The Tobacco Wives audiobook

Maddie is a seamstress who has just moved to Bright Leaf, North Carolina, a tobacco capital, to help her aunt with her sewing business. Her aunt’s top clients are the wives of tobacco executives. Maddie suddenly becomes the lead seamstress and is tasked with creating their gowns for the big gala. What she finds is an underbelly of health issues in these women, and she is drawn to say something while also being terrified of the consequences. Growing up in North Carolina with its long tobacco history, this hidden story of activism, especially women’s activism, was completely new to me. It took many years for the effects of tobacco to be exposed, and this book uncovers why. At its heart, this is Maddie’s coming-of-age; entertaining and a joy to read. The author’s note and connection to the story are not to be missed.I received a gifted copy. Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

The Tobacco wives by Adele Myers was recommended to me by a school colleague and I was so glad it was. It was both an insightful and engaging book. I listened to the audio CD back and forth to and from school. It was fast paced and captivating. The characters were unforgettable and so well developed. There were some characters that I came to really like and some that I despised almost instantly. The Tobacco Wives told the story about the time when tobacco was a real money maker and the harmful effects that tobacco caused were still unknown. It took place in North Carolina in a little town called Bright Leaf during the 1940’s. The Tobacco Wives also explored the roles of the women during that time period. Maddie Sykes arrived at her aunt’s house very unexpectedly. She usually visited her aunt late each summer but this time Maddie arrived just at the beginning of her aunt’s busiest time in her dress making business. Maddie had just lost her daddy in the war and her mother was determined to find a new man that would take care of her. Not wanting anything to stand in her way, Maddy’s mother deposited Maddie with her aunt, her father’s sister, and left with no clear indication of when she would return for Maddie. Her aunt welcomed Maddie with open arms and immediately immersed her into the business of making gowns for the “tobacco wives”, some of the wealthiest and most influential women in Bright Leaf, North Carolina. Shortly after Maddie’s arrival, she began to assist her aunt in helping to design and sew the gowns for the gala when her aunt became seriously ill. Her aunt became hospitalized and the full responsibility of designing and making the gowns fell on Maddie’s shoulders. Maddie was a very shy and timid young girl. She was so intimidated by the new responsibilities she had to fulfill for her aunt. Quite quickly, though, Maddie evolved into a very brave and confident young woman who knew that she had a responsibility to the other women of Bright Leaf. Maddie had learned about some very dark secrets that the executives of the tobacco industry were trying to hide. She knew she had to speak the truth. When Maddie discovered that the executives of the big tobacco industry were hiding serious health information, especially from women, Maddie knew she had to find her voice and take a stand against these greedy men. The Tobacco Wives was Adele Myers’ first novel. It was hard for me to believe that this was her debut novel. It was so well written and captured the essence of the tobacco industry and advertising platforms for that time. I loved the vivid descriptions of the fashion worn during that time as well. Having had two parents that both smoked since their high school days but finally quit I can accept the lure they experienced of smoking cigarettes during those times. It greatly distresses me, though, when I see young people still smoking cigarettes despite all the information we now know about the risks. The Tobacco Wives was about corporate greed, speaking out about what you believe in, the role advertising played in promoting the sale of tobacco and the role women experienced and played during that time. In the author’s note, Adele Meyers explained how The Tobacco Wives began as an essay about southern families and evolved into this amazing book. She revealed that her own family history became an inspiration for writing this book. I look forward to reading more books by Adele Myers.

I live fifteen minutes from downtown Durham and the American Tobacco campus. Brightleaf tobacco has been a part of North Carolina history for a long time, but I’ve never read a novel about the people behind a tobacco empire. I found this glimpse into the post-war landscape of North Carolina quite fascinating. Themes of fashion and feminism prevailed—all told through the eyes of a naive girl on the cusp of womanhood.

This book was terrific, an easy engrossing read, addressed an important topic with amazingly believable characters. As a health researcher, I was engrossed by a novel about the health risks of tobacco and how, even on an individual level, a woman can make a difference in a critical health issue. These battles continue today.And as a person who relocated from the west to the south, I loved the wisdom of southern quotes. I will think of this one whenever I unwrap a present. “We all have troubles, dear,” she said, squeezing my hand. “They just come in different wrapping paper.”And our current political rivalry and related health risks, make me appreciate this one. “It might not be right, but just you keep in mind that it can be hard for folks to do the right thing when they’ve got something to lose.”You will find fun, grief, discovery, love and loss in this inspiring and joyful read.

You have to try the new cigarette for women…MOMints. Especially made for women and safe for pregnant women.Can you imagine that type of advertisement today?We meet the tobacco wives endorsing that statement and promoting smoking for everyone.We also meet Maddie whose mother woke her up in the middle

The Tobacco Wives was a fascinating peek behind the tobacco industry back in it's heyday. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

DEBUT NOVEL REVIEW ✨ Thank you, William Morrow, for gifting me a copy of The Tobacco Wives {partner}Genre: Historical FictionTime: 1946Format: 📖Pub Date: 3.1.2022Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ "Imagine living like that. Not having to hold your breath every time the checkout girl rings up your groceries, not having the shame when you have to put something back. Not having to worry. " Adele Myers has such a beautiful way of writing that I couldn't stop reading; it was full of rich, vibrant details that brought the characters and their stories to light. I devoured this novel in less than 24 hours and knew that it would be a 5 star for me very early on. One of my favorite sections of the book featured Maddie picking out the color swatches for the wives - the details were perfect and made me feel like I was in the room with her. My ONLY complaint about the book is that I wish Myers had included sketches of the dress and hats. I need to see what inspired all the outfits!Without giving anything away, I also appreciated the end of the story. Obviously, everything couldn't be wrapped up in a pretty bow because there was still a lot that would go into (and honestly still is) the awareness and prevention of smoking. But, I loved that Myers gave the readers one more chapter to spend with some of the characters. 🥰 Believable & lovable characters👌🏽 Ending was well thought out💜 Cornelia may be one of my favorite characters🤩 Beautiful descriptions of the people, town, & fashion🧐 Has a bit of mystery to it🕰 Post WWII ❌- due to the nature of the book, there were references to infant death, birth defects, and miscarriage. If you have any questions or concerns, please DM me.This was a debut novel for Adele Myers, and I can't wait to read what she writes next! I had so many people message me for my review on this book, so I hope I've convinced you to go out and pick it up from your local bookstore! 😘If you could be successful at any hobby, what would it be? I would LOVE to be able to make my own clothes (and it does not look like I made my own clothes…)Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....Follow my blog: https://thebookenddiner.com/Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...

The seeds of this story found fertile ground in a little girl’s mind as the author listened to her grandmother’s tales about women she called “the tobacco wives.” Years later, Adele Myers has written about a somber topic in such full, rich, vibrant language that I found enchanting. It was 1946, and tobacco, the firm financial base of the economy of the South, was king. The story unfolds through the voice of Maddie, seamstress to the wives of the richest and most powerful men in Bright Leaf, North Carolina. I loved reading about Maddie’s relationship with Mitsy Winston, the town’s first lady. "But did she know she was Queen?” Maddie observed. A young woman with little education but much insight, Maddie stitched and watched, seeing the true personality of one dressed in an elaborate beaded gown. “I saw things differently now. This beautiful life she was living was not as it seemed. Her cheerful façade masked pain and disappointment.” The heart of the story is found in the history of the tobacco industry and highlights the effort used to hide and distort the harmful results of smoking. As Maddie faces a moral dilemma of staying quiet to protect others or announcing a truth that will save lives, she attends a church service with her employer and hears her answer: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17) For me, this may be one of those “read again” books, for I feel there is more hidden between the lines. And Cordelia, a character I did not even like, has challenged me to read the writing of Virginia Woolf. In a letter to Maddie, she wrote, “You must use your voice, Maddie. Take ownership of what’s yours. Speak up for yourself as soon as you enter a room. Otherwise, men will drown you out. Share your ideas confidently and claim your place in this world.” This is a book about choices, about character, and about courage. The Tobacco Wives belongs on your “Must Read” list.

4.5⭐️ Let me start by saying that I lived in Winston-Salem for over eight years and I love the place. I learned a lot about R. J. Reynolds and how important it was for the growth of tobacco to in Winston-Salem. The novel brought all this back and the dangers of smoking. I don’t think anyone knew that it would be one of the deadliest things to human life. And all the lawsuits to follow. The story planted me right in the middle of the life of these women. What would you do with the truth? Lively hood? This was well told I was glued to this and eagerly wanting my happy ending. I’ll let you decide if it was. I highly recommend this and loved the writing style. Thanks William Morrow via NetGalley.

4.5 starsMyers’ debut historical-fiction novel follows a young seamstress who unearths terrible secrets that a local tobacco company is hiding from its consumers and its employees. A recent arrival to 1946 Bright Leaf, North Carolina, Maddie Sykes is enthralled by the wives of the tobacco executives who run the town and lead seemingly perfect lives. But when Maddie uncovers some dark truths about the tobacco company’s products, she must decide if unveiling the harm being done by the company is worth upending the lives of the tobacco women and the rest of the townspeople who depend on the company for their livelihood. Myers’ detailed descriptions of working in a cigarette factory, combined with the hindsight of understanding the harm caused by tobacco and tobacco executives, make this a compelling and sometimes haunting read.I interviewed Adele on my podcast: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/ade.... For more reading recommendations check out my podcast and blog: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com and follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....