February 11, 2008
5 Minutes for Books — Lady of Milkweed Manor
A baby born to an unwed mother causes a break with her family. A former love resurfaces. Women suffer with postpartum depression and hysteria. Women from different circumstances find a common bond through motherhood.
The Lady of Milkweed Manor sounds like a novel that could take place in 2008, but it in fact is set in the early 1800s in England. If you like Jane Austen, you will probably like Julie Klassen’s first novel. Even if you don’t like Jane Austen, I think this is worth a read. I enjoyed every page. The subject matter is interesting
, the unfolding of the plot is suspenseful, and the writing that tells the story is seamless.
One compelling element of the plot centers around the manor where Charlotte is sent for her “laying in.” Many of the unwed mothers also ends up serving as wet nurses for the more upper-crust women who have recently given birth. Author Julie Klassen answers some questions about this practice:
Your main character finds herself in a very unexpected situation. What is that?
Charlotte, who begins as a proper, respected vicar’s daughter, finds herself working in one of the world’s oldest professions–not as a prostitute–but as a wet nurse. Remember Moses’ mother in the Old Testament? Well, in the 1700s and 1800s, it was common practice to hire a woman to nurse your infant for you. I read one quote that said, “Human milk was the most frequently advertised commodity in the eighteenth century.”
Why was this so common? It seems like such a foreign idea to most of us now.
Several reasons. Medical thought at the time was that mother’s first milk was not good for infants. Beyond that, nursing put a real pinch on social obligations. As I remember all too well from raising m own boys, nursing puts a woman on a very short leash! Fortunately, medical and public opinion toward nursing began to change in the 19th century and maternal breastfeeding became much more common, though I understand that in some South American countries–and in Hollywood–wet nurses are still used.
Read more about the author and the book, including reading more about her research at her website julieklassen.com.
If you’d like to win a copy of The Lady of Milkweed Manor please leave a comment. Come back next week to see if you won.
The three winners of Unlimiting God are
#66 Fruitbearer
#13 Monica
#83 Deborah
If you won, you should have an email from me asking for your address. If you didn’t win, you can click through the link to order your own copy.
Filed under * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Books, Contests by Jennifer
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121 Comments on 5 Minutes for Books — Lady of Milkweed Manor »
#1 - Noreen @ 12:37 am
I would love to read this book
#2 - Krista @ 1:10 am
Sounds like a very interesting read. Sign me up please!
#3 - Amanda @ 1:21 am
please enter me thanks
#4 - Heather C @ 2:00 am
Well, I do love Jane Austen, so sign me for this one.
Thanks.
#5 - Michele @ 2:28 am
Sounds wonderful…I love Jane Austen. Please enter me.
#6 - Rose @ 3:02 am
I’d love a copy!
#7 - Michelle @ 5:46 am
This books sounds wonderful. You have done a great job of making me intrigued. I would love to be entered.
#8 - Heidi @ 8:48 am
Sounds like an interesting book~ I like historical fiction and enjoy Jane Austen. Sign me up!
#9 - Blessed @ 9:01 am
This sounds like an interesting story.
#10 - Laurie - coffeequeen @ 9:02 am
This looks like a great read!
#11 - Frank Dendwick @ 9:30 am
Sounds like a good read.
#12 - kelli in the mirror @ 9:50 am
Sounds like a good book!
#13 - Lauren@Baseballs&Bows @ 9:50 am
This sounds great! Please include me!
#14 - Shannon @ 9:54 am
I love reading, sounds like an interesting book.
#15 - Sara@Sarandipity @ 10:04 am
Sounds like a good read.
#16 - Kelly @ 10:10 am
Sounds good. Count me in.
#17 - Mama Zen @ 10:11 am
This sounds fabulous!
#18 - cpa mom @ 10:22 am
please enter me. that books sounds great!
#19 - charlotte padgett @ 10:23 am
Wow! I want to win this.
#20 - Brenda Prentice (Time and Season) @ 10:33 am
Sounds interesting. Thanks.
#21 - Amy R. @ 10:39 am
Ths sounds very interesting!
#22 - Trish @ 11:09 am
Sounds interesting! Sign me up please!
#23 - Amy EssentialFamilyLiving @ 11:15 am
Another book I would love to read.
#24 - Heather @ MrsMomma @ 11:16 am
I’d love to win this!
#25 - Rachel @ 11:17 am
ooh ooh me please. I am pregnant with my fourth, have morning sickness, and need something to look forward to in the evening.
#26 - Leigh Anne Wilkes @ 11:24 am
I am a huge Jane Austen fan so I think I will love this book!
#27 - Liz @ 11:36 am
Sounds fascinating! Count me in…it might let me forget about my car woes for a little while.
#28 - Rachie S. @ 11:38 am
wow sounds like a great book!
#29 - Corina Smith @ 11:51 am
Sounds like a very interesting and good read.
Sign me up! great giveaway!
#30 - Edward Durbin @ 11:57 am
Make me a winner…Please
also great luck to all…
#31 - Dawn @ 11:57 am
I sounds like a great book.
#32 - distybug @ 12:06 pm
Sounds very interesting.
#33 - Jennifer @ 12:47 pm
I love Austen, so I’d like to read this book!
#34 - Danielle S @ 12:56 pm
Sounds like a good one!
dansan826 at yahoo.com
#35 - Shannon H @ 1:00 pm
Sounds great, please enter me, thanks!
#36 - Trisha from BGBJewelry @ 1:10 pm
I would love a new book! Thank you!
#37 - Linda Pinto @ 1:17 pm
It sounds like a good read.
#38 - Mary @ 1:23 pm
Thanks for the entry!
#39 - Shawna @ 1:43 pm
sounds like a very interesting read
#40 - Tara Robertson @ 2:28 pm
sounds good to me
#41 - Lisa O @ 3:07 pm
Thanks for the chance!
#42 - jenny hebert @ 3:09 pm
I could use a good book
#43 - Cynthia @ 3:10 pm
This sounds like a good read.
#44 - Alexia @ 3:53 pm
I’d love a chance to win this book, it sounds like a really great storyline!
#45 - Tonya @ 4:15 pm
Sounds like a winner to read at the playground.
#46 - Vickie @ 4:36 pm
This sounds like a good book. Please count me in.
#47 - Cindi Hoppes @ 4:39 pm
I have been reading author interviews and reviews on this book. It is supposed to be marvelous! Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks,Cindi
#48 - Rachael @ 5:11 pm
I want to win!
#49 - lovedandamazed @ 5:19 pm
This book sounds very interesting and I would love to read it. Please count me in!
#50 - Shannon @ some fine taters @ 5:27 pm
Sounds like a good one!
#51 - jenna @ 5:47 pm
This would be great to have, and I’m going to recommend it to my book club.
#52 - Shakeia Rieux @ 6:08 pm
please enter me
#53 - Diane Perkins @ 7:08 pm
sounds like a great book, love to win!
#54 - Becky @ 7:33 pm
I can always use a good book.
#55 - Lisa Oguin @ 7:41 pm
This sounds like a very interesting book.
#56 - Anita Yancey @ 7:57 pm
I’d love to read this book. Please enter me.
#57 - Jill @ 8:01 pm
This book looks great!
#58 - DARIJA @ 8:11 pm
Give me a good book and sunny day and my blanket. Call me happy
#59 - Shaun Wallner @ 9:09 pm
This sounds like a great book.
#60 - Sandra @ 9:12 pm
a new book to read!!
#61 - Darla Connor @ 9:48 pm
looks like very good reading
#62 - kristine @ 10:58 pm
sounds fascinating!
#63 - Beth @ The Natural Mommy @ 11:23 pm
I’d love to win this book, it seems very interesting.
(As I type this one-handed while nursing my son.)
#64 - renee griffin @ 11:24 pm
I would love to read sounds interesting. great giveaway.
#65 - Karin @ 11:37 pm
Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you.
#66 - Gloria Dornin @ 12:05 am
I love to read
#67 - melody is slurping life @ 3:46 am
I’m not so lucky recently. But put me in again.
#68 - Nichole @ 6:02 am
Sounds great! I love Jane Austen and historical fiction.
#69 - Vickie Couturier @ 9:05 am
sounds like a great book to curl up with
#70 - Bebemiqui @ 10:41 am
Count me in.
#71 - Deborah @ 10:44 am
Oh yes - I love to read, and this sounds sooo interesting. If I win, you can contact me at dmj53(at)hotmail(dot)com Thanks!
#72 - Susan Chester @ 12:23 pm
I havn’t read this, but it sounds like a great read. I love reading about values in times past.
#73 - Nancy @ 1:01 pm
Sounds really good. Please include me in your giveaway.
#74 - aBookworm @ 1:06 pm
Sounds like a great read! Count me in.
I’ve also posted this at my book review/contest blog - abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com
Hope that’s ok with you. Thanks!
#75 - Katie Wilson @ 1:47 pm
Looks good! Please enter me! Thanks!
#76 - Lana @ 1:52 pm
I would love to win a romance novel!
#77 - Laurie Jameson @ 2:16 pm
Right up my alley!
#78 - Shelly @ 2:24 pm
I am intrigued by this book. Thanks!
#79 - Beth Kuligowski @ 2:27 pm
Sounds like an interesting read. THanks for the chance to win! -beth
#80 - Maureen @ 6:46 pm
I am a Jane Austen Fan so this looks interesting.
#81 - Kathy Conley @ 7:17 pm
Count me in
#82 - Martha Champion @ 8:11 pm
I would love this book. Sounds interesting and I could use something to help take me away from my busy life.
#83 - Overwhelmed With Joy! @ 9:29 pm
This book sounds wonderful! If it’s not too late, please enter me in your drawing.
If I win, I’ll read it and then pass it on in one of my future Pay It Forward book exchanges.
Thanks so much!
#84 - Caryn Bailey @ 9:35 pm
Count me in please!!!
#85 - Paula McClement @ 9:43 pm
Great book. Count me in too.
#86 - Meagan @ 10:18 pm
I love Jane Austin! And I love to read!
#87 - Megan @ 11:09 pm
Sounds interesting. I’d love to read it.
#88 - Miss Heidi @ 11:14 pm
Please enter me. Thanks.
Heidi
sweet_soul_sistermi@yahoo.com
#89 - Kara Poulios @ 12:52 am
This book sounds good! I’d love to win
#90 - Deborah @ 1:28 am
This looks like a fabulous book!
dbstout(at)juno(dot)com
#91 - Jessica @ 9:55 am
It looks like it will be a interesting read. Sign me up please!
#92 - Noralee @ 11:54 am
Add me in the drawing please. Thank you.
#93 - Karen (mommy of three) @ 10:03 pm
Sounds great, please count me in, thanks!
#94 - ray davison, II @ 11:01 pm
Great contest! Count me in.
#95 - Ivan Girl @ 3:48 am
i love jane austen so i guess i’m gonna like julie klassen’s new book.
besides, the story looks interesting.
hope to win a copy!
ivan(dot)manalansan(at)gmail.com
thanks.
#96 - lifeasamama @ 9:41 am
is it too late to enter? how did i miss this one?!
#97 - Shannon B. @ 3:26 pm
I love Jane Austen so I’d like to read this. Thanks!
#98 - Jenn @ 5:58 pm
I’d love to win!
#99 - Nikki Evans @ 6:01 pm
Please enter me for a chance to win! Thanks, good luck to all that enter!!!
#100 - Taryn @ 11:29 pm
Sounds great!
#101 - Mani Kumar @ 2:08 pm
Would like to read this one . Looks interesting.
Thanks
#102 - Nicole Price @ 4:54 pm
I really think I’d enjoy this book. Enter me too please.
#103 - Maria @ 6:33 pm
It sounds great - I would love to read it.
#104 - diane @ 11:34 pm
would love to get this
#105 - L McLendon @ 1:00 am
I love to read.
#106 - rachel @ 12:40 pm
sounds like a great read! wet-nursing is so foreign to us now, it would be interesting to see how it played out back then.
#107 - Angela Thompson @ 3:14 pm
Can’t beat a good book
#108 - bryon shaffer @ 4:13 pm
hope i win
#109 - philip halter @ 6:22 pm
what a great prize
#110 - Jennifer Barr @ 8:55 pm
would love to win
#111 - Nina @ 11:32 pm
I’d love to win this… thanks so much!
#112 - Samantha Pruitt @ 1:32 am
cool beans!
#113 - Sylvia Porter @ 4:17 am
sounds like a good read!
#114 - kathy pease @ 11:10 am
please enter me
#115 - Kristi @ 12:19 pm
please enter me, thanks!
#116 - Pamela White @ 2:54 pm
I want this book
#117 - Sarah Ulfers @ 3:46 pm
I love to read!
#118 - WandaJean @ 6:37 pm
Sounds like a good book,thank you for the contest, please enter me.
#119 - Sue George @ 9:07 pm
Please pick me - I really need some Mom reading time!
#120 - Helen Keeler @ 9:40 pm
I would love to read!
#121 - Saturday Review of Books: February 16, 2008 at Semicolon @ 1:21 am
[...] Nail)60. Will Duquette61. Shauna (The Irresistible Revolution)62. Sage (Sailing the Inland Sea)63. 5 Min for Books (Lady of Milkweed Manor)64. Miss Erin (Bronx Masquerade)65. Miss Erin (Robot Dreams)66. Heidi @ Mt Hope (Katharine Hepburn [...]