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.
Helpful Score: 1
i had some trepidations about reading this book but I LOVED IT!! it is great story laced with a lot of history, suspense, romance and a general sense of the time. it has a very intricate web of lives, loves, crime. it has everything a novel should have. it is a story about 7 different women and how they all become intertwined without ever meeting...if you love a gripping-can't-put-it down read, i highly recommend it!
Wow, this was a great book and I'm giving it 4.5 stars. Tho it was sometimes confusing with jumping around from character to character in time, the stories were totally new to me, and the characters very well executed. Lots of plot, tension, sex, violence and intrigue. The writing is beautiful.
I play in a many swap games here on PBS, and I most likely won this in a swap. Then it gathered dust on my bookshelf, as it went from a highly wishlisted book to a non wishlisted book. So over a year maybe 2 years on my TBR = to be read bookshelf. UNTIL, another swap called the TBR swap. And this book was chosen, cue angelic awesome music, and heavenly glowing lights.
I am so glad that this book was chosen TBR, to be read. I wish now, I hadnt let this languish on my shelf so long. It was truly a well written well paced, moving book. I do realize at times you might feel the urge to reach out and smack some of the characters, but still the flawed characters will resonate with you.
The story begins in 1811 with some Earthquakes, that really did happen in New Madrid, Missouri. The fault line continues to quake for some time. Our First River wife is trapped in her home, and rescued by Jacques Ducharme. Great love, and tragedy occurs and we meet more river wives. You meet the women of the past via some diaries that our present day Ducharme wife is reading in 1930.
This isnt some hollywood parallel universe unbelievable coincidence mumbo jumbo. The author really makes the story work, as you see similarities in all the female characters and the men. The story is well woven. When you are done if you still want to smack some of the characters go ahead, they deserve it. But you will smack yourself if you put off reading this much longer, it is that good.
I am so glad that this book was chosen TBR, to be read. I wish now, I hadnt let this languish on my shelf so long. It was truly a well written well paced, moving book. I do realize at times you might feel the urge to reach out and smack some of the characters, but still the flawed characters will resonate with you.
The story begins in 1811 with some Earthquakes, that really did happen in New Madrid, Missouri. The fault line continues to quake for some time. Our First River wife is trapped in her home, and rescued by Jacques Ducharme. Great love, and tragedy occurs and we meet more river wives. You meet the women of the past via some diaries that our present day Ducharme wife is reading in 1930.
This isnt some hollywood parallel universe unbelievable coincidence mumbo jumbo. The author really makes the story work, as you see similarities in all the female characters and the men. The story is well woven. When you are done if you still want to smack some of the characters go ahead, they deserve it. But you will smack yourself if you put off reading this much longer, it is that good.
I found this book very interesting, moves along quickly. Maybe it should have been titled The River Husband-I enjoyed the different female characters-strong women-all in all an enjoyable read.
