Note: If you would prefer to watch a video review of this book, scroll to the bottom to watch my opinion. Exaggerated motions and expressions are included free of charge!
Katie's love interest in the book, Robert, is basically a known from the start, but you aren't ever really sure how her marriage situation will work out, so that ends up being the big tension in the book. A surprise out of left field about Robert will hit you about halfway through the book. I liked it because it truly surprised me, and I love being surprised by a book. I won't say more to avoid spoiling the book for you, but consider yourself forewarned!
The History
Serena Miller made the pine forests of Michigan come alive for me with her writings, and, honestly, the book taught me a lot I didn't know about that area of the country. I never realized the type of big tree logging that took place within the state we (now) mostly associate with a decayed auto industry. I kind of thought mass logging and the river floating of logs was unique to California and the Pacific northwest, but it actually happened in Michigan. {I presume if I ever really thought about it that I figured the upper midwest was relieved of its timber through farmers gradually clearing woodlands or teams of horses dragging out logs one by one.}
My lack of knowledge aside, the lumber camps of Michigan provide a great backdrop for this story, and the real lumber camp in the book is presented in such a way that you know the author is coming from an authentic place of respect for the life vs. a "I want to set this book in a really unique locale" perspective. I like that.
The Characters
Katie was a good character. She found her pluck right at the start of the book which I really appreciated. I don't care much for volumes that waste half of a story establishing that a person was downtrodden before they pull themselves up by the bootstraps. I prefer the way this book established the atmosphere of Katie's life with a mean husband (a Confederate soldier who returned to his Georgia plantation from the Civil War) and then had her move on while occasionally filling in a few blanks through remembrances or comments from Katie or her brother.
Katie's love interest in the book, Robert, is basically a known from the start, but you aren't ever really sure how her marriage situation will work out, so that ends up being the big tension in the book. A surprise out of left field about Robert will hit you about halfway through the book. I liked it because it truly surprised me, and I love being surprised by a book. I won't say more to avoid spoiling the book for you, but consider yourself forewarned!
Ned is also a favorite of mine within the story. He is Katie's little brother who was entrusted to her care after her parent's died, and he is an absolute dear. Children have a way of making a story more heartwarming, and I found myself cheering for Katie more because she took care of Ned so dearly.
I definitely recommend this volume!
The Measure of Katie Calloway is available as of October 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of
Baker Publishing Group.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.
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