Several years ago, one of my favorite reading buddies recommended a book to me and promised I would fall in love with it. I reluctantly agreed to try it, though the title sounded a little strange and I was afraid it would be cheesy. However, just as my friend promised, I quickly fell in love with the book and became an ardent proselytizer of its many virtues. These is My Words, by Nancy Turner, is one of my favorite books to share and I’ve rarely met a person who didn’t enjoy reading it. When I worked at a public library it was one of our top recommended titles and one of our most popular book group reads.
It’s been a while since Nancy Turner has published anything new, so when I discovered that she had published a novel this year I immediately put it on hold at the library. The next week at book group I told my friend that there was a new book by Nancy Turner—she and I jumped up and down and squealed like the fangirls that we are, and I hadn’t even started reading it yet. Well, now that I have read it, I may just have a new favorite Nancy Turner book, and I definitely have a new favorite book to recommend to people.
My Name is Resolute is the story of Resolute Talbot, a girl born into luxury on a plantation in Jamaica. In 1729, when she is 10 years old, her family home is attacked by pirates and she is sold into slavery as an indentured servant. Within a year, she has been kidnapped by Indians and sold once more, this time to a French convent. In the convent she receives an education and training as a weaver, but spends her years there longing to escape and return home. When she finally escapes at age 17 she finds herself alone in Lexington, Massachusetts and realizes that she must make her own way in the world. Resolute uses her skills as a weaver to build a new life for herself, raises a family, and eventually makes a valuable contribution to the American Revolution.
Nancy Turner has clearly spent the last few years researching and the attention to detail in this book is amazing—you will learn about growing flax, weaving, spinning, colonial politics, women’s fashions of the 18th century, indenture laws, piracy, slavery, and many other fascinating historical topics. The American Revolution has never been a favorite historical topic of mine and I didn’t know much about it—while this is a work of fiction, I felt a lot less confused about the events that led to the Revolution and greater empathy for the colonists after reading this book.
Although the epic sweep of the plot and the historical details are good enough reasons to recommend the book, the best part for me was Resolute herself. She starts the book as a naïve 10-year-old thrust into a very difficult situation—sometimes I just wanted to hug her and tell her it would be all better. Turner does an excellent job depicting the confusion a child would have after being kidnapped and enslaved, while also providing enough information for the reader to understand things that the protagonist does not. I loved watching Resolute grow up throughout the course of the book and truly fulfill the promise of her name. Weighing in at about 600 pages and spanning the entire life of its main character, My Name is Resolute is a hefty read. It’s the perfect kind of book for a lazy summer afternoon on the beach (or on your back porch while the kids run in the sprinklers, if your summer plans are more like mine). If you’re looking to escape for a bit this summer, give Nancy Turner’s books a try.
Who are some of your favorite authors? Do you like historical fiction, and do you prefer some historical periods over others? What are your summer reading plans?
I loved "These is My Words," too, so thanks for this recommendation!
My summer reading so far has been a Jen Lancaster kick. I picked up her "The Tao of Martha" book after finding in browsing the "New" racks at the library. (I DO totally judge books by their covers and this one looked interesting. And I'll admit, part of it was that the author is plus-sized.) I laughed my way through that whole book. Her sailor language is not great, but she reminds me SO much of my sister, and I can totally hear my sister saying everything she says and it makes me laugh. I read "Bright Lights, Big A**" of hers last week and enjoyed that, especially the chapter when she goes in for her gynecologist appointment — I thought I was going to pee my pants reading that! Right now, I'm reading "Pretty in Plaid," and while entertaining, it's definitely not as funny. So far, my favorite of hers has been "The Tao of Martha."
My list of "want to read" books on Goodreads is useless — my library doesn't have any of the 8 books I tried to find last week, so I was at a loss as to what to check out, so thanks for the recommendation. Now to see if my library has the book…
can't wait to read this one– thanks for the great review.
These Is My Words has long been a favorite of mine. I used to read it every year for my birthday. I still pick it up and read it once in a while. I'm happy to hear such a positive report about My Name Is Resolute. Nancy Turner's other three books were fine, but didn't hold up to These Is My Words. I've got Resolute requested from the library and am still waiting for it to come in.
These Is My Words is my favorite! I'm so glad to hear the same sentiment and this new recommendation.
Do I need to have a basic understanding of the Revolution to enjoy the book? (I only know there was the North and the South and slavery was somehow involved…?)
I rarely read historical fiction, though the best I've read is Morgan's Run by Colleen McCullough is about the settling of Norfolk Island (part of Australia) by convict labour and farmers. A brilliant read.
As soon as my last exam is over next week I'm diving into Winter break and a pile of books – most especially looking forward to Cinnamon and Gunpowder (a female pirate captures a male chef and makes him cook for her every night. Sounds like fun!)
Kellie, that's the Civil War that had the split of the North and South over slavery. The Revolution is when America broke away from Britain.
Lois McMaster Bujold is one of my favorite authors. Though she's known for her military SF, her "Five Gods" universe books are moving examinations of faith. All her books are deceptively deep.
Strollerblader–I haven't read anything by Jen Lancaster yet, but I love funny books so I'll have to take a look at her books. You might want to see if you library system does interlibrary loan; if they do, that can be a good way to get what you want. Most libraries will also take suggestions. It doesn't hurt to ask–maybe they'll get some of those books on your list for you.
Kellie–PDOE is right, the Revolution was earlier when the colonies broke away from Great Britain. I didn't know much about the details of the time period and I thought Turner did a good job making everything make sense. I've read several good reviews of Cinnamon and Gunpowder, so it might have to go on my list of books to read. I'm back in school again so it might be a while before I get to it.
PDOE–Bujold is another author I've heard of but haven't tried yet. I'll have to give her a look too.
Yay! Squeals and awkward hand flapping and teary eyes all around! I'm going to start this bad boy right now! I love you and your book reviews too!
Cinnamon and gunpowder was really funny and well done Jessie. I own it if you ever want to borrow it.
Richard Peck writes juvenile historical fiction but I loved The River Between Us. I really enjoy historical fiction but not so much historical romance and I feel like I get a lot of romance recommendations and not fiction recommendations (I'm looking at you, Outlander).
Thanks PDOE and Jessie – I'll put it on my to read list so I can learn more about it.
And I can also heartily endorse PDOE's recommendation of Bujold's work – she writes wonderfully, especially the "five gods" books (The Curse of Chalion was brilliant).