Book Review: The Visiting Girl

a book review by Bonnie Tollefson

Visiting Girl Book Cover

Bonnie Tollefson

I do not care for the genre of historical fiction or for books about relationships, so I was a little cautious when this author asked me to read her book. However, Visiting Girl held my attention from the first page to the last.

Character, Lily Paxton is about to graduate from Bryn Mawr College in 1901. With all her focus having been on getting into college, what with her mother’s death and her Uncle’s attitude about education for women, Lily suddenly realizes that she has no idea what she wants to do once she has her degree. Her former roommate and best friend Caroline, has a suggestion and Lily becomes a visiting girl. She spends time visiting at the homes of different friends, helping where she can but always returning to Caroline’s.

After 18 months of this life, Lily suddenly disappears one day and it isn’t until 20 years later that Caroline suddenly gets a letter from Lily saying that she is ill and begging for a visit in Portland, Oregon.  Caroline, now a widow, with grown children, makes the trip across the country by train and starts spending time with Lily.  During their talks, secrets long held start to emerge and life will never be the same for anyone.  The book is meticulously researched and many issues of the time are discussed without losing the fictional story’s thread. This is an all around first class effort by a very good author who happens to be an RVM resident.  I would encourage others to read it even if they are not fans of historical fiction.

The book is available from the RVM Library.

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