Compelling

I listened to the audio version of this fine novel. Very well written, and the characterizations were exquisite. Narration by Cassandra Campbell brought the story to life. Good work, Connie Schultz. I look forward to your next novel!

4 people found this helpful

When does the sequel come out!?

What wonderful characters! A true gem. It starts a little slow but in no time you will be knee deep in the lives of this family and the reality of growing up in the 50’s and 60’s. So nice to read a book that is “real” while being fictional. Loved it!

3 people found this helpful

Glad I read this

Heard author on PBS discussing it and bought it. I grew up in a blue collar town. How would my life have been different if I had never left?

3 people found this helpful

Soap Opera! Save Your Credit

It's been a long time since I've had a book that I disliked this much. None of these characters are explored in depth. They're glossy predictable stereotypes. Turns of events are presented with the melodrama of a soap opera and 60s mom wallows in her powerlessness by - scrubbing stains out of his baseball pants, getting her beehive redone at the beauty parlor, or going to church quilting bee. Yawn. This book is like listening to one of those never ending, never quite remarkable stories about a friend your mom or grandma might tell. Summary - young marriage, insecure damaged parents raise damaged children, philandering husband, oops another baby, 60s leads to 70s women's movement, daughter in college has new views and family issues to resolve. Told for 14 long hours.

In addition, the narrator presents characters in voices of...Disney princesses? Certainly middle school actress in her most melodramatic voice. So sorry I wasted a credit on this one.

2 people found this helpful

Surprised

I hesitated to purchase this book. The title did nothing to catch my attention. But I LOVED it. The story held my attention consistently. I live in northeast Ohio which made the locations so familiar. And the characters reminded me of people I've know all my life. I think it's a must read!

1 person found this helpful

Deep Message of Unconditional Love

Wow this story took me through an emotional roller coaster. It helped me realize what others will do for love of family!! Great read!!

Relentless

Only finished this because it was for book club. Finally liked a character (Rosemary) but that was a fleeting chapter. The reader had all the females sound like doe eyed incompetents. She read the 8 year old boy like a post-pubescent teen. Not sure she had a great deal to work with though. If you like depressing books, then maybe it will suit, otherwise, take a pass.

Multi-generation story

Beginning in 1957 in a small town in Ohio and continuing for the better part of the century (1950s - 1990s), The Daughters of Erietown is a multi-generational story about women and their families. Most of the residents are ordinary everyday people. The women are stay at home mothers and the men hold blue collar jobs to support their families. There's a neighborhood bar and some friendly neighbors.

Brick McGinty and Ellie and young and in love. Brick grew up with an abusive father but, he is a basketball star and looking forward to promising future with a full scholarship to college. Ellie, raise by her grandparents, thinks about becoming a nurse but, it's an unplanned pregnancy that chases this young couple's dreams away.

This debut novel quickly drew me in to the lives of these of these characters. The writing was quite good with strong female characters and dialogue that felt genuine. I liked the way the author depicted small-town life. Seeing how the lives of the women had changed over the years was a highlight of this novel. I did think this book was unnecessarily long (almost 500 pages in print and over 14 hours on audio); IMO it could have benefitted by some additional editing. Overall, I was happy that I read/listened to this one. Cassandra Campbell narrated the audio which was very well done.

RATING - 4/5 stars

Cliché and predictable

This book was okay. Being from NE Ohio the references invoked a sense a familiarity. But, they also seemed a bit cliche and the plot predictable and drawn out. I fee that the target audience for this book is someone from NE Ohio who grew up working class and is in their 60’s or older.

Painfully boring

I could not finish this poorly written, uninteresting book. There is too much dialogue and not believable.