Laird Hunt’s acclaimed 2014 novel “Neverhome” starts off simple enough. It’s narrated by a housewife and farmer named Constance from Indiana, who in 1862 decides to disguise herself as a man to enlist in the Union Army. She takes the name Ash Thompson and leaves behind her meek husband, Bartholomew, to care for the farm. The story follows her journey as she endures soldier life and harrowing battles of the war while trying not to be found out as a woman.
The novel’s prose is simple and stark but rich in its descriptions, especially of the battle scenes, and the syntax takes on the vernacular of the times, which seems a bit awkward at first, but gives a vivid feeling of being in the Civil War era and its settings.
The character Ash proves to be an excellent shot and sure fighter. She seems heroic and able to outmaneuver and shoot her way out of trouble. But there’s also baggage from her past that comes to her in dreams: her mother’s death haunts her, as well as the death, we learn in time, of her newborn son. There’s also letters from Bartholomew hoping for her return and fearing that she will not.
Along the way, Ash witnesses horrific bloodshed and is injured in battle. A nurse heals her, only later to give her over to authorities who chain her up in a prison, where she’s abused. The book is a bit of a page-turner as you wonder whether Ash will make it back home alive and what unfinished business will be awaiting for her once she gets there.
At first glimpse “Neverhome” appears to be a straightforward heroic story about a strong woman who overcomes great odds but not too far into it you become aware that Ash is carrying around secrets, which she doles out only here and there, and is talking to ghosts. Amid the war, her mind starts to unravel, too, and what is real or not real becomes hazy. She seems to undergo a transformation, and you have to wonder whether she’s telling the truth. The dark ending brings everything home, so to speak.
Judging by comments on Goodreads, quite a few readers thought the story’s ending went off the deep end, or they didn’t get it. I was one of those who had to reread it a few times to understand what it all suggested. I think I was lulled into the story going a certain way, and then it took a turn quite other than that, which left me a bit puzzled and not pleased. Ash is a character who definitely is more complex than she seems. Though I might not have wanted the story to go in that direction, I thought the novel’s writing was quite visual and beautiful in places. For a slim book, “Neverhome” wields a large takeaway.
It also makes me want to read more books about the Civil War, including last year’s nonfiction book by Karen Abbott called “Liar, Temptress, Soldier Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War.”
How about you — have you read “Neverhome” and if so what did you think? Or what books set in the Civil War era are your favorites?
Makes me think about Siri Hustvedt’s The Blazing World, which is not about the Civil War, but is about taking on the personna of a man in order to do that which one must do in life. Blazing World is about the New York art world but calls up so many women who have passed as men in one way or another.
My husband and I are listening to Rebel Call, about the life of Stonewall Jackson. It’s very good, but I am not as interested in military strategies and battles as my husband is. I kind of glaze over during some of the campaigns — and there’s a lot of them. I liked Cold Mountain best of CW books. I also made my family listen to Killer Angels in the car on a trip from Maine to Gettysburg. Others fell asleep but I loved it particularly because it featured Joshua Chamberlain who was a rediscovered hero and former Bowdoin College president — and I was working in Brunswick at the time. The book enriched our visit to Gettysburg.
Yes Barbara, I really liked Cold Mountain and The Killer Angels too. Those are good ones! I will have to read The Blazing World. You’re in CW country there eh? Thanks for your msg, really great.
Now I am definitely curious. I haven’t read any books set during the Civil War in quite a while…Gone with the Wind from back in high school is hardly representative…LOL.
I will check this one out. Thanks for sharing…and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I loved Gone With the Wind back in high school too. I will have to reread it sometime to see what I think now. It’s a classic and probably my first CW book. Thanks Laurel.
Fine review! It’s an interesting new trend these women in war stories. Buffalo Soldier is another one but in YA. I prefer Elizabeth Wein’s WWII fiction which features female pilots and spies who don’t hide their gender. A different time!
Yeah Sarah, I’m interested in finding out more about women who got involved in the war. Their roles etc. I’ll have to read an Elizabeth Wein novel sometime. Thanks for the tip, and for stopping by!