Hagridden
Summary:
As the Civil War winds violently down, fears of the South's uncertain future fuse with its unraveling traditions. Against the backdrop of this post-apocalyptic landscape, so littered with corpses and mythology and desperation, two women, stranded and alone in the Louisiana bayou, fight to survive. (Summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
“Hagridden”: /’hag, ridn/ (adj) “Afflicted by nightmares of anxieties”
I found “Hagridden” a bit like a haunting song – reading it was vivid, detailed and an unsettling experience. The book is set in rural Louisiana as the Civil War is winding down. From the beginning, Snoek-Brown had fantastic skill of bringing the time and place alive for me. It was particularly interesting because it brought a unique perspective on the Civil War I hadn’t read before. Though the history books and historical fiction often focus on the north or the post-war slave culture, most overlook rural southerners who were poor BEFORE the war much less afterward.
The women in the book have learned to do anything they need to in order to survive. When the younger woman’s husband is reported dead and his best friend returns, their world is turned upside down. Each reacts in a different way (the older women the most drastically), while they both try to balance the fight to survive. In her efforts to keep the younger woman close to her, will the old woman driver her away or win her loyalty forever?
Warning: Contains repeated violence
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review courtesy of the author.
Rating: 4 stars!
Who should read it? Fans of historical fiction or looking for a unique view of the civil war.