The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown (same author as Boys in the Boat. this was a slow start, but then torturously haunting, tension building like in a horror movie. I kept wanting to warn them before every choice they made. In truth they were not at fault, but were victims of greed and deceit on the part of the man who published/promised the “Hastings cut off” -- and people he paid along the way to promote it sight unseen -- and bad luck. They were hardy pioneers, but they couldn’t account for the early snows, the late snows, the raiding native peoples, and jealousies within their large group. 87 people started, they lost 6 along the way, and only 45 survived, mostly the young and female. So interesting to hear the considerations of why women fared better than men. They were stuck in place from mid November 1846 until March 1947). This is my favorite of the year so far!!! |
Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. This was the substitute read because I couldn’t get Year of Wonders. This was lovely and terrible, all at once. Love that the story of Caleb is based in historical fact, but it’s so terrible the kind of treatment he faced. He must have been so sparklingly brilliant to have succeeded so well academically that he went to and graduated from Harvard, they must not have been able to deny him. |