Feb 25, 2013

Book Review: Seven Locks by Christine Wade


"We can never know the future. Our life is like a book, a book that is locked. We have to find the key or we never know what is on the next page. And we don't know the end of the story until each page has been turned and the story has ended." (ch. 1)
A housewife in the 18th century who lives in a Dutch community at the base of the Catskills Mountains runs her farm and household without the help of her husband, a lackadaisical dreamer who abandons her and their son and daughter after a particularly scathing verbal attack from his wife. The children also leave home as young teenagers fed up with their hardworking, demanding mother and craving independence. Alone, the woman copes until the Revolutionary War turns her life upside down, forcing her to turn another key in the book of her life.

The hard life of a woman on a farm in a Dutch farming community along the Hudson River near the Catskills Mountains, the Revolutionary War, and local folklore are all tied up in this engrossing historical novel. Excellent characterization, descriptions, and storytelling.

Title: Seven Locks: A Novel by Christine Wade
Publisher: Atria Books, January 1, 2013
Source: review copy from publisher

Submitted to Book Review Wednesday hosted by Cym Lowell

7 comments:

  1. My family used to go to the Catskills for summer vacations. I think the setting and the story would appeal to me. Nice, concise review today, Harvee!

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  2. I am very interested in this period of American history so this sounds really intinteresting. I have also visited some historical sights in this area and this sounds like a great subject for book.

    I really like the quote from the book.

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  3. This actually sounds really good! Thanks for that great snippet...and for visiting my blog.

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  4. I like books that a realistic and have characters that you can relate to, good, or bad, and it sounds like this is one of those books. I would love to read this one!

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  5. This sounds like a good one, both the time period and the Catskills Mountains setting.

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  6. Great teaser! I have this book and that teaser makes me want to get to it even more.

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