Customer Reviews

Hannah Fowler

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read most of Janice Holt Giles' books but this one (my first) has got to be my favorite. It certainly isn't your conventional love story; but then, Hannah isn't your conventional heroine. Nor are she and Tice a conventional couple (she asked HIM to marry HER) but they don't seem to be any less happy for it. Giles' beloved Kentucky hills are the perfect setting for the story, and her writing style is wonderful in its simplicity.

By the way, the best subtle reference to sex I've ever found is in this book. When Tice says, "Let's try out that new shuck tick of your'n" and gives Hannah a gentle shove in that direction... and the rest is left to the imagination.

Enduring? This book has been around since 1956 and is still in print, now that's enduring! I first read Hannah Fowler over twenty years ago and I also "re read" it every couple of years. It is my most favorite work of fiction. An incredibly simple and beautiful work of art, Giles weaves regional lore with a touching love story. Since I first read this book Janice Holt Giles has become my favorite author, she writes with an honesty and wisdom that draws you to her characters. If anyone is remotely interested in Hannah Fowler, please read it, you won't be disappointed. I especially recommend it to teenagers.

I first read this book over 15 years ago. I have since gone back and read it over about every year or two. The writer has created such real characters and a story line that is just as readable as it was when it was first written. I can not recommend this books strongly enough.

As a native of the area described in Hannah Fowler, I am in tune with the feelings and hopes of the people. This book so clearly and accurately describes those feelings that I could read only a little at a time. No book has ever been so intense for me. Tears came with each chapter. Having married a person from a different section of the US where attitudes and ideals are different, I had long sought some way to explain the differences - this book is the way.

As an English teacher, and a lover of historic fiction, I am surprised that Giles does not rank with Willa Cather and Larry McMurtry. Perhaps she should have chosen another publisher when she was first writing her multi-book series that starts in Kentucky and ends in Denver with her novel Six Horse Hitch. At any rate, Hannah Fowler, in my opinion her best, is a wonderful read. I know. I have read it many times.

Every time I see a review of this book, it mentions something about Hannah being a "strong pioneer woman." Certainly, she IS a strong pioneer woman. But re-reading the book recently, I noticed just how important a role Tice, Hannah's husband, plays in the story. This book has great anti-romance-novel romance. Tice is too old to be a romance novel hero, and Hannah is too plain and bashful, yet their love story rings completely true to life. I really appreciate the ways Giles shows the love between Hannah and Tice, whether it is describing how Hannah keeps watching down the path to the creek to see if Tice is coming home yet, or letting us know Tice's thoughts about Hannah while he's waiting for the raid on the Indian village. It's a love story I enjoy reading again and again.

This book is a page turner!!! I first read this book and the rest of Giles work in the early 80's. I was building a log house and her book about their house and moving it 1000 feet, caught my attention. The wonderful thing about Around Our house(I think was the title...) was that she talked about writing her novels... so I was instantly launched into reading all her books as she brought them up in that autobiography. WOW. She was a very good writer. I strongly suggest reading every book you can find of hers. Visit her website established by family and friends. Go there if you live in the area.
Now I collect her books as they are rotated out of libraries. What a shame... This was one book I offered cautiously to my father to read. He loved it. It brought us closer together. I love her for that alone. Great writer. Factually correct. I read everything she wrote like I was starving. So many good, no, great laughs. Her control of the diction and conveying it to us not from the area was masterful. I reden' up still to this day. And go to Greenland... Read her, folks. You won't be disappointed...

P.S. I just blogged else where that Sarah Palin is a real life Hanna Fowler.

Some years ago I read Hannah Fowler. I loaned it out one too many times. The last time it did not come back. Can you believe I forgot the title!? When the name popped back into my head the library suggested Amazon. SuzyQbooks had a hardback copy and sent it out that very day. Needless to say I am very pleased except I have not got to read it yet.