Book 28 - 2019
Book 28: The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber - 287 pages
Description from bookdepository.co.uk:
For almost four years, men came to my cabin carrying trouble on their backs, each one haunted and looking over their shoulders . . . They showed up during the spring, they appeared in the summer and early fall. But never now, never in January . . .
Winter, 1888. In the inhospitable lands of Utah Territory, glovemaker Deborah Tyler awaits her husband's return home after months working across the state. But as his due date comes and goes without a word, Deborah starts to fear the worst. Facing a future alone, matters are only compounded when a desperate stranger arrives on her doorstep. And with him, trouble.
For although the man claims just to need a place to rest for the night, he wouldn't be here in the bitter month of January if he wasn't on the run. And where he goes, lawmen are sure to follow. Lawmen who wouldn't think twice about burning Deborah's home to the ground if they thought she'd helped their fugitive.
With her husband's absence felt stronger by the minute, Deborah must make a decision. A decision that will change her life forever . . .
Thoughts:
This book was recommended to me by my CFO at work, as the author is appearing at Brisbane Writer’s Festival (which my CFO is involved with) in September. I had no idea what it was about, but given I will be attending the festival, I thought I should give it a read. It tells the story of Deborah, a Mormon woman living in Utah, waiting for the return of her husband who is late coming back from a long trip travelling to Utah to repair wheels. While he’s away, a man appears at Deborah’s door - Deborah, her husband and her husband’s stepbrother are involved in a scheme where they protect men in plural marriages who are running away from the law. But never before have one of these men come in January, and so sets off a chain of events that unsettles life in Deborah’s tiny town, while she ponders whether her husband is simply late getting home. To read it, it feels like a fairly simple story, but the people of this town are a little different from the average Mormon, and the gentle politics of this tiny town contrasts against the challenges posed by a government that hates the Mormon people. In addition, the almost wistful relationship between Deborah and her stepbrother-in-law Nels provides a gentle undercurrent to the story. It’s also very well written, and certainly appears to be historically accurate. It’s not really my usual genre, and I probably wouldn’t have picked it up if not for the recommendation and the Festival, but nonetheless, its a fascinating snapshot in time and place to get exposed to, and certainly a pleasant way to spend a week of my reading time.
28 / 50 books. 56% done!
7776 / 15000 pages. 52% done!
Currently reading:
Journey to the West by Cheng-En Wu - 673 pages
The Mammoth Book of SF Wars by Ian Watson & Ian Whates - 497 pages
The Sandman: Volume 2 - The Doll’s House by Neil Gaiman - 232 pages
And coming up:
The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Volume 3: White Gold Wielder by Stephen Donaldson - 500 pages
The Odyssey by Homer - 324 pages
Hardcore Twenty-Four by Janet Evanovich - 285 pages
Description from bookdepository.co.uk:
For almost four years, men came to my cabin carrying trouble on their backs, each one haunted and looking over their shoulders . . . They showed up during the spring, they appeared in the summer and early fall. But never now, never in January . . .
Winter, 1888. In the inhospitable lands of Utah Territory, glovemaker Deborah Tyler awaits her husband's return home after months working across the state. But as his due date comes and goes without a word, Deborah starts to fear the worst. Facing a future alone, matters are only compounded when a desperate stranger arrives on her doorstep. And with him, trouble.
For although the man claims just to need a place to rest for the night, he wouldn't be here in the bitter month of January if he wasn't on the run. And where he goes, lawmen are sure to follow. Lawmen who wouldn't think twice about burning Deborah's home to the ground if they thought she'd helped their fugitive.
With her husband's absence felt stronger by the minute, Deborah must make a decision. A decision that will change her life forever . . .
Thoughts:
This book was recommended to me by my CFO at work, as the author is appearing at Brisbane Writer’s Festival (which my CFO is involved with) in September. I had no idea what it was about, but given I will be attending the festival, I thought I should give it a read. It tells the story of Deborah, a Mormon woman living in Utah, waiting for the return of her husband who is late coming back from a long trip travelling to Utah to repair wheels. While he’s away, a man appears at Deborah’s door - Deborah, her husband and her husband’s stepbrother are involved in a scheme where they protect men in plural marriages who are running away from the law. But never before have one of these men come in January, and so sets off a chain of events that unsettles life in Deborah’s tiny town, while she ponders whether her husband is simply late getting home. To read it, it feels like a fairly simple story, but the people of this town are a little different from the average Mormon, and the gentle politics of this tiny town contrasts against the challenges posed by a government that hates the Mormon people. In addition, the almost wistful relationship between Deborah and her stepbrother-in-law Nels provides a gentle undercurrent to the story. It’s also very well written, and certainly appears to be historically accurate. It’s not really my usual genre, and I probably wouldn’t have picked it up if not for the recommendation and the Festival, but nonetheless, its a fascinating snapshot in time and place to get exposed to, and certainly a pleasant way to spend a week of my reading time.
28 / 50 books. 56% done!
7776 / 15000 pages. 52% done!
Currently reading:
Journey to the West by Cheng-En Wu - 673 pages
The Mammoth Book of SF Wars by Ian Watson & Ian Whates - 497 pages
The Sandman: Volume 2 - The Doll’s House by Neil Gaiman - 232 pages
And coming up:
The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Volume 3: White Gold Wielder by Stephen Donaldson - 500 pages
The Odyssey by Homer - 324 pages
Hardcore Twenty-Four by Janet Evanovich - 285 pages