Mercer Girls

This is the best book I have read in a long time. The story starts in the east.... young women who are desperate for a different life due to the economic hardships caused by the civil war. Their chance for escape is to go with Mr. Mercer to Seattle to help bring civilization to Seattle and the men their. Mr. Mercer hopes they all will marry. Each of the 3 make their own path in their own way. They are each strong and determined and break from tradition in their own way. They become involved with Susan B. Anthony and the suffrage movement. They testify before the legislature to try and win the vote f2f or women. The characters are rich and exciting.

Mercer Girls is a fictional account of an historical event. The story follows three women as they travel from Lowell, Mass. to the wild, unsophisticated, and often immoral city of Seattle, WA. These women travel with Asa Mercer in order to get to Seattle, tame the city, and become brides. Their lives diverge and reconnect in various settings and for various reasons. I found this book to be very interesting, particularly the historical information given at the end of the novel. The women were easy to care for and their journey was something easy to empathize about. While their lives took different turns, each was fun to read about. My only complaint -- why I docked it one star -- was that it got bogged down in the middle. Other than that, I recommend it without reservation.

I love this book mainly because of the ending. I love how the three main characters used courage and their spirits of independence and authenticity to chart their various paths. A recommended read for any woman who feels lost, frustrated or simply lacking the energy to pursue their heart desires. With a clear objective, a good self knowledge and determination, everything is possible.

I'm so glad that Amazon suggested this historical fiction book. I never read anything by this author or about the subject matter in this book. Very interesting that it was based on true events. Three women from Lowell, Ma. forge a friendship of sorts on their long journey to Washington territory in 1864. The friendship, sometimes very strained, remains through out the book. Each women has a secret and reasons for leaving Lowell. Since there were more men than women in the Washington Territory, it was advertised as becoming wives. However, so much more occurs. Independence, jobs, suffragette, and love occur even against all odds. When one of them has a problem, they do stick together.

This is an entertaining historical novel, and I feel I learned much about a time and place (early Seattle). I found the author's additional words after the end of the novel to be very informative also. The characters were well developed, and I could understand and relate to the three main characters--I've known people like them. I did find the relationship between Dovey and Sophronia to be hard to believe, but that's probably just me. The writing was generally quite good, but there were a few places where I felt that the characters' thoughts and speech were somewhat anachronistic. Overall, this is a good read. Book clubs should enjoy it.

I bought this book to read on nights when I had insomnia, but it actually kept me up, wanting to see what happened next. It's a fictional story about a real historical event, set very convincingly in the early days of Seattle, when women were struggling to get the vote. I enjoyed the story so much, I was sorry to see it end. Of greatest interest to me were the notes about the author's extensive historical research, which explains why the story drew me in so effectively. I felt like I was there, and that is the truest measure of excellent historical fiction.

We read Mercer Girls in our Book Club. Everyone seemed to like it. It was entertaining and led to a good discussion. I enjoyed the Author's notes as much or more than the actual story. I'm NOT a "romance" book fan, but I LOVED the TV show called "Here Come the Brides" which was based on the actual Mercer Girls. Although none of the TV characters had as loose of morals as the characters in this book. A story like this is about the only way I enjoy any kind of history. It was interesting to learn about the complex journey that was required to get to Seattle. If I liked romance or history I would probably have given this book 5 stars.

This was one of those books where I admire the author’s ambition more than the final result. I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. She took a group of women (concentrating on a few unique individuals) and put them in situations that are not often described from a woman’s point of view. The writing was a little stiff and the situations a bit too contrived, but overall, the topics and complications encountered were interesting. But, just once, can't we have a book with women in poverty where prostitution is not the easy answer? I would recommend this book for those interested in life in 19th century American and how the west was settled.

I throughly enjoyed this uplifting & moving story. It was enjoyable & informative of the times depicted. Lobbied is a great fluid author whose research is very hood

Really enjoyed reading and liked the history lesson.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a choice of my book club and it did not disappoint. The author has taken actual historical events and woven a story around them. I was interested in learning about old Seattle as I live just across the US border on Vancouver Island and I love to visit that city. As a historian myself, I loved the historical detail in the narrative and, while fascinating for me to read, did not interfere with the free flow of the story. The three women chosen as the focus of the tale are believable characters and I could see some of myself in one of them. This was a great read and I am now exploring other books by the same author. As an author, I love reading books that have good writing with great grammar, and this one hit the spot. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the history of women's suffrage and the fight for equality—and the dangers the protagonists faced in their quest.

Throughout history there are examples of women striving for equality. Striving for the right to be self-sufficient. Striving for autonomy. Hawker created three women who joined the suffrage movement in its infancy. Three very different women. She wove their stories together into an engaging tale of perseverance and resilience. The reader was engaged in the trials and tribulations of the heroines, and rejoiced at their triumphs. Seattle itself was a character in the story. Its muddy streets, its roughness, and its growth were made very real. All in all a good read

Interesting characters who made me want to turn the page & find out what happens next. I enjoyed it very much & learned a great deal about suffrage. I knew it had been difficult but had no idea how difficult it had been. We'd better not waste all the effort put into getting the vote.