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danielcrogers's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't help but love the characters. Bird's writing is top-notch, and Turpin's narration is superb. Together, they transport you into the life of Cathy Williams, and you'll walk away the better for that visit.
Merged review:
I couldn't help but love the characters. Bird's writing is top-notch, and Turpin's narration is superb. Together, they transport you into the life of Cathy Williams, and you'll walk away the better for that visit.
Merged review:
I couldn't help but love the characters. Bird's writing is top-notch, and Turpin's narration is superb. Together, they transport you into the life of Cathy Williams, and you'll walk away the better for that visit.
aleenabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hoosgracie's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book. Historical fiction but firmly based in the real life of Cathy Williams, the first woman, who was an African-American freed slave - to serve in the peace-time US army. She did so in disguise and serve with the Buffalo Soldiers. Highly recommend.
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
All I'm saying is that this book didn't work for me. I thought I would love it; a strong Black woman protagonist who is tough and determined to succeed against all odds. I think I just really hate the Army part of the plot, which is an awful lot of the book. There seem to be uncountable ways for human beings to be horrible to one another in this story; and that is not where I want to be putting my focus right now.
lindseay's review against another edition
2.0
I wish Sarah Bird had just straight up written a book inspired by Cathy Williams. I get that details were hard to come by, but Bird admits in interviews that she abandoned even those she could find (interview with Houston Chronicle: I'd always imagined her on a horse, so even though she served as a foot soldier, I changed that). Researching Cathy's fictional love interest only to find that he was a real soldier who in no way would've intersected with Williams was also puzzling.
agjuba's review against another edition
3.0
I just finished reading this, but think the book needs to sit with me a bit before I can give a final evluation. My first thoughts, though, are complete admiration for Bird's ability to conjure a rich and meaningful life of a woman for whom precious little remains. The writing is superb, and the attention to detail in describing the harshness of life during and immediately after the Civil War is remarkable. Without entering the fray of arguments about the validity of a White woman writing about the Black experience, I think her novel highlights both how far we have come and how far we have yet to go.
queenalkaia's review against another edition
4.0
4.5*, rounded down just because although I love it, it took me a while to love it.
It was a beautiful book, beautiful story. Don't have much to say about it, I liked all the themes and aspects it brought up. However, I felt the book was way too long until about 40% of it. Only then was I really gripped and the only reason why I didn't stop reading before that was because I was curious about the story. So definitely worth the read and worth pushing through, but it's still almost half of the book that was just too long for me.
It was a beautiful book, beautiful story. Don't have much to say about it, I liked all the themes and aspects it brought up. However, I felt the book was way too long until about 40% of it. Only then was I really gripped and the only reason why I didn't stop reading before that was because I was curious about the story. So definitely worth the read and worth pushing through, but it's still almost half of the book that was just too long for me.
southernbellebooks's review against another edition
5.0
For whatever reason, I originally thought this book was about England and royalty so I wasn't too interested in that kind of historical fiction. I happened to see this book in the library and decided to read the synopsis and I immediately put it in my bag. Historical fiction is not a genre I normally go for but this book seemed different. I was loving this book from the moment I picked it up. Cathy is such an incredible woman and a hero and I fell in love with everything about her (especially when it came to her up and down relationship with Wager). I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction or wants another take on the civil war.
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
3.0
Parts of this book were so good. I loved that it was based on a real woman who served with the Buffalo soldiers. A woman with smarts and grit and a determination to make a better life for African American people after the civil war. She is stubborn and strong and intends to defy the odds. She sees such hope for the world after the civil war only to have her hopes dashed repeatedly.
What kept it from a higher rating was, in large part, the ending. I was frustrated and irritated with the last revelation and felt that it was a terrible way for her story to end. Of course that was just my opinion.
What kept it from a higher rating was, in large part, the ending. I was frustrated and irritated with the last revelation and felt that it was a terrible way for her story to end. Of course that was just my opinion.
jackyobrien6's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
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