Release Date: April 30/2013
Adquired: Print copy provided by tour host
Goodreads: ADD
Purchase: Amazon/Indigo/Book Depository
The final book Tamar Myers's Belgian Congo-set mystery series, this is the story of an all girls boarding school for runaway child brides, and features events inspired by Myers's childhood in the Belgian Congo.
When Julia Elaine Newton, a young, pretty Ohio girl, volunteered to go on a mission to the Belgian Congo, she knew it was going to be a huge change. But she never expected to wind up teaching at an all-girls boarding school primarily populated by runaway child brides!
Much to her chagrin, Early Dusk was born beautiful. If only she'd been ugly, Big Chief Eagle would not have noticed her. Escaping an arranged marriage, the scrappy eight-year-old girl finds her way to Julia Newton and the school. But this time her jilted husband will not be denied.
It's up to Julia and Early Dusk to try and save the school as Congolese Independence looms and Big Chief Eagle embarks on his revenge. With the help of Cripple and her husband, and even Amanda Brown, these plucky women must learn to save themselves. Based on actual events, The Girl Who Married an Eagle is a beautiful finale to the Belgian Congo mystery series.
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I've definitely been reading too few adult books as of late, because it struck me by intense surprise and awe when I opened this book, to find some treasured friends of mine: a meaningful story line, and beautifully crafted words. I mean no offense to YA authors, but for those who are familiar with the genre, you know that repetition and over-dramatics are no strangers to the writing. Adult books have become somewhat of a vacation for me, which is strange, because that's what YA initially started as.
The Girl Who Married an Eagle was poignant, engaging, and read like a plot line for a well acted, potentially award-winning, movie. It is the last in a four-part mystery series set in the Belgian Congo in the 1950's, which was a little disappointing at first, because I realized I'd be going into a plot line with already established characters, and moments. I was soon proven wrong, as I became familiar and attached to characters that were reintroduced seamlessly and without a hitch. Julia Newton was the first one to speak loudly to me, as she determinedly made her way from her comfortable, privileged Ohio, to the middle of the impoverished Belgian Congo. She was placed into a missionary all-girls boarding school for young runaway-brides, who have escaped the clutches of their sometimes much older husbands. Julia initially came off as a tad whiny, and self-righteous, but after each obstacle I overcame with her, she gained more property on my heart. She was a strong, outspoken female lead, and was willing to throw out everything she learned growing up in her Christian home, for the sake of what was right and just.
I devoured the details of The Girl Who Married an Eagle. I LOVE novels that educate while they entertain. I was aware of the existence of indigenous tribes in Africa, or elsewhere, that are completely oblivious to technological advances, and or modern ethical customs and rights (I speak in the current tense, because there still is!), but I rarely have the chance to read, first hand, and in detail, about their lives. The plot line in this book also follows the life of Buakane, a young member of the Mushilele tribe, a stunning beauty who has been sold to Chief Eagle as his twenty-third wife. After a brave feat of escape, Buakane's story eventually merges with Julia's. The story line weaves and bobs from there, trust is formed, and tested, lives are irrevocably changed, for both the characters, and for myself.
The writing in the The Girl Who Married an Eagle was witty, subtly comedic, and beautifully descriptive. I completely respected the fact that the author based a lot of the narrative on real-life events, as Tamar was born and raised in a Congo missionary. Her knowledge of customs, scenery, and mannerisms really showed through her writing, and had me deeply rooted in what I was reading. I will definitely be picking up the previous three books in this series!
Recommended for Fans of: Mystery, contemporary, historical fiction
The Girl Who Married an Eagle was poignant, engaging, and read like a plot line for a well acted, potentially award-winning, movie. It is the last in a four-part mystery series set in the Belgian Congo in the 1950's, which was a little disappointing at first, because I realized I'd be going into a plot line with already established characters, and moments. I was soon proven wrong, as I became familiar and attached to characters that were reintroduced seamlessly and without a hitch. Julia Newton was the first one to speak loudly to me, as she determinedly made her way from her comfortable, privileged Ohio, to the middle of the impoverished Belgian Congo. She was placed into a missionary all-girls boarding school for young runaway-brides, who have escaped the clutches of their sometimes much older husbands. Julia initially came off as a tad whiny, and self-righteous, but after each obstacle I overcame with her, she gained more property on my heart. She was a strong, outspoken female lead, and was willing to throw out everything she learned growing up in her Christian home, for the sake of what was right and just.
I devoured the details of The Girl Who Married an Eagle. I LOVE novels that educate while they entertain. I was aware of the existence of indigenous tribes in Africa, or elsewhere, that are completely oblivious to technological advances, and or modern ethical customs and rights (I speak in the current tense, because there still is!), but I rarely have the chance to read, first hand, and in detail, about their lives. The plot line in this book also follows the life of Buakane, a young member of the Mushilele tribe, a stunning beauty who has been sold to Chief Eagle as his twenty-third wife. After a brave feat of escape, Buakane's story eventually merges with Julia's. The story line weaves and bobs from there, trust is formed, and tested, lives are irrevocably changed, for both the characters, and for myself.
The writing in the The Girl Who Married an Eagle was witty, subtly comedic, and beautifully descriptive. I completely respected the fact that the author based a lot of the narrative on real-life events, as Tamar was born and raised in a Congo missionary. Her knowledge of customs, scenery, and mannerisms really showed through her writing, and had me deeply rooted in what I was reading. I will definitely be picking up the previous three books in this series!
Recommended for Fans of: Mystery, contemporary, historical fiction
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Tamar Myers was born and raised in the Belgian Congo (now just the Congo). Her parents were missionaries to a tribe which, at that time, were known as headhunters and used human skulls for drinking cups. Hers was the first white family ever to peacefully coexist with the tribe.
Tamar grew up eating elephant, hippopotamus and even monkey. She attended a boarding school that was two days away by truck, and sometimes it was necessary to wade through crocodile infested waters to reach it. Other dangers she encountered as a child were cobras, deadly green mambas, and the voracious armies of driver ants that ate every animal (and human) that didn’t get out of their way.
Today Tamar lives in the Carolinas with her American-born husband. She is the author of 36 novels (most of which are mysteries), a number of published short stories, and hundreds of articles on gardening.
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I love books that educate while they entertain as well! Those types of books seem to stick with me longer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour!