A Proper Pursuit [Hardcover]

Lynn Austin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

When Violet Hayes ventures to Chicago during the time of the World's Fair, her one goal is to find her mother, who has been missing from her life since she was nine. Naïve, impressionable, and highly imaginative (having secretly ingested a diet of romance novels and true crime stories at school), Violet stays in Chicago under the care of her grandmother and her three great aunts. It is here that her perspectives on life are opened as she is exposed to the world about her--from high society to the poor immigrant families; from the suffragette movement to the security of a suitable marriage match. As Violet contemplates what course her life will take, she will discover the missing parts of her family's past--and, ultimately, Violet will discover herself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Christy award-winning historical novelist Austin delivers her strongest offering yet, a coming-of-age story set in late-19th-century Illinois. The great strength of this novel comes from the first-person narrator's charming voice: 20-year-old Violet Hayes is distressed to learn that her father is remarrying-and that her mother, whom Violet believed lay recovering from a mysterious illness in a sanitarium somewhere, had in fact simply abandoned her family and filed for divorce. To escape a stepmother-to-be she can't stand, Violet heads to Chicago to stay with her grandmother and great-aunts. Although she's recently graduated from a genteel school for young ladies, it's in Chicago that Violet's real education begins. One great-aunt tries to persuade her to join the suffrage movement, while another introduces Violet to elite society and urges her to catch a wealthy husband. Her grandmother, who takes her cues from Jane Addams, introduces Violet to the world of revivalist Christianity and inner-city good works, prompting Violet to re-examine her own faith. Two questions drive the plot: will Violet find her mother, and will she encounter true love? Readers will enjoy accompanying Violet as she discovers the answers, her calling and her adult self.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"...a very fine read. The touches of humor were placed all in the right areas." -- Maisha Walker, roadtoromance.ca

"Fans of romantic comedy and Americana will want to add A Proper Pursuit to their collections." -- Violet Nesdoly, blogcritics.org

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739490281
• ISBN-13: 978-0739490280
• ASIN: 0764204408
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lynn Austin, a former teacher who now writes and speaks full time, has won four Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into a Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home near Chicago, Illinois.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the most engaging main characters, September 16, 2007

By 

Kimberly - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Proper Pursuit (Paperback)

A Proper Pursuit is the latest stand-alone novel by Lynn Austin and I must say it is one of her best. Its probably my favorite, next to Eve's Daughters.

The novel it about 20 year old Violet Rose Hayes who has just graduated from a ladies school and has returned home to discover that her father is going to remarry. She also discovers that her mother, whom she thought was ill, actually abondoned her 11 years ago for Chicago because she felt tied down in their small town. And then there is Violet's boring suitor Herman Beckett. Violet travels to Chicago to find her mother and stop her father's marriage, making the excuse to see the 1893 World's Fair. Along the way there she meets so called elixir salesman Silas McClure. While in Chicago, her grandmother and 3 great-aunts each have their own agenda for her. Her Aunt Agnes takes her to high-society parties in hopes to find a wealthy husband. While there, she meets Nelson Kent, the son of a wealthy businesman. Her Aunt Matt is constantly giving her lectures about women rights and takes her on a march or two. Violet's grandmother takes her to meet Louis Decker, a minister in training. Here Violet sees poverty for the first time in her life. Finally, her Aunt Birdie is constantly reminding her to marry for love. Through the course of the summer, Violet not only discovers the world, but she also discovers herself and must determine what path and what man is the right choice for her.

I really liked the character of Violet Hayes. The book is written in first person from her view so it was quite engaging and we could read what was going on in her thoughts. And were some of the thoughts extremely funny! There were many laugh out loud lines within the books pages. I liked how I could also relate to Violet since I am about the same age as her. I am 21 and was naive about the world before I went to college just as she was before she went to Chicago. I thought it hilarious each time Violet related a situation to a crime or a romance novel. I find that I let my imagination run wild as well at times because I enjoy mystery and romance novels the most, just like Violet. :)

I also loved how Lynn Austin made the 1893's World Fair seem so real to me. It makes me wish that the Fair would occur near my home so I could visit it as well since it sounded so fascinating. The romance in the book was realistic and did not down-play Violet's true purpose. Her purpose in Chicago was not to find a husband (though its implied she does anyway). It is to find her mother and to find answers to the many mysteries that are introduced in the book.

If you love Lynn Austin make sure to read this book! The book was 432 pages and I read through it quickly in 3 days because I could not put it down. I subscribe to Lynn Austin's newsletter and she says her next book will be about 3 immigrant sisters in New York. I am already looking forward to it. The only dreadful thing is that I have to wait a full year to read the book next fall.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! A refreshing read in a world of fake Christian romance novels!, May 10, 2009

By 

Bethany Youngblood - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Proper Pursuit (Paperback)

I am a teenage girl and I LOVED this book.
I am a avid reader, so I have read my share of phony, self absorbed, "light" Christian romances. Most of them focas more on the physical attractions and the circumstances to make up the story.

This book, I am proud to say, is different. Literally from the first sentence of the book I was inside the main character's mind. I felt her emotions and understood why she thought the way she did.

The character development was superb! I was instantly attached to every new character I met.

I will admit, because I am such a avid reader, I had the whole thing figured by chapter four. But I was proven wrong on many points before the book ended!

The romance was there. The circumstances were there. And there was a STRONG christian message! Unlike some other Christian Romances, this book and it's main character avidly pursues a deep relationship with God.

I recommend this book to all teen girls. This is much better food for thought than the (forgive me for my boldness)worldly and physical romance of books like Twilight and even some Christian novels.

The book is not perfect, but it is MUCH better than any other "romance" novel I have read thus far.

Enjoy it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Skillfully and Consistently Engaging, September 30, 2007

By 

Anna (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Proper Pursuit (Paperback)

I can always expect a good read from Lynn Austin. I feel that she's one of Christian fiction's more stellar authors. From the excellent Refiner's Fire trilogy featuring different women's perspectives during the Civil War, to the multi-generational storytelling of Eve's Daughters and All She Ever Wanted, to the touching and intriguing Israel novel Wings of Refuge, she consistently releases strong, interesting novels.

A Proper Pursuit is no exception. Twenty-year-old Violet, beautiful, independent, and impulsive, spends a few months in Chicago living with her grandmother and her great-aunts. She wants to find her long-lost mother and to prevent her father's impending marriage. Her grandmother and aunts would like her to find romance, and she wouldn't mind it either. More than that, though, she wants to find out who she is, and who she wants to be. Threads of suspense, romance, and conflict are interwoven through the story to make for one very interesting summer!

I like this novel because while it's not the most groundbreaking or evocative fiction ever, it's skillfully written and consistently engaging. Although it's written in a bit of a lighter tone than some of Austin's other books, it's not shallow. Violet is a truly lovable character. I related to her in many ways. Get to know her and I don't think you'll be sorry.