Happy Thursday! Today I have a review of the beautifully-told Across the Great Lake now available from The University of Wisconsin Press!
My Thoughts:
When I’m really enjoying a book, I read it slowly and savor every word, especially when the storytelling is rich and expansive, and that was my experience with Across the Great Lake. From the first chapter, I knew that Lee Zacharias weaves a story perfectly.
Fern Halvorson is the narrator, and at eighty-five years old, she has a big secret and a tale of a journey across Lake Michigan that looms larger than life.
Fern’s mother could no longer take care of her; it is not completely clear at first, but her mother is overwhelmingly ill. Henrik, Fern’s father, has no choice but to take the young five-year-old Fern along with him for the winter where he works as a ship’s captain transporting railroad cars over the ice-filled, treacherous Lake Michigan.
Fern experiences freedom on the ship with its dangerous backdrop. She is fast friends with a cat onboard and also forms a bond with a young deckhand.
One of my favorite aspects of reading is learning, and I absorbed as much as I could about Lake Michigan and the transporting business that took place, even in the midst of winter.
Zacharias’ characters were richly drawn, easily sentimental, and complex. Fern is now eighty-five and recalling memories from a winter when she was only five. Her memories are hazy, and maybe not completely accurate to what happened- for that is the function of memories over time. They are not perfect, but they are what we recall as most important about an experience we lived through.
The setting is so astutely drawn that you feel as if you are on the ship with Fern and all the crew. The ice and intense cold are in your face they are so realistic.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to fall into a well-developed and beautifully written book. Fern’s emotional story was a fantastical one to witness.
Thank you to Caitlin Hamilton Marketing on behalf of the author for the complimentary copy to review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
“It was a huge and powerful ship with a tall, handsome pilothouse and big smoking stacks, no place for a girl, though I loved it, I cannot tell you how much I loved it.” In her eighty-fifth year, Fern Halvorson tells the story of a childhood journey across Lake Michigan and the secret she has kept since that ill-fated voyage.
As his wife lies dying in the brutally cold winter of 1936, Henrik Halvorsen takes his daughter Fern away with him. He captains a great coal-fired vessel, the Manitou, transporting railroad cars across the icy lake. The five-year-old girl revels in the freedom of the ferry, making friends with a stowaway cat and a gentle young deckhand. The sighting of a ghost ship, though, presages danger for all aboard.
Have you read Across the Great Lake, or is it on your TBR? Do you have any favorite immersive stories? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Wonderful review, Jennifer. I have added this historical fiction to my tbr list. Happy Thursday.📚🌺💕
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Thank you, Virginia! I think you’d enjoy this one. Such a wonderful story! Happy Thursday to you! ♥️
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You find the most interesting stories! Like you, I expect to learn something from my historical fictions and it’s clear this one delivered. I don’t even know what transporting means (beyond the literal). The idea of a 5-year old girl accompanying her father on these trips is outrageous in itself. Excellent review!
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Thank you, Jonetta! This one came highly recommended by some of our GR friends- Cheri and Angela M! I need to make sure I give them credit. This book was so vividly real, so believable, I had myself convinced that it was autobiographical, but it’s not. Guess what- the author is a professor emeritus at UNC-G! ♥️
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What a small world! Right in my back yard. And Angela is also responsible for weighing down my TBR shelf.
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As you know historical fiction is my favorite type of story and this one sounds so wonderful. I will definitely be on the look out for it. Lovely review!
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Thank you, Marialyce! Yes, I am pretty sure you will find much to love about this one. It’s a beautiful book!
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Lovely review! I love historical fiction where the writing just flows and the story is told in such a beautiful way that it makes you want to savor every word. I am adding this to my TBR list!
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Thank you, Darina! Me, too! I hope this one is memorable for you, too, if you are able to work it in. Such a special read!
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I had not heard about this book before but it definitely sounds like something I would enjoy reading! ☺️
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It definitely deserves some more love, LP! A beautiful story!
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when i read something that was beautifully written and full of sentiment,Jennifer, i fly over the pages, even as i tell myself to slow down.
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I wish I could do that, Jina! Well, I do, with some types of books, like thrillers! But with most other books, I read, re-read, reflect, etc.
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ha, and when i finish a particularly good book, i wish i had slowed down.
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Jennifer, I absolutely loved this book. I spent my summers growing up in the location of the book and love books about Michigan – even though I have been in NC for years. Loved your review.
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Thank you, Susan! I saw your review on Goodreads and loved your personal connection. I hope Lee Zacharias will treat us to another novel or three! We are so lucky to have this treasure!
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Adding it to the TBR!
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This is a great one for you to add, Carol!
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Beautiful review! It sounds fascinating!💛💛
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Thank you, Berit! ♥️
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Awesome review Jen! I used to live right on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin! It was like being right next to the ocean! The waves were huge!!😊🦃🍁💕
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You have moved around, Sus! Thank you! That was one of the things described in the book- that the waves can be sharper than the ocean because of lake. So scary! I lived in Erie, and Lake Erie must be quite mild by comparison! ♥️
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Okay here we go….I went from NJ to Virginia Beach to Wisconsin to Arizona to Seattle to Spokane back to Arizona and then to NY!! Lol all since 2003🤪🤪💕💕
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I have moved a lot between homes and cities but not to as many states! I love the VA Beach location! That’s near where I got married! I lived in NC, SC, PA, and back to NC from 1999 to 2004. Crazy, huh! 😂 But then I’ve had city and house moves since.
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Fantastic review, Jennifer!
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Thank you, Darinda!
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This sounds wonderful! See? My TBR problems are your fault! Great review. 😀
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Thanks, FF! I’m willing to shoulder the blame! I don’t mind! 😂 ♥️
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Beautiful review Jennifer! Sounds like something I would enjoy.
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Thank you, Lindsay! I happen to think you’d enjoy this one, too! ♥️
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Wonderful review Jennifer. Living in the Great Lakes Basin, in fact in Essex County, if you know where that is, these stories really pull at me. I love Historical Fiction and when it is from my backyard, it makes it even more inviting. Thanks for sharing this one.
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Thank you, Carla! Yes, I know where that is – so beautiful! I think this would be a wonderful fit for you based on that. If you end up reading it, I would love to hear what you think.
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It is no longer available to request from NG, so I will have to see if my library has it.
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Gorgeous review! You really did the book justice.
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Thank you so much, Emma! ♥️ So kind of you!
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You read the best books Jennifer. This one sounds wonderful and I love how immersive it was. Fab review!
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Thanks, Diana! I have been a lucky reader for sure. This book is so special! ♥️ I hope you have a lovely weekend!
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Lovely review Jenni and gorgeous photo as always! 😍 You always use your flowers so beautifully!
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Thanks, Beth! You are so kind! ♥️ I’m glad you liked this one- it was a different angle for me, and I wasn’t sure how well I liked it, so that makes me feel better. 😂 ♥️
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Thank you so much for this lovely review!
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Thank you for reading my review, Lee, and for writing this beautiful book! It means the world to me that you stopped by my blog!
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It means the world to me that you wrote such a wonderful review. I will be stopping by again.
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Thank you again, Lee. I’m so humbled. ♥️
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