Choices

by Mary Lee Settle

When Melinda Kregg, a young southern belle, witnesses the bloody Kentucky mining strikes of the 1930s, her innocence is shattered. This saga chronicles her joys, sorrows, and ministrations to the social wound on her journey through the maelstrom of the twentieth century. A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Awarded the 1995 Lillian Smith Book Award.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

450 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

Graduate of Sweet Briar College. Winner of the National Book Award in 1978 for Blood Tie.

Reviews

[Chana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history was interesting. I shamefacedly admit that I didn't know that there was a Spanish Civil War shortly before WWII. Nor do I understand the continued focus on Communism as the bogeyman when there are gruesome dictatorships, fascism and horrors galore. I am not promoting Communism (in any way whatsoever!), but it seems to me to be the kind of system that left alone topples of its own weight. I could be wrong. So what am I trying to say? People shouldn't have to die for this stuff, nor should Communism be the catch-all phrase to justify hatred and killing. The book didn't make me feel warm and happy about the American South either. "Outside agitators", "traitors to the southern way of life", I was getting upset. And the Red Cross refusing to feed striking coal miners? I am going to have to google some of this stuff for further research. Despite my interest in the history I didn't really like the writing in this book, for example this sentence, "Melinda suddenly felt completely at peace and scared as hell of what she might be thinking in front of Mrs. Hightower".

[Lynn Buschhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, especially for women, because the main character dares to pursue a non-tradtional life, but she is not portrayed as some sort of super heroine. In the course of reading this book I also learned about some fragments of history, such as the Spanish Civil War and the Kentucky coal strikes, that were barely mentioned in history class ( maybe because they were considered to be to "lefty). I would recommend this to those trying to read outside the box.

[Robyn]

Couldn’t finish this one. For me, the writing just didn’t flow. I felt relief when I put it on my give away pile.

[MaryAlice · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Choices" by Mary Lee Settle. Starts real good and then I am soon wondering why I am reading it. Boring this stuff about the "Roosians", coal mines in 1932 and so on.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Loved the strong female characters

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Lee Settle, Founder of the Pen/Faulkner Award, was born a couple decades after fellow expatriate writers, like the revered Ernest Hemingway. But she has long been neglected, which is a damn shame. She did not write like her minimalistic contemporaries or her overelaborate predecessors; her prose, a sure sign of her liberal Southern American heritage, are not only beautiful aesthetically, but enhanced with meaning and purpose; the best kind of writing. Settle cared deeply about “a people’s history,” of fairness, and justice. She wrote not just for Art’s sake but humanity’s sake.

Choices reads like a love-song dedicated to rebels and revolutionaries everywhere; jumping from scene to scene through the eyes of Melinda Kregg, southern belle turned “activist.” From the mining strikes of the 30s, to the oft forgotten Spanish Civil War, through the terror of WWII, the evils of the KKK, and triumph of Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s, Melinda feels like a re-imagined version of Settle herself, who had lived through, and participated in, these historical watersheds. I am anxious to read her famous Beulah Quintet, a similar love-song, but dedicated to a different time period in American History.

So if you’re wondering which 20th century classic to read next, do yourself a favor and put "The Great Gatsby" (for now) back on the shelf and seek out "Choices" at your local bookstore. For an authentic feel, make a mix of old Appalachian Mountain songs, Ragtime, 30s and 40s Jazz and Blues, Labor and Spanish Civil War songs, and some American hits from the early 60s; play this softly in the background, you won’t regret it.

[Pammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Settle hit another grand slam homerun with Choices! She gifted this one to the readers of the world in 1995 and I fell as though I really missed this experience having just now discovered it. I love how one reviewer explains the author's powers of description: she "stretches and squeezes the heroine's life-song as if it were a concertina", creating an epic tale that is "rich, generous, and almost operatic". Yessir!!
As examples, some of my favorite passages: when Melinda (heroine) struggles to find how she will know to right the wrongs in society, a friend she meet in the deep hills of Kentucky explains "My husband used to say you can argue all day long, but when you wake up at three o'clock in the morning a thing is wrong or it's right, and either you can take to drink or do something about it." This passage is the premise of Ms Settle's CHOICES.
Knee deep into the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War, Melinda is struck by this realization and gives this description of war across all time: "She felt herself in a vast web of love, personal grief, personal hopes, all the personal ties of the war - - women mourning their men and their sons, girls mourning their sweethearts...not 'suffering humanity' which meant nothing... but all the single hurts and griefs of war, all the lonely, scared, homesick men, all the children numb with fear."
This one is worth your time. It will become so defining to you that you'll be compelled to sharing it with your best friends.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first discovered this book at my local library in 1998 and was so touched by it that I sought it out again nearly 10 years later though I could remember neither the author nor the title. This is the story of a young women raised in high society who, after discovering that her father's fortune was obtained at the hands of coal miners, abandons her life of ease to try and make the world a better place. This is a journey that takes her to the coal mines of Kentucky, Spain and England. Though she is not able to make sweeping changes, the heroine has an immense and positive effect on those closest to her.

[Chris C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Lee Settle is an author Nancy Pearl recommends, I had never heard of her. This is my second Settle book, I'm going to try to read all of them. What an outstanding author! I wasn't sure if I could get into the book-I wasn't familiar with the Spanish Civil War. I actually was misty eyed during the last chapter. Settle passed away a couple of years ago, she's too good an author to forget.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt guilty enjoying this saga of a liberal southern "heroine" so much! It was a great way to learn a little history, and get to know the author a little better. I became engrossed in the story, which really seemed the story of several people rolled seamlessly into one. I really wish I had known Mary Lee Settle; she had great stories to tell.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, long book with a great ending! It took a long time to get into the story with all the horrible ways people treat each other in a variety of places . I'll remember this book for a long time. Not really a beach read tho

[Catherine Stickann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book fast moving and a wonderful read.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it ;) She makes the choices to help others & becomes an Ambulance driver in the Italian revolution. Lots of class issues addressed.

[Sweet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not as fond of Choices as I was Settle's Beulah Quintet. There seemed to be a lot more telling than showing, and much of the action was glossed over.

[Susan Beecher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine novel. The actual name of this novel is "Choices" (look it up!).

[Topper Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is wrong. "Choices" (!)

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

highly recommend this book. glad I read it.

[Debbie Lyon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very difficult book to read.