Rating: 5 Stars

This novel is an excellent read.  It takes us on a journey through a  most difficult time in our country’s history when the Civil War ravaged us and the greatest evils were perpetrated against mankind.  There is a lot of grim, gruesome reality in the novel as well as poignant beauty.  The love story drives the novel and yet our lovers spend the majority of the novel torn apart by war and distance.

Our female heroine, Ada and her friend Ruby show us the wonder of working the land and the power that can be gained supporting oneself through labor and industry.  I am so inspired by many of the ideas I read in the book for my own farm that we are starting including the use of Martins to keep crows and birds of prey away from gardens and livestock.  And with more research I find the Purple Martins need our help, have been trained by the Native Americans to nest near human habitation and that with a simple house (gourds being the traditional type) the birds will happily coexist with us and add beauty to our lives.

I learned various uses of corn meal, the various parts of a pig from “chitlins” to the brain, and the importance of lard in our traditional cooking methods.

I had hoped for more ideas and guides than the book offered though based on a review I had previously read.  Still the book is an inspiration and I enjoyed every minute of it.  It was rich in detail, the characters had depth and substance along with very real emotions, passions, flaws, and the beauty of spirit.

Our hero, Inman journeyed through the south after deserting the hospital where he was recovering from a near fatal wound.  His journey was rife with adversity, danger and miracles.  He would nearly starve then find a gift as if a higher power was looking out for him.  His trials give perspective to all of us that struggle with day to day life, heartache and pain.  If we can have just one ounce of his courage and leave our fates in God’s hands we can achieve great things.

All in all I give the book 5 stars.  It is well written, the plot is driven, the characters are rich.  Besides being entertaining it also encourages deep thinking not only about history, the civil war but about the nature of people from the most ruthless and sociopathic killers to the most honorable, caring and evolved souls.