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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Louisiana, 1875 In the tumultuous aftermath of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now-destitute plantation; Juneau Jane, her illegitimate free-born Creole half-sister; and Hannie, Lavinia's former slave. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following dangerous roads rife with ruthless vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and eight siblings before slavery's end, the pilgrimage westward reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the seemingly limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope.
Louisiana, 1987 For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt--until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, seems suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled oaks and run-down plantation homes lies the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.
While the story had a powerful topic, the execution of the actual material was too slow in my opinion, especially the start of the book. I also thought that the ending was unnecessary and main parts of the story line were rushed.
Louisiana, 1987 For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt--until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, seems suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled oaks and run-down plantation homes lies the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.
While the story had a powerful topic, the execution of the actual material was too slow in my opinion, especially the start of the book. I also thought that the ending was unnecessary and main parts of the story line were rushed.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My book group LOVED this engrossing historical novel with dual narratives set in 1875 & 1987, featuring two amazing heroines and based in a little-known bit of history.
My review & an audio sample:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2023/06/fiction-review-book-of-lost-friends.html
My review & an audio sample:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2023/06/fiction-review-book-of-lost-friends.html
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Another heartbreaking chapter in American history, but a wonderful and inspiring story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Grief
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
slow-paced
I enjoyed the dual timelines and different stories and enjoyed even more how they all came together.
This is a less hard hitting (tragic details, violence, etc) than a lot of the historical fictions I’ve read and for that reason it kind of drug for me. I do think the sneaky hard hitting of the Lost Friends articles at the end of chapters is effective. I loved most learning about the true stories this was inspired by.
Lisa Wingate has a great, accessible way to bring historical truths to us.
This is a less hard hitting (tragic details, violence, etc) than a lot of the historical fictions I’ve read and for that reason it kind of drug for me. I do think the sneaky hard hitting of the Lost Friends articles at the end of chapters is effective. I loved most learning about the true stories this was inspired by.
Lisa Wingate has a great, accessible way to bring historical truths to us.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes