A review by mmcloe
1666: A Novel by Lora Chilton

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

In the vein of Hartman-esque critical fabulation, I think this novel did a decent job at illustrating the details of lives very rarely recorded. There's a humanity and kindness and dignity displayed towards these Indigenous women that is rare to see in any kind of media. I appreciated the citations at the end and the glossary of terms - a powerful testament to language following a story about the restriction and destruction of language. 

I thought the stylistic aspects could've been stronger at points. The prose was often rather dry and the storytelling a bit jerky. Excited to discuss this in my Quaker book club! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Murder, and Colonisation