SILVER WOMB by Linette Widen
iUniverse, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Rd, Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com
Genre: Fiction
Rating: Very good
ISBN: 0595384366, $16.95, 235 pp.
Silver Womb is the second book in the Foster family saga. The year is 1917 and the location is Wallace, Idaho–silver mines in the Bitterroot Mountains. Two families, the Fosters and the Connors came to Wallace to raise their children. Jim and Lucy Foster have four sons–Earl, George, Clyde and Mo. The heart of this tale is, and I quote from the back cover:
"Contentious eighteen-year-old Earl has just graduated from high school and begun working full time in the silver mines. With spare cash, he discovers the pleasures of whiskey and women but is obsessed with the beautiful green-eyed Bertie Connor and wants her for his wife. Before he can cross the threshold to manhood, he must learn to accept the truth about his own shortcomings while dealing with wild animals, gangs of thugs, and mysterious kidnappings."
With this second book, Linette is on a strong roll. Her first was good! Silver Womb is even better. If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend this novel. Her style and the quality of her writing is consistent, and the book is well-edited.
As I generally like to include a sample of the author’s writing for you, I have chosen several paragraphs from page 35:
"Just as the blade connected with the animal, a thunderous blast filled the cavern. The boys listened fro the enraged growls of the bear but detected only silence, then a loud thud, followed by two more shots. After that the only sound in the mine was the strangled sobs of Mo. Earl and Clyde held their breath, listening for the bear, but couldn’t hear anything over the sound of their own blood pounding through their ears. Then the clacking of horses’ hooves echoed in the tunnel, and they collapsed against the cart, listening to the familiar sound of safety.
"‘Sonofabitch,’ Jim cursed as he jumped off his horse. Pointing his rifle at the spot between the bear’s eyes, he fired one final shot, just to be sure. Jim stared at the huge grizzly on the ground with four bloody holes in its head. The animal would not move again. There had been tales of grizzlies being shot several times, falling to the ground, then lunging at their unsuspecting attackers when they came near to inspect.
"Stepping around the animal to the cart, Jim braced himself for what he might find. He peered over the side and looked down at his sons huddled in the cart, covered in blood. A flashing nightmare streaked before his eyes of Mary lying dead in a pool of her own blood. Then the ancient buzzing sound started."
That should be sufficient to spark your interest. You won’t be disappointed!
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - September 8, 2006
2021 Pine Lake Rd, Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com
Genre: Fiction
Rating: Very good
ISBN: 0595384366, $16.95, 235 pp.
Silver Womb is the second book in the Foster family saga. The year is 1917 and the location is Wallace, Idaho–silver mines in the Bitterroot Mountains. Two families, the Fosters and the Connors came to Wallace to raise their children. Jim and Lucy Foster have four sons–Earl, George, Clyde and Mo. The heart of this tale is, and I quote from the back cover:
"Contentious eighteen-year-old Earl has just graduated from high school and begun working full time in the silver mines. With spare cash, he discovers the pleasures of whiskey and women but is obsessed with the beautiful green-eyed Bertie Connor and wants her for his wife. Before he can cross the threshold to manhood, he must learn to accept the truth about his own shortcomings while dealing with wild animals, gangs of thugs, and mysterious kidnappings."
With this second book, Linette is on a strong roll. Her first was good! Silver Womb is even better. If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend this novel. Her style and the quality of her writing is consistent, and the book is well-edited.
As I generally like to include a sample of the author’s writing for you, I have chosen several paragraphs from page 35:
"Just as the blade connected with the animal, a thunderous blast filled the cavern. The boys listened fro the enraged growls of the bear but detected only silence, then a loud thud, followed by two more shots. After that the only sound in the mine was the strangled sobs of Mo. Earl and Clyde held their breath, listening for the bear, but couldn’t hear anything over the sound of their own blood pounding through their ears. Then the clacking of horses’ hooves echoed in the tunnel, and they collapsed against the cart, listening to the familiar sound of safety.
"‘Sonofabitch,’ Jim cursed as he jumped off his horse. Pointing his rifle at the spot between the bear’s eyes, he fired one final shot, just to be sure. Jim stared at the huge grizzly on the ground with four bloody holes in its head. The animal would not move again. There had been tales of grizzlies being shot several times, falling to the ground, then lunging at their unsuspecting attackers when they came near to inspect.
"Stepping around the animal to the cart, Jim braced himself for what he might find. He peered over the side and looked down at his sons huddled in the cart, covered in blood. A flashing nightmare streaked before his eyes of Mary lying dead in a pool of her own blood. Then the ancient buzzing sound started."
That should be sufficient to spark your interest. You won’t be disappointed!
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - September 8, 2006
posted by Kaye | 9:34 AM
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