I very much enjoyed this book. I've about read my fill of Civil War/Reconstruction stories (starting with GWTW) but read this because it's our book club selection for this month. I am always dismayed at man's inhumanity to man as shown in my beloved South. The book realistically portrays many of the injustices of that time, from the rape and pregnancy of a young black slave to the arrogance of the Southern women who believed African-Americans were born to serve them. What I loved most about the characters was the way they changed as the book progressed. I do think such changes took place in those who survived or they would not have survived. But the quickness of the time frame struck me as unrealistic.But that's a small matter. The book has strong, memorable characters and a good plot. If you enjoy Christian historical fiction, this is an excellent book for you to read. I have read several historical fiction novels by Lynn Austin and given all of them either a 4 or 5 star rating. This one is definitely a 5 star level. All Things New by Lynn Austin is a Christian historical fiction set in Virginia at the end of the Civil War. It tells the story the struggle of a family re-adjusting to all the changes in their life after the Civil War. The mother, Eugenia, grieves the loss of her husband and a son who died during the war. She also clings to her former attitudes toward the former slaves and people she considers to be below her social class. The daughter, Mary, clings to the former lifestyle life of a pampered plantation belle. The other daughter, Josephine, feels bitter toward God but changes more easily than the other family members in showing compassion to the former slaves and in also becoming friends with a Yankee soldier sent to help with Reconstruction. The surviving son, Daniel, embittered over what he experienced during the war, resorts to violence against the former slaves and the Yankee soldier who had come to help. The author creates a very compelling story showing their struggles and also those of the former slaves who stayed and are now legally free but still facing nearly insurmountable obstacles in creating a new life. Woven throughout the book are spiritual values of finding faith and hope in God even in the midst of great difficulties and losses.
What do You think about De Plantage (2012)?
I very much enjoyed this book. I've about read my fill of Civil War/Reconstruction stories (starting with GWTW) but read this because it's our book club selection for this month. I am always dismayed at man's inhumanity to man as shown in my beloved South. The book realistically portrays many of the injustices of that time, from the rape and pregnancy of a young black slave to the arrogance of the Southern women who believed African-Americans were born to serve them. What I loved most about the characters was the way they changed as the book progressed. I do think such changes took place in those who survived or they would not have survived. But the quickness of the time frame struck me as unrealistic.But that's a small matter. The book has strong, memorable characters and a good plot. If you enjoy Christian historical fiction, this is an excellent book for you to read.
—xokawaii
This would really be more 4.5 stars, however, I bumped it up to 5 stars for several reasons. There are tons of books that take place during the Civil War, but this is the first I've read that takes place during the aftermath. And while Josephine is kind and loving to the freed slaves, her family members (who claim to be Christians) are not. This is very uncommon in Christian fiction but is probably much more real. It also made me think a lot about that time period. When we learn about history we never really think about how hard life was AFTER a war, and I really appreciated the different perspective.
—cn10109
Loved it. I think I've found a new favorite author!
—Hopeless_Angel
