Weyward - Book Review

 

Weyward

Emilia Hart

4 stars

Published March 2023

Three strong Weyward women, each finding their way against their male dominated worlds. You would think things would change from 1619 to 1942 to 2019, but women who have courage in their inherent skills and know their own hearts have always been scorned and feared.

Emilia Hart’s writing is beautifully displayed in her descriptions of the communion of womanhood and nature. The essence of insects, plants and creatures of the world comes through in magical form (and would be great in a film).

There were definitely moments when I had a visual memory of Where the Crawdads Sings, one of my all-time favourite books.

The beauty of the garden and all its inhabitants. The constant hum of the insect world, peaceful to some of us. The mocking sweep of the birds of the sky inspiring awe and curiosity. The world described could not be put in better words.

These three generations of women are so connected and seem to be searching for each other throughout their lifetimes. The letters they left behind and the ones they find are heart-wrenching in what they share. The belief that what you do today is magnified by what you leave for future generations is bittersweet in its portrayal, we will not see the outcomes but we have faith that someone else will someday.

If you are a searcher like me, it is comforting to know that what I am has been found, caressed and massaged through my women-folk. That I have become, due to what they learned and didn’t learn in their lives, and then they passed this task onto me. What will we each do with this responsibility?

This lovely book would be great material for a women’s book group, and valuable for each member to reconcile with what their female ancestors passed on to them (good or not). And what we could do with this gift.

Opinions are my own, thank you #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for this advance copy.

I am off to read #Canadian next, a book set in one of my favourite cities, Vancouver. Fit to Die, Daniel Kalla.

What are you reading today?




 

 

 

 

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