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Read advance reader review of The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran, page 3 of 5

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The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran

The Wives of Henry Oades

A Novel

by Johanna Moran
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (4):
  • Readers' Rating (31):
  • Paperback:
  • Feb 2010, 384 pages
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Reviews


Page 3 of 5
There are currently 29 member reviews
for The Wives of Henry Oades
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  • Virginia W. (Cloverdale, CA)
    The Wives of Henry Oades
    I loved this book! It is an engrossing story and very well written. Margaret Oades is one of the strongest women I have ever read about. Each travail in her life only makes her stronger. I recommend this book wholeheartedly and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
  • Sue J. (Wauwatosa, WI)
    Enjoyable read
    I really enjoyed this book, not only for its good story but also for the insight into the feelings people can have against others. The author did a wonderful job getting you to really feel the characters in this book. Usually a cover attracts me to a book, but the cover chosen didn't appeal to me. I recommend The Wives of Henry Oades to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
  • Jeanne S. (Ludlow, MA)
    Terrific debut novel
    The Wives of Henry Oades, a turn of the century novel based on a true series of trials, tells a fascinating story through the eyes of two remarkable women who are married through no fault of their own to the same man. The settings of New Zealand with its cruel Maori kidnappers and Berkeley, CA provide a stunning contrast until Henry's neighbors, angry that he refuses to rid himself of one wife, attack the family using both the law and terror. This is a beautifully developed story, realistic in characters and circumstance. It would make an excellent film. Women book club members will probably appreciate the strong female characters, but men might enjoy it too.
  • Laura K. (Middletown, NJ)
    The Wives of Henry Oades
    Very good historical fiction! The storyline and characters are well developed. I would recommend this book, especially for book groups. The moral quandary Henry, Nacy and Margaret find themselves in would surely elicit an interesting group discussion.
  • Pamela F. (Grants Pass, OR)
    The Wives of Henry Oades
    I love historical fiction. So this was a good book in my opinion. The characters were interesting, the plot is not something that I would normally come across, and although at the beginning I had a little trouble getting into it...it grabbed me and I wanted to find out how it ended. I would definitely recommend it.
  • Nikki M. (Fort Wayne, IN)
    Engrossing fiction based on fact!
    This was an incredible story based on true events. The relationship that develops between the two Mrs. Oades is most unusual, yet compelling. This is definitely worth reading.
  • Carol J. (Isle, MN)
    THe Wives of Henry Oades
    An excellent work of historical fiction. The book transported me back to 1890's and into the intersecting lives of 3 normal people, whose lives are changed by extraodinary circumstances. The writer uses the voices of all three main characters to tell various parts of the story, so the reader has an opportunity to see the story from different perspectives. I continually found myself wondering what I would do in the place of the characters. An intriguing and insightful book. A great bookclub book; would stimulate interesting discussions. A book that would be enjoyed by both men and women. Would be interesting to hear the viewpoint of both on the story.

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