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A Book of Days
A BOOK OF DAYS is the story of a book, The Journal of Thomas Keating—the days when it was written, and the subsequent days when it changed the lives of those who touched it. We first see the book as a plaything for two children on a Western Pennsylvania iron plantation in the early 1800s, who use the ancient language of the book in their games of sexual awakening. We see the book in the same location in 1776, when a young woman brings the book written in Gaelic to a survivor of a massacre that occurred here, to help her understand the fate of her mother. And we see, at the heart of the novel, the writer of the book, an ensign of the Black Watch, as he seeks refuge in a blockhouse he fears is surrounded by Indians, recounting his journey upriver with a band of misfits to discover the fate of the outpost’s lost command.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2020
4 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Richard Snodgrass
24 books34 followersRichard Snodgrass is the critically acclaimed author of the “Books of Furnass” Series, an eleven-volume set of novels that explores the hopes, disappointments, relationships, and betrayals that make up life in a fictional Western Pennsylvania mill town and its surrounding farmlands from the time of the French and Indian War to modern day. The eleventh book in the series, Torn, will be released on September 17, 2025.
Snodgrass is also the author of There’s Something in the Back Yard, published in 1989 by Viking, and praised by Jack Stephens of the Washington Post Book World who wrote, “Observe this mysterious book and be changed.” Other works by Snodgrass include: An Uncommon Field: The Flight 93 Temporary Memorial, published in September of 2011 by Carnegie Mellon University Press, and Kitchen Things: An Album of Vintage Utensils and Farm Kitchen Recipes, published in 2013 by Skyhorse and named one of the year’s “best books to get you thinking about food” by the Associated Press.
Snodgrass’s short stories and essays have appeared in the New England Review/Bread Loaf Quarterly, South Dakota Review, California Review, Pittsburgh Quarterly, and elsewhere. He is also a master photographer who has been artist-in-residence at LightWorks (University of Syracuse) and at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico. He is the recipient of a fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Richard Snodgrass lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with his wife Marty and two indomitable female tuxedo cats, raised from feral kittens, named Frankie and Becca.
Snodgrass is also the author of There’s Something in the Back Yard, published in 1989 by Viking, and praised by Jack Stephens of the Washington Post Book World who wrote, “Observe this mysterious book and be changed.” Other works by Snodgrass include: An Uncommon Field: The Flight 93 Temporary Memorial, published in September of 2011 by Carnegie Mellon University Press, and Kitchen Things: An Album of Vintage Utensils and Farm Kitchen Recipes, published in 2013 by Skyhorse and named one of the year’s “best books to get you thinking about food” by the Associated Press.
Snodgrass’s short stories and essays have appeared in the New England Review/Bread Loaf Quarterly, South Dakota Review, California Review, Pittsburgh Quarterly, and elsewhere. He is also a master photographer who has been artist-in-residence at LightWorks (University of Syracuse) and at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico. He is the recipient of a fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Richard Snodgrass lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with his wife Marty and two indomitable female tuxedo cats, raised from feral kittens, named Frankie and Becca.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 7, 2021
3.5 / 5.0
When I initially saw this book and its description, I was tickled. As a member of a reenacting 42nd Royal Highlander regiment of the French and Indian War, I am always on the prowl for historical fiction accounts based on strong research to help me in my portrayal of a woman attached to the regiment on campaign in North America. Although this book did not help me much in that regard, it still provided some interesting tidbits regarding regimental daily life and the area around Fort Pitt (present day Pittsburgh, PA).
It is an interesting premise to have the daily journal of a Black Watch ensign be the center point of the stories across three time periods, (1817, 1776, 1765). However, the incestuous beginning and ending of the book really was quite jarring and I'm not certain of its necessity to the story. I personally would have been content with the 1765 writing period and the 1776 recounting of the journal. Be that as it may, the author does a spectacular job of describing the wilderness in which an outpost to Fort Pitt is situated. As for the details of the military attire described in the journal, there were a few which could be improved. ("shoulder belt" = baldric, "leggings" = diced hose, "tunic" = regimental). I therefore could not recommend this story to my fellow highland reenactors. It would only disappoint and frankly, frustrate.
As I've mentioned, the writing is highly descriptive and painterly. However, the constant utilization of periods at the ends of phrases and limited complete sentences, was irritating to this reader. When used on occasion, it can be quite effective; when so often - just affected. With references to 18th century philosopher, David Hume, there was a strong sense of philosophical ponderings throughout the book, thus giving the reader opportunity to pause and reflect. It is strongly juxtaposed with the gory details of a soldier's life in native American country of the wilderness. If a story on colonial soldiering, replete with sex and gore appeals, then this may be a good choice for you.
I am grateful to author Richard Snodgrass and Calling Crow Press for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review.
When I initially saw this book and its description, I was tickled. As a member of a reenacting 42nd Royal Highlander regiment of the French and Indian War, I am always on the prowl for historical fiction accounts based on strong research to help me in my portrayal of a woman attached to the regiment on campaign in North America. Although this book did not help me much in that regard, it still provided some interesting tidbits regarding regimental daily life and the area around Fort Pitt (present day Pittsburgh, PA).
It is an interesting premise to have the daily journal of a Black Watch ensign be the center point of the stories across three time periods, (1817, 1776, 1765). However, the incestuous beginning and ending of the book really was quite jarring and I'm not certain of its necessity to the story. I personally would have been content with the 1765 writing period and the 1776 recounting of the journal. Be that as it may, the author does a spectacular job of describing the wilderness in which an outpost to Fort Pitt is situated. As for the details of the military attire described in the journal, there were a few which could be improved. ("shoulder belt" = baldric, "leggings" = diced hose, "tunic" = regimental). I therefore could not recommend this story to my fellow highland reenactors. It would only disappoint and frankly, frustrate.
As I've mentioned, the writing is highly descriptive and painterly. However, the constant utilization of periods at the ends of phrases and limited complete sentences, was irritating to this reader. When used on occasion, it can be quite effective; when so often - just affected. With references to 18th century philosopher, David Hume, there was a strong sense of philosophical ponderings throughout the book, thus giving the reader opportunity to pause and reflect. It is strongly juxtaposed with the gory details of a soldier's life in native American country of the wilderness. If a story on colonial soldiering, replete with sex and gore appeals, then this may be a good choice for you.
I am grateful to author Richard Snodgrass and Calling Crow Press for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review.
December 20, 2020
More than a 3, but not enough to round up, primarily due to the incestuous storyline bookending the novel, a small piece of the book overall, but enough to impact the rating. I appreciate the chance to read this through net galley in exchange for an honest review which I know you will believe this is.
The feel overall was deeply atmospheric. The setting and time, the area around Fort Pitt just prior to the American Revolution, at that time a frontier pushing against and through Native American populations who warred as much with one another as they did the colonists. The time back and forth between the two major storylines flowed easily. The leads, a Scotsman not truly yet a man finding himself in command after a decision to delay a potentially easy married life in Edinburgh with nagging philosophical questions he sought to answer. And a heroine of dubious morals who made choice after choice to challenge those philosophies.
The description of the natural world was delicious in detail and greatly supported visualization. I decided to reach this book because it did in fact offer something different from my usual fare, and I am glad I did. I look forward to checking out more of Snodgrass's work as this is past of a series.
The feel overall was deeply atmospheric. The setting and time, the area around Fort Pitt just prior to the American Revolution, at that time a frontier pushing against and through Native American populations who warred as much with one another as they did the colonists. The time back and forth between the two major storylines flowed easily. The leads, a Scotsman not truly yet a man finding himself in command after a decision to delay a potentially easy married life in Edinburgh with nagging philosophical questions he sought to answer. And a heroine of dubious morals who made choice after choice to challenge those philosophies.
The description of the natural world was delicious in detail and greatly supported visualization. I decided to reach this book because it did in fact offer something different from my usual fare, and I am glad I did. I look forward to checking out more of Snodgrass's work as this is past of a series.
February 18, 2021
Another thoroughly enjoyable read from Richard Snodgrass, an author who deserves to be much better known in my opinion. This latest novel is another instalment in his Furnass series, taking us back to the origins of the iron town, which we normally visit in a contemporary setting. The novel is “a story within a story within a story”, focusing on the journal of Thomas Keating, a Scottish ensign of the Black Watch whose adventures in the 1750s begin when he is sent to find out what has happened at a remote outpost during the Indian Wars. It’s an often brutal tale, and we are not spared any of that brutality. Keating starts his journal in the aftermath of a savage attack, and the book eventually makes its way to the children of the first ironmaster in Furnass. Three different times, three different linked tales, three perspectives, all come together in a satisfying, compelling and well-paced narrative. The dialogue feels authentic, the characterisation is nuanced, the setting vivid and the historical accuracy convincing.
April 9, 2021
Richard Snodgrass wrote this story about two stories going on at once,or in the past and one in the future where it surrounds a book that was written by a soldier a very long time ago A girl goes looking for her mother that was suppose to be with this solider and wants to find out what happened to her and the solider who was taking care of this fort.. then it jumps to a brother and sister who find the book,who are related to the solider so long ago,his book he wrote, but the sister tells the brother it's a love potion book. The sister teases her brother to examine her body. Then you n back to the girl and the man with no hands and then back to the brother and sister where the sister is being sent away cause the two were found out on this game they are playing. I don't know,I read I just didn't see what the point of the stories were and how they were tied together if they were suppose to be.Maybe when you read this book you will understand I just didnt..but don't let me stop you from reading this and my review.. I will read another book from this author cause he can write and tell a story but this story and I just didn't click! Received from Net Gallery!
November 14, 2020
Ensign Thomas Keating, an Engineer with the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, has been sent from Fort Pitt in 1766 to a nearby fort. There he discovers that almost the entire garrison abandoned the fort to defend an Indian village and has not been heard from for several days. He, along with a half Indian woman and the remaining soldiers, set out in pursuit. Read the rest of the review on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
November 25, 2020
Courtesy of NetGalley, I received the ARC of A Book of Days by Richard Snodgrass. I chose this book because I was raised in Western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, the site of this novel. This story of a soldier's journal written in Gaelic in 1753, subsequently found by later generations, captured my attention with the magnificent descriptions of the surrounding forested area, the universal horrors of war, the complexities of relationships, and the philosophical wisdom of David Hume.
December 19, 2020
Basically 4 plot lines in one...although one was weak and I’m not sure why the most “modern” segment was necessary. Shock value, perhaps? I enjoy historical fiction and really wanted to love this, but it fell a little flat for me. The intertwining of the diary and the reading of the diary was clever, but just didn’t make up for the incestuous arc or the love triangle motivation that seemed to interrupt the flow.
July 19, 2022
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I enjoyed this book so much. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews