Go Away Home
A century ago, the roles of women were etched in stone: wife, homemaker, helpmate. However, Liddie Treadway does not intend to be pigeonholed into the expectations of others – she has dreams beyond the Iowa farm in which she was raised. But when tragedy strikes the family, Liddie is forced, temporarily, to shelve her desires to become a dressmaker, staying on the family farm. Eventually, though, she has an opportunity to live on her own in a boardinghouse in town and begin an apprenticeship as a seamstress.
In the meantime, Liddie strikes up a friendship with Joe Bauer, the hired help, and keeps up a correspondence with him after he leaves the farm, even while she is being courted by a wealthy business owner.
The book transports the reader to America’s heartland one hundred years ago, exploring the role of women and societal expectations, and vividly depicting the harsh realities of farm life. With a love story threaded through the pages, the novel could also be viewed as a coming-of-age story, with Liddie undergoing self-realization while learning to trust her instincts and her heart.
Go Away Home is a captivating and poignant saga, brimming with both tenderness and grit. The writing style is down-to-earth and will appeal to those who enjoy stories about strong women who defy convention.
