Natnael Muluneh High Hearts 571 Pages, 1987 Rita Mae BrownHigh Hearts is the story of newlyweds Geneva Chatfield and Nash Hart. The couples get married in Albemarle County Virginia the same day the Civil war begins and five days later their marriage is put to the test as Nash is sent off to join the Confederate Army. Geneva will go to extreme length to be near her husband. She cuts off her hair and joins Nash’s Calvary as Jimmy Chatfield. Geneva is the tallest girl and best rider at Albemarle County, so she thrives at the warfront and become a very successful solider. However Nash is seen struggling with the idea of being a solider. This difference in their personalities started creating problems for the newlyweds. This is not the only problem the couples are facing. The commander of the Cavalry Mars Vickers finds himself exceedingly attracted to the youngest solider Jimmy Chatfield. Although Mars does not understand his unusual attraction to a young boy, throughout the book it is seen as the tension rises between Nash and Mars while Geneva’s identity remains a secret. High Hearts reveals a lot about the struggle of the battlefield but also talks about the home front, where the responsibility of the plantation falls on the shoulders of Geneva’s mother, Lutie. Throughout the book it is seen as Lutie finds a new purpose that is more than just running the plantation which is nursing the wounded. The secrets in this story do not stop at the battlefield. One of the major plot twists in this book is the secret between the relationship of Geneva and Di-Peachy. Overall the book brings one of the most famous historical events to life and explains in interesting details the struggles in both the battlefield and the home front.One of the main themes in this book is the issue stereotypes. This story is set during the Civil war which was a time in which many stereotypes existed. Throughout the book Brown really challenges the existing stereotypes; sexual and racial. The women in this book, although they have very different backgrounds and characteristics, all show extreme strength and admired dedication when the patriarchal traditions of the society were challenged. High Hearts shows the everyday struggle of women to establish their place among society. Brown portray the women as a collective force that comes together or as she refers to them “A shadow Army” when needed and in order to benefit the greater good. In the story Di-Peachy is the character that introduces the issue of slavery and this matter is complicated as the very close relationship between her and Geneva is revealed. Di-Peachy is Geneva’s a beautiful and intelligent black woman. She has no violent tendencies and Brown uses this to challenge the stereotype regarding the aggressive black women. During this time Blacks are seen are the people who are always ready to cause violence because of their “savage” ancestry. The other Brown challenges the racial stereotype is the fact that a white man is in love with Di-Peachy. This theme is well clarified in the book and the readers see as the people who are a subject to these stereotypes among many others rise up and become the models of the southern society.The other major theme in this book is marriage roles. The heart of the story is the love between Nash and Geneva and their marriage. Brown reverses the roles of a traditional marriage when she portrayed Geneva’s character as a woman who loves outdoor activities and is not tested by the war at all. While Nash is given the characteristic of a man who prefers the more intellectual activities and is having a hard time adapting to his new role of being a solider. As a result of all this the readers see as the two couple struggle to obtain their relationship. This also ties mainly to the stereotypes of gender roles. Nash is threatened by the changes happening to Geneva and feels that his authority as the dominant one in the relationship is being undermined. As a result to this he keeps his distance from Geneva and she is confused of the changes going on in her relationship. The book was not based on romance as it was expected but it still had big features that made it very interesting. The author does a great job of explaining the setting and establishing the idea of what life was like during this time in the reader’s minds. The one part of the book that was not very favorable was the fact that after progressing day by day throughout the entire book, after a major twist in the plot it jumps ahead 30 years then after explaining about what happened to some characters the book ends. It would have made the book even more interesting of more of those climatic scenes were explained in the book. Although the book was fiction, it was interesting to read some parts and realize that those issues were actually going on during that time. Overall High Hearts is a great book that held a lot of good values and views about love, war, society, and dedication.
I really enjoyed this book. The summary is true; this is an epic story that brings fresh life into possibly one of the most popular historical events in fiction. I enjoyed learning about the cavalry tactics and regular life of a soldier in that part of the fighting force. There was a ton of history but it was all meshed in the fiction so well that it gave realism to the characters, as if they had been real historical figures. I liked most all the characters, but confess I didn't love any of them. Geneva comes off as very innocent and young. So does her husband Nash. Other characters like Lutie, Henley, Sumner, Banjo, Sin-Sin, Di-Peachy, and Mercer were very enjoyable and felt real. I will add that the books "chapters" are dates, and some are only a page, while others are triple that or more. This broke up the action a lot, and was why I took many months to finish this book, reading only a "chapter" or two a day. But the plot was compelling enough that I never lost track of the action, and that once I got close to the end, I had to read the rest to find out what happened. As for the ending..reading the summary, any reader of romance can guess what is going to happen. My one problem with the book is that it progresses day by day for the entire thing, then after the death of a major character suddenly jumps ahead 30 years and after a quick telling of what happened to this one and that one, the book is over. While I know the book probably had a page limit, I'd have liked to get a few of those last climactic scenes the way other climactic scenes were in the book, as a chapter. I wanted to savor them more :)
What do You think about High Hearts (1987)?
Book Riot 2015 Challenge: Book by an author who identifies as LGBTQPopSugar 2015 Challenge: Book I started once and never finishedHigh Hearts is a book I've owned for a long time but never picked up. It's one of Brown's early works, but I suppose I was turned off from reading because I didn't like her most recent non-mystery efforts. As with Stephen King, until I rediscovered him, I decided Rita and I needed a break.I chose High Hearts to fulfill a few reading challenges because I don't like to DNF a book unless there's a good reason. The first time around, years ago, I wasn't in the frame of mind to read Civil War fiction. This time around, though, I lost myself in the story and enjoyed it. Having lived near and visited frequently the settings of this book, I've come away with greater interest in my adopted state's history.I'm also encouraged to pick up Dolley, one of the few non-mysteries of Brown's I haven't read.
—Kathryn
What would the telling of the Civil War read like with a woman soldier? Here we find Brown's take on that question. Five days after marrying, Geneva Chatfield's husband, brother, and father all leave home to enlist their services in the war effort. Not willing to live without her husband Nash, Geneva disguising herself as a boy and leaves home to join up with him in the cavalry. A superb horsewoman, Geneva establishes her place in his company by beating Major Mars Vickers, the group commander, in a horse race.After this, the story moves between the battle front and the home front telling the stories of the women at home and the men off fighting. There is lots of what you would expect: relations between the races, status of slaves, dealing with shortages and consequences of being at war, family ties, north and south divides, and romances.The characters are interesting and likable. We see Geneva grow beyond the person she starts out as. She learns a lot about herself and her husband. We sympathize with Nash and his reluctance to fight. We are intrigued by Vicker's outlook on life. And we marvel at the woman maintaining their homes and lives.While describing the horrors of war, this is not a gruesome story. Instead it is a compassionate and human look at the effects of war on the people who live it. And like the rest of Brown's work, this is a fun and enjoyable read with a southern twist.
—Mckinley
1986A very enjoyable story about the Civil War from the perspective of Charlottesville VA, apparently the author's home town as well. She tries to let us 'hear the voices' of some of the slaves as well as the Southern white main characters.By the time I finished, I realized I had been reading a retake of Gone with the Wind. Geneva is a Scarlett type of ambitious, practically minded young woman. Her husband is an Ashley type, not suited to wars or business, more the sentimental poetic type. The colonel, although not exactly like Rhett Butler, certainly shows similarities. Oh, and you have the good-hearted, useful prostitute as well.Well, I have always liked Gone with the WInd, so it's fine with me to have a new and different version of it!
—Rita
