Review of Rebirth in Acadi
Posted: 09 Oct 2021, 08:36
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Rebirth in Acadi" by Susan Swanson.]
Elizabeth Bancroft, an African American woman, light-skinned enough to pass for white, decides to start life anew. She relocates to the river town of Acadi, where one of her direct ancestors was embroiled in a duel during the Civil War. Would she be successful in severing ties to the past and hiding the truth from her racist fiance? Margaret Bohr, an older woman, settles in the town after purchasing an acre of land to build her dream home. The lives of two women who couldn't be any more different intertwine beautifully in Rebirth in Acadi.
Rebirth in Acadi is based on a true event published in a newspaper article about one of Louisiana's last duels in the 1800s. It is a unique account because the reasons for the duel were unclear. Using this historical incident as the backdrop, Susan Swanson has created an engaging story with compelling characters. The book does incorporate the factual details of the actual event, but never at the expense of readability. Both the incident and the imagined elements fit together naturally without seeming like a forced narrative around the event.
It's rare to see aged characters portrayed as crucial to the plot, and that's where this novel shines the brightest. Margaret's character is not reduced to a caricature of an elderly woman serving only as a minor character. Her presence is significant and contributes to the story. She is portrayed as a self-confident person who has a full life going on. For example, she is actively involved in the construction of their home, often being assertive and talking to the builder and the architect. She, like any other aging human, has health difficulties, but they remain only an aspect of her life, not who she is.
I won't say the book delves into great detail about passing, but the author handled the topic well. It demonstrates why someone would want to hide their identity, as well as how this may affect those you leave behind. Aside from the core characters, Elizabeth and Margaret, there is a wide range of supporting characters. Each character is distinct with their thoughts and motivations so that the reader shares their frustrations, hopes, and triumphs.
Rebirth in Acadi serves as a good illustration that something as mundane as house construction can become a gripping story. It takes the readers to the heart of the building of a house with all its day-to-day challenges. The only negative aspect I can point out about the book is its sluggish start. It took some time to get into the book. However, it is a slow burn of a book that does not lose its momentum till the end.
With an engaging story and well-written characters, Rebirth in Acadi was a satisfying read for me. I didn't come across any grammatical errors at all. I gladly award this book 4 out of 4 stars. There are no sexually explicit details. The use of non-borderline slang words was minimal, occurring merely twice.
I would recommend Rebirth in Acadi to people who like reading historical fiction with fully developed female characters.
******
Rebirth in Acadi
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Elizabeth Bancroft, an African American woman, light-skinned enough to pass for white, decides to start life anew. She relocates to the river town of Acadi, where one of her direct ancestors was embroiled in a duel during the Civil War. Would she be successful in severing ties to the past and hiding the truth from her racist fiance? Margaret Bohr, an older woman, settles in the town after purchasing an acre of land to build her dream home. The lives of two women who couldn't be any more different intertwine beautifully in Rebirth in Acadi.
Rebirth in Acadi is based on a true event published in a newspaper article about one of Louisiana's last duels in the 1800s. It is a unique account because the reasons for the duel were unclear. Using this historical incident as the backdrop, Susan Swanson has created an engaging story with compelling characters. The book does incorporate the factual details of the actual event, but never at the expense of readability. Both the incident and the imagined elements fit together naturally without seeming like a forced narrative around the event.
It's rare to see aged characters portrayed as crucial to the plot, and that's where this novel shines the brightest. Margaret's character is not reduced to a caricature of an elderly woman serving only as a minor character. Her presence is significant and contributes to the story. She is portrayed as a self-confident person who has a full life going on. For example, she is actively involved in the construction of their home, often being assertive and talking to the builder and the architect. She, like any other aging human, has health difficulties, but they remain only an aspect of her life, not who she is.
I won't say the book delves into great detail about passing, but the author handled the topic well. It demonstrates why someone would want to hide their identity, as well as how this may affect those you leave behind. Aside from the core characters, Elizabeth and Margaret, there is a wide range of supporting characters. Each character is distinct with their thoughts and motivations so that the reader shares their frustrations, hopes, and triumphs.
Rebirth in Acadi serves as a good illustration that something as mundane as house construction can become a gripping story. It takes the readers to the heart of the building of a house with all its day-to-day challenges. The only negative aspect I can point out about the book is its sluggish start. It took some time to get into the book. However, it is a slow burn of a book that does not lose its momentum till the end.
With an engaging story and well-written characters, Rebirth in Acadi was a satisfying read for me. I didn't come across any grammatical errors at all. I gladly award this book 4 out of 4 stars. There are no sexually explicit details. The use of non-borderline slang words was minimal, occurring merely twice.
I would recommend Rebirth in Acadi to people who like reading historical fiction with fully developed female characters.
******
Rebirth in Acadi
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
