ABOUT THE BOOK
Classically trained pianist and singer Natalie Curtis isolated herself for five years after a breakdown just before she was to debut with the New York Philharmonic. Guilt-ridden and songless, Natalie can't seem to recapture the joy music once brought her. In 1902, her brother invites her to join him in the West to search for healing. What she finds are songs she'd never before encountered--the haunting melodies, rhythms, and stories of Native Americans.
But their music is under attack. The US government's Code of Offenses prohibits American's indigenous people from singing, dancing, or speaking their own languages as the powers that be insist on assimilation. Natalie makes it her mission not only to document these songs before they disappear but to appeal to President Teddy Roosevelt himself, who is the only man with the power to repeal the unjust law. Will she succeed and step into a new song . . . and a new future?
Award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick weaves yet another lyrical tale based on a true story that will keep readers captivated to the very end.
MY REVIEW
I absolutely love the historical aspects of this book but it did drag somewhat.
I especially loved learning more about the Indians and their culture. I felt like I could hear their music. It was so cool!
Kirkpatrick does some real good research for her novels but my favorite book was One More River to Cross. It reminded me of the Donner party.
I can relate to Natalie through our love of music. In my opinion, I think it's the love of music that soothes the soul. Natalie is a remarkable woman ahead of her time which was why I liked her. You don't necessarily have to have anything in common with a character at all to like them.
Her brother George was another person that I liked greatly. Namely because of how he looked after his sister and I really enjoyed his adventures in the West
I felt like I was on an adventure with George and Natalie even though some parts of the story was slow.
I loved learning more about the Indians and their art. They do make beautiful artifacts.
I recommend. 5 stars!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
If you'd like more information about me, please come visit my website at www.jkbooks.com and click on my blog. My dog also has a blog and you can find out what it's like to be Bodacious Bo, too. A monthly newsletter called Story Sparks is my way of sharing books about authors I enjoy as well as commenting on life and love. You'll find out more about me than you probably ever wanted to know!
One item not listed on my lists of books is my selection included in an anthology called "Crazy Woman Creek: Women Rewrite the American West" published by Houghton Mifflin I also have a piece in Storytellers II, a book published a few years ago by Multnomah Press and a few short selections in Daily Guideposts of a few years back. My first novella, "The Courting Quilt" is part of a collection that made the New York Times bestsellers September 2011 in a collection called Log Cabin Christmas. The rest of my writing, as they say, is history. Or it was until my first contemporary came out this fall. Called Barcelona Calling, it's the story of a writer who loses her way as she seeks fulfillment thinking she'll find it with fame. It's a laugh out loud book according to reviewers. I hope you'll enjoy it.
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