Daughters of the New World

by Susan Richards Shreve

Anna, Amanda, Sara, and Eleanor. Four generations of women --- unique yet remarkably alike in strength of spirit --- born into a world changing with each new day. Together and apart they discover themselves, their great strength, their capacity for love, and their courage to invent their own lives.

Their remarkable story spans 100 years, beginning with Anna, a young willful beauty who leaves New South Wales in 1890 for America --- a woman whose marriage to a well-born doctor leads to his expulsion from his Washington family. Anna's daughter, Amanda, becomes one of the most famous photographers of her lifetime; through her portraits --- of the pathos of the Depression, from Presidents to migrant farm workers --- she captures the soul of the 20th century. The ensuing generations --- Sara in the forties, and Eleanor in the sixties --- share Amanda's refusal to bow to convention. Like their mothers before them, they will charter vast new territory as daughters of the new world.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Novels

471 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Also know as Susan Shreve. Received the following awards: Jenny Moore Award, George Washington University, 1978; Notable Book citation, American Library Association (ALA), 1979, for Family Secrets: Five Very Important Stories; Best Book for Young Adults citation, ALA, 1980, for The Masquerade; Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, National Council for Social Studies and the Children's Book Council joint committee, 1980, for Family Secrets: Five Very Important Stories; Guggenheim award in fiction, 1980; National Endowment for the Arts fiction award, 1982; Edgar Allan Poe Award, Mystery Writers of America, 1988, for Lucy Forever and Miss Rosetree, Shrinks; Woodrow Wilson fellowships, West Virginia Wesleyan, 1994, and Bates College, 1997; Lila Wallace Readers Digest Foundation grant.

Reviews

[Bamboozlepig]

DNF. There's no chance to establish any kind of connection to the characters because the plot speeds along at breakneck speed. There's also no emotional connection whatsoever because of the fast pace of the book. I managed to read up to the end of Anna's section and then I gave it up because so many interesting plot points (such as Anna working with the Native Americans) were being hurried through and just as quickly discarded right after being introduced.

[Fiona Hargis]

This book is great for a person who likes historical fiction. It spans from about the 1890s-1980s, telling the stories of women and their adventures with their daughters and then the daughters of those women. But this book mainly focuses on Amanda. Even though this book is good there are some parts that are pretty “erotic” that my friends and I giggle about.

[Bryn Gonzales]

Enjoyed the scope of this multigenerational story about a family of unique, strong women. Very enjoyable read!

[K]

DNF @60%

[Monika]

Idee poolest pidanuks see raamat mulle väga meeldima, sest läbi põlvkondade kulgevad perekonnalood on täpselt minu teema, kuid tegelikkus oli kahjuks midagi muud. Raamat oleks kindlasti võitnud, kui kirjanik oleks pidanud meeles väljendit less is more, st. mida vähem, seda parem. Ta mahutas liiga palju sündmusi ühte raamatusse ning lõppkokkuvõttes mõjus kõik ebareaalsena ning tegelasedki jätsid mind külmaks. Nad olid kõik kuidagi "veidrad". Üksikud peatükid olid siiski päris head, nt. Amanda fotograafina Esimeses maailmasõjas, kuid see pole piisav, et ma seda raamatut rahuliku südamega teistele soovitada julgeks. Ajalooliste pereromaanide armastajatele on hoopis paremaid raamatuid kirjutatud.
1.5 punkti

[Inga]

Just finished Susan Richards Shreve's Daughters of the New World, which is about women from several generations in the family. It starts with Anna who is moving from Ireland to New York, US with her family and ends with Lily and Kat who are Anna's great great great great granddaughters.
In my opinion the main charachter besides these women is time. Writer actually manages to describe how times are changes, giving an overview of the different wars, struggles, tradition which are changing tgether with the lives of these "daughters".
It was an OK reading.

[Carolyn]

This is definitely an all weekend read. Anna is a great protagonist and her descendants are all women I would like to know. Still, not enough is mentioned about the struggle a woman has had throughout history to fit into a man's world. Go back to the start of the book. There is not enough info about trouble on early reservations. Although she does touch on one or two minor struggles. This was a fun read though. So I'll stretch my rating simply for the entertainment.

[Anna]

Didn't really manage to finish this and since it's a bookcrossing book, decided to release it instead of carrying it back to Europe...

Not a bad book, really, I just didn't connect with any of the characters. I remember liking a tv show they made from the book, which is why I wanted to read it in the first place. But the book just didn't hook me and I look at it like "do I really have to...". So, I decided I don't have to. Hopefully someone will find it and appreciate it more than me.

[Laura Marie]

Good read. It flowed pretty well and there were only a few spots that were slow. The story takes you through more than 100 years of women and the historical challenges that they faced through time. I'd recommend this book if you like history and stories about the bonds that bind mothers and daughters together.

[Ruth Soz]

I love these sweeping stories which take place over a large amount of time, and this one following 5 generations of women fit the bill. It did feel like some secondary characters were killed off unceremoniously and large pockets of time would pass without much notice. But I liked the connection between the women and seeing how they developed and came back around to their roots.

[Ellen]

This book is total trash but I thought it was fun to read...an epic of sorts...but I have to say if your looking for a trashy epic read The Thornbirds first!

[Jade]

I would have never chosen this book on my own, but I am so glad that I did read it! I was told that it was a 'good read' and I definitely wasn't disappointed!

[Jonna]

A wonderful, sweeping epic of a book with wonderfully interesting characters. It holds your interest from cover to cover. And that's my idea of a great book!

[Michelle Wheeler]

One of my all time favorites, love it!!

[Shelly barber]

Story of strong women, loves, hurts, dreams, family.