Reviews

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

knit_and_purl's review

4.0

I was looking forward to reading this book (it's been on my to-read shelf for a year!), and when I first started it, I was a little disappointed. It seemed slow to get going, but once it did, I highly enjoyed it. Brooks's Year of Wonders is still my favourite, but I'd definitely recommend this to readers of historical fiction.

medievil_'s review

4.0

This book was wonderful. As a pre-revolution, southeastern New England Indian loving ubernerd, this was right up my alley. It's the fictionalized account of the first Native American, a Wampanoag, to graduate from Harvard, in 1665, told from the POV of a Puritan minister's daughter. This, as far as non-genre "literary fiction" really hit all of my prereqs except one - there was no doomed love story. Or, alternately, the whole thing was a doomed love story.

cornmaven's review

4.0

I would have given this 5 stars but I knocked it down because of the title. I didn't feel that this books was really about Caleb. I think Caleb was integral to the true main character, Bethia. So it bothered me that the title suggested otherwise.
Having said that, it's another wonderful historical novel by Brooks who has a knack for revealing historical details without just stating them.

jem_of_the_brew's review

3.0

My review of this book can be found here: http://oddfeather.co/2018/07/15/review-calebs-crossing-by-geraldine-brooks/

dclaw's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

ljm57's review

4.0

Once again Geraldine Brooks delivers another fascinating historical narrative based on a true story. She always manages to provide a wonderful insight into the lives of her characters during past times.

rebeccamdowd's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

barbc789's review

4.0

I love the voice of Berthia. I really got a sense of what it must have been like to be a woman in that era and the role religion played in people's lives. Very enjoyable read and I think it would be a great discussion book.

janiebee's review

5.0

This is the fourth Geraldine Brooks book I've read and I must say it is my favorite. While I did quite enjoy Year of Wonders, I found the conclusion of that book frustrating. With this book I found the subject matter fascinating and enlightening but I also reveled in the poetic way in which Brooks conveyed it. While parts of the book were devastatingly sad to me, I feel that is a testament to the superior writing because I grew to love the characters so much.

maryanneross's review

5.0

At times while reading this book, I actually had chills. Bethia does not only make a compelling narrator but shows girls and women the true spirit of a strong female. Not only is the book a great read, but it is a history lesson on the discrimination of Native Americans and women. Be this gives us a glimpse of earlier English language and the birth of higher education in the colonies. I was drawn into the story after about five pages. The characters, the history, and the narration were all masterful. Caleb's Crossing is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and strong female characters.