Enemy Women - chapters 9-16

I'm ready to go on to the next section - post comments here when you're ready, too.

These chapters conveniently cover the remainder of Adair's prison stay. She is still a smart-aleck, but becoming more likable, I thought. I thought Jiles did a nice job of making the attraction between Adair and William very believable. I liked reading about the two of them talking - and flirting - together. I especially enjoyed the scene at the restaurant, when he asks if she's been proposed to before, and wants to know if he's standing in line. The only part of this section that bothered me was when Adair was taken to the infirmary, and I'm not sure why. It is a natural progression to her increasing cough and fever, but it seemed to be out of character for Adair to be laid so low. And then how much time elapsed between then and her escape?

In this section of the book I have found that the storyline and Adair both mature at a good pace.

I found the love story that's developing to be interesting. Especially towards the end of the section when he actually takes her out of the prison into a restaurant-Why didn't he just take her then?!?!?!

I'm interested to read the next section to see if Adair finds her sisters because I'm getting the idea that the oldest one might be getting married and possibly moving off.

Does anyone know the signifigance of the Log Cabin blanket? Other then of course it being an heirloom.

I'm only up to chapter 13 (it's a busy week) and I agree that Adair is a lot more likable. I loved her "confession" letter. A little confused about the time frame - how long was she in prison before this whole romance happens?

I think I'm in the minority here, but I'm having a hard time buying the love story. To me, it seems too rushed and unbelievable. He's a Federal soldier, and her lawyer, and trying to get her to write a false confession, and after one meeting she's digging the earbobs out of the softsoap? The flirtation is cute, definitely, and I can buy attraction but then he goes and proposes? It didn't seem real to me. But possibly I'm too cynical.

It made me really happy she got a letter from her sisters.

#3 William is too honorable just to take her away from the restaurant. That would be blatantly wrong. He still has his military career to think of. Fraternizing with the prisoners is, I guess, only a little wrong! I know what I think about the log cabin quilt, but that is based on having read the rest of the book already - I don't think it will spoil anything, but skip ahead to the next paragraph if you don't want to know. She continually sews on the quilt, repairing damage as it occurs, despite her not liking needlework. I think it is her connection to her home & family. I think she feels driven to maintain that connection, that drive to go back home and to be reunited with her sisters and father and brother. So she maintains the quilt.

The part that I didn't understand in these chapters is why didn't she just write the confession that William asked her to do, so she can be released and go home? Why was she being so subborn?

I think she was being so stubborn for the same reason he wouldn't just 'let her loose' from the restaurant. It's about being true to your roots- or to me it is.

jfetting; I understand what you mean by the romance, it happened very quickly. But we also have to look at the time period, there wasn't a whole lot of 'getting to know you' even in 'normal' relationships back then. I think a prime example of the same kind of relationship is in Pride and Prejudice between Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth. I think that's why I like this book so much is because it reminds me of that story :) a classic.

Had to skip over the log cabin quilt thing, I'm so anal about having to read and find out all the surprises myself, I think it's probably from reading so much Stephen King and seeing so many of his movies before reading his books or having people tell you what they're about. I savor all the little details!!!

I have so many small things to say about this book because I'm liking it so much but I always seem to forget what I'm going to say when I get to this board....also I'm a little further then chapter 16 at this point I just can't put it down!

I just visited the History Museum in Forest Park, St. Louis. They had a picture of the Gratiot Stree Prison and some items from it. They also had a letter from a prisoner written to his sister. In the letter he states that he doesn't have a blanket and sleeps on the floor. Their gift shop was selling copies of Enemy Women.

Chapters 9 - 16 show me the women Adair will become. I'm glad she didn't lie or rat out any of her neighbors even though that could have lead to her leaving the prison.

Chris, in the end I was also glad that Adair didn't "rat out" her neighbors. But while I was reading this section, I was pretty frustrated by her stubborness! The next time I go to St Louis, I will definitely have to check out some of the historical sites that I've managed to miss up to now. I guess I've been to the arch enough times.

#7 -- Thanks for sharing about your visit to the History Museum. Definitely on my list of Places to Visit. The prison scenes in Enemy Women were the most interesting and memorable to me.

Are we ready for the next section? I'm not clear what kind of progress everyone is making - I don't want to rush, but are we ready to do a final discussion for the rest of the book, like we did with Flinn, or break it into smaller bits? I've read ahead, and I think the second half of the book seemed denser than the first, so I might argue for keeping a slower pace.

I'm up to chapter 24 now, so I'm not quite ready for a final discussion but if everyone else is finished I can skip spoilers if I really want to.

I'll go ahead and start a thread for chp 17-24. We can continue the discussion without spoiling the end for anyone who isn't finished yet.