Neverhome, quickly done
About two weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting Laird Hunt and hearing him speak about his newest novel Neverhome, and his experiences as an author in the publishing industry. He read a short except from the book and had the whole room holding their breath as he recounted an episode of Ash Thompson's life after she left the war.
Ash Thompson is a young woman that goes to fight in the Civil War in place of her husband and disguises herself as a man. When I first heard this I thought Mulan in the Civil War! Almost immediately upon starting the book, I learned I was seriously wrong.
Ash Thompson is a character all her own. She's more comfortable in pants than a dress because she can run without tripping over her skirts. She can shoot a squirrel between the eyes from yards away, and she stands beside the men in the front lines, facing death in the face. She is stubborn and serious. She is strong, determined, and loyal. She does what she has to do, and is seriously clever and smart in her tactics.
Ash is a character I was put off by at first. Her machismo was harsh and slightly off putting. But as the novel went on, her barriers broke down, and you find yourself with her shivering under a lavender bush sharing a biscuit. I admired her determination to get back to the fight after the many times she was separated from her troop. She could've gone home. She could've never left to fight at all. But she endures it all from the battles, to kidnappers, to a mental hospital. She uses her brains and cleverness to get away, and eventually turns toward home after several emotionally charged episodes.
I won't give it away because you should really read this book, but the ending tore me up. It stuck with me for hours afterwards as the final scene ran through my head over and over again.
Hunt surprises the reader at every turn with a variety of characters and situations. Emotionally and physically Ash is challenged in nearly every chapter, and by the end you feel like you went through it all with her. Hunt's command of his style is inspiring. With a few, simple words he can create complete scenes and full fledged characters. I was amazed at how distinct each character was though they only appeared for a chapter or two. I say this book is quickly done because I read it in two days. The short chapters string you along to keep you reading and before you know it you're at the last page.
Hunt describes this book as experimental, and it is not your typical historical fiction novel. The structure and style lends itself more towards literary fiction, but don't let that intimidate you. If you like to read and like to see women kick butt, try picking up this book.
