Emilia Hart

Fiction 2023 | 356 pages

Many reviewers wrote that this book is about misogyny, rape, abuse.  Many wrote that it was about the resilience, strength, independence, and determination of women,  I agree with the latter interpretation.  To pay too much attention to the abusive men makes them more important and, in this novel, diminishes the women.

The women, who lived in 1619 (Altha), in 1942 (Violet), and in 2019 (Kate) are women who took charge of their lives.  These women loved nature and had a special gift for healing that, in Altha's case at least, would label her as a witch.

I loved the interplay of the three women ... each of the 53 chapters was written from the perspective of one the women, and each moved the story forward.  Combining elements of women’s fiction and magical realism, author Emilia Hart expertly weaves the three different threads of this story into a compelling narrative.  It is a creative and engaging debut novel.

Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed…

I recommend this strong novel.  I am looking forward to our discussion in book club tomorrow night.  Thank you, Jan!

October 2024