Brenna B. (demiducky25) reviewed on 7/10/2009 + 161 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 3

Wow, this book was very good! I HIGHLY recommend it! You can tell that the author has a personal connection with the characters by the way she writes them (the fact that the author is from that area of Cape Cod probably helps add to the detail presented, everything from geography to laws to characters seems so well-researched). She makes the characters seem so real, not one of them is "perfect" and all have their flaws. Even the "bad" characters aren't completely evil, and seem to have moments of humanity that seem sincere. The story is about Lyddie Berry, a recent widow (at 39 years old was considered old but possibly still marriageable by the standards of the day), trying to preserve her way of life best she can. However, her son-in-law, Nathan Clarke, has other plans for her & her property since by law he now holds the title. Lyddie, however, has right to 1/3 of the property, so Clarke isn't able to do anything until Lyddie signs over her rights, something she isn't willing to do. Her "war" puts her at odds with her daughter, her grandchildren, her friends (including her lawyer), and the community at large. Her friendship & later employment with a local Indian, Sam Cowett, puts her at further odds with everyone around her. All Lyddie wants to do is have the basic right of freedom, find out what really happened that caused her husband's death at sea, and somehow find a way to talk to her daughter again. You can't help but get sucked in by Lyddie's determination, feel frustrated along with her at times, and share in her sorrow over & over again as she recounts instances in her life that reflect the love she and her husband once had together. This story moves at a relatively quick pace, never feels bogged down, and has relatively short chapters that help it move along nicely. I recently found out that Gunning wrote a second book, Bound, about this same village & Lyddie plays a role in it, so look forward to eventually reading that as well!

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