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February 10, 2020

The Engineer’s Wife

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Addie’s Valentine Box
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If At First You Don’t Succeed . .

You probably thought this was going to be a blog post about me, right? No! It’s a book review, of sorts, about a book by Tracey Enerson Woods. The book is entitled “The Engineer’s Wife”. It is available for pre-order here (Amazon) and should be published on April 7.

Initially, I chose the title because . . well, it’s me – the engineer’s wife. I knew it wasn’t about how crazy engineers are but I still wanted to read it. It is classified as historical fiction and is about a wife, Emily Warren Roebling, whose father-in-law designed the Brooklyn Bridge but was killed during the early stages of the build; then her husband, who was an engineer and was assisting his father, and took over as chief engineer after his father died, then her husband became very ill and Emily filled in for him to complete the bridge, which still had years and years to go before it was finished. He would write detailed instructions. As you can imagine, back in those days, to build such a big project, there was death, injuries, supply issues, not to mention Emily was met with constant harassment simply because she was a woman doing a man’s work.

Her heart was in working for the right of women to vote but she put aside her goals to help her husband achieve his.

Even though there’s a lot of fiction in the book, there’s also a lot of facts.

I learned so much about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge that had it been a purely historical book, I would still have enjoyed it. But, there was love! Though not a marital advice book, I found that the book provided inspiration for marriages in trouble, reminders about vows/commitments we’ve taken as husbands and wives. I loved the book.

It’s always hard for me to start a new book after having just finished one I couldn’t put down. When I started The Engineer’s Wife, I kept watching the completed percentages trickle by . . 2%, then 3%. I was thinking I wasn’t going to get through it but at about the 4% mark, I couldn’t put it down. I found myself knitting and reading, cooking and reading. I even walked out to the greenhouse to read while watering the plants. I really couldn’t put it down and finished it in about four days. That’s quick for me!

I definitely recommend the book. There’s enough history in there to satisfy history buffs; and enough love to keep it exciting for those of us who enjoy a love story.

Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing for the ARC, given to me in exchange for an honest book review.

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Comments

  1. Stephani in N. TX says

    February 10, 2020 at 10:12 am

    I am the daughter of one engineer, was wife to another. I missed out on the engineering genes, specifically the one for advanced math. Darn. I was raised in the Northeast, so I’ve been over the Brooklyn Bridge many times. Had no idea there was a story worthy of a novel about its building, so, I will be looking for this book. Can never have too many books, stories. My Dad was a worthy story teller and I have missed his talents. Thanks for sharing about the Brooklyn Bridge book.

    • Judy Laquidara says

      February 10, 2020 at 7:58 pm

      It was really a great book and I enjoyed it.

  2. carolyn says

    February 10, 2020 at 11:58 am

    Sounds good, I think I’ll request it! Roebling lived close to where I used to live so there were always stories in the local news about the Roeblungs and their museum!

    • Judy Laquidara says

      February 10, 2020 at 7:58 pm

      I think you will love it!

  3. Teri says

    February 10, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    Sounds like it will be a good read. How do you get the opportunity to get ARC books?

  4. Vince says

    February 10, 2020 at 4:58 pm

    Go figure, I was wondering why the engineer was being ignored? The engineer’s wife was reading about the engineer’s wife. I think I will start my book, “The knitter’s husband”.

    • Judy Laquidara says

      February 10, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      The Knitter’s Husband! That could be a best seller. Shall I get you a pen and paper so you don’t have to get out of your chair? 🙂

  5. Nelle Coursey says

    February 10, 2020 at 7:07 pm

    I like the historical fiction. I read one about Ernest Hemmingway and his first wife. Their life in Paris and why they went their separate ways. It was very interesting.

    • Judy Laquidara says

      February 10, 2020 at 7:59 pm

      I’d probably like that one too. Thanks!

  6. Katie says

    February 10, 2020 at 10:45 pm

    You two crack me up. I think you could write a book titled The Engineer and the Knitter. Alternate chapters til the engineer makes a pair of sox and the knitter create some sort of contraption.

    • Judy Laquidara says

      February 11, 2020 at 10:02 am

      It would be more like the engineer asking the wife to knit something for him and the knitter asking the engineer to build something for her. 🙂

  7. Cynthia says

    February 11, 2020 at 12:49 am

    Don’t know if you’ve seen this book on sale for Kindle right now ($1.99) on Amazon:
    “Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting” by Ann Hood. It’s an anthology and has some touching stories.

    • Judy Laquidara says

      February 11, 2020 at 10:01 am

      Had not seen it. Thanks!

  8. Susan Nixon says

    February 11, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    I think I read about this book, because that all sounds familiar. I loved the story of sending the elephants across first because people were afraid the bridge was going to collapse!

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2021 Knitting Plans

WIPS to Finish:

  • Ravencliff – Test knit currently working on.
  • Mi Casa Wrap – Not much done. Started November, 2017
  • Tabouli – 1/4 done – Started May, 2018
  • Persistence is Key – 1/3 done. Started March, 2019
  • Arkansas River Pullover – 1/3 done. Started November, 2019.
  • Gilda – 1/3 done. Started December, 2019
  • Stained Glass Cowl – Not much done. Started September, 2016
  • Leftovers Cowl – 1/4 done. Started February, 2015
  • Brickless – Not much done. Started December, 2019
  • Itatiaia Cocoon – Not much Done. Started September 15, 2020
  • Avalance – About 1/3 done. Started February 10, 2020
  • Match & Move – Over halfway done. Started October 10, 2020

New Projects:

  • Sugarcane Cardi – Using the purple Madelinetosh Work Sock.
  • Boulevardier – Using Baa Ram Ewe Winterburn DK.
  • Mariechen – Using Madelinetosh Longrider in Raspberry Cordial.
  • Magnolia – Using Madelinetosh Farm Twist Solid in Beautiful Liar.
  • Metropolis – Using Madelinetosh Chunky in Curiosity.
  • Superbloom Cowl – I made one of these as a Christmas gift but I’d like to make one for me. Miss Babs Yowza Mini Set, which I have.
  • Lizard Eyes – This look so interesting. Wollmeise – I already have it.
  • Rattlesnake – I need this to remind me that I survived living in the wilds of Texas for 9 years. Pretty sure I have yarn for this.
  • Lumber Jill Cowl – I have the yarn.
  • Heather Hoodie Vest – I’ll use Cascade Eco+ in Valentine.
  • The Weekender – Not sure about yarn for this one.
  • Homebody – I’ll probably use Kathmandu Aran 100 or Cascade Eco Wool.
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