Valentine: A Novel by Elizabeth Wetmore is a powerful and emotionally charged exploration of one small town in Texas in 1976, and how the lives of five women become entwined.
The novel follows Merritt, Glory, June, Ginny, and Edna, five women living in a small town tucked away in the heart of Texas. Though the women are quite different in age, and have drastically different backgrounds, at the start of the story they find themselves tied together and struggling against the same oppression.
Valentine is the name of the small, rural community in West Texas where these five women live. Though they come from different places, they are all struggling through the same oppressive conditions of their time, including racism, sexism, and violence.
At the center of all their stories is Merritt, a fourteen-year-old Mexican-American girl who discovers that her father’s ranch is being taken away from him as a result of a shady land deal. This sudden upheaval forces Merritt to reconsider what is important to her and to take a stand against injustice.
The novel paints a vivid picture of what it was like for women to live in this small, relatively isolated West Texas town in the mid-1970s. We experience the sexism that the women face daily; the racism that often goes unchecked; and the violence that is so persistent, dramatically altering the lives of those living in the town.
We also get to know the five women more intimately, as they not only overcome the hardships faced by many women in the 1970s, but also come together to support each other. Through the stories of Merritt, Glory, June, Ginny, and Edna, Wetmore powerfully encapsulates the spirit of resilience amidst the many challenges of the era.
Amidst the everyday struggles of the women in the town, there is romance and hopefulness as they look forward to the future. As Merritt comes to understand the importance of rallying against injustice, she stands in solidarity with the other women and her choice changes the trajectory of her life and that of the entire town.
Valentine is a stirring tale of courage and resilience full of heart and soul. It is an incredible embodiment of the power of female solidarity in the face of oppression, and an inspiring reminder of how one person can make a tremendous difference in their community and beyond.
