Homestead
By Melinda Moustakis
272 pages
Megan’s Review
Short Summary
Newlyweds, strangers to each other, impulsively strike a partnership based on a shared dream of establishing a life amid the rugged beauty of the Alaskan Territory of the 1950s.
What’s it about?
In this moody, debut novel, Lawrence Beringer, a traumatized 28-year old Korean War veteran, and Marie Kubala, a 17-year-old looking to escape an empty future, marry in 1956 only days after meeting. As the Alaska Territory stands on the verge of statehood, the couple sets out to establish a home and family as homesteaders of 150 acres in the Alaskan wilderness. Amid stark isolation, back-breaking labor, heartache and betrayal, they struggle to understand each other. Their growth is slow and hard-won, but gives them reason for hope.
What did it make me think about?
The debilitating reach of secrets kept too long. What makes a marriage and whether we can ever truly know another person. Perseverance. Resilience. The magnificent power and beauty of the wilderness.
Should I read it?
This is a compelling and contemplative work of historical fiction in which the characters and story unfold slowly, perhaps too slowly for some readers. I didn’t immediately warm to either Lawrence or Marie, though I did grow to understand and cheer for them as they story developed. My favorite part of this inward-focused work is the beautiful, spare prose that mimics the stark landscape of Alaska and the Beringer marriage. Throughout the book, I keep feeling this might be the perfect novel for a high school literature class to dissect (the same way mine dissected Ethan Frome, a very, very long time ago).
Quote.
“There’s about three women up here in Alaska, it seems. And he just got one of them.”
Related Books.
Disappearing Earth
To Build a Fire
Megan’s Review
Short Summary
Newlyweds, strangers to each other, impulsively strike a partnership based on a shared dream of establishing a life amid the rugged beauty of the Alaskan Territory of the 1950s.
What’s it about?
In this moody, debut novel, Lawrence Beringer, a traumatized 28-year old Korean War veteran, and Marie Kubala, a 17-year-old looking to escape an empty future, marry in 1956 only days after meeting. As the Alaska Territory stands on the verge of statehood, the couple sets out to establish a home and family as homesteaders of 150 acres in the Alaskan wilderness. Amid stark isolation, back-breaking labor, heartache and betrayal, they struggle to understand each other. Their growth is slow and hard-won, but gives them reason for hope.
What did it make me think about?
The debilitating reach of secrets kept too long. What makes a marriage and whether we can ever truly know another person. Perseverance. Resilience. The magnificent power and beauty of the wilderness.
Should I read it?
This is a compelling and contemplative work of historical fiction in which the characters and story unfold slowly, perhaps too slowly for some readers. I didn’t immediately warm to either Lawrence or Marie, though I did grow to understand and cheer for them as they story developed. My favorite part of this inward-focused work is the beautiful, spare prose that mimics the stark landscape of Alaska and the Beringer marriage. Throughout the book, I keep feeling this might be the perfect novel for a high school literature class to dissect (the same way mine dissected Ethan Frome, a very, very long time ago).
Quote.
“There’s about three women up here in Alaska, it seems. And he just got one of them.”
Related Books.
Disappearing Earth
To Build a Fire
