3 out of 4 stars
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In the Fullness of Time by Katherine P. Stillerman is a historical novel that takes place in South Carolina in the early 1900’s. It is the sequel to Hattie’s Place and picks up seven years after the first book left off. Once she married Charles Barton, Hattie left her teaching job to raise his four boys and fulfill the duties of a prominent lawyer’s wife. Inspired by a Women’s Suffrage protest in Washington D.C., she becomes active in the fight for women’s voting rights.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author seamlessly weaves real-life historical events through a fictional plot full of relatable characters. Although I was fortunate to have read the first book, this current installment can easily be read as a standalone. The characters from the first book are introduced early on, complete with vivid backstories.
All of the ingredients are mixed well into an absorbing storyline - the routines of Southern small-town life, the reappearance of an old flame, a mystery side plot, and the grass-roots activism of the Suffrage movement. It's an interesting peek at an important period in history, along with a heartfelt story of love, friendship, and the power of uniting for a common cause.
There is a realistic theme about the main character having to reconcile the “two Hatties” – the independent, career gal she was before marriage and the person she is now, a married woman who gave up her teaching job to assume the expected responsibilities of being a lawyer’s wife and full-time stepmother to four boys. Hattie’s close friendship with her assertive sister-in-law Alice is one of the highlights of the book, as the older woman mentors and inspires her in so many ways.
The writing has an easy, natural flow, but there are abrupt time jumps that are a bit jarring. In the middle of a chapter, I would be taken by surprise that a few years had already passed. Here’s an example – “Pauline was so taken by him when she went with you and Earline to First Baptist in Greenville. She hasn’t stopped talking about him since, even though it’s been almost two years."
The PDF file I received appears to be a final draft, with notes and corrections in red in the text and right-hand column; there was also a dated label of “final draft” when I downloaded it. Hopefully, the published book is in final form and doesn’t contain these notations. I also noticed several errors scattered throughout the story.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is a prime example of the phrase “getting lost in a good book.” I can easily recommend it to fans of historical fiction and anyone who just wants to curl up and read an engrossing story.
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In the Fullness of Time
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I love when you can get lost in a book; it shows real talent from the author. Too bad about the errors, but I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the read!
