Unfortunately I couldn’t get into this book and DNFed after 20%. The characters just didn’t grab me and so neither did the story.

I ended up not enjoying this book as much as I wanted too. I love historical fiction but this one was not my cup of tea. I also enjoy family books but not this one. For some reason, Mumma and Pops didn't appeal to me.

great historical fiction with interesting setting, characters and wonderfully done plot.
Defiantly a WW2 book setting/plot i haven't read before and kept me entertained the entire time!

Unfortunately, I DNFed this book in the first 15%. It just didn't grab my attention.

I loved this book for its accurate look at life during World War II and post war. The author has achieved a rarity in publishing, she has brought to life a independent, intelligent fun woman of her time. What makes this book unique is the story of Rida who is non conventional in a time of strict convention for women. I enjoyed her independent thinking and non conformist attitude. As the reader explores this novel you will realize what difficulties a woman faced in that time . I loved the romance with her husband and the fact it was not the main focus of the novel or of Rida who has her own ideas about her life. . She is night to her husband days and they soon lead separate lives which suits them fine. its a wonderful departure from the usual romance and a accurate view of that time in our history.. This is a celebration of a life free of constraints and lived fully with intent and joy. Well done and a enjoyable read.

Totally unique story! I really enjoyed By Any Name- it was a departure from the everyday romances that I usually read. I picked this book to read because I love the time period the love story between Rida & Spencer develop. And because I am a Navy wife & I love military love stories.

Great book!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Diversion Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of By Any Name. This is my honest opinion of the book.

Rida was a force of nature from the day that Spencer met her, during the war in 1943. Married quickly, without fanfare, the couple spent more time apart than together in their first years. The divide between their upbringings was apparent, as Spencer was born of privilege, while Rida was left at an orphanage. Although his family did not warm to Rida, she was determined not to let it stop her. Honest to the point of rude, Rida did what she thought was best under the circumstances. As her children try to piece together their mother's life, will they come to realize all that she left behind?

By Any Name is Rida's story, told in part by her four children: Meg, Amy, Jo, and Beth, who were named for the characters in Little Women. This book never really got off the ground for me, in terms of the plot and most of the character development. Readers were given a glimpse into who Rida truly was, but not all of the pieces were brought together in a cohesive manner. Large chunks of time were missing from the plot as well, which did not help the continuity. By Any Name was a miss for me, disappointing as Cynthia Voight is one of my favorite authors from my childhood. Although this is not a book I would recommend, I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Rida's daughters have spent a lifetime trying to understand their strong and enigmatic mother. She met their father Spencer at a dance for officers during WWII, where she was spotted wearing four engagement rings. But Rida leaves all of those men to marry Spencer and spend a lifetime defying the conventions of Spencer's wealthy and ordered family. Rida's daughters know that their time with their elderly mother is short, and they are comparing notes about what they know of their mom.

Like many young people in the 1990s, I loved reading Cynthia Voight's Homecoming series. She excels at writing about the bonds of family and the ways that people both encourage and disappoint their loved ones. So I was excited to see that she had written a novel for adults. This isn't my favorite of her books, but it is a clear-eyed look at the bravery and cost of being an independent woman during the 20th century. Rida is a woman who approaches her marriage or her children with her own rules and expectations and she certainly doesn't let societal norms of the day keep her from becoming a successful landlord before it was acceptable for women to do so. By Any Name is a great read for anyone who has loved her books before and a perfect introduction to her writing for the reader who is encountering her for the first time.

By Any Name
By Cynthia Voight
Diversion Publishing April 2017
270 pages
Read via Netgalley

I was pulled into the story from the beginning. I was so invested that I started to want to come face to face with Rida's in laws and let them know how bad they were. One really interesting aspect of this novel is that it is told through the perspective of Rida’s daughter, Beth. I found that made the story more believable. I just really enjoyed this story.

As a fan of Cynthia Voigt’s many novels for teens, such as Dicey’s Song, I was thrilled to discover this new adult contemporary. By Any Name is an historical fiction that is reminiscent of Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel. The story of Rida’s life is told through the eyes of her daughter Beth and really captures the era beautifully. Also, the references to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott that are sprinkled throughout the story add to its theme in a unique way.

I might be presumptuous in referring By Any Name to The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence because it is probably more recognizable to Canadians. However, By Any Name has so many timeless themes, such as aging and reminiscing that one cannot help but connect these two literary works. Voigt has created a spunky main character in Rida who exudes strength and independence in a time where women were typically oppressed. Rida is definitely inspirational and those familiar with Cynthia Voigt’s other works will find a similar well-developed fierce female in this book as well.

One really interesting aspect of this novel is that it is told through the perspective of Rida’s daughter, Beth. This point of view actually makes for a more reliable narrator, as Beth is looking at Rida’s life from the outside and has a much more accurate memory. Through Beth, the reader can get a sense of what having a mother like Rida was like and how she had a profound influence on her daughters. Beth is putting all of the pieces together about her mother’s past throughout the book and it all comes together wonderfully towards the end.

For those who enjoy classics, Little Women in particular, you will enjoy the allusions and connections that By Any Name has to this much loved novel. Rida names her daughters after the ones in Little Women and the girls themselves are definitely similar in personality to the March sisters. The shared theme of raising well-adjusted daughters adds to the flavour of Voight’s novel, as the reader can relate to the characters and story of Little Women.

By Any Name is a novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. The story is a unique look at women’s issues and the aging process as told by the main character’s daughter. It is a novel that is both inspiring and sentimental, and will become a favourite of those who enjoy the genre.

Thanks Diversion Books and netgalley for this ARC.

A good starter book but I'd come back to this author in a few years maybe.

I enjoyed reading By Any Name, as I was a fan of Cynthia Voigt's as a child. The characters were realistic & I found myself with intense dislike for Rida's inlaws & friends--always a good sign in an author can make me dislike characters! Parts of the story I did find choppy, but not enough to take away from it.
The ending was a bit abrupt, but it was time for the story to finish.
Thank you for allowing me the chance to preview this book!

I put this down after reading about 10% because it didn't compel me.

Rida meets Spenser at a USO Officer’s Club dance during World War II. He’s a naval officer from a long line of rather snooty New England blue bloods, she’s a free spirit from California with no living family. Intrigued by the fact that Rida has not one, but four engagement rings on her hand, Spenser asks her to dance and the two fall for each other, hard and fast. While Spenser may appreciate Rida’s carefree attitude, his family does not. Still, the two marry and have a family. Rida may be a married woman with children, nut that does nothing to dampen her spirit, a spirit that her own daughters have a hard time understanding. I really liked this story about being able to see your parents as more than parents, but as the people they are apart from you. I loved Voight’s YA books as a teen and I was thrilled to see she’s writing for adults