Hang the Moon
Ratings5
Average rating3.4
15
Ratings5
Average rating3.4
From Jeannette Walls, the bestselling author of The Glass Castle, a riveting new novel about an indomitable young woman in Prohibition-era Virginia Most folk thought Sallie Kincaid was a nobody who’d amount to nothing. Sallie had other plans. Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the twentieth century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother, who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is the Duke's daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out. Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger. 'Jeannette Walls created my new favorite hero in her protagonist, Sallie Kincaid. Sallie is sharp, bold, unflinching, and humorous despite, or maybe because of, her hardships.' — Jennette McCurdy, bestselling author of I’m Glad My Mom Died 'Hang the Moon is Jeannette Walls's masterwork. Epic in scope, the novel is a thrill ride through Prohibition and change in the American South . . . The prose is so elegant and so close to the bone you feel Sallie's heartbeat. Glorious.' ― Adriana Trigiani, author of The Good Left Undone 'Does what all good books should: it affirms our faith in the human spirit.' ― Dani Shapiro on The Glass Castle 'Like J.D. Salinger or Hemingway before her, Jeannette Walls has the talent of knowing exactly how to let a story tell itself.' ― Sunday Independent on The Glass Castle
Reviews with the most likes.
If you enjoy reading about the 1920s and the prohibition era, this was an interesting read. Jeanette did a lot of research (listed at the end) and wrote a book with a voice that truly speaks from the story's heart.
4.75 (rounded up to five) - I forget how much I love Depression-era stories until I come across books like this. There's so much grit to be found, especially when the book is so character driven. I hung on every word and was completely immersed.
When her stepmother dies, Sallie Kincaid is finally called home after being sent away at the age of eight. She's thrilled by this second chance to reclaim her place in her family and redeem herself as a big sister to her half-brother, Eddie. It doesn't take long for her to realize that she might be in over her head. Nevertheless, she refuses to back down from a challenge. She isn't afraid to do whatever it takes to prove herself worthy of her father's affection.
The longer Sallie is home, she realizes that her father is far different from the man she remembers. What's more is that she doesn't know much about her own past, especially surrounding her mother's death. When Duke remarries, even more secrets rise to the surface.
I ate up the in-depth timeline in which the story is told. Most of the events of the book happen in real-time which made it hard to pause reading. It's also extremely character driven which I love. It's overall an emotional and dark story in its way. All that said, there was a lot of information and characters to digest. Honestly, I'd say too many, especially when it comes to Sallie's complicated family tree. I'm still not positive about all of the relationships. Still, I was thoroughly engrossed from start to finish. Sometimes that's difficult for me to find.
