Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Nellie v. Elizabeth: the race is on
In this day and age where it would take a couple of days at the most to make it around the world, depending largely on airplane connections, the story of these two remarkable women's round-the world journeys in 70-some days was really an eye-opener for me. I had never heard of either Nellie Bly or Elizabeth Bislad, nor had a heard of their journey, so it was with great interest that I followed them around the world in opposite directions. I learned a lot.
Having a background in journalism, I knew something about the role that newspapers played i the lives of the people of the United States during the 1800s, especially in the larger cities. That's why there were so many more newspapers then than now. But it still was somewhat astoishing that the New York World could generate the 3excitement that they did with this race. For example the guess-how-many-days contest!
I loved that you had these two women, both who grew up in somewhat lower- to- middle class backgrounds, making history in the way they did. I loved that their race engaged people throughout the country, which was much larger (figuratively speaking) then than now. I enjoyed reading about their love of writing and the English language. I was thrilled at Nellie’s reporting background, particularly the story she wrote about life in insane asylums back in those days. How exciting to be able to report that kind of news and make that kind of a difference.
Some of the most remarkable things I learned or was reminded of:
-The role that trains played in the growth of America. Prior to train travel, it would have been inconceivable to make a trip around the world that quickly. You couldn’t have gotten across country in much less time.
-How damned much of the world was part of the British Empire! Holy moley! They all bowed to the king.
-Class differences, particularly as they related to ship travel. Wow, if you were in steerage (which my grandparents were), you were truly a second-class citizen. While your wealthier co-passengers were dining on lobster, you were eating gruel.
-The whole Asian culture. It was interesting to learn about rickshaws and some of the foods they ate. And how about that whole torture stuff? Grisly business.
I’m interested to know if you were rooting for either of the women throughout the book. I was. I couldn’t help but root for Elizabeth. I think it’s because I was mad at Nellie for forgoing her role as a journalist while participating in the race. She should have brought the problem of the people in steerage to the world.
But I did like the fact that the newspaper vowed to not “cheat” and to let things play out as they would (even though they sort of did at the end). And I loved the fact that Nellie made the journey carrying only a little bag.
I’m interested to know what you learned reading this book, and how it impacted you.
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I was excited to read this book because I just learned about Nellie Bly last Spring. I was subbing in a fifth grade room and did not want ot use the basal text. So, I asked a friend to send me some things that the fifth upgrade teachers at her school we using. Well, she sent me a set of informational text passages with questions on Anmerican heroes. One was Nellie Bly. It was aatory about how she brought attention to the situation in the hospitals for the insane who could not pay for care. I think I had finished the story one week with the class and the next weekend I saw the book at a book store. Because I had enjoyed that little fifth grade story so much, I mainly rooted for Nellie throughout the book. But, I was disappointed in her for the same reason as Kris....Nellie should have written about the people in steerage.
ReplyDeleteI thought is was such a shame that Nellie seemed to miss so much of her trip by obsessing about making it back home in less than 80 days. I wonder if she ever regretted that. I would have thought that she would have been the type of person to make the most of each experience.
I was interested in the two women's lives after the race. Elizabeth's seemed so much more rewarding. She really fell in love and it sounded like she had a very fulfilling married life. Although, that last year of her marriage when she was separated form her husband must have been painful. She stayed away hoping that that would help his recovery and she never saw him again. I was really sorry that Nellie suffered from such a difficult depression and also that she had such bad relations with people from the newspaper after the race. It did seem, though, that Nellie's later years were productive and helped many people....which I am sure was rewarding.
All in all, I felt like I did learn a lot about the newspaper empires at that time and the people behind them. This book was a fresh change for me.
This was a book I wanted to read, and I’m glad we did. I had heard of Nellie Bly but I didn’t really know who she was or what she did. It’s interesting to me that I’ve never even heard of Elizabeth Bisland, which goes to show you that winning really is the only thing!
ReplyDeleteI definitely wanted Nellie to win. I felt like she was racing time as opposed to Bisland, who was racing her! It was the World’s idea, and the Cosmopolitan sort of stole it, or at least tagged in after the fact. I also thought it wasn’t really a “race” when the Cosmopolitan said they weren’t requiring Elizabeth to win using only standard travelling options. That put her at an advantage, although, as Kris said, in the end the World made special arrangements, too. I didn’t dislike Bisland, although her obsession with England annoyed me a bit. I also got a little tired of hearing how beautiful she was. I loved the comparison between what Nellie carried with her and what Elizabeth brought, and how much that intrigued the women who were following the story.
My biggest criticism was that this book needed editing, especially at the end. A short recap of the Bly phenomenon and what happened to Nellie and Elizabeth would have sufficed for me. I thought the details were over the top: “Her handwriting, which in her younger years had been breezy and full of flourishes, had become stiff and cramped, the lines heavy.” Really? Her handwriting? This is something that seems to happen to writers of biography and even historical fiction—they get so carried away with their fabulous research that they use everything they found. Edit, edit, edit!
I liked learning that Bisland lived in Virginia the last years of her life, and that Dorothy Kilgallen also did a race around the world.
This book is exactly why I love being in book clubs!
I enjoyed this novel. And as Beckie said, this book is an example of why I enjoy being in a book club. I don't think I would have been drawn to read this book on my own.
ReplyDeleteI was definitely rooting for Nellie to win the race but I liked both characters. Throughout the book I really thought Elizabeth might win. So the results of the race was fun to anticipate up to the end.
I felt like the author captured what it was like to live during that time. I also felt like I took a trip around the world. I enjoyed his writing and descriptions but certainly agree with Beckie and Kris that the book could have been edited more. I skimmed over many of his lengthy descriptions that did not involve the characters directly.
Here are some of the things that caught my attention:
Nellie traveling with the one small suitcase the entire trip. But then she purchases a monkey and travels the rest of the way with him in tow!
I have always thought that the English language is so often spoken in foreign countries because of the U.S. being a power country. Now I realize that is partly due to the enormity of the British Empire at the turn of that century.
The book also made me realize how different the world is that we live in now and yet very much the same. One example is when the author was describing how the people that commuted to NYC would work on the train. How in the world could they work on the train without their iPad and iPhones?
I particularly enjoyed the description of Japan. The enjoyed the visual of the people in the theater making their tea in little fires where they sat.
The newspaper contest to guess the exact/closest time the winner would arrive. Again I found myself wondering how they were going to pull off keeping track of all of the entries without a computer!
The fact that women were curious to see what Nellie looked like and what her traveling clothes looked like. And their only alternative to see those things was to board the train and meet her!
Finally, the cost of Nellie's final train ride across the U.S. What was it, $2300? I wonder what that would come out to in today's number.
This was a fun read and I enjoy reading everyone's thoughts.