Out of Eden: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Out of Eden: a winner
Review: An insightful tale of two young women--Lydia Fulgate, the widowed American, and her friend, Charlotte Duret, a charming French woman who has lost her inheritance--who team up to start a new life in the wastelands of post-Civil War Kansas. Far more than a feminist statement, the novel uses subtle humor, nicely-handled romance, and historic details to address the price of questioning the status-quo. In my book, a winner!

Rating:
Summary: Out of Eden
Review: I am a Kansan, and interested in Kansas women of the late 1800's. This novel intrigued me, but I am not sure how historical it is. I found the story riveting and facinating, but I did not care for Mrs. Lehrers style of writing, it was confusing and I often had to stop to figure out who was thinking/talking, and re read sections that I felt were unclear. However, it is an interesting study in friendships, human relationships, and womans rights. I stayed up late two nights in a row to finish this book, despite the fact that some of it was hard for me to follow--that is how compelling the story is. Two women, one French, one American, disheartened by romance and their way of life in Paris, make their way to Kansas to establish a new society and search for their inner selves. They fight Kansas weather, and local establishment, which while not the same as the establishment they left behind in social Paris, still formidable in its own right. At times I felt they had started a commune. If you are interested in novels about relationships between women and humans in general, then this may be a good read for you.

Rating:
Summary: Out of Eden
Review: I could never believe that these two ladies made it to Kansas. I had a hard time believing that they were in Paris also and I don't know anything about Paris in the 1800's. The real tale that this story was based on would have been more interesting. I live in Kansas. You have to be tough to live here even today. In our state the population of farm animals is much higher than the human population. I would bet that Kate Lehrer has never worked as a farm laborer to understand what is

involved. She had the facts, but not the heart. No one here in the sunflower state doubts for a moment that strong independent minded women lead the way in the pioneer movement and in the right to vote. A true glimpse of this person is depicted in the statue on the state capital grounds. It shows you a woman boldly going forward with baby at her breast, a gun and a Bible in hand, and a plow beside her. Charlotte and Lydia only gave me the idea that they knew how to talk. Save your money and buy something else worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Out of touch! -- Out of focus!
Review: I could never believe that these two ladies made it to Kansas. I had a hard time believing that they were in Paris also and I don't know anything about Paris in the 1800's. The real tale that this story was based on would have been more interesting. I live in Kansas. You have to be tough to live here even today. In our state the population of farm animals is much higher than the human population. I would bet that Kate Lehrer has never worked as a farm laborer to understand what is

involved. She had the facts, but not the heart. No one here in the sunflower state doubts for a moment that strong independent minded women lead the way in the pioneer movement and in the right to vote. A true glimpse of this person is depicted in the statue on the state capital grounds. It shows you a woman boldly going forward with baby at her breast, a gun and a Bible in hand, and a plow beside her. Charlotte and Lydia only gave me the idea that they knew how to talk. Save your money and buy something else worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Human and moving
Review: I love this novel-it was very real and so sad! While easy to read and engrossing, the story moved quickly and the author never let on about the deep study of human character she was presenting-friendships, despair, love and hate are all explored so easily.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: This is a haunting book, beautifully written and fully realized. Reminiscent of Willa Cather in the fineness of the detail. I love the way Ms. Lehrer writes.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: This is a haunting book, beautifully written and fully realized. Reminiscent of Willa Cather in the fineness of the detail. I love the way Ms. Lehrer writes.