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doreeny 's review for:
Caleb's Crossing
by Geraldine Brooks
The narrator of Brooks' latest historical fiction is Bethia Mayfield, a Puritan woman living on (what is now known as) Martha's Vineyard in the 1660s.
The Caleb of the title refers to Cheeshahteaumauck, the first Native American to earn a degree at Harvard. The title refers to Caleb's crossing from native tribal culture to English white culture, but the book is really more about Bethia's crossing from girlhood to womanhood. As a young girl, Bethia secretly befriends Caleb, a Wampanoag Indian and nephew of the most powerful pawaaw of the tribe. Because of a series of events, she ends up "accompanying" her brother and Caleb to Harvard.
Puritan women were not educated, but Bethia yearns for an education. Unbeknownst to her father, a minister, she listens to him teaching her brother and Caleb and thereby learns Latin, Greek and Hebrew. She furthers her informal education at Harvard by eavesdropping on lectures. Is it credible that a person learn three classic languages merely by listening?
Another weakness is the last section of the novel. It lacks the details that make the first sections so interesting. In the same way, Bethia's relationship with her husband Samuel lacks detail; we are told about the love, but not really shown it, so it is somewhat unconvincing. The relationship between Bethia and Caleb seems much stronger because it is delineated so much more clearly.
The book touches on a number of topics: the conflict between native and white culture and religion, the mistreatment of natives, Puritan religious views, the effects of a totally patriarchal society.
Having enjoyed Brooks' other novels, I eagerly began this one. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
The Caleb of the title refers to Cheeshahteaumauck, the first Native American to earn a degree at Harvard. The title refers to Caleb's crossing from native tribal culture to English white culture, but the book is really more about Bethia's crossing from girlhood to womanhood. As a young girl, Bethia secretly befriends Caleb, a Wampanoag Indian and nephew of the most powerful pawaaw of the tribe. Because of a series of events, she ends up "accompanying" her brother and Caleb to Harvard.
Puritan women were not educated, but Bethia yearns for an education. Unbeknownst to her father, a minister, she listens to him teaching her brother and Caleb and thereby learns Latin, Greek and Hebrew. She furthers her informal education at Harvard by eavesdropping on lectures. Is it credible that a person learn three classic languages merely by listening?
Another weakness is the last section of the novel. It lacks the details that make the first sections so interesting. In the same way, Bethia's relationship with her husband Samuel lacks detail; we are told about the love, but not really shown it, so it is somewhat unconvincing. The relationship between Bethia and Caleb seems much stronger because it is delineated so much more clearly.
The book touches on a number of topics: the conflict between native and white culture and religion, the mistreatment of natives, Puritan religious views, the effects of a totally patriarchal society.
Having enjoyed Brooks' other novels, I eagerly began this one. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.