Fans of adventure and historical fiction will want to secure themselves a copy of this riveting tale.
Becijos’ historical novel recounts the true story of Christopher Hawkins, a young American sailor plunged into the thick of the American Revolutionary War.
This book is based on the 19th-century memoir of the real Christopher Hawkins—the author is one of Christopher’s descendants, adding to the narrative’s authenticity and intrigue. The tale begins on May 4, 1776, in Providence, Rhode Island, where a 14-year-old Christopher is chasing his dream, embarking on his quest to become a sailor. Eventually, Christopher fulfills this dream, but the seas aren’t always calm on the open water in the middle of a war. To stay alive, Christopher uses his critical thinking and survival skills, but even the deftest sailors can find themselves stuck in knots they can’t untie. The narrative is written in first person, paying homage to the original memoir it was inspired by; this diary-like format allows readers to truly experience the story as if it were happening to them. It is evident that Becijos intently studied Christopher’s memoir and conducted her own research on the time period—the use of period-accurate language (“You’re a ninnyhammer”), combined with primary sources such as newspaper articles, song lyrics, illustrations, and meeting notes incorporated in the text makes for a captivating read. At the end of the novel, the author even includes a photograph of Christopher’s original weathered and leather-bound memoir. While readers who are unfamiliar with early American history will still be able to follow along, those with an understanding of this time period will truly appreciate the nuances of the story and have a better grasp of what Christopher is going through. The dialogue is particularly exciting—all of the interactions feel authentic, as if Becijos was actually on the ship, engaging in these conversations that she re-creates.
Fans of adventure and historical fiction will want to secure themselves a copy of this riveting tale.Pub Date: July 25, 2023
ISBN: 9780911079036
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Torch Publications
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Briskly written soap with down-to-earth types, mostly without the lachrymose contrivances of Hannah’s previous titles...
Sisters in and out of love.
Meghann Dontess is a high-powered matrimonial lawyer in Seattle who prefers sex with strangers to emotional intimacy: a strategy bound to backfire sooner or later, warns her tough-talking shrink. It’s advice Meghann decides to ignore, along with the memories of her difficult childhood, neglectful mother, and younger sister. Though she managed to reunite Claire with Sam Cavenaugh (her father but not Meghann’s) when her mother abandoned both girls long ago, Meghann still feels guilty that her sister’s life doesn’t measure up, at least on her terms. Never married, Claire ekes out a living running a country campground with her dad and is raising her six-year-old daughter on her own. When she falls in love for the first time with an up-and-coming country musician, Meghann is appalled: Bobby Austin is a three-time loser at marriage—how on earth can Claire be so blind? Bobby’s blunt explanation doesn’t exactly satisfy the concerned big sister, who busies herself planning Claire’s dream wedding anyway. And, to relieve the stress, she beds various guys she picks up in bars, including Dr. Joe Wyatt, a neurosurgeon turned homeless drifter after the demise of his beloved wife Diane (whom he euthanized). When Claire’s awful headache turns out to be a kind of brain tumor known among neurologists as a “terminator,” Joe rallies. Turns out that Claire had befriended his wife on her deathbed, and now in turn he must try to save her. Is it too late? Will Meghann find true love at last?
Briskly written soap with down-to-earth types, mostly without the lachrymose contrivances of Hannah’s previous titles (Distant Shores, 2002, etc.). Kudos for skipping the snifflefest this time around.Pub Date: May 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-345-45073-6
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Ballantine
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2003
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.
A lifetime’s worth of letters combine to portray a singular character.
Sybil Van Antwerp, a cantankerous but exceedingly well-mannered septuagenarian, is the titular correspondent in Evans’ debut novel. Sybil has retired from a beloved job as chief clerk to a judge with whom she had previously been in private legal practice. She is the divorced mother of two living adult children and one who died when he was 8. She is a reader of novels, a gardener, and a keen observer of human nature. But the most distinguishing thing about Sybil is her lifelong practice of letter writing. As advancing vision problems threaten Sybil’s carefully constructed way of life—in which letters take the place of personal contact and engagement—she must reckon with unaddressed issues from her past that threaten the house of cards (letters, really) she has built around herself. Sybil’s relationships are gradually revealed in the series of letters sent to and received from, among others, her brother, sister-in-law, children, former work associates, and, intriguingly, literary icons including Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Perhaps most affecting is the series of missives Sybil writes but never mails to a shadowy figure from her past. Thoughtful musings on the value and immortal quality of letters and the written word populate one of Sybil’s notes to a young correspondent while other messages are laugh-out-loud funny, tinged with her characteristic blunt tartness. Evans has created a brusque and quirky yet endearing main character with no shortage of opinions and advice for others but who fails to excavate the knotty difficulties of her own life. As Sybil grows into a delayed self-awareness, her letters serve as a chronicle of fitful growth.
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593798430
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
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