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The Acorn Legacy
A Historical Novel Spanning 17 Centuries!
Corey Alden knows his full family tree--a linage that stretches back 17 centuries--and he has the documents to prove it. Through DNA testing, however, he discovers a connection with someone he did not know existed--an entirely new branch of his family tree. And when his wife, Indira, an adoptee who believed she was an only child, gets her DNA tested, things get even more interesting.
The Acorn Legacy is a complex novel of history, mystery, and fantasy--as we move between past, present, and the mythical to bring the family line to life. Through it all, the Alden family line is entangled with major historical events from 400 AD onward.
The story begins on the European mainland, but moves quickly to Britain as Saxons battle Romans. The family line moves through British history until, fleeing religious persecution in Britain, the Alden ancestors arrive in the New World on the Mayflower. During the American Revolution, the line takes up residence in Canada and continues the family tree.
The Alden family line has a genealogical past, much like the history that many of our families have, with the exception that through it all they pass on enchanted acorns that grow into magical Oak trees. Do the humans plant and control the trees, or do the trees guide the family history? Or is the entire narrative in the hands of the ancient gods? These provocative questions drive forward the narrative about a seemingly ordinary family.
If you have ever wondered about your ancestry, or just love a first-rate story with engaging characters and situations, The Acorn Legacy is a must-read.
******
Advanced Praise
"The Acorn Legacy is historical, mystical, dramatic, humorous and moving. And it's all combined, from start to finish, in a manner most engaging."
"With mythical beginnings, The Acorn Legacy follows the stories of a family line that stretches back centuries touching on themes of family connection, bigotry, sexual preferences, health challenges, and love. It motivated me to ask myself the question, 'Does my connection to mankind and the earth encompasses more than DNA?'"
"With DNA testing, we have been given a new tool to make connections to those with whom we share a past. Sometimes it seems like magic. Take some of that magic, mix it with some serious genealogy, and you have a novel of history, mystery, fantasy and fun. Lima has a firm grip on the present, and has done the research to bring the past to life. His present day characters are people you will get to know, and like and will cheer for as they discover who they are in the grand scheme of life."
"The Acorn Legacy is a completely fresh idea about something as old as time. I hope somebody makes it a movie!"
Corey Alden knows his full family tree--a linage that stretches back 17 centuries--and he has the documents to prove it. Through DNA testing, however, he discovers a connection with someone he did not know existed--an entirely new branch of his family tree. And when his wife, Indira, an adoptee who believed she was an only child, gets her DNA tested, things get even more interesting.
The Acorn Legacy is a complex novel of history, mystery, and fantasy--as we move between past, present, and the mythical to bring the family line to life. Through it all, the Alden family line is entangled with major historical events from 400 AD onward.
The story begins on the European mainland, but moves quickly to Britain as Saxons battle Romans. The family line moves through British history until, fleeing religious persecution in Britain, the Alden ancestors arrive in the New World on the Mayflower. During the American Revolution, the line takes up residence in Canada and continues the family tree.
The Alden family line has a genealogical past, much like the history that many of our families have, with the exception that through it all they pass on enchanted acorns that grow into magical Oak trees. Do the humans plant and control the trees, or do the trees guide the family history? Or is the entire narrative in the hands of the ancient gods? These provocative questions drive forward the narrative about a seemingly ordinary family.
If you have ever wondered about your ancestry, or just love a first-rate story with engaging characters and situations, The Acorn Legacy is a must-read.
******
Advanced Praise
"The Acorn Legacy is historical, mystical, dramatic, humorous and moving. And it's all combined, from start to finish, in a manner most engaging."
"With mythical beginnings, The Acorn Legacy follows the stories of a family line that stretches back centuries touching on themes of family connection, bigotry, sexual preferences, health challenges, and love. It motivated me to ask myself the question, 'Does my connection to mankind and the earth encompasses more than DNA?'"
"With DNA testing, we have been given a new tool to make connections to those with whom we share a past. Sometimes it seems like magic. Take some of that magic, mix it with some serious genealogy, and you have a novel of history, mystery, fantasy and fun. Lima has a firm grip on the present, and has done the research to bring the past to life. His present day characters are people you will get to know, and like and will cheer for as they discover who they are in the grand scheme of life."
"The Acorn Legacy is a completely fresh idea about something as old as time. I hope somebody makes it a movie!"
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2023
3 people are currently reading
About the author
Paul Lima
91 books44 followersPaul Lima has worked as a professional writer since 1980. In 1993, he started a freelance writing business and has covered technology and business issues for the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Profit, Time Canada, CBC.ca, and many other periodicals and websites. For corporate clients, Paul writes case studies, media releases and promotional copy and conducts business writing and media interview preparation training seminars. He also conducts freelance writing and business writing e-courses.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 5, 2024
I was provided a free copy of this book by Book Sirens . I chose this book because of its historical and ancestry content. I appreciate the opportunity to review it.
The story in this book follows two (2) timelines. First is a present day setting in San Francisco, CA as the latest generation of one family moves to the area from Canada, where the main character (Corey) begins working for a DNA ancestry company as the head of Information Technology (IT). This particular timeline runs from 2016 to 2025.
The second timeline follows the same family through seventeen (17) generations (400 AD to 2003 AD). In each generation, family members plant acorns to grow an oak tree. Every generation passes along a written family history and three acorns usually provided by three red squirrels to their first-born child generation after generation. Throughout this timeline, real life historical events from the time period are folded into the story arc. For example, the beginning generation in 400 AD was part of the Roman empire. The Romans ruled most of Europe at this time period and the "New World" did not exist to the European people. The initial generation of Corey's family lived in Saxony (modern day Germany). The family in the following generations travel through Europe to England, Ireland, the "New World" via the Mayflower, and into Canada where Corey's family begins. He carries his Oak tree from Canada to San Francisco where it is replanted and per Corey, it thrives for the first time.
My favorite parts of this book are when significant historical events are blended into the family's story. The author's historical research was outstanding and the way he blended the family's story with historical events made me look forward to those chapters. For example, a family comes to the American colonies in 1773 by ship which accidentally docks at a cargo dock in Boston Harbor. As they docked, the ship next to them was being raided by several men and they witnessed the men throwing boxes into the harbor waters (the Boston Tea Party). When the Captain of the ship saw what was happening, he moved to another dock farther away to avoid arrest along with these men.
In addition to the main timelines of the story, there is a running commentary on the family by the God of War Odin and Goddess Joro whose "minions" provide acorns to each generation disguised as red squirrels. Their running wager is how long and with how many generations this family will continue planting oak trees. This side-story was quite amusing and was another part I enjoyed. I also liked the way the author blended races through the generations. The initial generations were white-skinned Anglo -Saxons. Sometime during the 19th century, African Americans entered the family. This generation was only glossed over lightly in the book, making it a surprise when black Corey contacts by video conference a woman living in Germany who is white, his cousin, 17 centuries removed. Both started their families with the same "mother oak" located in Dresden, Germany.
The only issues I have with this book is in the same historical timeline that I also loved. In these chapters, characters were rarely developed enough for a reader to take an interest in them. Some did not even rate a name. The only consistent things about each generation were the red squirrels, acorns, and shimmering oak trees (the tree's way of expressing joy for their humans). I found this repeated occurrence very contrived and hard to believe, I love Science Fiction and Fantasy. However, it is hard to mix communicating trees with DNA ancestry and realistic historical events.
I rated this book 4 stars because of the running history of a family for 17 generations, the humorous "wagering Gods" side-story, and the easy non-political blending of races. Had there been more change-up of the generational ceremony, more character development rather than "shimmering trees", I would have rated this one 5 stars.
The story in this book follows two (2) timelines. First is a present day setting in San Francisco, CA as the latest generation of one family moves to the area from Canada, where the main character (Corey) begins working for a DNA ancestry company as the head of Information Technology (IT). This particular timeline runs from 2016 to 2025.
The second timeline follows the same family through seventeen (17) generations (400 AD to 2003 AD). In each generation, family members plant acorns to grow an oak tree. Every generation passes along a written family history and three acorns usually provided by three red squirrels to their first-born child generation after generation. Throughout this timeline, real life historical events from the time period are folded into the story arc. For example, the beginning generation in 400 AD was part of the Roman empire. The Romans ruled most of Europe at this time period and the "New World" did not exist to the European people. The initial generation of Corey's family lived in Saxony (modern day Germany). The family in the following generations travel through Europe to England, Ireland, the "New World" via the Mayflower, and into Canada where Corey's family begins. He carries his Oak tree from Canada to San Francisco where it is replanted and per Corey, it thrives for the first time.
My favorite parts of this book are when significant historical events are blended into the family's story. The author's historical research was outstanding and the way he blended the family's story with historical events made me look forward to those chapters. For example, a family comes to the American colonies in 1773 by ship which accidentally docks at a cargo dock in Boston Harbor. As they docked, the ship next to them was being raided by several men and they witnessed the men throwing boxes into the harbor waters (the Boston Tea Party). When the Captain of the ship saw what was happening, he moved to another dock farther away to avoid arrest along with these men.
In addition to the main timelines of the story, there is a running commentary on the family by the God of War Odin and Goddess Joro whose "minions" provide acorns to each generation disguised as red squirrels. Their running wager is how long and with how many generations this family will continue planting oak trees. This side-story was quite amusing and was another part I enjoyed. I also liked the way the author blended races through the generations. The initial generations were white-skinned Anglo -Saxons. Sometime during the 19th century, African Americans entered the family. This generation was only glossed over lightly in the book, making it a surprise when black Corey contacts by video conference a woman living in Germany who is white, his cousin, 17 centuries removed. Both started their families with the same "mother oak" located in Dresden, Germany.
The only issues I have with this book is in the same historical timeline that I also loved. In these chapters, characters were rarely developed enough for a reader to take an interest in them. Some did not even rate a name. The only consistent things about each generation were the red squirrels, acorns, and shimmering oak trees (the tree's way of expressing joy for their humans). I found this repeated occurrence very contrived and hard to believe, I love Science Fiction and Fantasy. However, it is hard to mix communicating trees with DNA ancestry and realistic historical events.
I rated this book 4 stars because of the running history of a family for 17 generations, the humorous "wagering Gods" side-story, and the easy non-political blending of races. Had there been more change-up of the generational ceremony, more character development rather than "shimmering trees", I would have rated this one 5 stars.
Displaying 1 of 1 review