Remember the Ladies by Gina L. Mulligan
Summary: Growing up in an orphanage prepared Amelia Cooke for the high-stakes role of a female lobbyist surrounded by the egos of the 1887 Congress, a time before women had the right to vote. Her success in the isolating male arena comes from using the tactics she’s learned from those who oppressed her. So when she’s hired by the National Women’s Suffrage Association to help pass a proposed constitutional amendment granting women’s voting rights, Amelia feels empowered to at last win a place for herself and give all women a voice in the world. What she doesn’t foresee is the charismatic and calculating Senator Edward Stillman who threatens to ruin her hard-earned reputation and end her career.
Recommended Reading
I came across Remember the Ladies thanks to Allison at The Book Wheel. I don’t often read historical fiction, but the topic of women’s voting rights intrigued me. It was so hard to put down Remember the Ladies once I started. I finished the book in less than two weeks, which is quite a feat for the slow reader I am! I really enjoyed the twinges of mystery and romance interlaced within the story. That mostly came from interactions between Amelia and Edward. Their battle of the sexes and sexual tension was delectable!
We know the ultimate end of the story because history. I was interested in how Amelia would react to the results of the Congressional vote. I wanted to know how those results would affect her career as a lobbyist. The book’s ending disappointed some readers, but I actually liked how the book ended. It was a clever callback to Amelia’s lobbyist work while maintaining historical accuracy.
Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights
While reading Remember the Ladies, there were so many great quotes about the role of women in society that grabbed my attention. I have to share these quotes as food for thought, especially in our current cultural climate:
And if the girls had to learn to care for infants, why didn’t the boys? Everyone ignored the simple notion that children, the lucky ones, have both mothers and fathers.
Gina L. Mulligan, Remember the Ladies
I don’t want to be a man, but I want a place in this world like one. I want others to listen to me, and I want to do as I please. I want to prove women are capable of handling complex jobs, of throwing a stupid ball and learning science. And I admit that I also want a fine lifestyle and having a room full of people pay attention to me and my opinions.
Gina L. Mulligan, Remember the Ladies
Still the world also needed women who weren’t fit for motherhood, women who dedicated their time toward other facets of life.
Gina L. Mulligan, Remember the Ladies
Some men may vote with care and consideration of their families, but human beings are flawed and selfish by nature. The right to vote is a human right, not a random act based on race, religion, or gender.
Gina L. Mulligan, Remember the Ladies
Overall Opinion
Remember the Ladies kept me engrossed from start to finish. I have hardly any criticism because it charmed me so. I actually want to see this book adapted into a movie or mini series! Although I wouldn’t deem Remember the Ladies as a must-read book, I think it would be an enjoyable read for any bibliophile. Rating: Page Turner