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The Tobacco Wives
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
For the audience of Fiona Davis and Lisa Wingate, a vibrant historical debut set in 1946 North Carolina following a young female seamstress who uncovers dangerous truths about the Big Tobacco empire ruling the American South. "Myers brilliantly seduces us with her setting--a North Carolina town of beautiful socialites, opulent dresses, and elegant soirees--before revealing a terrible secret that threatens the entire community. This is a story of courage, of women willing to take a stand in the face of corporate greed, and most definitely a tale for our times." --Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue Maddie Sykes is a burgeoning seamstress who's just arrived in Bright Leaf, North Carolina--the tobacco capital of the South--where her aunt has a thriving sewing business. After years of war rations and shortages, Bright Leaf is a prosperous wonderland in full technicolor bloom, and Maddie is dazzled by the bustle of the crisply uniformed female factory workers, the palatial homes, and, most of all, her aunt's glossiest clientele: the wives of the powerful tobacco executives. When a series of unexpected events thrusts Maddie into the role of lead dressmaker for the town's most influential women, she scrambles to produce their ornate gowns for the biggest party of the season. But she soon learns that Bright Leaf isn't quite the carefree paradise that it seems: A trail of misfortune follows many of the women, including substantial health problems. Although Maddie is quick to believe that this is a coincidence, she inadvertently uncovers evidence that suggests otherwise. Maddie wants to report what she knows, but in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive, she doesn't know who she can trust--and fears that exposing the truth may destroy the lives of the proud, strong women with whom she has forged strong bonds. Shedding light on the hidden history of women's activism during the post-war period, at its heart, The Tobacco Wives is a deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and dramatic novel about the power of female connection and the importance of seeking truth.
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Kboltz
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

Really liked this look at the 1940s view on how tobacco companies in North Carolina kept their businesses going while the men were at war. It still makes me wonder how cigarette usage,especially in pregnant women, was not seen as harmful. Good first book by this author.

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readswellwithothers
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Mehso-so

I love coming-of-age, I love stories set in the not-so-distant-past, I love fiction based on actual events and historical social/political situations.

But {{yawn}} I did *not* love this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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megnews
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

Finished on audio for another library discussion with my mom this week.

Librarybelle I really liked this one! 12mo
46 likes1 comment
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Readswithcoffee
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t sure what to expect with this one and was pleasantly surprised. The audiobook was very good.

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Librarybelle
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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It is a little hard for me to choose a March #12BooksOf2022 - I read a few really good ones (Sanditon, I‘m looking at you!). But, I decided to highlight this one…

I really liked this historical fiction, set in the US South, where tobacco is king, and yet, our young heroine begins to wonder if tobacco should be king. One can feel the tobacco dust in the air and visualize the high society of tobacco execs. I really liked the audio too.

Andrew65 Sounds great. 1y
77 likes1 stack add1 comment
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CampbellTaraL
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

Fiction drawn from historical accounts of the 1940s when wealth, stability, and community was built around tobacco. A compelling story that illustrates the many social struggles with a world war layered on top: poverty/income disparity, racism, sexism, media manipulation, etc. A few times the story hit contrived notes, and it seemed hard to believe the protagonist was 15, but they were different times and overall the story worked.

33 likes1 stack add
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Sydneypaige
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Historical fiction on the Big Tobacco cover up told through a fifteen year old seamstress who works with the wives of the Tobacco executives. It is also such a clear example of white feminism and how people cause harm to keep their proximity to power. It‘s an easy and pretty compelling read, especially to engage with for the lineage of feminism and where lacking intersectionality when telling history only gives us part of the story.

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Graciouswarriorprincess
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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May reading report.

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Graciouswarriorprincess
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Almost #bookishbingo in May! Maybe in June, I will get bingo!

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Graciouswarriorprincess
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Book 33 of the year.

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Roxanareads
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

Such a wonderful surprise, I finished it in a day!

8 likes1 stack add
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jenreads7
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

An interesting look at the US tobacco industry during and following WWII. I fell in love with the storytelling and the characters. By diving below the surface of this industry, the author made this book matter. Well done! #audiobook #Libby

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EH2018
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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I just have to share! My library is featuring author series and we have so many author visits planned! Almost all of them are being held virtually!! Next week we have Anita Hill, then the authors above. Its all free-you can register here: https://www.scarsdalelibrary.org/upcoming-book-events
If you don't have time to read one of the books you can still join and hear from the author. For Anita Hill: https://www.scarsdalelibrary.org/community-read

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lynneamch
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Charmed so far by this story of a young girl sent to live with her Aunt Etta who sews for wealthy tobacco families. Maddie designs and sews her own clothes. Her fashion skills reminded me of the 2017 Sylvia Plath exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery that included Sylvia's own handmade #paper dolls. #PoetryMatters and Plath was a master of it. Quote is from her jounals. @TheSpineView
@chrissyreadit I see you were just there!

TheSpineView 🤩🤩🤩 2y
Chrissyreadit Yes- but I did not see this exhibit! I‘m upset that I missed it! 2y
lynneamch @Chrissyreadit Unfortunately, it was temporary. 2y
Chrissyreadit Oh! Then I don‘t feel as oblivious. I love that museum. We saw so many great exhibits yesterday. 2y
DivineDiana I did see that Sylvia Plath exhibit, but do not remember the paper dolls! 2y
31 likes5 comments
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SilversReviews
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Spotted at Hudson Booksellers in Pittsburgh, PA. @adelejam @williammorrowbooks In fact your book is front and center in each of the three stores I stopped in. 😀

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SilversReviews
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

You have to try the new cigarette for women…MOMints.

Especially made for women and safe for pregnant women.

Can you imagine that type of advertisement today?

Have YOU read this book yet?

You need to. ♥️

For women‘s fiction fans and historical fiction fans.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/mryx59yj

@adelejam
@williammorrowbooks
#wmtastemakers

40 likes3 stack adds
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SilversReviews
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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REVIEW 3/26

You have to try the new cigarette for women…MOMints. Especially made for women and safe for pregnant women.

Can you imagine that type of advertisement today?

We meet the tobacco wives endorsing that statement and promoting smoking for everyone.

We also meet Maddie the seamstress for these women and the one who tries to expose the lies the tobacco industry advertises. 5/5

@adelejam
@williammorrowbooks
#wmtastemakers

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Librarybelle
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

In post WWII North Carolina, tobacco is king. Maddie arrives in town to spend time with her aunt and help her with her seamstress business. The biggest customers, the “tobacco wives,” are wives of Bright Leaf Tobacco executives and VIPs. Yet, something doesn‘t seem quite right - Maddie embarks on the truth clouded by the brown dust.

This is a slow burn historical fiction that shows the strength of one young woman as she seeks truth. It‘s ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle compelling and sometimes downright frustrating. It shows the evils and greed of men, the lack of support for women in the workforce, and an era when tobacco was truly king. Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for an #ALC . The audio includes two voice actresses, and their narration kept me engaged. Worth the read! 2y
Librarybelle @Cinfhen You wanted to see my review of this one 2y
Cinfhen Yessssss, I did!! Thanks 😊 sounds like something I‘d enjoy. 2y
See All 10 Comments
KristiAhlers I almost picked this one up the other day. I‘ll have to go back to my bookstore and get it. 2y
ncsufoxes When we lived in NC I worked in downtown Durham & there was an area called Brightleaf Square. It‘s now all converted into restaurants. But when tobacco was the crop of NC the farmers would bring their crops to Durham. There were open tobacco markets where the tobacco companies would come to purchase or bid on the crops. 2y
Librarybelle @KristiAhlers I really liked it. It‘s also loosely based on the author‘s family history working in the Winston-Salem area, @ncsufoxes . It‘s amazing to think about! 2y
KristiAhlers @Librarybelle we used to live in NC and I‘d drive through that area all the time it was kinda of cool the first time seeing the tobacco buildings. 2y
Librarybelle @KristiAhlers I would imagine! 2y
Megabooks Getting on the list for this at the library! Thanks! 2y
Librarybelle Hope you like it, @Megabooks ! 2y
90 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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kissmehardy
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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Pickpick

I really loved all the character work in this book, but the pacing didn't feel right to me. The stakes don't get very high until practically the end, and then next to nothing happens, although that at least tracks historically. Good, but not great. #historicalfiction

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SilversReviews
The Tobacco Wives | Adele Myers
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SO HAPPY to see this bookmail!!

Thank you, @williammorrowbooks

#wmtastemakers

CHECK OUT THE INSTAGRAM REEL HERE: https://tinyurl.com/yukcdfn7