Helpful Score: 4
It is 1930; seventeen years old, and pregnant, Hedie Rails has just married Clement Ducharme and has moved into his family estate, a remote home in rural Missouri. Hedie's new husband seems to be involved in some shady business, going out at all hours of the night, sometimes coming up bloodied and hung over. While roaming the house at night Hedie finds the journals of Annie Lark, the first wife of Jacques Ducharme, the larger than life ancestor of Clement and the man who built the estate.
Through Hedie's reading's we learn how Annie was rescued by Jacques during the New Madrird earthquake. With Annie's' story anchoring the early life of this saga, and Hedie's the latter part, we also learn the stories of the other women and their children in Jacques Ducharme's life, and how each of them struggled to find their place in man's world and how Jacques ruled them all with an iron fist. Throughout the book it is the spirit of Annie that inhabits everyone's memories and her ghost that inhabits the Ducharme estate.
I was quite entranced with this book, in particular Annie's story, but all of the 'river wives' had fascinating stories, except perhaps Hedie, whose story was the most uninvolving of them all. All in all I think this was a very worthwhile read and believe there is a lot here for book clubs, it's a wonder to me this book isn't more popular with discussion groups.
Through Hedie's reading's we learn how Annie was rescued by Jacques during the New Madrird earthquake. With Annie's' story anchoring the early life of this saga, and Hedie's the latter part, we also learn the stories of the other women and their children in Jacques Ducharme's life, and how each of them struggled to find their place in man's world and how Jacques ruled them all with an iron fist. Throughout the book it is the spirit of Annie that inhabits everyone's memories and her ghost that inhabits the Ducharme estate.
I was quite entranced with this book, in particular Annie's story, but all of the 'river wives' had fascinating stories, except perhaps Hedie, whose story was the most uninvolving of them all. All in all I think this was a very worthwhile read and believe there is a lot here for book clubs, it's a wonder to me this book isn't more popular with discussion groups.
Helpful Score: 3
This novel spans a period of over one hundred years, telling the story of a pirate who made his fortune during the era of the Civil War, his wives and children, and his legacy. Though interesting and well-written, it's a bit ponderous... I much preferred her novel "Sweet Eyes"!!!
Helpful Score: 3
A haunting book--I just seem to keep having thoughts of the wives in this book pop into my head. A good read--well written.
Helpful Score: 2
I couldn't put this book down! A very interesting story with beautiful writing.
Helpful Score: 1
Beautifully written, suspenseful and intriguing story line that crosses generations, which at times made it confusing when the story jumped about between generations. A southern gothic, with pirates, slavery, witchcraft, love, passion and deceit. Not the easiest read as the story and characters are rather complex, but definitely worth the time. I'm keeping my copy and passing it around to my reading group of friends.
