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gwalt118's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I am one step closer to being an Olivia Hawker completist. I love Hawker's writing, her subject matter, and her thorough research. The Fire and the Ore was a very different novel than One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow, my first exposure to Hawker's work. This historical fiction novel focuses on the Mormon faith in the 1850s from the viewpoint of two women. Tamar is a devout Mormon, traveling with her family to join a large contingent of Mormons in Utah. Jane is not a Mormon but is deeply impacted by living in close proximity to the same group that Tamar will eventually join.
Through these two viewpoints, I learned quite a bit about the Mormon faith. I had to address my biases and admit my ignorance about certain aspects of their beliefs and practices. In particular, this novel focuses on the practice of polygamy, which some Mormons participated in up until 1890. The ways in which Hawker encapsulates the doubts and trials of faith - and some practices that may be aligned with faith - were particularly moving for me. Tamar and Jane both face trials of life and of faith in particularly different yet equally powerful ways.
I'm not sure I would recommend this book to everyone. This novel requires a particularly open mind, and I think it may be more impactful to readers who have a strong faith - whatever that faith may be. As usual, where there is an Author's Note, it must be read. This one is particularly important, and I found Hawker's explanation of her inspiration for this novel particularly enlightening.
Through these two viewpoints, I learned quite a bit about the Mormon faith. I had to address my biases and admit my ignorance about certain aspects of their beliefs and practices. In particular, this novel focuses on the practice of polygamy, which some Mormons participated in up until 1890. The ways in which Hawker encapsulates the doubts and trials of faith - and some practices that may be aligned with faith - were particularly moving for me. Tamar and Jane both face trials of life and of faith in particularly different yet equally powerful ways.
I'm not sure I would recommend this book to everyone. This novel requires a particularly open mind, and I think it may be more impactful to readers who have a strong faith - whatever that faith may be. As usual, where there is an Author's Note, it must be read. This one is particularly important, and I found Hawker's explanation of her inspiration for this novel particularly enlightening.
rosemwood's review
4.0
This is a novel about the trials and tribulations of the Mormons traveling West to Utah territory between 1854-1858. The chapters are alternated between Tamar and Jane who share the same husband with Tabitha. I wish we were able to get Tabitha's POV too. I think it would have been interesting since she was the first wife. I love the way the author allows us to feel the emotional and physical journeys they must take. The author's note tells us that she in the ancestor of Jane. She also says that she has taken liberty to change some of the history making this a fiction.
lazy_raven's review
4.0
Fantastic! Story of the hand cart pioneers in Utah just before the Utah war. All fiction, but based largely on family diaries and newspapers of the time.
cadiemc's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
astoehr's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
beachbookbabe's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
monicaedvenson's review
4.0
I’d give this book a 4.25 star rating if I could. I was intrigued by the story and thought that the author did a good job developing her characters and their back stories.
mama3manda's review
4.0
Not what I expected. I went into this assuming it would be a story based around the struggles of sisterwives. While that was a component of the story, it was so much more. It was an enlightening story and account of the history of the Mormon faith/church. I enjoyed how the characters were entangled throughout. The beginning did drag on a bit for me, but once I finished the book, I felt it was necessary to truly understand the hardships of the journey. I learned a lot, and it kept my interest overall. The Author's Note at the end made me enjoy the story even more.