Notes from July 2016 group

Neverhome by Laird Hunt - Discussed on Wed July 6, 2016 at Geneseo Public Library

She calls herself Ash, but that's not her real name. She is a farmer's faithful wife, but she has left her husband to don the uniform of a Union soldier in the Civil War. NEVERHOME tells the harrowing story of Ash Thompson during the battle for the South. Through bloodshed and hysteria and heartbreak, she becomes a hero, a folk legend, a madwoman and a traitor to the American cause.

Laird Hunt's dazzling new novel throws a light on the adventurous women who chose to fight instead of stay behind. It is also a mystery story: why did Ash leave and her husband stay? Why can she not return? What will she have to go through to make it back home?

In gorgeous prose, Hunt's rebellious young heroine fights her way through history, and back home to her husband, and finally into our hearts.

Our group had very mixed reactions to this book.  We were all interested in the topic – a woman becoming a soldier in the Civil War and what that entails.  This was not an easy read book.  The story jumped from flashbacks to present day making it difficult to follow and confusing.  There was great discussions on the main character, Constance/Ash, and her reasoning / activities.   The ending was unexpected.  This was not a book we would recommend.