The Daughters of Erietown

A Novel

By: Connie Schultz

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Best Seller

Hidden desires, long-held secrets, and the sacrifices people make for family are at the heart of this powerful first novel by the popular Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.

“A moving, unforgettable story about time, progress, and how the mistakes of one generation get repeated or repaired by the next.” (J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times best-selling author of Saints for All Occasions)

Named One of the Best Books of the Year by The Washington Post and New York Post

1957, Clayton Valley, Ohio. Ellie has the best grades in her class. Her dream is to go to nursing school and marry Brick McGinty. A basketball star, Brick has the chance to escape his abusive father and become the first person in his blue-collar family to attend college. But when Ellie learns that she is pregnant, everything changes. Just as Brick and Ellie revise their plans and build a family, a knock on the front door threatens to destroy their lives.

The evolution of women’s lives spanning the second half of the 20th century is at the center of this beautiful novel that richly portrays how much people know - and pretend not to know - about the secrets at the heart of a town, and a family.

©2020 Connie Schultz (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Connie Schultz’s The Daughters of Erietown is a quiet force of a novel. It crept up on me, much the same way that time creeps up on these characters. I was struck by how well Schultz portrays a full life - childhood to old age - and all the small moments that shape us, for better or for worse. Its ambitious scope will leave readers wanting to curl up with it until they’ve finished." (Mary Beth Keane, New York Times best-selling author of Ask Again, Yes)

"This is a big, deep, warm, and moving story of unforgettable women who make and shape their families. With the eye and ear of a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the insight and language of a born storyteller, Schultz immerses us in The Daughters of Erietown, from love to loss and back." (Amy Bloom, New York Times best-selling author of White Houses)

An authentic tale.

No punches pulled... this author takes us from the oppressive innocent 50:
thru the evolving technical era. Marriage and family are the only things that remain the same and matter the most.

Beautiful tapestry of chapters & time

The characters, the storyline, the glimpse into that period of time! Thank you Connie - beautiful story ❤️

Fabulous

The best book I've read in a long time. A good old fashion family story. Well read.

Hated Having to Put It Down to Sleep!

Having grown up in Northeast Ohio and being just a few years older than Sam, there is so much in this book that is iconic of the place, and time, and the experiences. I feel like I know all these characters as composites of people I knew growing-up or that their lives have intersected with mine. The story is beautifully told in language both descriptive and economic with just enough detail to see clearly, but never so much as to flog a dead horse.

Listening to the audiobook was a wicked indulgence and the narrator did an excellent job, voicing the characters consistently and making clear their feelings.

I usually don't like books that go down a path and then loop back in time to pick up another path and all the while thinking "what's the point? ". i did not have that experience with this book, although listening rather than reading may have helped that for me.

An solid first novel for Ms Schultz. If a good book leaves you wanting more in a good way, this one is a success! Although I can finish the story in my own mind, I'm hoping for a sequel to see where the author wants to take us. if she does, I'm along for the ride!

3 Generations of Women in one family

And their men and children . Made me happy, nostalgic and sad. Will remind you of your life or your parents life. The events may be different but the emotions are the same.

As a Daughter, I Was Captivated by the Story

Loved it though like life the story had some deeply sad moments. Compelling. Authentic. Portrays the complex array of emotions a daughter experiences.

Well done!

Well done novel about the lives of complex female characters. Great narration. It did lack tension in the middle and might have been a bit slow. The ending was a bit abrupt. Yet it was a very interesting perspective about the 60s and how life for women have changed. Worth reading!

Multi-generation story

Beginning in 1957 in a small town in Ohio and continuing for the better part of the century (1950s - 1990s), The Daughters of Erietown is a multi-generational story about women and their families. Most of the residents are ordinary everyday people. The women are stay at home mothers and the men hold blue collar jobs to support their families. There's a neighborhood bar and some friendly neighbors.

Brick McGinty and Ellie and young and in love. Brick grew up with an abusive father but, he is a basketball star and looking forward to promising future with a full scholarship to college. Ellie, raise by her grandparents, thinks about becoming a nurse but, it's an unplanned pregnancy that chases this young couple's dreams away.

This debut novel quickly drew me in to the lives of these of these characters. The writing was quite good with strong female characters and dialogue that felt genuine. I liked the way the author depicted small-town life. Seeing how the lives of the women had changed over the years was a highlight of this novel. I did think this book was unnecessarily long (almost 500 pages in print and over 14 hours on audio); IMO it could have benefitted by some additional editing. Overall, I was happy that I read/listened to this one. Cassandra Campbell narrated the audio which was very well done.

RATING - 4/5 stars

inspirational read!

This is a great book that so appropriately captures the era. Looking forward to more novels from this author!!

Very Good!

I hope we see more from this author. This was an engaging, easy, heartfelt listen. It held my attention throughout and the narration was equally pleasing.