This is a Civil War era novel of two would be lovers. Inman has had his fill of fighting for the Confederate cause, with senseless orders from military leaders, to gruesome killing, poor rations, and defeat. He decides to walk back home, not sure how to get there. Ada, the woman he loves, but has not declared himself too very clearly, tries to survive on the farm her father left to her. But she was raised an educated city girl, with not a clue about raising crops, gardening, or making do. The plot switches from one of them to the other. One-third of the way through I realized the entire book was going to be about their separate lives, not their relationship together. Inman’s experiences range from almost imaginary but horrible interactions with people along his way to wonderful gestures of helping and inspiration. Always hungry, he avoids most people because there are groups of men out hunting for deserters. For Ada, a young woman, Ruby, arrives. Ruby is alone, needing a place to live, but very smart about about crops, animals, and making her way. Thank goodness, because Ada was clueless. Finally, Ada and Inman find each other, but sadness reigns and the conclusion drops on the reader all too quickly, after a lengthy read. Not a romantic writer, but romance drives the plot. A 7 on a scale of 1-10. Recommended, but it is a different kind of book. Lots of blood and gore, depressing, as were so many lives at this time of struggle.
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