Just Doll by Janice Daugharty

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"Daugharty does a fine job of demonstrating how ordinary men and women are affected, in unpredictable ways, by race, poverty and geography and by the enduring legacy of important historical moments." People Magazine She is only seventeen when she marries into a world of privilege, mystery, heartache and passion . . . Doll Baxter is barely grown when she weds wealthy older landowner Daniel Staten in order to save her family's impoverished farm in post-Civil War Georgia. Over the decades that show more follow, Doll and Daniel struggle to resolve the tensions between them. Both are strong-willed; both are rooted to the fertile southern soil. The twists and turns of their lives together influence the fates of many around them, both black and white. "It seemed that people were just passing through only long enough for you to get to loving them, then gone as if they never were, or were somebody you had dreamed up for the sole purpose of bringing suffering. Love was dangerous suddenly; a child or husband might be with you one day and gone the next and leave you gnawing on the corner of your pillow to keep from crying out questions in the middle of the night. Then morning, there was always morning." Janice Daugharty's 1997 novel, EARL IN THE YELLOW SHIRT (HarperCollins), was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. She is the author of seven acclaimed novels and two short story collections. She serves as writer-in-residence at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, in Tifton, Georgia. Visit the author at www.janicedaugharty.com show less

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3 reviews

Beamis12 2,881 reviews

Set in the south, years after the civil war, families who have managed to hang on to their land are struggling. At seventeen, Doll agrees to marry Daniel, who is wealthy and agrees to pay her families back taxes and support her mother and sixty. From the beginning theirs is an adversarial relationship, and Doll is not your usual simpering southern belle. Hard work, worry and rough living as made Doll an original and she has no intention of becoming nothing but a man's possession. I haven't read very many books, set after the Civil War so I found this book and the many struggles still fought in the South very interesting. I also really liked the character of Doll and enjoyed all the ups and downs of her relationships with Daniel. This show more was an interesting book that I really enjoyed reading. Wil definitely read more by this author. show less

½

Nov 19, 2012

arlenadean 3,267 reviews

By: Janice Daugharty
Published By: Hushion House Publishing
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Book Blog For: GMTA
Review:

"Just Doll" By Janice Daugharty was a well written historical fiction with a good plot along with a very strong heroine. The setting was from Georgia in the late 1800's. Doll Baxter is a seventeen year old who lives with her mother and sister and are having a hard time a just struggling to make a living. Daniel Staten who is a wealthy neighbor has proposed to Doll and she will refuse. When he offer to pay her family's mortgage and back taxes along with supporting her mother and sister...Doll gives this some thought and know she can't refuse. She come up with a list of conditions and marries...Now, I show more will stop here and say you must pick up "Just Doll" and get the reminder of this lovely story as Doll falls in love with Daniel only to find out ....well you can get it from the good read. This author did a good job at "demonstrating the hardships faced by southern people after the Civil War" and will touch of such issues of 'racial issues, extreme poverty, and the plight of women.' I found this a very interesting read and I would recommend this as a good read. show less

Jun 13, 2013

nyiper 1,783 reviews

I'm afraid there is only one book so far in this trilogy ---and I really want more!

Jan 20, 2010

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ghilliegal47 1 review

Dec 17, 2012

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