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krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/review-1804-beheld/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/review-1804-beheld/
lauriestein's review against another edition
1.0
I got this from the library to read in November because I thought it would be potentially be illuminating to know more about the post "Thanksgiving" Plymouth colony. There was some material of interest, largely when it delved into the relationship between the "puritans" and "strangers," but for an alleged murder mystery this was quite dull. I can certainly understand the herculean task of attempting to imagine context for an incident that was only referenced offhand in textual sources but still. Alice Bradford's backstory seemed to encompass an outsized portion of the narrative given both its connection to the main events and the point that was purportedly being made about early social class in colonies. Nearly every chapter ended with repetitive foreboding statements about the coming tragedy, but all this build-up only led to a very underwhelming climax.
meaganmart's review against another edition
3.0
Beheld is well-written, impeccably researched, and sheds light on the thoughts and actions of Puritan women, a group that is often forgotten among the historical narratives and in historical fiction as writers assume readers will be more interested in the actions taken by men. It was interesting, but it was also very slow-paced. This is definitely not a mystery as some have claimed, but is rather, a slice-of-life book that happens to contain a murder.
buffstbookslisa's review against another edition
3.0
I was very hopeful for this book given its subject matter. I was encouraged by the writing early on, such as:
“We were divided, as we had been from the beginning—half of the colonists were congregants striving to live as God intended. And the other half? Well, they were why we took care to mend the fences.”
However as the book unfolds too many of the characters lack true complexity. In addition, you know from the beginning what’s going to happen, and when it does, everything is exactly as you’d expect. There’s just not enough here to leave me feeling anything strongly, and to me, that’s a sadly missed opportunity.
“We were divided, as we had been from the beginning—half of the colonists were congregants striving to live as God intended. And the other half? Well, they were why we took care to mend the fences.”
However as the book unfolds too many of the characters lack true complexity. In addition, you know from the beginning what’s going to happen, and when it does, everything is exactly as you’d expect. There’s just not enough here to leave me feeling anything strongly, and to me, that’s a sadly missed opportunity.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Beheld is not a feel good book. In this historical fiction taking place ten years after the first Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth, things are tense, inhospitable and not at all what they had hoped for when they left their former countries for a new land, full of promise, hope, and imagined glories. Those who left their countries for religious freedom are all too happy to impose their beliefs on everyone else. The indentured servants that they needed to even have a chance of surviving in the new world have never been allowed to rise up from their lowly levels. Class segregation is at its worst. Some of the new leadership is only too happy to murder innocent people, in the name of whatever rules they have made up. Some of the friendly, helpful Indians have been slaughtered to show the rest of them who is in control. Food, all provisions, are scarce and even though the existing Pilgrims in the new country need more people to come to their world to get much needed supplies and financing, they also fear that the new people will be those who are "not them". They fear being outnumbered by those with beliefs different from their own.
The story is told from several different perspectives. Alice and Eleanor play the biggest parts in telling their story although Nature even gets a turn to show who is really running the show. In nature, there are peaceful scenes that can then be shattered by animals not only attacking other animals for food, but also wolves attacking their own weaker kin. This is also reflected in how the humans treat each other, tearing down those who are already down, not allowing them to even get a foothold or feeling of security. Staying on top by keeping everyone else under one's foot.
One of the most sympathetic characters is a young man who is murdered by a former indentured servant, whose anger has reached its limit, as the former servant is cheated and held down by those who hold all the cards in this game of life. There are also young children who have been sold as slaves by their father, because he no longer wants to care for them. All the indentured servants are at the mercy of their owners and there are Godly men who do unmentionable things behind closed doors. A young woman who is raped by her owner's brother is killed for getting pregnant. Nothing is fair in this life, cruelty is badly disguised as justice.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing/Macmillan and Edelweiss for this ARC.
The story is told from several different perspectives. Alice and Eleanor play the biggest parts in telling their story although Nature even gets a turn to show who is really running the show. In nature, there are peaceful scenes that can then be shattered by animals not only attacking other animals for food, but also wolves attacking their own weaker kin. This is also reflected in how the humans treat each other, tearing down those who are already down, not allowing them to even get a foothold or feeling of security. Staying on top by keeping everyone else under one's foot.
One of the most sympathetic characters is a young man who is murdered by a former indentured servant, whose anger has reached its limit, as the former servant is cheated and held down by those who hold all the cards in this game of life. There are also young children who have been sold as slaves by their father, because he no longer wants to care for them. All the indentured servants are at the mercy of their owners and there are Godly men who do unmentionable things behind closed doors. A young woman who is raped by her owner's brother is killed for getting pregnant. Nothing is fair in this life, cruelty is badly disguised as justice.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing/Macmillan and Edelweiss for this ARC.
kategci's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this historical novel which is set in 1630 at the Plymouth settlement. William Bradford is the governor of this harsh inhospitable piece of land and this is told from several points of view, mostly through his wife Alice. They are devout and religious, believing all things come through God, but they are not nearly as Christian as they should be. Self-righteous, they are very critical and intolerant of those below their economic and social station. A murder occurs, with a speedy trial and punishment, which shows all the ways those with less don't always receive justice. Historical fiction is possibly my favorite genre (along with messy family sagas), and this novel shows how little we have come in 500 years in terms of equality, privilege and race.
wendiwoo1's review against another edition
4.0
This was definitely an interesting take on the traditional pilgrim narrative, and most likely a more accurate depiction of the messiness. I most particularly enjoyed the author's note. Sometimes I wish those were presented first, as was the case with this book. It also was a much faster read than I anticipated.