Yesteryear
Yesteryear ~ Caro Claire Burke
Natalie Heller Mills is a tradwife influencer, Instagram famous for her aspirational life on a 500 acre farm in rural Idaho, where she lives with her husband and their 5 (soon to be 6) children. She works to portray herself as a kind and affectionate mother, someone who has infinite patience, knows the value of hard work, and cooks amazing meals every day for her beloved family. She does cook, and she is a hard worker, but her hard work is mostly in controlling her temper and creating content for her millions of fans. One day, she wakes up in her house, but everything is wrong. The floors are wrong, her clothes are wrong, her body is wrong, the kids are wrong. The only thing that is almost the same is her husband, Caleb, who other than seeming older and meaner, is still Caleb. What’s wrong about everything is that it is the middle of the 19th century, and she has none of the modern conveniences that she has always taken for granted. Why is she here, and how did this happen? Is God testing her? How is this possible?
Yesteryear is told in alternate chapters. Half are of Natalie’s life from her acceptance to Harvard, her courtship and marriage to Caleb, their early years of marriage and her rise as a social media star. The others are of her life in the 1850s, where she learns just how difficult this aspirational life she has been promoting really is.
Maya bought this book and read it in 2 sittings, then passed it on to me, where I pretty much did the same. I started out really disliking Natalie, and I never really got on her side, but as the chapters went on, I understood her more. The author grew up in a very conservative Christian household, and it shows, because she knows of what she speaks. (I don’t know where I got that idea, but no. She grew up Catholic and says her childhood was mainly secular.) This is a fun satire of modern life, internet culture, and identity. I liked it a lot. Highly recommended.
20 Comments
Birchie
I have this on hold in Libby! It’s going to take a long time to come in, but I’m looking forward to it.
J
I think you will enjoy it when you get it!
Nicole MacPherson
I’m looking forward to this one! I think I told you that I really like the author on her podcast Diabolical Lies, so I think this should be great!
J
I haven’t heard this podcast, I will check her out.
Lisa's Yarns
I am so incredibly annoyed by influencers so that has made me hesisitate a bit to check this out but I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews and there are already plans to make it into a movie starring Anne Hathaway, I believe. So I will check it out eventually!
J
Lisa, you may love it. It’s satire and very critical of influencers.
Suzanne
What a fun and fascinating topic for a book. Adding this one to my list.
J
I think you’ll enjoy it Suzanne!
DB Stewart
Honestly, you’re a master at writing book reviews. I want to read this novel, but I think it would be the perfect gift for my daughter’s birthday. Thank you.
J
Gosh, thank you! I hope your daughter enjoys it, and then you can read it after and have a fun discussion (like my daughter and I did last night)
Margaret
Although the book (the main character mostly) would probably make me mad, it does sound like a thought-provoking book.
J
She’s more of an anti-hero, Margaret. I mean, she’s definitely unlikable, but then you at least understand why she feels like she has to do the things she does. Does she have other options? Of course. Does she see that? Nope.
Jenny
i keep hearing about this book- it does sound good. I agree with the commenter above- you’re very good at writing book reviews!
J
Thanks Jenny! I appreciate that, I feel like my reviews are so basic. “I liked this book!”
Stephany
I just started this book today! I’m devouring it.
J
Yay! Glad you’re enjoying it, it’s ‘more-ish’ as they say.
NGS
I’m jealous because I can’t even put a hold on it at my library yet. *sob* But I can’t wait to read this one.
J
The advantage of having a daughter willing to just buy it!
Elisabeth
Your book reviews are my absolute favourite! I have just joined the (long) waitlist at my library. It feels like everywhere I turn someone is talking about this book!
J
It’s very much the IT book right now. I would not have purchased it (I try not to buy hardbacks for space issues) but my daughter has no such constraints.