There are moments in time that truly are "pivot points" that affect not just individuals, but entire countries. The governments handling of "The Bonus Army" veterans is one such pivot point. This incident is usually glossed over in schools, but it was truly a watershed moment that has been proven to repeat itself in various ways even to this day. For those of you, who like myself, just had a passing knowledge of this event - it occurs in the middle of the Great Depression on July 28, 1932. Veterans of World War I marched on Washington to try and convince the government and President Hoover to forward the Bonus that they were to be given in 1945 (when many of the World War I vets would have passed away). Close to 17,000 veterans, many homeless and with families, made a trek to Washington DC to protest, only to be met by overzealous generals with infantry and calvary.
In the end, 4 Bonus Army soldiers lay dead and their "shanty town" was burned to the ground. Their leader, Walter Waters, who lead veterans all the way from Oregon to the nations capital - was run out of town unceremoniously. Amazingly, Waters re-enlisted in the Navy to fight for his country again in World War II.
Craney covers this incident in such detail that I wish to grant him an honorary doctorate from Movies and Manuscripts University - which will get him about as much as the Bonus Army Veterans got at the end of their "adventure" - which is to say - nothing.
"The Yanks are Starving" starts well before the incident and follows many different "characters" of the era and gives you a birds eye view of how all of their different paths all came together on that fateful day. I am very interested in history, but must admit I knew little about World War I. There are so many famous people in this book that it would make Forrest Gump seem like he never met anyone of import.
Some of the characters off the top of my head - Ty Cobb, George Patton, Douglas McArthur, Walter Johnson, Smedley Butler, Herbert Hoover, Winston Churchill, and Carnegie Mellon all make appearances. Looking at that list, you would assume that this has to be a total work of fiction - but what is more amazing is that it is not. It is "historical fiction", but the events are real. The author did add two "composite characters" to help move the story along, but gives very solid reasons for doing so at the end of the book - and I believe that they only add to the story.
A few of the reviews state that
the book is too long and started too far in advance of the main event.
At first I felt the same, but by doing this Carney really brought to
life all of the different personalities involved. Also, by starting the
novel with events that preceded World War I and taking you through the trenches with the characters the reader can really understand what these men sacrificed. When put into contrast to what they were asking for, you may come to the same conclusion that the government has been in the business of screwing veterans for many decades and generations now. There would have been so much lost if Carney would have solely focused on the actual event that this would have been an average book at best instead of a book that stands out as one of the best and most memorable that I have ever read.
I can't tell you how many times I had to stop reading and look up on the internet to see if what was in the book actually happened. After the first 15 times of finding that the research was spot on, I just quit looking and enjoyed the book knowing that this was the result of a huge amount of research.
The amount of detail and interactions between the characters is truly amazing. It almost had the feel of "Game of Thrones" with the complexity of the different factions, characters, and settings involved - but much easier to follow. It always amazes me when an author tackles a subject that a person already knows how it ends, but still is hoping that someway - somehow - that it ends in a kind of weird parallel universe with a different ending. Even knowing the inevitable ending - my attention was held until the end.
If there is anyone involved with producing television mini-series - this is one that I feel would be a sure fire hit.
I give this book my highest recommendation. If you are into history - this is a "must read" book that you need to add to your library. Thank you, Mr. Craney, for the effort that you put into this fabulous book!
"A Weaver's Web" by Chris Pearce is a book that is set in England right at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Henry Wakefield is a handloom weaver who is set in the old ways of doing business. He eschews the new factories and all of the horrid conditions that people are forced to work in. Henry could get a job working in a factory and moving his five children and wife, Sarah, out of their one room rental cottage that leaks when it rains and has a door that won't remain closed unless it is blocked with stones.
Sarah, getting tired of just eking out an existence on found potatoes for every meal, tries to convince Henry to allow her and the two oldest sons to get jobs in a factory. Henry refuses - at least until he is evicted from his rental and is forced to move into the city life that Henry so despises.
This down-on-their luck family moves to the city, into living conditions that Sarah considers worse than the rental cottage they had to leave. Added to the pressures is the fact that Sarah is pregnant with their sixth child.
Henry is a man who is desperate, and desperate people either make their situations better or succumb to the pressures. Henry is forced to play life's last card that is dealt to him - but will that card get him a winning hand this last time?
Thoughts
This book is a perfect example of what is great about Indie Authors that don't let publishing companies telling them "no" stop them. Pearce mentions that several literary agents passed on the book. I think those agents might look back and think "why did I pass up that book" and kick themselves!
Pearce has obviously done his research about the period of time that the book is written in. Not only will you grow to love the characters (or hate them), you will be taken back into a time machine and actually experience the period from many different perspectives.
When I saw the length of this book, I almost hesitated to review it as it would take some time. At the end, I was wishing that it kept going.
The authors command of his characters is amazing. I found myself alternating between hoping Henry Wakefield could just catch a break and wondering how anyone could be such a jerk. This is a redemption story, but redemption sometimes comes with a great price.
One of the customer reviews says "this book needs to be made into a movie." I have to agree. I can't recommend this book enough if you like historical fiction (or even fiction in general). You will be one of the readers that can say "I read Chris Pearce before he was famous."
To those literary agents who passed on this book, I have only this to say - the days of you being a gatekeeper deciding what should and shouldn't be read are soon going to come to an end. To Chris Pearce I have this to say - you might be better off one day that an agent didn't take you up on it - because that cut will go to you when it catches everyone's attention.
Strengths
- The author creates characters that almost anyone can relate to. I found myself identifying with some of them to the point where I was really feeling sorry for some of them. I can totally relate to the pressures that many husbands feel when everything is riding on your ability to make enough money. The characters will feel like close friends that you could call upon by the time you finish the book.
- The setting and descriptions are awesome! I probably learned more about the Industrial Revolution from this book than I could have from a college course devoted to it. When you can learn something new and be entertained at the same time - well, that's just magical!
- There was not one issue in this book that I found with grammar or misused words - and it isn't a short story we are talking about.
- The one thing that bothers me is Pearce's writing style - it is so smooth and perfectly paced that I am sick with jealousy!
Weaknesses
- None what-so-ever. I would have to stretch to come up with anything and it would be so petty that I would be embarrassed to write it on here
- As of now - this isn't a series. How are we going to get more! LOL.
(I was given a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for a review - the review is my honest assessment of this work.)
