ARA Review by Clare Blando of Rebirth in Acadi
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Clare Blando
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ARA Review by Clare Blando of Rebirth in Acadi
[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, Rebirth in Acadi.]
Though initially, this book was difficult to absorb, I gladly gave Rebirth In Acadi five out of five stars. Louise Dennis, also Elizabeth Bancroft, decides to leave her home in Brackenville, in a northern state, to pursue the truth about her ancestors in the small town of Acadi, Louisiana. Anyone who has experienced a move across the country understands the anxiety and trepidation this life-altering change brings. But Louise is not only brave and intelligent, she’s also determined. Knowing only what she learned from her grandfather, Louise is focused on finding the truth about a dual that took the life of her ancestor, and why his wife seemed to turn away from her dying husband. In addition to Louise’s personal quest, Margaret Bohr is on her own search for answers. She and her husband, Fred, have begun building a house in Acadi, using a contractor who happens to be Louise’s shady fiancé. The two eventually meet and join forces to discover the answers they both seek.
I find that the first part of any book not only establishes the writer’s point of view, but also its rhythm, in a sense, which is why I initially believed the story was difficult to grasp. It wasn’t long before I realized the author has an extraordinary way of painting pictures with words. For example, the reader needn’t have visited Louisiana to experience the stifling heat and suffocating humidity.
The characters are also expertly defined. Most everyone can relate to someone like Margaret, who obsesses over details of her new house under construction, or Pierre who portrays a person of class and character but who is actually quite the opposite. Even minor characters are carefully thought out and expertly detailed. Only near the end do we discover that the toughest people in the story are the ones who aren’t the loudest and most demanding.
The story became so enjoyable to read that I briefly lost focus on the goal, learning details of the historic dual. Nevertheless, the many detours into the backstory of other characters (Cedro, Louise, Fred) became very engrossing, perhaps making the book seem longer than it actually is, which is okay. Discovery of the answer to the question of the dual brought about closure for the characters and also tied a few loose ends which led to a satisfying conclusion.
This is the first book I’ve read by Susan Swanson, and hopefully not the last. I consider her to be a true wordsmith. Her ability to paint pictures with her words is enviable and admirable. If at first, I was a little bogged down (no swamp pun intended) by her writing, it was because I needed to slow the pace of my reading. That was necessary in order to fully appreciate the accurate depictions of places and people. Rebirth In Acadia is not a thriller or dark mystery but is exceptionally delightful.
***
View Rebirth in Acadi on Bookshelves
Though initially, this book was difficult to absorb, I gladly gave Rebirth In Acadi five out of five stars. Louise Dennis, also Elizabeth Bancroft, decides to leave her home in Brackenville, in a northern state, to pursue the truth about her ancestors in the small town of Acadi, Louisiana. Anyone who has experienced a move across the country understands the anxiety and trepidation this life-altering change brings. But Louise is not only brave and intelligent, she’s also determined. Knowing only what she learned from her grandfather, Louise is focused on finding the truth about a dual that took the life of her ancestor, and why his wife seemed to turn away from her dying husband. In addition to Louise’s personal quest, Margaret Bohr is on her own search for answers. She and her husband, Fred, have begun building a house in Acadi, using a contractor who happens to be Louise’s shady fiancé. The two eventually meet and join forces to discover the answers they both seek.
I find that the first part of any book not only establishes the writer’s point of view, but also its rhythm, in a sense, which is why I initially believed the story was difficult to grasp. It wasn’t long before I realized the author has an extraordinary way of painting pictures with words. For example, the reader needn’t have visited Louisiana to experience the stifling heat and suffocating humidity.
The characters are also expertly defined. Most everyone can relate to someone like Margaret, who obsesses over details of her new house under construction, or Pierre who portrays a person of class and character but who is actually quite the opposite. Even minor characters are carefully thought out and expertly detailed. Only near the end do we discover that the toughest people in the story are the ones who aren’t the loudest and most demanding.
The story became so enjoyable to read that I briefly lost focus on the goal, learning details of the historic dual. Nevertheless, the many detours into the backstory of other characters (Cedro, Louise, Fred) became very engrossing, perhaps making the book seem longer than it actually is, which is okay. Discovery of the answer to the question of the dual brought about closure for the characters and also tied a few loose ends which led to a satisfying conclusion.
This is the first book I’ve read by Susan Swanson, and hopefully not the last. I consider her to be a true wordsmith. Her ability to paint pictures with her words is enviable and admirable. If at first, I was a little bogged down (no swamp pun intended) by her writing, it was because I needed to slow the pace of my reading. That was necessary in order to fully appreciate the accurate depictions of places and people. Rebirth In Acadia is not a thriller or dark mystery but is exceptionally delightful.
***
View Rebirth in Acadi on Bookshelves
