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A review by w_r
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
5.0
As with the majority of my books, this was a library checkout - and one I'll soon be adding to my physical bookshelf for re-reads. Reminiscent of Snow Falling On Cedars, the story takes place around a trial, along with grudges and the hidden history of a town, with a loving marriage at the heart of everything. The tale is told within the frame of the freeze and thaw of the river, which Lawhon uses cleverly to keep track of time in this fictionalized tale of historical events. I was so invested in these characters and, luckily, I felt pleased with the way the story wrapped up. There were no out of character moments to take me out of the immersion, which I so appreciate. I've not read Lawhon before, but I'm eager to add her other historical novels to the top of my miles-long TBR.
[SPOILER-ISH] Favorite excerpts:
He brushes a few loose strands of hair away from my eyes and says, "When you were young, your eyes were dark. Chestnut like your hair. And do you know what the Bard says about chestnut eyes?"
"Nothing, I'm sure."
"An excellent color: your color chestnut was ever the only color."
"I do believe you just made that up."
"In fact, I did not. It's from As You Like It. But that's not the point I'm trying to make. Your eyes used to be dark, but now they have lightened. Golden, like acorns."
I snort. "And I suppose the Bard would have something to say about acorns as well? No doubt from The Taming Of The Shrew."
"He had much to say about acorns - he was a man well acquanted with nature, was Shakespeare. But my favorite line is also from As You Like It, though, unlike Celia, I did not find you 'under a tree, dropped like an acorn.' It was a field, the first time I saw you, and from what I remember, there wasn't an oak in sight. But my point is that something about you had to mellow with age, given that your temperament wouldn't budge an inch. It was left to your eyes to soften, and they are lovelier now than ever. So no, Mrs. Ballard, you might not be pretty, but I'll be damned if you are not the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
- - -
I watch the judges at the table across the room. They look like mere mortals, just men of varying ages, at breakfast. In a few short hours, however, they will don their black silk robes and their powdered wigs and transform into symbols of power and authority. Those four men will determine whether justice is available to all, or only a select few.
- - -
...when it was done, he settled onto the damp grass beside me.
He reached out and brushed a thumb along my cheek. "I would not wish any companion in the world but you," he said.
"You're just full of the Bard today, aren't you?" I asked. And when he laughed, I quoted a line myself. "For which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?"
"For all of your parts. Those inward and out," he answered...
[SPOILER-ISH] Favorite excerpts:
He brushes a few loose strands of hair away from my eyes and says, "When you were young, your eyes were dark. Chestnut like your hair. And do you know what the Bard says about chestnut eyes?"
"Nothing, I'm sure."
"An excellent color: your color chestnut was ever the only color."
"I do believe you just made that up."
"In fact, I did not. It's from As You Like It. But that's not the point I'm trying to make. Your eyes used to be dark, but now they have lightened. Golden, like acorns."
I snort. "And I suppose the Bard would have something to say about acorns as well? No doubt from The Taming Of The Shrew."
"He had much to say about acorns - he was a man well acquanted with nature, was Shakespeare. But my favorite line is also from As You Like It, though, unlike Celia, I did not find you 'under a tree, dropped like an acorn.' It was a field, the first time I saw you, and from what I remember, there wasn't an oak in sight. But my point is that something about you had to mellow with age, given that your temperament wouldn't budge an inch. It was left to your eyes to soften, and they are lovelier now than ever. So no, Mrs. Ballard, you might not be pretty, but I'll be damned if you are not the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
- - -
I watch the judges at the table across the room. They look like mere mortals, just men of varying ages, at breakfast. In a few short hours, however, they will don their black silk robes and their powdered wigs and transform into symbols of power and authority. Those four men will determine whether justice is available to all, or only a select few.
- - -
...when it was done, he settled onto the damp grass beside me.
He reached out and brushed a thumb along my cheek. "I would not wish any companion in the world but you," he said.
"You're just full of the Bard today, aren't you?" I asked. And when he laughed, I quoted a line myself. "For which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?"
"For all of your parts. Those inward and out," he answered...