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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

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What is the price of copper? We can ask the same today of cheap apparel.

This quote is the only piece of satisfaction the reader gets relating to the vile copper mine general manager MacNaughton, unfortunately it‘s probably fictional. But I‘ll take what I can get. 😐

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

You see who the boss is........😼 #loveyourpet

Leftcoastzen 😻 4y

Ruthiella Yup. Same in my house! 😹 4y

Bookzombie 💕🐈🐶 4y

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Scochrane26 Cats are always the boss! 4y

Come-read-with-me Adorable! 4y

Gissy 😹😹😹 4y

Texreader ❤️🐈‍⬛ 4y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

I had to Google Mother Jones and wow, quite the formidable character and life. How bizarre it seems now that she was a union labor advocate, but opposed to women‘s suffrage. People are always interesting specimens.

Lcsmcat When I read this I was surprised she was a real person. I thought “The Mother Jones News” was just a name. 4y

Tamra @Lcsmcat I knew nothing as well! 4y

Suet624 Oh my. It makes me sad to think that Mother Jones needs to be reintroduced to the public. I must be old. 4y

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Tamra @Suet624 I don‘t think you are that old - but Union/labor history & education is lacking. 😒 (edited) 4y

Suet624 True, true. And I grew up when organizing was very active and we knew of those who came before us. 4y

Tamra @Suet624 I belong to a strong union here in MN and I try not to take it for granted, especially since it was busted in a neighboring state. Even among my staunch liberal friends they have been anti-union because teachers have expressed concern about getting back into the classroom. 😑 They don‘t appreciate historically what unions protect against. 4y

Suet624 That‘s so sad. 4y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

It‘s not nice to notice a wife‘s bruises......😣

GingerAntics That‘s terrible. 4y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

When there is a character you just won‘t care if they die. 🤨

kspenmoll Fantastic novel! 4y

cathysaid 😂 4y

Tamra @kspenmoll I‘m enjoying it! These days I only get to read in snippets, but today I actually had a moment to sit down and read a chunk. Russell is such a good writer who manages to massage her research into breathing characters and stories. 4y

Cathythoughts I might try this one 👍🏻... i remember I didn‘t like Sparrow though ... 4y

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EliNeedsMoreShelves

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

Hey there #LMPBC Group J!!

Any of these look good for our historical fiction round??

@rsteve388 @DarcysMom @ncsufoxes

rsteve388 1.) Fifty words for Rain. 2.) The women of Copper County. 3.) Miss Burma and Lastly 4.) The High Divide 4y

DarcysMom I haven't read any of them and am up for whatever you want! 4y

ncsufoxes I haven‘t read any of them, no real preference 4y

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EliNeedsMoreShelves @rsteve388 @DarcysMom @ncsufoxes I want to pick Fifty Words for Rain but just realized it's more like 450 pages - is that a problem for anyone? 4y

rsteve388 It's not an issue for me. I am good. 4y

DarcysMom That is fine for me as well. 4y

ncsufoxes No problem 4y

EliNeedsMoreShelves @rsteve388 @DarcysMom @ncsufoxes okay, Fifty Words for Rain will be my choice! 4y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

So true, but my hope of even momentarily conquering chaos in my own home is a very fleeting thing.......😏

Cathythoughts 👍🏻❤️ 4y

Cathythoughts I know on my granddaughter days , chaos rules 😂 4y

Tamra @Cathythoughts 😉 4y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

I bet James is a joy on vacation. 🙃

I really love Russell‘s writing - always a nice balance of setting, character development, and plot. I‘m only thru the intro and partway into the first chapter and I just want to sit and read it.

Lcsmcat I really liked this one. You‘re in for a treat. 4y

Tamra @Lcsmcat 👏🏾👏🏾 4y

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RiaWritten

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

With five days left til it's due. I'm reading this one for school and loving it so far. But then I've pretty much loved everything I've read by this author so I'm not too surprised.

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

#goodbye2020 #historialfiction #holidaymystery #Obama

1st book of 2020- The Women of Copper County- fabulous portrait of mining and organizing- dirt(literally) poor mining town in Michigan beginning in 1913. 23 yr old Annie Clements unintentionally becomes a major protestor and protector of mining families. Relevant today. #buddyread
Last book- Murder for Christmas. Just ok.
Ringing in 2021 with Obama #audiobook. Love his narration.

ShyBookOwl

Tamra This has been TBR for so long! Thanks for the reminder. 4y

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Soubhiville

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

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Mary Doria Russell is so good at writing historical fiction!

I remember learning about unions in school, and I think my dad may have belonged to a union in the machine factory where he worked. Copper Country really brings early Union fights to life! I looked up many of the events just to learn more. Annie is inspiring to any leader looking to make life better for the underprivileged. I loved her.

Great book!

TheBookHippie It was good. I tried to get our library to buy it seeing as we live where it happened 🤷🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ nope. So I keep recommending it ! 4y

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rabbitprincess

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

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The author blurb doesn't lie: Mary Doria Russell's narrative drive is excellent, and her research is worn well. I liked the author's note explaining the history and how she constructed the story. This is a compelling book that I found very hard to put down. Recommended if you liked Russell's Doc or Epitaph, or the Kopp Sisters series by Amy Stewart (similar time period and attention to detail in author notes).

MsMelissa Oh, I‘m definitely going to buy this one 😁 4y

rabbitprincess @Book_Fiend_Melissa Yay! Enjoy! 4y

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rabbitprincess

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

« The lakes kick up some real screamers with almost no warning, especially Superior. »

? The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead / When the gales of November come early... ?

MsMelissa I know it‘s about a tragic event, but I love Lightfoot‘s Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and now you‘ve got it stuck in my head 🎶 4y

rabbitprincess @Book_Fiend_Melissa For some reason a teacher I had in middle school thought this song would be a good introduction to Lightfoot for her students...we were a bit confused 😂😂 after that it took me nearly 15 years to warm up to him 😬 But I like him now! (edited) 4y

KVanRead Funny, I just finished a book set in 70s Texas, and a character was obsessed with this. #litsycoincidence 😀 4y

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rabbitprincess @KVanRead Trying to come up with a portmanteau word for Litsy synchronicity and not quite getting there 😂 I like coincidences like that! 4y

KVanRead @rabbitprincess hmm 🤔 maybe Litsydence? 😂 4y

rabbitprincess @KVanRead That‘s much better than what I was thinking... Litsynicity? 4y

KVanRead Or... Litnicity?! 4y

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rabbitprincess

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

“In the far north along the Canadian border, every casual conversation has begun with the same sentiment: ‘Awful lucky with the weather, eh?‘”

Why yes I DID read that last bit aloud in a Bob and Doug McKenzie accent 🤣🤣

KVanRead Take off, eh! 😂 4y

rabbitprincess @KVanRead Holy jeez, eh! 🤣 4y

MsMelissa You‘re such a hoser, eh! 4y

rabbitprincess @Book_Fiend_Melissa 🎶 On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... a beer... in a tree 🎶 😂 4y

KVanRead @Book_Fiend_Melissa @rabbitprincess That was beauty, eh! 4y

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SilversReviews

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

FEATURING: THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY by Mary Doria Russell

The determination and power of women who literally had none in the 1900's is one of the themes in THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/y2xfodw3

#marydoriarussell
@atriabooks
@simonandschuster

marleed This author Skyped into my IRL bookclub to speak to this book. She was great! 5y

SilversReviews @marleed How awesome is that. I bet she was terrific. 5y

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Hilary427

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This was so so...I loved learning the history of Calumet, but I found it a bit slow. Interesting history for sure though!

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Andrea313

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

Just a few from my #AprilTBR pile. I was initially planning to read the tagged book on my summer trip to Copper Country but I'm sure we won't be heading up there this year. I guess the bright side is that I don't have to wait any longer to read it! #MittenLitten #AcrossApril
@Eggs

SilversReviews It‘s very interesting. Enjoy!! 5y

Eggs Beautiful and inviting books!! 5y

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krismlars

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

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Fascinating! Always interesting to learn something new about American history. Pictured is Big Annie. #24in48 #socialdistancingreadathon

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krismlars

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

I slept through the first 7.5 hours of the #stayathome24in48 #socialdistancingreadathon but I‘m ready to get to it! I‘ve been in a reading slump these last two weeks. It‘s been difficult to focus and just easier to watch pointless TV. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

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Hoopiefoot

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

Porch reading in my Snuggie. I really needed some fresh air.

SilversReviews This was good. 5y

AmyK1 This one was really good! 5y

JamieArc I‘m really looking forward to this one, especially having lived in that area before! 5y

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Hoopiefoot @SilversReviews @AmyK1 @JamieArc I‘m not usually a fan of historical fiction but this is SO GOOD. 5y

SilversReviews @Hoopiefoot I am glad you are enjoying it. 5y

Tamra I really want to read this! 5y

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AmyK1

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

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I really enjoyed this emotional portrayal of the copper mine strike in MI in 1913. It was also awesome to read a book set in the state I‘m from. Even though I‘ve only been to the UP 3 times, several towns I‘m very familiar with where mentioned in the book. I also knew nothing about the history of copper mining or the strike.

Letter W for #litsyAtoZ

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

Everyone‘s participation made this a truly special read for me! Thank you!

#overbookedclub #coppercountryread

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

sblbooks @megnews I agree, we had some good discussion, throughout the month. Thanks for hosting this month! 5y

Crazeedi Great read!! 5y

CoffeeNBooks I'm glad I read this book! I wouldn't have known about it otherwise, and I think I really learned a lot from reading it. Thanks for hosting! 5y

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kspenmoll Wonderful book! I learned so@much... sorry to miss the live discussion! 5y

megnews @kspenmoll we don‘t quite have a live discussion. feel free to add comments anytime! 5y

megnews @CoffeeNBooks thanks for joining us! 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

sblbooks I thought it was moving how much it affected the town doctor. Even though he had seen death many times, he was not able to see his little girl's feet uncovered after that.😢 5y

Chrissyreadit @sblbooks I agree. That was moving. I also felt satisfaction when the guy quit after going to all the families on behalf of the company. 5y

megnews @sblbooks I had forgotten that. I should take notes! That was so awful. 5y

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megnews @Chrissyreadit I did too. 5y

marleed In the Skype interview the author had with my IRL bookclub she explained this fire was a blip in bad new of the time with WWI and influenza killing thousands. That makes it even more heartbreaking. 5y

kspenmoll @sblbooks The doctor‘s response was so moving, especially when he saw the contrast of his own children alive and well, and his trying to get the news out. 5y

Lcsmcat @Chrissyreadit @megnews That hit me too. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

megnews Will you laugh at me if I say I already can‘t remember the riot? I read too much 😂 5y

Chrissyreadit I would say Eva‘s growth was one of my favorite parts of the book. 5y

sblbooks @Chrissyreadit I agree, she was one of the most affected by the riot. 5y

marleed I think that since Eva was a completely fictional character the author was able to fill her with the hope this story had to have. The lives of the actual people are just heartbreaking. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

megnews One day you‘re satisfied with the stagnant relationship. The next day you‘ve changed and want so much more. Annie outgrew her husband and he was unsatisfied having a wife that couldn‘t be satisfied with status quo not just about the union but the relationships between men & women then. 5y

sblbooks @megnews Well said! 5y

marleed Underground mining in the day did not lend itself to men seeking to understand the lives of the women they married. They worked so hard for so little that any grievance of a woman above ground likely didn‘t register to them. 5y

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megnews Great way to put it @marleed 5y

kspenmoll @marleed An unimaginably backbreaking, suffocating, terrifying job deep inside the earth...all that & barely scraping by. May be hard to have any energy left over to do or feel much else. 5y

kspenmoll @megnews You said all so well! Annie‘s husband seemed at times mystified, bewildered, angry, and totally unable to cope with her growing & changing. 5y

marleed @kspenmoll @megnews I think when you work a job that is so incredibly dangerous, you earn little money and no respect all while visibly witnessing the riches go to a man who barely recognize your humanity- you can‘t respect yourself. In those situations the head of the household reigns power where he can - his wife and children. Dignity is so crucial to society. 5y

megnews @marleed makes perfect sense. Reminds me of Maslow‘s hierarchy of needs. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

Chrissyreadit My main thought is that she only had a public persona- there was not room for a private one. 5y

marleed She was thrice married and divorced from abusive, alcoholic man. Her daughter was also married and divorced from an abusive man. Apparently, some people praise her but others hold her accountable for the bad resulting from the aftermath of the strike. What I‘m grateful for is that today a woman doesn‘t need a man to negotiate life. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

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megnews The Orphan Trains show the continuing westward expansion of the US. Jacob Riis‘s photos were attempting to bring about social change in the same way the strike was. 5y

Chrissyreadit I only learned about orphan trains when I read

Orphan Train: A Novel

Chrissyreadit It was a reminder that America has consistently had a cruel streak. I did not know anything about Jacob Riis other then a section a beach in NYC is named after him. 5y

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sblbooks It was another example of how the poor are exploded by those well off. Some Orphan Train Riders were not treated well by their new families, but used as free labor. 5y

megnews @sblbooks so true! So sad. I don‘t know how people could look at young children and treat them like that. 5y

rubyslippersreads @Chrissyreadit That‘s been on my TBR list for ages. 5y

Chrissyreadit @rubyslippersreads I thought it was a great book! Hope you get to it and enjoy it! 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune

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megnews Little side story that made me think of him. I visited the Cleveland history center recently & toured this wondrous mansion that a woman built I think 32 rooms to retire to by herself with a staff of 32. Then decided she didn‘t want to live there after all & it sat vacant. tour guide said at one time there were about 80 millionaires in America about 60 of which lived in Cleveland-Rockefeller‘s etc. I just thought what a shame for a woman to ⬇️ 5y

megnews Have that much and waste it, letting it sit empty while the people who made her wealthy enough to do that were tired & cold & hungry. Made me think of the same disparities in Calumet. (edited) 5y

Chrissyreadit Wow! Extreme wealth has not changed much. These are very thoughtful questions! I think having the perspective demonstrated how separate he viewed himself- the same way racism occurs- us vs them. 5y

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sblbooks I keep thinking about how he didn't even know his staff's name; nor did he know the names of any of the miners when they died. It just shows how uncaring he was, it was all about making a dollar. 5y

marleed Oh guys a great book on back in the day extreme wealth in America

megnews @marleed that sounds good! Stacked. 5y

megnews @sblbooks or how to take a roast out of the oven! I pictured him just shriveling away to nothing with no servants because he never learned how to do a thing for himself or an honest day‘s work. 5y

rubyslippersreads His time-management techniques (without the evil) reminded me of

Cheaper by the Dozen

megnews @rubyslippersreads I haven‘t read or seen that. 5y

rubyslippersreads @megnews In the book (I‘m not sure about the old and new movie versions), the parents are efficiency experts. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

megnews I picture the men as waking up, going to work with a grunt, coming home to a meal with a grunt, & going to bed. Women did everything else. They had to communicate to get recipes, find cures for children‘s sickness, commiserate over the toughness of life & the common denominator of death. They had to find a way out of necessity. 5y

Chrissyreadit Yes!! I think it could not be very different then sharing, showing someone food and letting them taste, sharing medicinals, children helping you translate- everyone coughs or gives birth in the same language. 5y

rubyslippersreads I think, like @Chrissyreadit said, they learned to communicate in other ways than just words. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

Some of us already discussed this a little and have heard the author speak on it.
#overbookedclub #coppercountryread

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

Chrissyreadit What does the author say about it? 5y

megnews @chrissyreadit I tagged you where we talked about it 5y

Chrissyreadit Hmm. I think tragedy is right. 5y

marleed Tragedy. Actually the author was reminded of Juliet‘s father when writing of the actual mine-owner (real dude and more villainous they any fictional character she had written). How Juliet‘s would sacrifice his daughter for power. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

megnews This was probably used for numerous reasons but for me it made her larger than life. It also made her stand out as a leader from all the rest. 5y

Chrissyreadit I think it also indicated she did not quite fit in and understood what it was like to be an outsider- the one thing all the different groups of immigrants had in common. 5y

megnews Ooh @Chrissyreadit I like that! 5y

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sblbooks I think it was mentioned because she was looked at as not ladylike. From a young age she had to overcome prejudice. I feel it made her stronger, more of a leader. 5y

megnews @sblbooks she definitely took on what would have been a man‘s role. I think she did learn to use what others saw as a detriment, for good. 5y

rubyslippersreads I think it was because it was more unusual at that time for women to be tall, so she stood out more than she would now. Also, as @sblbooks said, it made her seem less “ladylike,” which in those days was valued by society more than her brains or her bravery. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

megnews That they‘ve stayed pretty much the same over time. 5y

Chrissyreadit @megnews yes- not much has changed. 5y

Readswithcoffee Unfortunately, I think this is part of the human condition. 5y

rubyslippersreads What @megnews said. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

megnews Sorry to say folks but I don‘t know enough about Joan of Arc to make a comparison. Hope someone can chime in here. 5y

Chrissyreadit I am disappointed by the monitor- it actually is the lone reason I was reluctant to read the book. I think we have plenty of American heroines to compare her too, as well as other women leaders in difficult times. I was terrified she was going to be killed the entire time. Also from what little I know of Joan of Arc she was A Saint and above reprieve in history. Annie was perfectly human. 5y

megnews @Chrissyreadit I like that contrast between saint and human. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

Chrissyreadit Ohhh! Perspective is everything. We remember the stuff with the most emotional impact and from our own biases perspective. 5y

sblbooks The American dream is not always so easy to achieve, for some. 5y

rubyslippersreads Dreaming of something is less complicated than carrying it out. 5y

megnews @rubyslippersreads very true! 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

If I knew we were all going to be swept away by this book so quickly, I would have planned this conversation a week ago. Hopefully you‘ve had time to mull it over.
The #OverBookedClub #CopperCountryRead starts now!

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

Chrissyreadit 🎉🥳👏 5y

28 likes1 comment

Readswithcoffee

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

pick

This is a “pick” for me, just not as enthusiastically as it is for others. The situation was very interesting, so that‘s why it is a pick. Parts of this were very dark and the cruelty of various characters was somewhat overwhelming. Since this is historical fiction, I kept wondering if the real people were this awful or was there artistic license at work. #overbookedclub

marleed The author Skyped into my IRL bookclub this month. One reader explained the book was too dark for her tastes. The author explained she did nothing to exaggerate the cruelty and that the mine owner was a more cruel villain then any fictional villain she ever created. 5y

Readswithcoffee @marleed Thank you for the insight. That‘s absolutely awesome that she Skyped into your book club! Did the author mention anything about how the police treated the women in jail? That was unconscionable and heartless. 5y

marleed @Readswithcoffee No, I wish we‘d asked - it was a 45 min Skype. She explained the book leaves the reader with hope for Anna as she leaves Michigan. It‘s in the afterward we learn all 3 of her marriages ended in divorce to abusive men. But the author had to create hope where there was none. Her additional info about actual characters was also bleak. Just very tough conditions. Even the fire was a blip of just more bad news of the time. 5y

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marleed @Readswithcoffee But she also though it‘s a story that sometimes you lose and lose and keep losing but you keep going. And somewhere sometime someone will benefit from your effort. 5y

Readswithcoffee @marleed Thanks for taking the time to share this info. It is shocking to me the level of cruelty some people are capable of and that in their minds their actions are justified. 5y

marleed @Readswithcoffee The author explained the mine owner was white and Anglo Saxon and he truly believed that those who migrated from European countries south of England were inferior to him. 5y

Readswithcoffee @marleed Wow. Interesting. Shameful, but it explains a lot. 5y

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sblbooks

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

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🌟🌟🌟🌟
An emotional book about the strike in the copper mines of Calumet, MI. I thought this was well researched, I learned so much about a topic that I knew nothing about previously. A #historicalfiction must read.
#OverBookedClub @megnews #ReadTheUSA2020 #Michigan

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LitsyHappenings

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

Repost for @megnews :

We‘re halfway through Jan‘s selection. I‘m loving it. How about you? I‘ve already seen quite a few reviews. There‘s been some amazing discussions already. If you haven‘t had a chance yet, check out @marleed ‘s post about her personal connections to Copper Country.
This is a reminder that discussion will be January 31 and to find your copy of The Postmistress for February‘s #OverBookedClub
#readalongs2020 #CopperCountryRead

39 likes

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

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Excellent fictional representation of the very real events surrounding the strike of copper miners in Michigan, & the women‘s role in these events, of which I was previously unaware. A cast of characters, leading & supporting, you want to encourage along in their fight for justice for them & for the future. At times, you‘re so wrapped up in it you feel you‘re marching alongside them in their struggle. Inspiring.
#CopperCountryRead #OverBookedClub

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, SaturnDoo, Chrissyreadit, CoffeeNBooks, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

megnews This would make an excellent movie. 5y

Chrissyreadit Yes- it was very different from what I expected. I‘m still struggling with the fact that workers rights are a shadow- just enough to survive but not enough to live - all these years later. Here in WV it‘s factory work with company drs who prescribed opiates to keep people working until the long term damage and addiction were no longer manageable, and have left us with a generation of children being raised by grandparents 5y

Chrissyreadit It was difficult for me to read it as a historical event without drawing all the parallels to today. 5y

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Lcsmcat I heard Russell speak about this book (and met her!) last September. The thing she said that I didn‘t get during my reading of it was the parallels to Romeo and Juliet. She said she used those quotes as epigraphs because she saw her book as a great love story. But I didn‘t get that parallel. Anyone else? 5y

megnews @Lcsmcat I saw a parallel between some of the quotes & what went on in the chapter. I saw Annie & Mike as periphery so if she was speaking of that, no. As for a great love story, I can see it as Annie (& all the women‘s) love for their families, the labor leaders‘ love for the people who work so hard, the sacrifices made to bring work & happiness together. With the owners being what keeps laborers apart from a fulfilling life. @marleed what ⬇️ 5y

megnews ⬆️did she have to say on this during your book club Skype? 5y

marleed @megnews @Lmscat In the Skype on Wednesday she compared Juliet‘s father to the mineowner - how other people‘s lives were secondary (even his daughter) to his wealth and power, how this story is a tragedy. 5y

marleed @megnews @Lcsmcat - I misspelled you in my previous post. ...BTW, a sister flew done for the post-season freezing cold Chiefs playoff game today. Her luggage was loaded with pasties so we can tailgate in the warmth of a car before heading into the stadium! 5y

Lcsmcat @marleed I can see that. I do think the quotes made sense, just didn‘t get “love story” out of it. 😀 5y

megnews @marleed @Lcsmcat tragedy makes much more sense. 5y

megnews @Chrissyreadit read the comments to see what the author said about the Romeo and Juliet reference 5y

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#CopperCountryRead #OverBookedClub

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

rubyslippersreads, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, thereadingowlvina, Deblovestoread, SaturnDoo, Chrissyreadit, shellleigh33, sblbooks, marleed, Littlewolf1

25 likes

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

#CopperCountryRead
I could not put this down! So will not reveal plot because this is a #buddyread
I have adored Russell‘s other books. This is as engrossing, rich in detail, well researched, & authentic characters- she brings the reality of the mining life to light.

megnews, sblbooks

marleed I loved this book and wonder if my experience growing in a small union mining town had everything to do with it. My IRL bookclub discussed on Wed w/ the author Skyping in. I was the only one that loved it, a couple were meh, and most (11 total) were a no. They just weren‘t interested in why someone would write about this subject. But they all grew up in big cities. 5y

kspenmoll @marleed Your growing up experience I am sure influenced your engagement in the book. I am a history major, a member of a teacher‘s union, & my grandfather participated in strikes for AT&T (old phone company) to get a union recognized. So my interests and experiences help but I also have read her other scifi books & they also are rich in detail, well researched with great characterizatio 5y

kspenmoll I just loved it! Lets see what others say in Litsy. 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

#MotherJones #MostDangerousWomaninAmerica #CopperCountry #BigAnnie #JamesMacNaughton
Mother Jones, & Big Annie v. MacNaughton, “Czar”of Copper Country
In 1913-1914, the Union miners of Copper Country went on strike. Mother Jones came that year with money & encouragement.Her fiery oratory reengaged the Women‘s Auxiliary & the Union members.
“Mother Jones is coming to Calumet!”

“Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”-Mother Jones

megnews, sblbooks

arubabookwoman I wonder if Anna Klobuchar (Big Annie??) pictured upper left is an ancestor of Amy Klobuchar? 5y

kspenmoll @arubabookwoman Wouldn‘t that be cool? 5y

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The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

#CopperCountryRead #ChristmasCelebration #ItalianHallDisater #Calumet #CopperMinlng #Shakespeare #RomeoandJuliet

“All Things that we ordained festival
turn... to black funeral”
— Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

The author has quoted from Romeo and Juliet in each chapter head. Fun for me as I have read this play with Freshman every year of my HS teaching.An example of relevancy for them.

megnews, sblbooks

megnews Chilling to read the actual headline from the day. 5y

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CoffeeNBooks

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

This post contains spoilers

This #HistoricalFiction is about the copper mine strikes of 1913-1914, the first unionized strike of the Western Federation of Miners, and the involvement of Anna Klobuchar Clemenc and the Women's Auxiliary. The union's goal was an 8-hour workday and better wages. They were up against the powerful Calumet and Hecla Mining Company.
#ReadTheUSA2020 #Michigan @ljuliel

ljuliel Great job 👍🏼 5y

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CoffeeNBooks

The Women of the Copper Country | Mary Doria Russell

pick

I just finished reading this one this morning. What a great book! I loved Mary Doria Russell's way of writing about this compelling story, and now I need to go read more about Anna Klobuchar Clemenc and her part in the Western Federation of Miners.
#OverBookedClub @megnews @sblbooks
#LitsyAtoZ #W @BookishMarginalia

megnews I only have about 20% to go. Hoping to finish today. 5y

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