One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow: A Novel

Olivia Hawker captures what it means to be alive - and death's part in life - in this beautiful book about the Wyoming Prairie and the people who settled there. The story of Clyde and Beulah and their respective families is totally captivating, and I found myself reluctant to put this book down, because I wanted to know what happened next. The enmity between Cora and Nettie Mae crackles with authenticity; I could feel these women's antagonism and the pain it causes them. Beulah's extraordinary gift is entirely plausible, and it imparts a magical element that serves to disclose much about the characters as well as reveal a future that ameliorates their calamities, miseries, and yearnings. Hawker's descriptive talents are breathtaking. She deftly relates the desolate emptiness - and beauties - of the prairie surroundings.She conveys the thoughts and feelings of her characters in a captivating way that is unobtrusive, yet devastatingly effective. There is an abundance of drama and excitement in this novel, but what persists is the lyrical description, along with the thoughtful explication on the continuity of life - and death - and the connection of all things. If you only read one book this year, this should be the one you pick up; it will be one to which you return again and again. I am gratefully happy that I took the time to read the authors note and acknowledgements at the conclusion of the novel. The story has a strong basis in fact, one personal to the author, and her descriptions of her family history, and her writing process, are fascinating. This is definitely a strong, five-star book.

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow is a captivating western family saga that begins with betrayal and violence and ends with tenderness and a family bond Set in the 1870 Wyoming prairie, two families are fractured -trying to survive without the leadership of their men -and winter is looming on the prairie With one husband in jail serving time for the murder of the other, Cora and Nettie Mae have to turn to each other to keep their children safe and survive the long prairie winter. I loved how the book switched between the four main characters and I did appreciate the writing style with Beulah’s chapters written it italics. The rich descriptions of the prairie and of prairie life carried me right into the lives of the Webber and Bemis Families Since this book was gifted to me by the wonderful Book Club Cookbook, I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t give a mention to some of the farm bounty mentioned in the book. The book starts right out with Beulah reminiscing about the moment everything changed: “That’s what I was doing when I heard the shot—standing with one hand on the gate and my eyes closed, thinking about those berries and how, after milking was done, I’d pick a whole basketful and share them with my brothers and my baby sister, sweet and good with cream on top, the cream still warm from the cows.” Vivid descriptions like these are what make place and the people so real, right up the to the rooster dinner that is so heartwarming: “Nettie Mae sang to herself as she diced carrots and turnips into her big Dutch kettle, as she scored the fragrant skins of spring onions…She tucked a freshly killed rooster into the Dutch oven, sprinkled it with salt and cracked pepper, then fitted the kettle’s lid and eased it down into the coals of the fire. A good chicken dinner was just the thing for a celebration.” I highly recommend this wonderful book and I’ve picked up The Ragged Edge of Night by the same author and look forward to another great read. Much thanks The Book Club Cookbook and Olivia Hawker for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

When I first started reading this I was not sure if I was going to like it, but if you feel the same way, keep going, because it is a fascinating book. I am glad I read the author's comments, because she wrote the novel about people in her family. It is a study in how people and families interact and about the prairie in the late 1800s when life was difficult but rewarding. The characters are completely believable, and you decide quickly who you like, but your opinions change as the story goes on. I am really glad I read this, and I will recommend it to my friends.

Two farms on the austere Wyoming prairie, in the shadow of the Big Horn Mountains, are the setting for this story of hardship, forgiveness, redemption and love. In order to survive the perils of the impending winter two women must put aside a most serious grievance, which is that one woman’s husband is serving two years in jail for killing the other’s husband over a ‘dalliance’ between his wife and said husband. The only remaining adult male on the land is Clyde, the 16 year old son of the murdered man, who takes it upon himself to offer help to 13 year old Beulah with the harvest and the care of the animals on her family’s farm. Because there are three small children who through no fault of their own are also fatherless, Clyde realizes that without both families working together, the children will likely not survive the harsh winter. The story revolves around these two very strong characters and their mothers. Beulah’s sensitive and somewhat clairvoyant nature gives her a maturity beyond her years and her deep connection with the farm animals, the land, the harsh prairie, the wind, the sun, the waving grass, the river, the birdsong, the wildlife is beautifully portrayed. The chapter about the coyote brought tears to my eyes. This is a many layered story filled with metaphoric meanings, the circle of life being the central theme. I loved this story.

Wyoming 1876, a man finds his wife in a compromising relationship with his neighbor and kills him, consequently leaving an uncertain future for his family. For years Cora Bemis has lived on the frontier with her husband and children. Life is full of hardships, but what Cora misses most is the city and society. Her loneliness quickly spirals and in a moment of bad judgment, she is caught guilty with the neighbor. Now winter is fast approaching and with her husband in jail for murder, Cora is left with few choices. Either her children will freeze or she must swallow what little pride she has left and make peace with her neighbor in hopes that forgiveness can be found. Told from the prospective of four different characters, I found the book at times hard to grasp. The story itself was easy to follow but as each chapter changes character, the tale is somewhat lost or repetitive. Unfortunately this was sometimes distracting but I did enjoy the book, just wish it flowed better. I did find the author’s note very interesting and was pleasantly surprised that two of the main characters were the author’s great grandparents. All in all it was a good read, just not a favorite.

This is a lovely visual read that keeps you turning the pages. You don’t want it to end and it doesn’t. If you love independent movies, you’ll love this story. It’s all about the journey. Books can be good without fireworks and emotional explosions and this proves that. There are some great poetic passages to keep in your notebook, that is for sure.

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow is a lingering, poetic tale of two families ripped apart, then pulled back together by the murder of one patriarch by the other and his subsequent imprisonment. But this is no Hatfields vs. McCoys story. No, the two women and their children are forced by their total isolation to work together to maintain their two farms, or else risk starvation or death by cold. Fittingly, the feuding women are brought together at the insistence of their oldest children, Clyde and Beulah, who develop a deep and mysterious bond as they work side by side. Not so much a romance as the promise of one, brought about through an unconventional friendship. Fair warning, this is a slower read, as it has far more narration than dialogue or action--but its beauty and the unique voices of the protagonists make it well worth the time it takes to read. I enjoyed getting to move through the book in this way, digesting each set of chapters in their own time. The descriptive prose is the most pleasing part of the book, but the most well-written bit in terms of technique is the character viewpoints and perspectives. I was completely transported into the mind of each character and their thoughts and attitudes--from Clyde's pragmatic view and fears of becoming his father, to Cora's fear and guilt for having lost their men through her unfaithfulness, to Nettie Mae 's bitter resentment and unending grief for her lost children. And even to Beulah's mystical, otherworldly understanding and vision of the land and living things around them. That, friends, is hard to write effectively. I would not be surprised to see excerpts of this book turn up in how-to writing books, because it ought to be in at least one. One final character note--it seems to me that Beulah could be a person in the autism spectrum, based on several things. First, that she has little fear, and displays her emotions somewhat inappropriately to certain circumstances. Second, her stronger bonds with animals and plants than people, such that she is not well understood even by her own mother. And third, her extreme sensitivity to every detail and sensation in her environment. There are more such examples, but I thought this was interesting, and I have to wonder if this was intentionally implied by the author. If not, I'm still convinced of it. I highly recommend this book for the laidback reader, the budding writer seeking examples to inspire their own work, and to anyone who delights in wondering about the thoughts of others or in seeing the beauty of nature. Those seeking thrills and drama, look elsewhere.

In 1870s Wyoming the west is still wild. Survival is up to you. Growing your food, making your own clothing, chopping your wood for heat is a part of life. Cora was a city girl from St. Louis when she married Ernest and they moved to Wyoming. Life in the west is hard. Survival of his marriage or possibly revenge, was on Ernest’s mind when he found his wife and their one neighbor in a compromising situation. Without hesitating, Ernest shot him dead then turned himself over to the sheriff. Now there are two single women trying to survive in the wild west. Cora has four young children, the oldest is Beulah (12). Cora is wracked with guilt. She is the weakest, and completely unable to survive without her husband’s help. Nettie Mae is now also a widow, her one surviving son is Clyde (16). Nettie is bitter and angry and dwells in her self pity over the loss of several of her children whom did not survive childhood. These two women and their collective children must find a way to work together in order to survive the long winter. They must learn to get along, or die trying. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️