Homeland is primarily about friendship, specifically between two women; Cora living in ME, and Susanna living in TN during the Civil War, but it is also about the relationships we form with characters from books and how books become some of our most coveted friendships.

The story is written in epistle form, with most of the letters written between the two women (many not sent due to lack of mail service, others because of content, and some lost en route). Their letters document the war and the trials and tribulations they must face to endure it. They give each other encouragement and support, even if only imaginary at times since many of their letters are not sent.

Hambly does a good job of portraying the many hardships faced by both sides in the war, and the fact that both sides had resisters, and many were not supportive of the side they were “supposed to be on,” something that is often overlooked in books about the Civil War.

Once the war begins they live very isolated lives, especially Cora, the woman who lives on the small ME Island and has been shunned by neighbors, friends and even her sister-in-law because her husband goes back to his home state of TN to fight for the South. In the South most of Susanna’s friends and neighbors have fled leaving her with only her bleeding-heart confederate sister and the militia with whom to contend. So without much company to interact with they each seek solace and escape in reading novels, although Susanna has to resort to remembering books since she has none physically to read anymore. Hambly pays tribute to classic authors such as Austen, Dickens, Thackery, Homer, Hugo, Cervantes, and Swift among many others. Cora and Susanna talked about the characters as knowingly as friends, questioned their motives and their character at times, and wondered aloud about what happened to them after the story officially ended. They also relate their own situations and reactions to those of characters in the novels, which gives them a sense of validation.

I don’t generally read a lot of “chick lit” but this was better than most and I especially enjoyed her literary allusions which made me remember a lot of my old “friends” whom I haven’t thought about in awhile.
( )

Review: Homeland by Barbara Hambly. The book was interesting with the material on the Civil War, the President Lincoln, President Johnson, General Lee, General Grant and information on the troops who fought on each side. All the information about the Military, the wounded , the men who died in battle and the roughness of how the homeland people, mostly women, got through each day trying to survive the lost of love ones, and the blazing of their homes, and hunger, was told by two women.

Susanna and Cora were the best of friends and separated by two husbands who fought on different sides. Susanna and her family stayed in Greene County, Tennessee. Cora and her family went to Boston, Massachusetts and then moved on to Deer Island, Maine. (I just happen to know where that is…). Even though they were separated they still corresponded back and forth when they could. Sometimes it was hard getting mail traveled to other areas. When this did happen they both still wrote letters and a lot didn’t get sent but they kept them collected in a hiding place hoping to mail them some day. It helped them to know there was someone out there caring for them. The letter writing caused some friction in their families but they were determined to keep their friendship.

Through these letters is how the Author wrote this book. These two women characters corresponded through letters the entire story about their’s and other’s involvement, situation, thoughts, the environment, the weather, and how they all survived day by day.

What kept me reading was the history within the story. The Author’s writing was great. The entire story had a southern feel to it. I enjoyed it but a little slow reading letter after letter. Some repetitiveness but all in all a good read. There are probably some who don’t care for the type of format the Author used. It will probably be a while before I read another book with this format. Never less, I enjoyed the content.
( )

Homeland is primarily about friendship, specifically between two women; Cora living in ME, and Susanna living in TN during the Civil War, but it is also about the relationships we form with characters from books and how books become some of our most coveted friendships.

The story is written in epistle form, with most of the letters written between the two women (many not sent due to lack of mail service, others because of content, and some lost en route). Their letters document the war and the trials and tribulations they must face to endure it. They give each other encouragement and support, even if only imaginary at times since many of their letters are not sent.

Hambly does a good job of portraying the many hardships faced by both sides in the war, and the fact that both sides had resisters, and many were not supportive of the side they were “supposed to be on,” something that is often overlooked in books about the Civil War.

Once the war begins they live very isolated lives, especially Cora, the woman who lives on the small ME Island and has been shunned by neighbors, friends and even her sister-in-law because her husband goes back to his home state of TN to fight for the South. In the South most of Susanna’s friends and neighbors have fled leaving her with only her bleeding-heart confederate sister and the militia with whom to contend. So without much company to interact with they each seek solace and escape in reading novels, although Susanna has to resort to remembering books since she has none physically to read anymore. Hambly pays tribute to classic authors such as Austen, Dickens, Thackery, Homer, Hugo, Cervantes, and Swift among many others. Cora and Susanna talked about the characters as knowingly as friends, questioned their motives and their character at times, and wondered aloud about what happened to them after the story officially ended. They also relate their own situations and reactions to those of characters in the novels, which gives them a sense of validation.

I don’t generally read a lot of “chick lit” but this was better than most and I especially enjoyed her literary allusions which made me remember a lot of my old “friends” whom I haven’t thought about in awhile.
( )

Written during the Civil War this book really captured me. The letters exchanged between these friends show the perils and difficulties of war. I enjoyed this book and the style of the writing. ( )

http://www.bookpikks.com/homeland-a-novel-by-barbara-hambly/ ( )