have good lives without the violence that had scarred them for many years.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2022
Atmospheric, sensitive, and sobering!
A Woman in Time is a moving, multi-generational story that transports you to rural Kentucky between 1899 and 1939 and into the lives of the McKenzie family, especially the women, and all the secrets, smiles, tears, misery, abuse, compassion, strength, powerful emotions, and unimaginable tragedy that has tied them together through the years.
The prose is expressive and fluid. The characters are vulnerable, tormented, and resilient. And the plot is a heart-tugging, compelling tale of life, love, loss, family, friendship, poverty, misogyny, courage, desperation, self-preservation, motherhood, violence, and survival.
Overall, A Woman in Time is a gritty, astute, promising fictional debut by Conn that is a wonderful reminder that even after suffering the most unimaginable hardships and cruelty, humanity still has the innate ability to hope for better and still be kind and compassionate to others.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours & Amazon Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Woman in Time is a moving, multi-generational story that transports you to rural Kentucky between 1899 and 1939 and into the lives of the McKenzie family, especially the women, and all the secrets, smiles, tears, misery, abuse, compassion, strength, powerful emotions, and unimaginable tragedy that has tied them together through the years.
The prose is expressive and fluid. The characters are vulnerable, tormented, and resilient. And the plot is a heart-tugging, compelling tale of life, love, loss, family, friendship, poverty, misogyny, courage, desperation, self-preservation, motherhood, violence, and survival.
Overall, A Woman in Time is a gritty, astute, promising fictional debut by Conn that is a wonderful reminder that even after suffering the most unimaginable hardships and cruelty, humanity still has the innate ability to hope for better and still be kind and compassionate to others.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours & Amazon Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2023
Any book that can transport me into Appalachian life has already caught my attention. Bobi Conn did that in a compelling way. Her description of life in depression-era Kentucky was beautiful while being very stark. The depiction of the MacKenzie women through the generations with their strong healing traditions is really the kind of book I love. But we eventually get to Rosalee MacKenzie as she is forced into a marriage with an abusive bootlegger. Strong Granny MacKenzie's line seems to be in danger as Rosalee finds herself isolated from the women who came before her. The descriptions of domestic violence and terrible abuse are hard to read and hard to "see" happen to even fictional characters. We wonder if Rosalee has the strength and resilience from those women of the past. If she will be able to protect herself and Bethany from the brothers they have married.
This is a story of endurance and survival and a story of women living in untenable situations with men who wield abusive power. This is one of the ugly sides of the Appalachian life - but certainly and sadly not limited to that era and that place.
This is a story of endurance and survival and a story of women living in untenable situations with men who wield abusive power. This is one of the ugly sides of the Appalachian life - but certainly and sadly not limited to that era and that place.
July 13, 2022
The author's forward tugged at my heartstrings; Bobi Conn mentions not being able to gather family history when someone passes away, and her words "that window closed before I could fathom the significance" made me pause and wipe away a few tears. I have experienced that feeling. And so I entered the world of her ancestors' Kentucky holler, knowing that this book would provide an authentic experience with American life in the early 1900s. This meticulously planned novel takes readers through several generations of incredibly strong women, sometimes stronger emotionally than physically and sometimes made of steel in both ways.
I really like the viewpoint of the many women, starting with twelve-year-old Bessie who gathers herbs for natural medicines and who knows that she does not want to be a mother and wife but live her life giving to others with her holistic potions passed down from her grandmother. As the girls in the story grow older, the book becomes more and more serious. Young girls are basically forced into marriage; it is what is expected. And although The Great Depression is approaching, life never has been all that easy in the hollers.
Difficult pregnancies, abusive husbands, abusive brothers-in-law, moonshine and the corruption of easy money... there's a lot for the women to handle and there isn't an escape. They are women in a time when life could be hard from start to finish. This book publishes on August 2.
I really like the viewpoint of the many women, starting with twelve-year-old Bessie who gathers herbs for natural medicines and who knows that she does not want to be a mother and wife but live her life giving to others with her holistic potions passed down from her grandmother. As the girls in the story grow older, the book becomes more and more serious. Young girls are basically forced into marriage; it is what is expected. And although The Great Depression is approaching, life never has been all that easy in the hollers.
Difficult pregnancies, abusive husbands, abusive brothers-in-law, moonshine and the corruption of easy money... there's a lot for the women to handle and there isn't an escape. They are women in a time when life could be hard from start to finish. This book publishes on August 2.
June 2, 2022
Rosalee is trying to follow in the footsteps of a strong generation of her women ancestors. Her aunt Bessie was a medicine woman and taught Rosalee all she needs to know about herbs and flowers. Rosalee's mother was a beautiful woman who loved and cared for her husband and babies. Heck, even her great-grandmother was rumored to have punched her husband a time or two. So when these women die and Rosalee is forced into a marriage with the son of her dad's new wife, she's frustrated. She doesn't love him... she doesn't even like him! However, life on the farm must go on and Rosalee must channel the strength of the women before her.
I don't believe it when I'm told that this is Bobi Conn's first novel. The setting, the land, the trees, the flowers... It's all described so beautifully. I almost thought I was there at times. I could smell the manure and feel the petals of the flowers on my fingers. It was amazing. If you want to read a novel about strong women and what they've endured from 1899 to 1939, this is your book. The only downfall was that it felt slow in the middle but it was definitely worth it in the end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little A for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't believe it when I'm told that this is Bobi Conn's first novel. The setting, the land, the trees, the flowers... It's all described so beautifully. I almost thought I was there at times. I could smell the manure and feel the petals of the flowers on my fingers. It was amazing. If you want to read a novel about strong women and what they've endured from 1899 to 1939, this is your book. The only downfall was that it felt slow in the middle but it was definitely worth it in the end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little A for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2022
Too much angst. Too much description.
Not my cup of tea.
Not my cup of tea.
January 16, 2024
As someone who has lived in this region for years and loves Appalachia and its culture, I wanted to like this book so badly! It was a bit of a slog for me, other than 1) the first couple chapters that focused on women doing herbal medicine and witchy nature things, and 2) the climax of the book at the very end. Her prose captures the beauty of Appalachian flora and fauna so well; it makes me hear the enchanting chorus of spring peepers, feel the moss under my feet, smell the dampness of the forest after a spring rain, see a patch of blooming trilliums. But it was kind of a long read for me even if it did accurately portray the life and hardships of a woman in that time and place.
August 26, 2023
I wanted to like this more than I did, I understand the women had very few options on abusive relationships but this was rough to read... I kept waiting for her to poison one of the men at least. When it does happen, it's a twist of fate and not her own doing.
The writing is GORGEOUS though. There's a part where the author talks about autumn leaves that I read three times.
The writing is GORGEOUS though. There's a part where the author talks about autumn leaves that I read three times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2022
A Woman in Time is the story of several generations of women raised to be healers in the late 1890's to the next century.
This story is well written and tells the story of long-suffering abused women during the period where women were considered the property of the men in their lives. Rosalee is as strong as the women before her; however, she finds that going along is easier to bear than fighting against her lot in life.
Reading this story left me with mixed emotions. While I liked the writing with its vivid descriptions of poverty in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, I kept waiting for something to happen, waiting for Rosalee to get some happiness in her life. It is a rich and well-developed story, but it was very sad. The ending was not what I expected and left me thinking I had missed something. I had to reread the last two chapters to see what I missed. Unfortunately, I didn't miss anything, the ending is not where dreams come true.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
This story is well written and tells the story of long-suffering abused women during the period where women were considered the property of the men in their lives. Rosalee is as strong as the women before her; however, she finds that going along is easier to bear than fighting against her lot in life.
Reading this story left me with mixed emotions. While I liked the writing with its vivid descriptions of poverty in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, I kept waiting for something to happen, waiting for Rosalee to get some happiness in her life. It is a rich and well-developed story, but it was very sad. The ending was not what I expected and left me thinking I had missed something. I had to reread the last two chapters to see what I missed. Unfortunately, I didn't miss anything, the ending is not where dreams come true.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
January 5, 2023
So much description. Too many adjectives and adverbs. Abrupt ending. Some things left unclear to me.
September 23, 2022
Many thanks to TLC Book Tours & Amazon Publishing for gifting me this lovely novel and including me on this book tour!
Mixing magical realism and women's fiction, Bobi Conn's debut novel is as ethereal as it is grimly palpable. Knowing little about the Appalachian way of life prior to reading this novel, the author did a tremendous job of drawing me in to the reality of it all.
Conn imagines women that are strong, but restricted by the time and place they inhabit. In the case of the main female protagonist, that strength is nearly vanquished, which allows the reader to experience her complete sense of dejection. The story is evocative and engrossing, and the setting is incredibly vivid. I found myself rooting for Rosalee, and later Bethany, hoping for reprieve for these poor, sweet girls.
I struggled with the age that these young girls were forced into marriage, but know it was a way of life for many during this time period and beyond. As with any novel that deals in the harsh realities of historical fiction, it was hard to read some of the scenes. The physical and sexual abuse toward women of each generation was a lot to stomach, but sadly necessary to portray the truth.
Kudos to Bobi Conn for a well-written, immersive novel.
Mixing magical realism and women's fiction, Bobi Conn's debut novel is as ethereal as it is grimly palpable. Knowing little about the Appalachian way of life prior to reading this novel, the author did a tremendous job of drawing me in to the reality of it all.
Conn imagines women that are strong, but restricted by the time and place they inhabit. In the case of the main female protagonist, that strength is nearly vanquished, which allows the reader to experience her complete sense of dejection. The story is evocative and engrossing, and the setting is incredibly vivid. I found myself rooting for Rosalee, and later Bethany, hoping for reprieve for these poor, sweet girls.
I struggled with the age that these young girls were forced into marriage, but know it was a way of life for many during this time period and beyond. As with any novel that deals in the harsh realities of historical fiction, it was hard to read some of the scenes. The physical and sexual abuse toward women of each generation was a lot to stomach, but sadly necessary to portray the truth.
Kudos to Bobi Conn for a well-written, immersive novel.
August 23, 2022
A Woman in Time by Bobi Conn. Thanks to @tlcbooktours for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rosalee comes from a history of strong, wise Appalachian women. After tragedy, she is left without the women of her family and their protection. When her father married her off to a bootlegger, she struggles with marriage and motherhood.
There’s something about certain historical fiction novels that makes them an amazing read, and this one has it. It’s passionate, tragic, and impossible to put down. I love stories of women in history, unable to be their true selves due to cruel times or cruel men. I loved the hint of magical realism in this one. It went well with the Appalachia setting. This was a great read that I’ll be recommending to all!
“Her kinship with the whispering woods and sacrificial flowers had not taught her how to suggest and had shown her nothing about the cruelty of men. But the green light of spring reflected in the mirror as well, streaming into the room, behind her as if it could wash away the blood and heartache, and Rosalee believed it was a sign of hope.”
A Woman in Time comes out 8/30.
Rosalee comes from a history of strong, wise Appalachian women. After tragedy, she is left without the women of her family and their protection. When her father married her off to a bootlegger, she struggles with marriage and motherhood.
There’s something about certain historical fiction novels that makes them an amazing read, and this one has it. It’s passionate, tragic, and impossible to put down. I love stories of women in history, unable to be their true selves due to cruel times or cruel men. I loved the hint of magical realism in this one. It went well with the Appalachia setting. This was a great read that I’ll be recommending to all!
“Her kinship with the whispering woods and sacrificial flowers had not taught her how to suggest and had shown her nothing about the cruelty of men. But the green light of spring reflected in the mirror as well, streaming into the room, behind her as if it could wash away the blood and heartache, and Rosalee believed it was a sign of hope.”
A Woman in Time comes out 8/30.
October 25, 2022
Appalachia is my heritage
I enjoyed the author's description of the life and Appalachian country in this book. My grandmother was only permitted to ride side saddle during her early life and had 10 children during her reproductive years. My family has taught me about hard work because of their hard life back then and the author has described this well. I liked this book.
I enjoyed the author's description of the life and Appalachian country in this book. My grandmother was only permitted to ride side saddle during her early life and had 10 children during her reproductive years. My family has taught me about hard work because of their hard life back then and the author has described this well. I liked this book.
August 12, 2023
I enjoyed this book although naturally parts of the story are disturbing. Not that I doubt it happened & makes me think “have things improved overall? “
Wondering what made the main character as strong as she was & at least know she wanted something different.
Wondering what made the main character as strong as she was & at least know she wanted something different.
January 21, 2023
I could visualize the scene and feel the desperation of the women in this family of eastern Kentucky during the depression. Fascinating and heartbreaking.
May 22, 2023
I loved this. The audio version was excellent
August 9, 2025
I really enjoyed the book, it didn't shy away from the realities of Rosalee's life.
September 10, 2022
This was my first time reading a book by Bobi Conn but something about the books description pulled me in. The cover is beautiful but I think it had more to do with that it was an Appalachian tale as it took place in Kentucky. The story centers around Rosalee, a young girl when it begins who loses both her mother and her aunt very early on. Without them she feels lost and alone. Not long after, her father takes a new wife that has two sons. Her father then decides that Rosalee is to marry the oldest son Samuel. Rosalee has a really hard and unfulfilling life because both Samuel and his brother Joseph have horrible tempers and are mean and abusive. It doesn’t help that they both, along with her father become bootleggers and are always intoxicated. I found it interesting to read how they had to live back then with all the day to day struggles like collecting enough food for winter and all the other hardships that we today take for granted. It was truly a story of endurance and survival. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I received off the Read Now section. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to others who enjoy historical fiction. I’m giving this a 4 star rating!
August 13, 2023
One of my favorite parts of this book is when Rosalee and Irene are talking about prayer dolls and to be careful because her husband would not understand. Rosalee says ‘he doesn’t understand much of anything’ and Irene replies ‘Might be, but I’m telling you, some things a man don’t understand make him feel helpless, and that makes some men mad.’
This book is an excellent, well written (though at times disturbing) look in to life in rural Kentucky in the 1930s.
This book is an excellent, well written (though at times disturbing) look in to life in rural Kentucky in the 1930s.
December 30, 2022
I loved the setting and purpose behind this book, but it left some feelings unfulfilled for me. The first third of the book felt really rushed, like I wanted way more of Bessie and Mary Ann’s lives so I could feel deeper for Rosalee later. I also wished soo badly that Rosalee would ultimately take care of Samuel on her own, or at least remember the tonic in the cabinet…but what about jimsonweed?? I thought for sure that would’ve been it. Plus some annoying loose ends, like Jimmy never coming back (Although that made sense, it was just odd to me that the whole thing was glossed over and then forgotten).
I did love the bits of magical realism, but again I think there were some contradictions, like Rosalee was supposed to be this great forager/medicine maker, but every time she went into the woods she hallucinated and passed out! A good quick read about an interesting slice of American life, not my perfect choice but entertaining for those who like women’s fiction!
I did love the bits of magical realism, but again I think there were some contradictions, like Rosalee was supposed to be this great forager/medicine maker, but every time she went into the woods she hallucinated and passed out! A good quick read about an interesting slice of American life, not my perfect choice but entertaining for those who like women’s fiction!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2023
This book was hard to read. Only because how sad and depressing womens lives were. How they went from property of their father to property of their husbands. Married off young. Having babies equally as young. Being raped and having absolutely no recourse.
I know this is a work of fiction but the hard part is knowing that women have had to endure this and these type of relationships for the majority of humankind. And in some places in the world this is still the norm. That is what makes it hard to read. I had to take breaks several times because of the content. I wanted to stop reading several times as well but I knew if I did I would wonder about the story. I kept hoping for something good to happen for Rosalee.
The ending is left very open with so many possibilities to unfold. But it was satisfying for me. I was ok with it. It isn’t a perfect happy ending. But like I said it’s very open. And it made me glad I didn’t give up during the difficult parts.
Reading this book made me thankful I live in this time. But then it made me think how women in other parts of the world still live this way. And how women in my part of the world are losing protections and rights in the name of inclusivity. It makes me wonder what our world will look like for our (collective) daughters and granddaughters.
I know this is a work of fiction but the hard part is knowing that women have had to endure this and these type of relationships for the majority of humankind. And in some places in the world this is still the norm. That is what makes it hard to read. I had to take breaks several times because of the content. I wanted to stop reading several times as well but I knew if I did I would wonder about the story. I kept hoping for something good to happen for Rosalee.
The ending is left very open with so many possibilities to unfold. But it was satisfying for me. I was ok with it. It isn’t a perfect happy ending. But like I said it’s very open. And it made me glad I didn’t give up during the difficult parts.
Reading this book made me thankful I live in this time. But then it made me think how women in other parts of the world still live this way. And how women in my part of the world are losing protections and rights in the name of inclusivity. It makes me wonder what our world will look like for our (collective) daughters and granddaughters.
September 1, 2022
After reading In the Shadow of the Valley, I couldn't wait for Bobi Conn's next book ... well, let me tell you, it was worth every minute of waiting ... and I was not disappointed. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would! I woke up this morning at 3 a.m. to finish reading it and then laid there for a couple of hours going back over it all.
Bobi Conn is a maestro of the written word. Not unlike an orchestra leader, she brings together all the different elements: landscapes both beautiful and wanting, rich characters, interesting plot, births and deaths, complex family situations, multiple generations, mystical relationships and fine-tunes them into a magnificent masterpiece. Her talent with words is beyond compare ... at times, they leave me breathless.
This was a difficult subject to write about, yes, and even more difficult to read about. But, to all those who considered this a negative, the reality is that this kind of stuff not only went on, but also still goes on. If anything, this book sheds some light on the possible reasons that these behaviors occur and are tolerated.
I will reread this book at least once more, perhaps twice, as I need to highlight the many parts that spoke to my soul. Magnificent. Magnificent. Magnificent! I'm not crying, you're crying!
Bobi Conn is a maestro of the written word. Not unlike an orchestra leader, she brings together all the different elements: landscapes both beautiful and wanting, rich characters, interesting plot, births and deaths, complex family situations, multiple generations, mystical relationships and fine-tunes them into a magnificent masterpiece. Her talent with words is beyond compare ... at times, they leave me breathless.
This was a difficult subject to write about, yes, and even more difficult to read about. But, to all those who considered this a negative, the reality is that this kind of stuff not only went on, but also still goes on. If anything, this book sheds some light on the possible reasons that these behaviors occur and are tolerated.
I will reread this book at least once more, perhaps twice, as I need to highlight the many parts that spoke to my soul. Magnificent. Magnificent. Magnificent! I'm not crying, you're crying!
February 4, 2023
Impactful
What a contrast of light and dark; good and evil; enlightening and troubling. This book is beautifully written and kept me coming back for more, even when my heart was troubled by the story. But isn’t that a sign of a great book: A story that touches you deeply and one that you will not forget for a long while? Set in eastern Kentucky in the Appalachians, Conn captures the beauty and hardships of the area. Her descriptive prose describing a hard winter brought back memories of years I spent in the Appalachians in east Tennessee. Bootleggers, underaged marriages, biscuits, gardening and putting by for winter, herbal tonics, secret springs and caves, medicine women are all brought to life in the pages Con has written. Well done…your work reminds me of some of Barbara Kingsolver’s work and “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini…well done!
What a contrast of light and dark; good and evil; enlightening and troubling. This book is beautifully written and kept me coming back for more, even when my heart was troubled by the story. But isn’t that a sign of a great book: A story that touches you deeply and one that you will not forget for a long while? Set in eastern Kentucky in the Appalachians, Conn captures the beauty and hardships of the area. Her descriptive prose describing a hard winter brought back memories of years I spent in the Appalachians in east Tennessee. Bootleggers, underaged marriages, biscuits, gardening and putting by for winter, herbal tonics, secret springs and caves, medicine women are all brought to life in the pages Con has written. Well done…your work reminds me of some of Barbara Kingsolver’s work and “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini…well done!
December 1, 2022
3.5 stars
It wasn’t as be-all depressing through most of the book as I read about in the reviews, but close. There was some beautiful writing in this book, but huge plot holes like the reader should guess, or naturally know, what the author was thinking. The magical realism in the story is amazing. I had trouble following the character development of the men in the story who had zero redeeming qualities. I not only had trouble following it, but also trouble believing it.
The book started out good, great even. I don’t like that I gave it such a low rating. But it got dark beyond words, with no meaning behind the suffering. Then… it ended. It seemed to me the author wrote the book for herself, knowing what the ending meant but not sharing it in her writing.
It wasn’t as be-all depressing through most of the book as I read about in the reviews, but close. There was some beautiful writing in this book, but huge plot holes like the reader should guess, or naturally know, what the author was thinking. The magical realism in the story is amazing. I had trouble following the character development of the men in the story who had zero redeeming qualities. I not only had trouble following it, but also trouble believing it.
The book started out good, great even. I don’t like that I gave it such a low rating. But it got dark beyond words, with no meaning behind the suffering. Then… it ended. It seemed to me the author wrote the book for herself, knowing what the ending meant but not sharing it in her writing.
April 26, 2022
I could tell Bobbi Conn has talent in her debut memoir. Her writing is deep and poetic in a way that her "old soul" shines through. There are those who are tied to the women who we share blood with in ways they can't completely understand. It's like a heightened genetic memory. Conn is one of those women and so am I. There is a quiet dignity and strength that Appalachian women possess. I enjoyed Rosalee's story but wasn't thrilled about the ending. I was invested in Rosalee's character development and really wanted to see what life would bring her in her later years. Highly recommend for fans of Appalachian/Southern novels.
February 13, 2023
*disclosure* I won this in a GoodReads giveaway.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse and rape
I wanted to love this book and there were parts I did quite enjoy. However, I felt this story lacked something but what that something is I can't quite put my finger on. I would have really enjoyed a bit more character development with all of the characters, especially Rosalee and her family. I guess I never felt quite connected to her or the women in her family who she loved dearly.
With that being said, I did enjoy where this story was going. I love that no matter what Rosalee never gave up and through it all learned to stand up for herself and those that she held close to her heart.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse and rape
I wanted to love this book and there were parts I did quite enjoy. However, I felt this story lacked something but what that something is I can't quite put my finger on. I would have really enjoyed a bit more character development with all of the characters, especially Rosalee and her family. I guess I never felt quite connected to her or the women in her family who she loved dearly.
With that being said, I did enjoy where this story was going. I love that no matter what Rosalee never gave up and through it all learned to stand up for herself and those that she held close to her heart.
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