Rachel Jackson is entering another election season with her husband, Blake for his seat in Congress. Saddled with acting like a perfect wife and dealing with Blake's father's ideals about how she should act, the last thing Rachel needs is to find a women's scarf in Blake's briefcase. Pushing her own needs aside, Rachel dives into a family mystery of her own, researching her great aunt Marit. Rachel is in possession of Marit's trunk, but can't seem to find any information about her, other than the fact that her family has always called her crazy Aunt Marit. Rachel begins research in earnest about Marit, finding devastating details about women's rights and the state of asylums and experiences for herself how easy it is for a woman to lose control of her body.
The Blue Trunk is a compelling dual-time story told from alternating points of view for Rachel and Marit. I absolutely love dual time stories where the past and present collide and truths from the past are uncovered to help those in the present. Marit's story captured me from the beginning with her upbringing in Norway in the early 1900's and the secret that she kept for her brother, Jorgan that eventually led to her imprisonment in the asylum in Wisconsin after she and her siblings immigrated. Marit's commitment into the asylum and time there is unfortunately all too familiar with misunderstandings of the female body and hurtful treatments. I was also awed by her time as a tuberculosis nurse Marit's strength and resilience through her many trials, abuse and false accusations directly contributed to her survival when she was out. In the present, Rachel is unfortunately reliving some of the same inequalities as Marit as she discovers just how much control others can have over her body. Marit and Rachel both want to fulfill their roles for the happiness of others, but find that they need to find their own happiness first. Marit and Rachel's journeys showcase the power of forgiving yourself for the actions others have posed on you.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Blue Trunk is a compelling dual-time story told from alternating points of view for Rachel and Marit. I absolutely love dual time stories where the past and present collide and truths from the past are uncovered to help those in the present. Marit's story captured me from the beginning with her upbringing in Norway in the early 1900's and the secret that she kept for her brother, Jorgan that eventually led to her imprisonment in the asylum in Wisconsin after she and her siblings immigrated. Marit's commitment into the asylum and time there is unfortunately all too familiar with misunderstandings of the female body and hurtful treatments. I was also awed by her time as a tuberculosis nurse Marit's strength and resilience through her many trials, abuse and false accusations directly contributed to her survival when she was out. In the present, Rachel is unfortunately reliving some of the same inequalities as Marit as she discovers just how much control others can have over her body. Marit and Rachel both want to fulfill their roles for the happiness of others, but find that they need to find their own happiness first. Marit and Rachel's journeys showcase the power of forgiving yourself for the actions others have posed on you.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
