Friday, June 9, 2017

Review: The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race by Mike H. Mizrahi

About the book:

Chattanooga society is turned upside down as a young woman has the audacity to ride a bicycle-in bloomers!

It's 1895. Anna Gaines, 19, struggles to conquer her insecurities after a horrible fall years ago from her beloved horse, Longstreet. On a visit with her aunt in Brooklyn, she's drawn to the new pastime of bicycling. But back at home, cycling is a scandalous sport for a proper lady. Southern women did not engage in activities meant for men.

Anna has her eye on Peter Sawyer, president of the Cycling Club. As community outrage grows, an unexpected turn of events pits Anna against Peter in a race between the sexes.

Will Anna prove that women deserve the same right as men to ride "the wheel?" Will she choose to live a quiet, traditional life of a housewife and mother? Or will she pursue college and become one of the "new women" emerging into the twentieth century on the seat of a bicycle? What will become of the spark between Anna and Peter?

Faith, patience, and courage help Anna to become the person she was meant to be.



My Thoughts:

Who would have thought that a woman in bloomers riding a bicycle would cause such uproar? The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race by Mike H. Mizrahi delves into the history of women fighting for their rights to do just that. Bicycles are becoming quite popular and a quicker way of getting around downtown and the men have been enjoying the freedom, fresh air, and the benefits of the exercise that naturally comes with cycling, why not women too? Well Anna Gaines, from an old southern family, with a mother who is set in her ways and definitely has her opinions about what a genteel lady should or should not do asks that same question.

After visiting her forward thinking aunt in New York, Anna has shed some of her fear and feelings of inadequacy when she learns to ride a bike. But as she returns home to Tennessee, her family and hometown are more set in the ways of the past.  Two men are interested in her. Both are part of the bicycle club and avid cyclists themselves. Grover is against her in her cycling pursuits; however Peter Sawyer has more of an open opinion.

Set in 1895 in a time that was certainly filled with old prejudices and new, Anna realizes that she just may become an outcast in order to follow her dreams. I appreciated the author’s thorough historical research and the time period and issues that were brought to light. I think in today’s day and age it is good to stop and take a moment or two and remember what those brave women before us had to go through just to gain the basics rights that a man had and that we now enjoy for ourselves. A thought provoking read about a struggle in history I was not aware of. Thank you. And on another note, that cover is very eye catching.

I received a copy of this book for free through Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.

About the author:


Mike Mizrahi has a master's degree in public relations, advertising and applied communication from Boston University. After a career in corporate public affairs, he retired to pursue a deep passion: writing.
 
Mizrahi and his wife, Karen, led a mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo four years ago and were so moved by the experience, Mizrahi wrote his first novel, which he hopes will one day be published. The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race is his debut published work.
 
Mizrahi loves reading and writing stories about "sozo," which means to be rescued in Greek. He and Karen are very active in their church and community and love to hike, travel and go the movies together. The Mizrahis live in Woodland Hills, California, where they raised their children who are now adults.
 
Learn more about The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race and Mike H. Mizrahi at www.mikehmizrahi.com or on Facebook (AuthorMikeMizrahi) and Twitter (@MikeHMiz). 
 

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