Being a self-proclaimed “Boston Girl”, it was the title that really drew my attention to this book. This enjoyable novel by Anita Diamante could be easily finished in one or at the most two sittings.
This is very simply the story of Addie Baum, a strong-willed woman of indomitable spirit being narrated by her to her 22-year-old granddaughter. The story is of Addie who is originally from Russia and immigrates with her Jewish family of five to the United States is set in the early 20th century Boston around the time of World War I.
Addie is an independent and determined soul navigating through a challenging life in a time when being a woman meant not having a voice, staying at home and tending to the family. She makes some lifelong friendships, finds a mentor who boosts her self-confidence, tries to find love and faces heart-break and deceit.
On the family front Addie deals with losing a sister and two young nephews to influenza and trying to support the family financially by going out to work and yet earns disapproval from her “Mameh” for becoming too americanized, a universal predicament faced by almost all immigrants and their progeny.
Yet, in spite of all the trials and tribulations she eventually lands herself a job, an apartment and a man who turns out to be the love of her life. Addie is a story of guts and gumption, an inspiration in a society which nearly a century later is still struggling with women empowerment and equality.
Book: The Boston Girl
Publisher: Scribner
Pages: 322
My Rating: 4/5
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