-Beulah, from the novel
This novel was a free First Reads selection from Amazon. It was probably the only historical fiction choice in that month and, of course, it's a favorite genre of mine.
The setting is Wyoming, 1876. The Bemis and Webber families farm adjacent pieces of land, but no other neighbors are nearby. Right away the conflict is revealed: Ernest Bemis catches his wife, Cora, with Substance Webber and in his fury murders his neighbor. Of course, Ernest goes to jail, leaving his wife and 4 children to try to survive. Fortunately, the eldest child, Beulah, age 13, is intelligent and capable.
Surprisingly, 16-year-old Clyde, the only son of Substance Webber, after burying his father, offers his help to the Bemis family. Clyde's mother, the widow Nettie Mae, not surprisingly hates Cora for her part in the death of her husband so she is chagrined that Clyde is helping with the Bemis's farm.
A brutal winter forces the two families to live together in order to survive. These are uncomfortable months with Nettie Mae's rage and Cora's remorse darkening the mood. However, they manage to save each other's family members from drowning, a serious illness, a fall and other problems. Fortunately, Clyde and Beulah work well together and, in a sense, are the saviors of their families.
The Author's Note is very interesting, telling of the personal basis of the story. Some characters originated in the story of the author's great-grandparents. (I can't say which characters without a spoiler.)
Hawker's descriptions are detailed and lyrical but at times, tedious. That and the long chapters kept the novel from being a page-turner until the last 50 pages or so when I didn't want to put it down. I am rating One for the Blackbird... a 4. I may read another by this author.
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