Review – Orphans of the Living by Kathy Watson
Synopsis
A debut historical fiction for fans of Kristin Hannah and John Steinbeck, Orphans of the Living follows the Stovall family’s early 20th-century quest for home and redemption as they confront racism, poverty, and inequality across the American South and West.
In the shadow of the Great Depression and Jim Crow south of the 1930s, an impoverished white family escapes—with the help of Black sharecroppers—from a vengeful Mississippi plantation overseer intent on lynching them. Arriving in California to start a new life, Barney and Lula Stovall are haunted by the past, the children they’ve left behind, and the daughter they cannot love or protect.
Orphans of the Living follows the peripatetic life of the Stovall family, woven from four parallel stories: Barney and Lula Stovall, and two of their nine children, Glen and Nora Mae.
Their California sojourn—from their hardscrabble dairy farm, to the brig at the San Francisco Presidio, to the building of the Golden Gate Bridge—lead them on paths toward forgiveness, of themselves and of each other.
Amazon * B&N * Bookshop * Kobo
Praise
“In Orphans of the Living, Kathy Watson gives us an unflinching look at how Americans lived, worked, loved, and dreamed in the first half of the twentieth century. Watson brings history to life on the page bravely, honestly, and generously.”—Ann Hood, author of The Stolen Child
“The language of this debut novel makes the Stovall family come alive. The images are fresh and poignant. Each voice is unique, memorable and invites us to the Southwest and West of Steinbeck and Barbara Kingsolver. I look forward to more novels written by this story master. So will you.”—Jane Kirkpatrick, New York Times best-selling author of Across the Crying Sands
“Orphans of the Living is a masterpiece of writing as spare as the hardscrabble landscapes that never quite support its characters. Watson’s gift is that she weaves the threads of redemption like sinews that bind this poignant narrative into a story well worth knowing. . . . Brava to this debut novelist.”—Barbara Stark-Nemon, author of Even in Darkness
“In this stark and poignant novel, Kathy Watson crafts a heart-wrenching story of poverty, injustice, and fractured familial relationships before, during, and after America’s Great Depression. Through intimate and skillful storytelling, Watson weaves the intertwined stories of a misguided dreamer, a hardened wife, a resentful son, and a troubled daughter (whose story alone left me bereft) as they navigate their hardscrabble lives in the American South and West. To what end will each of them go to find forgiveness? Redemption? An impressive debut.” —Ashley E. Sweeney, author of The Irish Girl
Review
While historical fiction, the story is based on the author’s mother’s life, which gives us an insight into one family’s experience (to a degree). We know from reading and learning about history that there were tough times for many people due to the economy, racial issues, hunger, and family issues. Many children were orphaned, and sometimes it was by necessity, and not always due to the loss of family. Hence the term, orphans of the living. Some families couldn’t raise all of their children, or in this case, the stepfather didn’t like the children from his wife’s first marriage. The children were a handful, but at the same time, Barney expected too much from these young boys. This is also a time when women were property and not allowed to speak up in defense of their children or family. It was a hard lesson for all involved.
The book started a bit slow, and I had a hard time putting the pieces together. However, as the book progressed over time, I developed an affinity for some of the characters, especially Nora Mae. I can’t imagine being shuffled around the country, meeting new people, and trying to find yourself, even as a young child. There is a wide range of characters that added depth and dimension to the story. Barney was always looking for the next big deal, and I’m not sure if he ever found it. But he never quit trying.
This novel reminds me to be grateful for the current environment for women. Sure, there is room for improvement, but it is nothing like it was 10o years ago. I appreciated the way the author dealt with racial issues. Slavery still existed, and there were the Jim Crow laws.
I enjoyed reading this novel and learned a few things. We give it 4 paws up.
About the Author
Kathy Watson spent years as a public relations executive and journalist, including six as editor-in-chief of Oregon Business magazine, before embarking on a new career as a chef and restaurant owner. This is her debut novel. She lives in Hood River, Oregon, where she writes, leads a chefs collective, and runs and hikes the Columbia River Gorge with her husband Stu and Satchel, the world’s best dog.
