Proper Pursuit, A (Paperback)

by Lynn Austin (Author)
Key Phrases: suffrage association, true crime stories, elixir salesman, Aunt Birdie, Aunt Matt, Aunt Agnes (more...)

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.
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Review
"A Woman's Place is not to be confused with a simple read, heartwarming though it is. Readers will be drawn immediately into the setting by Austin's keep ability to weave story with fact, but it is the deep questions each woman must ask that will keep the pages turning."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (September 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764228919
• ISBN-13: 978-0764228919
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,323 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 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

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! I bursted out laughing from many of her comments. 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 as well. :)

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.

2 of 2 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

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful!!!!!!!!!, March 18, 2009

By	Tonya Speelman "Hoarder of books" (Goldendale WA) - See all my reviews

I found this book to be fully engaging and mesmerizing. Our main character is young, but enjoyable and full of life. Her father tells her the truth about her mother, that she didn't pass away, she just left them. At the same time he tells her he is marrying Maude.

So she gets her dad to let her go to Chicago and visit her grandmother and aunts. The 4 of them have different ideas about who Violet should marry. One for money, one for Jesus, one for love and one thinks she shouldn't marry at all. Also, Violet's dad and Maude want her to marry Herman.

What will Violet do? Who is right? This story has suspense, love, lots of great wisdom and just a real enjoyable read.