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#12AuthorsIn22.
Day 2 Lori Benton
I have read Burning Sky and loved it. These three sounded interesting. Let me know if you've read any of them.
#ChristianFiction

Lori Benton has written an amazing novel which takes the reader into the midst of the tensions rising in 1774 Ohio-Kentucky frontier between Native American and Colonists. The characters are so well-constructed, there are no bad guys but rather complex emotions and dilemmas, broken hearts and homes. Many Sparrows begins with massacre of a Native American‘s family presumably at the hands of the Colonists and sets in motion the events of the novel.

This is one of those books I enjoyed at times and other times I struggled to keep reading. I just found myself sruggling to pick it up in the middle of the book, but I did enjoy the ending. Guess I struggled with all the names and war/peace talks.

The historical research shined thru in the clarity of descriptions of battles & landscape. Lori Benton constructed fascinating pictures of the Shawnee homestead & clothing. Many rich words were used that fit the story accurately and kept me learning along the journey.

I am grateful to WaterBrook & Multnomah Publishers & NetGalley for sharing the ebook of Many Sparrows in exchange for an honest review.

Jeremiah's tenderness is revealed when he utters this statement.

This book begins with deep sorrow but I've already glimpsed compassion and friendship.

I tried. I swear I did. Benton isnt a bad writer. She isnt a bad storyteller. She is just telling a story that I don't want to read in 2017! I thought it would be overwhelmingly religious and it wasnt at all. But I just have no interest in the story of a white woman lookkng for her son who has been kidnapped by "savages" who take white kids all the time. I am just not here for it. May be your tea, but it isnt mine. Hence the face ☝?

Alright so, I'm reading this and it's an easy read. But it's 2017 and people are still creating historical fiction narratives where we refer to Native Americans as "Indians" and "savages"? No spoilers but I just see a whole arc of redemption here where her mind set changes, she learns the ways of the "savages" and then fights along side them or something similar. Sigh... there aren't other stories that can be told?

This morning I started Many Sparrows which was an accidental ARC choice from Blogging for Books 😂 I'm not big on Christian Lit because it can get really preachy if not done well. So far its been fine with a light religious under tone that isnt overbearing. Again I requested on accident so fingers crossed. This is not my typical genre

I went into this novel afraid that it was going to be like James Alexander Thom's Follow the River, i.e. 400 pages of the protagonist having cyclical experiences. Thankfully, the plot moved along and the characters had enough inner turmoil to lend authenticity to the story. (This is Christian lit, which is not my favorite. The periodic religious tone fit with 18th century culture, however, and it didn't lessen this book for me.)

Starting this novel taking place in the 1774 wilderness in the Maine wilderness. Camping, a lobstah bake and blueberry beer = vacation.

Im nearly done with two of these, and was afraid I wouldn't have enough to read next week on vacation to Maine. But then this #bloggingforbooks gem showed up today!