From the author of Crowing Tom: For Crowing Tom Joyce, life had always been tragically complicated. From his marital problems to his habit of excessively drinking, he certainly had a troubling past. And despite being born into a well-off family, he found little comfort in adulthood. But in his old age when he saw an opportunity to amend his ways and unite his family, he faced his most challenging obstacle yet. To find redemption and a renewed sense of purpose, however, he had to move back to Virginia and face an old nemesis. But can Crowing Tom succeed where he failed before? And can he survive the troubles that were to come?
Crowing Tom is a fascinating story about a man who lived a long life with many ups and downs. It doesn’t take long to read, and it is written in the form of letters sent between Crowing Tom’s family and friends. I think this is an interesting way to tell a story because everything the characters say is deliberate. There’s no room for spontaneity, although there are several surprises along the way!
Even though this book isn’t a traditional “narrative,” keeping track of the events is easy because there’s a list of names at the beginning that explains the roles each participant plays in the story. (On a related note, pictures are scattered throughout the book, like the picture of Crowing Tom on the book cover, which bring the whole story together and make it feel genuine.)
This book is partly historical and partly fictional. While I was reading it, I couldn’t tell what was real and what wasn’t. The whole thing felt authentic, and I liked how some questions were left unresolved. At the end, there’s a section that reveals what was true and what was imagined, which makes the story even more interesting. The literary license the author takes allows him to explore attitudes about issues such as slavery. Also, it allows the “villain” to be even more despicable than he might otherwise be! I often dislike stories where there is a “good guy” and a “bad guy,” but in Crowing Tom, the hero is imperfect, too. In his quest to reunite his family before he dies, he must humble himself and admit his faults.
I enjoyed reading Crowing Tom. It gave me a glimpse into a period of history that I didn’t know much about. Although the story is told against a backdrop of regret and heartache, it is brimming with hope for a better future.
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.
Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus
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Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!
