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melissadegraffbooks's review
4.0
So far I am really enjoying everything I read by Lynn Austen. Another clean, interesting historical fiction read.
nomer15's review against another edition
4.0
"All Things New" by Lynn Austin is set in post-Civil War-era Virginia and focuses on the months immediately following the end of the war. The Confederacy has just lost the war, the citizens are facing poverty and attempting to pick up the pieces of shattered lives, and deep prejudices continue to come to light.
Josephine Weatherly lost her father and one older brother in the war. Her family may lose their plantation as well with limited resources and no real ability to bring in a cotton crop. Josephine begins to see that life needs to revolve around basic survival, not trying to keep up a facade of life as it was before the war. Her mother, Eugenia, is appalled at the idea of her daughter expressing interesting in tending a garden, sewing, and learning to cook, and she tries to forbid Josephine from having anything to do with "manual labor".
Lizzie is a freed slave who continues to live at White Oak plantation with her family after the war, primarily due to the promise of her children receiving an education thanks to the newly established Freedman's Bureau, run by a former Yankee soldier named Alexander Chandler. Lizzie and her family embrace their newfound freedom, but begin to experience a taste of the extreme difficulties that the freed slaves will face in this new phase of life.
This was a wonderful book that takes a look at different aspects of life during Reconstruction from three different perspectives. I loved how Austin showed the effects of war, bitterness, and hatred, and how the remedy is found in God's healing love and forgiveness. The characters were well-developed and there was just enough suspense to keep the reader engaged to the end. Overall, a good fictional read that focuses on an important and challenging part of American history.
(I’ve received this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers through the Book Blogger program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
Josephine Weatherly lost her father and one older brother in the war. Her family may lose their plantation as well with limited resources and no real ability to bring in a cotton crop. Josephine begins to see that life needs to revolve around basic survival, not trying to keep up a facade of life as it was before the war. Her mother, Eugenia, is appalled at the idea of her daughter expressing interesting in tending a garden, sewing, and learning to cook, and she tries to forbid Josephine from having anything to do with "manual labor".
Lizzie is a freed slave who continues to live at White Oak plantation with her family after the war, primarily due to the promise of her children receiving an education thanks to the newly established Freedman's Bureau, run by a former Yankee soldier named Alexander Chandler. Lizzie and her family embrace their newfound freedom, but begin to experience a taste of the extreme difficulties that the freed slaves will face in this new phase of life.
This was a wonderful book that takes a look at different aspects of life during Reconstruction from three different perspectives. I loved how Austin showed the effects of war, bitterness, and hatred, and how the remedy is found in God's healing love and forgiveness. The characters were well-developed and there was just enough suspense to keep the reader engaged to the end. Overall, a good fictional read that focuses on an important and challenging part of American history.
(I’ve received this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers through the Book Blogger program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
mybookishcats's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
kriste's review against another edition
4.0
This book certainly made me think and consider the perspective of plantation owners in the south after losing the civil war. Thankfully, there were some redeeming characters that helped soften the attitudes.
lizanne95's review against another edition
Having read just one or two of Lynn Austin’s works, I didn’t know if I really wanted to read this one either. But I’m glad I did. You can never judge an author just by reading one of their books, I believe.
I believe Lynn really brought out the real life of women, privileged women and slaves, during and after the civil war in 1865. I got so swept up into the book, I could hardly put it down.
Josephine is just a young girl when the war between the north and south starts. She gets thrust into early adulthood and misses out on her coming out years. After the war she and her family head back to their plantation, only to find out that all their slaves, or servants as they are now supposed to be called, have fled except two.
Lizzie finds it hard to believe that all the slaves are actually free. That they can do as they please and live without someone standing over them with a whip, yelling out them to keep working. As she and her family adjust to life as free people, she watches her former owners lives turn upside down. When things start happening to the free Negroes, Lizzie takes a chance and confides in Josephine.
They both realize that the men they care for the most are in the utmost danger. Josephine must stop her brother and his friends from doing what they are doing if she wants the man that she loves to stay alive.
I hope you enjoy this book if you decide to read a copy of it.
I believe Lynn really brought out the real life of women, privileged women and slaves, during and after the civil war in 1865. I got so swept up into the book, I could hardly put it down.
Josephine is just a young girl when the war between the north and south starts. She gets thrust into early adulthood and misses out on her coming out years. After the war she and her family head back to their plantation, only to find out that all their slaves, or servants as they are now supposed to be called, have fled except two.
Lizzie finds it hard to believe that all the slaves are actually free. That they can do as they please and live without someone standing over them with a whip, yelling out them to keep working. As she and her family adjust to life as free people, she watches her former owners lives turn upside down. When things start happening to the free Negroes, Lizzie takes a chance and confides in Josephine.
They both realize that the men they care for the most are in the utmost danger. Josephine must stop her brother and his friends from doing what they are doing if she wants the man that she loves to stay alive.
I hope you enjoy this book if you decide to read a copy of it.
siljamilja's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cheerfully_chene's review against another edition
4.0
Lynn Austin is one of my favourite writers, and none of her books fail to impress me. All things new is another nail-biting novel about life in America after the Civil War. The book had me shedding one or two tears and smiling like an idiot at other parts. The book reveals much about the society of the South, their life and beliefs - I learned quite a few new concepts about it. Would recommend this book!
kimmiereadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this post civil war Christian fiction take on what life would be like from three perspectives: the north, southern plantation owners, and the slaves that worked them. It made me cry. It had a clear Christian message but the characters weren't perfect. Many had immature understandings of what being a Christian means. Some had very mature understandings. Overall, LA does a great job with this piece set in a such tumultuous time in history.