Libbie Hawker

This book took me FOREVER to finish. I read the first two installments in this series-A Day of Fire and A Year of Ravens. Those feature a myriad of complex and sympathetic characters that made me feel for them all the more because their lives centered around such a tragic moment in history. Maybe it was because Song of War was all about fictional characters and a fictional war that it lacked the same emotional impact as its predecessors. There was a story or two that shone above the rest, but overall, I just didn't care and couldn't wait for it to be over. I would've given up if I wasn't so stubborn.

Kate Quinn opened this anthology, and she is flawless as always. Everything she writes is amazing and layered and transports me to another era. Even in short story format, her story The Apple is no exception.

I also liked Shecter's The Horse, but that was because it was succinct.

Thornton's story of The Prophecy was middling for me. Cassandra was a compelling character, but the story felt repetitive and unremarkable.

Everything else I couldn't stand, particularly Whitfield's piece about Agamnemnon. Gosh, was that a slog. I couldn't care less about a character than I did about him. He was either drunk or in heat the whole time. There was no evidence of the great king he was supposed to be. A major letdown of one of mythologies more well-known characters.

As for everything else, all you need to know is that everyone was either screwing each other or wanted to. That's pretty much it. Now, I like some good Harlequin every now and then, but this was all just angsty and "I'm drawn to him but I don't love him. He's too powerful for an emotion as human as love." Blah blah blah. Please. Spare me.

So, I'll spare you, reader of my review. Read maybe the first couple stories, and then just go read the Iliad. You're not missing any nuance by skipping this.
… (meer)

October in the Earth by Olivia Hawker

Mixed feelings after reading this book. It is a powerful tale of two women riding the rails and living the hobo life but…I had trouble relating to the women, their stories, and believing it could have happened as written. It was as bleak as the depression years no doubt were and told of hardships faced as well as referencing the wealthy who had money and their willingness to take advantage of others.

Del Wensley’s epiphany didn’t strike me as having a strong enough impetus to uproot and leave all she knew, jump on a train, and live a hobo life. I can’t see the pivotal moment being strong enough or occurring at a significant enough moment in her to inspire her to do what she did. She had no relevant skills to live the life she did in this story. Sure, meeting Louisa was helpful as Louisa shared her insights but two women on the rails alone… Anyway, it was interesting to watch Del grow, see the friendship between the two women’s bond strengthen, and hope that they would find a way to settle down at some point – perhaps together or near one another.

This book introduced many issues: the depression, banks calling in loans, dust storms, death, chicken hawks preying on others, railroad bulls dispensing their own form of justice, the hobo creed, jungles where hobos would gather to live in almost commune-like settlements, men who did women wrong, infidelity, friendship, migrant work, kidnapping, and…more. The ending left me flat. I had high hopes for more…and didn’t get it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC – this is my honest review.

Rating:
4 on NetGalley – it should be published
2 for enjoyment by me
3 Average… (meer)