Why did Natalie go to prison for 30 years for 4 counts of child abuse? That seems excessive, and what was the abuse, not teaching them how to read? What did Caleb get? I guess she didn't get anything for strangling Shannon.

Why did she like having sex with Old Caleb but not Caleb?

I didn't like it, but I did finish it so that says something.

Mainly I just didn't think it had enough to say. The husband was more interesting than the wife, in the end. I feel like Natalie's story just ended and then we have to sit through the second half of the book without ever learning the most interesting things about it, which surely relate to the men and boys. I could have done without the father in law.

The whole time I mainly felt like it was way too close to the Ballerina Farm person, who is a real person and while her brand is deeply weird to me and possibly evil, idk, I'm just not sure you should write historical fiction like this about people who are alive. Even Ballerina Farm woman surely doesn't deserve this. How hard would it have been to make it more of a trad wife collage.

Anonymous wrote:I enjoyed it overall. The end was confusing but I googled it and it was explained.

It's weird Anne Hathaway will play her in the movie. She's over 40 and Natalie was mostly in her 20s in the book.

I agree with you - she is not who I would have cast in that role. It'll be interesting to see how they do the movie.

I enjoyed it overall. The end was confusing but I googled it and it was explained.

It's weird Anne Hathaway will play her in the movie. She's over 40 and Natalie was mostly in her 20s in the book.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok I just finished it and I didn't see that coming at all and I still don't understand what happened.

She was a trad wife living in current times, she had a mental break and her husband indulged her fantasy to live in olden times. Her older kids left but the boys lived nearby. She had more kids, the last one of which had Down syndrome (that's what I got anyway).

Maeve had Down Syndrome? I missed that.

From my reading, it was a hypoxic brain injury due to a difficult delivery with no medical care. Sort of like Rosemary Kennedy.

You're right, I was wrong. Natalie's old age is what I was focusing on as more the culprit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok I just finished it and I didn't see that coming at all and I still don't understand what happened.

She was a trad wife living in current times, she had a mental break and her husband indulged her fantasy to live in olden times. Her older kids left but the boys lived nearby. She had more kids, the last one of which had Down syndrome (that's what I got anyway).

Maeve had Down Syndrome? I missed that.

From my reading, it was a hypoxic brain injury due to a difficult delivery with no medical care. Sort of like Rosemary Kennedy.

I haven’t read this book but from reading the posts here, it kind of reminds me of the premise of the movie Antebellum where the female MC is trapped in an alternate reality. Sounds intriguing!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok I just finished it and I didn't see that coming at all and I still don't understand what happened.

She was a trad wife living in current times, she had a mental break and her husband indulged her fantasy to live in olden times. Her older kids left but the boys lived nearby. She had more kids, the last one of which had Down syndrome (that's what I got anyway).

Maeve had Down Syndrome? I missed that.

They mentioned that she had her when she was really old and then she noted how her youngest daughter seemed a lot younger than she really was and how she was behind so I made that assumption.

I'm PP and from AI:

Based on a Readers Guide to Yesteryear - Jen Ryland Reviews review of the book Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, the character Maeve is described as having developmental disabilities due to a difficult birth, rather than a specific diagnosis of Down syndrome.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok I just finished it and I didn't see that coming at all and I still don't understand what happened.

She was a trad wife living in current times, she had a mental break and her husband indulged her fantasy to live in olden times. Her older kids left but the boys lived nearby. She had more kids, the last one of which had Down syndrome (that's what I got anyway).

Maeve had Down Syndrome? I missed that.

They mentioned that she had her when she was really old and then she noted how her youngest daughter seemed a lot younger than she really was and how she was behind so I made that assumption.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok I just finished it and I didn't see that coming at all and I still don't understand what happened.

She was a trad wife living in current times, she had a mental break and her husband indulged her fantasy to live in olden times. Her older kids left but the boys lived nearby. She had more kids, the last one of which had Down syndrome (that's what I got anyway).

Thank you. There are still so many unanswered questions but I appreciate your explanation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok I just finished it and I didn't see that coming at all and I still don't understand what happened.

She was a trad wife living in current times, she had a mental break and her husband indulged her fantasy to live in olden times. Her older kids left but the boys lived nearby. She had more kids, the last one of which had Down syndrome (that's what I got anyway).

Maeve had Down Syndrome? I missed that.

Anonymous wrote:Ok I just finished it and I didn't see that coming at all and I still don't understand what happened.

She was a trad wife living in current times, she had a mental break and her husband indulged her fantasy to live in olden times. Her older kids left but the boys lived nearby. She had more kids, the last one of which had Down syndrome (that's what I got anyway).

Anonymous wrote:I had to think for awhile about the swearing because I didn't quite remember it. Now that I do, I would say it is very mild and there isn't a lot of it. I also didn't think it was gratuitous.

Many moms swear in their head and if they accidentally forget and say it out loud, they think shoot should not have said that out loud. IMO the author was using this to show an added layer that religion is imposing on the main character. She can't just think to herself I need to set a good example for the kids she also has to worry about being sinful.

I'm the one who posted that and I finished it and I agree with you. I have many questions but none are about the swearing any longer.

I had to think for awhile about the swearing because I didn't quite remember it. Now that I do, I would say it is very mild and there isn't a lot of it. I also didn't think it was gratuitous.

Many moms swear in their head and if they accidentally forget and say it out loud, they think shoot should not have said that out loud. IMO the author was using this to show an added layer that religion is imposing on the main character. She can't just think to herself I need to set a good example for the kids she also has to worry about being sinful.

Anonymous wrote:I think this is one of those books that is going to be disappointing to a lot of people because of all the hype. But, it is actually very good. It is not funny or a light read. It is also not imo a thriller or horror. You do wonder what is actually happening. But, while I didn't guess the ending, it is not a twist. I thought the ending made sense. I would have preferred a little more explanation of the ending but otherwise I thought it was a good one.

This. I had not heard of it before I started reading it and I am enjoying it so far.