So, I picked up The Book of Susan: A Novel by Lee Wilson Dodd on a whim, and honestly? It’s a small, quiet book that makes a very loud point. Published back in 1918, it feels oddly modern.

The Story

Meet Susan Brand. She’s young, smart, and suddenly a widow. The safe, ordinary life she had with her husband is gone. We learn he was taken by a sudden accident, and the world expects Susan to just… settle into being a sad memory. But here’s the twist: Susan doesn’t really miss marriage. In fact, she starts to realize that being alone is the first time she’s ever been free. No one telling her what to do, no one expecting dinner, no one needing her to be the 'little woman'. Sound terrifying to a century ago society? It was. The whole plot basically centers on her fight to keep this newfound independence. Her family sends a local minister to 'comfort' her—really, to court her. And there’s this awful quiet tension: Can she hold her ground without being labeled selfish or cold?

Why You Should Read It

This isn’t an action book. It’s a character book, and Susan is a gold mine. Usually widows in old novels are tragic or saintly—Susan is often relatable, sometimes selfish, always real. Her main struggle is asking: “What do I actually want?” That seems easy today, but back then, a woman wasn’t supposed to want anything but a husband and home. The author doesn’t make her perfect, which I loved. She gets lonely, she makes selfish choices, she sometimes wishes her husband wasn’t her choice. It’s unbelievably honest. The writing is clean, conversational, and you can almost feel the wallpaper of her quiet house closing in on her. Themes of independence, self-discovery, and the courage to be yourself pushed through even when the world isn’t ready.

Final Verdict

This one is perfect for anyone who loves early feminist fiction but with a gentle, character driven plot. If you enjoyed The Awakening or Mrs. Dalloway, this is a less famous cousin—but just as sharp in its own small way. Perfect for: readers who like intimate, emotional books about one person deciding who they really are, and history fans who want to see what early 20th century society actually felt like for a woman standing on her own two feet.