Title: The Strange Courtship of Kathleen O’Dwyer
Author: Robert Temple
Year: 2022
Goodreads page: Link
SYNOPSIS
“What would drive a woman in 1828 to head west across the Great Plains into the Rocky Mountains, risking death among hostile Native Americans, brutish mountain men, and wild animals? Why, the same reason as a man, of course–freedom. Like fur trappers of the early western frontier, Kathleen is a misfit. Growing up in the Irish slums of Boston and watching her mother die giving birth to a dozen children, Kathleen has decided to escape into a career as a school teacher, free of men; but when she sets out along the Santa Fe Trail for distant Nuevo Mexico, she finds that dry powder and steady aim are as important as reading, writing, and arithmetic”
(from Amazon)
A Old Wild West narration from the point of view of a woman with all the situations for her being a female in a world so dominated by the males and still in an era of the strongest patriarchy.
However, our protagonist Katheen is a powerful woman that will stand is ground against the men that will try to belittle her, giving us a strong message of feminism. I was really glad to have a protagonist like her, giving life to this really good story, as she is finally giving the right messages about feminism… not as other acclaimed books the promised this types of message and basically had none.
Despite this great message, it’s not a heavy story and you will enjoy the amazing adventures of the strong and adventurous Kathleen in the Old Wild West, between mountain men, lancers and Native Americans. A quick paced narration that is able to take the pause when they are needed and with nice descriptions that will let you enter perfectly in the mood of the story.
A narration full of a wide range of emotions! From the thrill of the battle to the anxiety of some repercussions coming to Kathleen for going against powerful men; from the concern for Kathleen’s protegees to the mystery of the unknown! All bringing to an intense finale!
I totally recommend this book to you if you are looking for a really good feminist story, with a strong female main character that will be able to stand her ground and make her own decisions. Also if you like Western Novels, this is quite the good one, bringing various elements that you will certainly appreciate.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Raven の Nest 