The Fields by Conrad Richter

[Sara, Old School Classics]

This is the thread for the August 2022 read of The Fields by Conrad Richter, our second read in The Awakening Land trilogy.

[Terry]

I’m scheduling this about mid month.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

In the acknowledgements at the beginning of this book, Richter explains the vernacular he is using. It was still being spoken, when he was a boy, in both the Pennsylvania and Ohio hills. Being from the Southern mountains, it had a very true ring to it of spoken language when I was a girl, and he mentions that it mostly survived there at the time of his writing. I found this interesting, especially in light of the conversation we had regarding the use of this vernacular in The Trees.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Chapter One: (view spoiler)[I wonder if Seyward and Portius are legally married. A New York lawyer could probably make a case for they aren't. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Two: (view spoiler)[I am disappointed in Portius' reaction to his first born. I hope he is going to come around to loving it, because Seyward wants a lot of children and it would be sad if she ends up raising them alone.

I think Genny should take the "bound boy" seriously. He adores her, has skills, and would make her a better husband than Louie did. She also wants children, and Louie isn't coming back to give her any. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Chapter Three: (view spoiler)[The meeting house in the sawmill. I hadn't realized there was no organized religion until this point, but of course, there were so few people up to now. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Four: (view spoiler)[I enjoyed getting to know some of the other people in the community. Portius is an interesting, but not over-likable man, but at least Seyward has her kids. I like the old Indian hunter and the story he told about the boy he rescued. I wonder if the man was unhappy to have been rescued. It seemed that way from his reaction to seeing the old man again. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Chapter Five: (view spoiler)[ This chapter was heartbreaking. It seems it is very unlucky to have the name Sulie. I don't really know what to make of Resolve's seeing. It was obviously more than a superstition, a real event. (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[ Portius' family wants him back East, and I can't imagine them thinking that an uneducated woman would make an acceptable daughter-in-law, even though Sayward is so talented in the skills needed in the woods. This may be a sign that trouble will be brewing later in the story. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[ What is wrong with that man ignoring his newborn child? He may be book smart, but he's lacking in emotional intelligence.

It's exciting that Ohio was now a state, but that news could have waited a few minutes while Portius met his firstborn. Ohio became a state on March 1, 1803. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[ I like the name that Sayward chose for her baby son: Resolve. It has a sense of strength and resilience to it, qualities that will be needed later in life. Virtuous, strong names were much more popular back then.

Genny seemed to enjoy singing the hymns. I wonder if a strong faith could give her the strength to move on with her life after being mistreated by Louie. Sara, I share your hope that Genny sees the good qualities in the bound boy. (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Chapter 4, page 24: Portius and Sayward entertained neighbors on Old Christmas. This is celebrated on January 6, based on the old Julian calendar. (January 6 is also the Feast of the Epiphany or The Three Kings Day.) An article from the West Virginia Public Broadcasting explains it:

"January 6 is the day traditionally known as Old Christmas. It’s a relic of the Julian Calendar, developed 2,000 years ago. In the late 1500s, Pope Gregory XIII changed the calendar to match the solar cycle more closely. To do so, the Julian Calendar had to be reduced from 376 to 365 days, eliminating 11 full days. Some countries, though, resisted the change and kept the old Julian Calendar. It took nearly 200 years for England and Scotland to come around. Both countries adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1752.

About this time, many of these English and Scots were emigrating to the Americas and settling in Appalachia. Some didn’t know about the change or refused to adopt the new Gregorian Calendar and kept the extra 11 days in their calendars. This meant that for them, Christmas fell on January 6 rather than December 25. Over time, most Christians in Appalachia started observing December 25 as Christmas. However, until fairly recently, Old Christmas was still celebrated in some rural areas of West Virginia."

https://www.wvpublic.org/radio/2020-0...

[Connie]

Chapter 4, page 24: Puncheon Floor

A University of South Carolina website explains it:

puncheon noun A split log or rough timber having one face smoothed by an adze, used for flooring, benching, siding of log buildings, etc. . . .The cabin floor was usually made of puncheons; for these a ten-foot length of log was split, then each side hewed down to some manageable thickness, commonly about two inches. . . . Puncheons were used where sawn lumber or nails were not yet available. The workman would split a short log, in the manner of a hot dog roll, and lay the halves from joist to joist, round side down. The roughly flat upper surfaces would then be dressed with a foot adze or ax until smooth enough to eliminate toe-catching edges and large splinters.

http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/appalac...

[Connie]

Chapter 4: Chinking in log houses (page 26)

From Weatherall:

Contrary to some common misperceptions, log homes are not built with logs that fit together perfectly. This would actually cause a problem in the long run because wood expands and contracts based on changing temperatures. Therefore, a series of logs locked together with no extra space would pull itself apart as the seasons changed. Instead, the logs that make up log homes touch only on the notching points, with space of around an inch or two between the logs to allow for breathing. The space created by the gap in the logs was called the chink, and it let in drafty air and small pests.

Early log home builders realized quickly that they needed something to fill in the chink and keep out the elements. They used a blend of available materials to do so, packing the space between logs with substances flexible enough to allow the wood to breathe, yet strong enough to give protection. This substance came to be known as chinking. Traditional chinking was made of clay, mud, sand, and other common resources, with an inner layer sealed by a mortar-based "daubing" on the outside. A finish layer preserved it and kept it adhered to the home.

https://www.weatherall.com/blogs/log-...

[Connie]

Chapter 4: (view spoiler)[Like Sara, I was also wondering if the boy was not happy about his rescue by the old Indian fighter, Captain Butt. He seemed like a kind man and Resolve felt comfortable with him. (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

I have finished chapter 1 . The writing style is good and the use of the local dialect is not too bothersome so far . Sayward , Portius , Achsa , Louie , Genny , Worth and George Roebuck have been mentioned so far . I am familiar with most of these names because I was following the spoiler comments of The Trees . Sara / Connie : ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ was it mentioned in The Trees whether Sayward and Portius got legally married ? Sayward, while answering George Roebuck , says that they are legally married . (hide spoiler)] ☆☆
The description of the dense woods is rather scary and makes me feel claustrophobic!

[Terry]

Great information in your posts, Connie! Thanks!

[Brian E]

FINISHED CHAPTER 4 - So far, this book is reading smoother than the Trees, probably because I am now more comfortable with both Richter's style and the venacular. Also, I missed reading about these people. Starting this book made me feel like I did when watching a new fall season of a beloved TV series - back when there used to be a big fall season, before the dominance of pay channels and streaming services.
Some comments:
(view spoiler)[
1) count me as another proponent of the bound boy for Genny; since several of us noticed it, I anticipate it will pop up again;
2) Portius attitude toward the baby again shows how weak a character he seems to be. I pray for some growth but I expect the story to be how much backbone Sayward can provide for him and the family. She asked for the job, though, and should have known the risks involved in marrying a lawyer;
3) I was disappointed with the time jump from the first baby to the 4th baby. I would have preferred a look at the family's progression in this time. While there is a short glimpse at the boys in this period, I would have hoped for some news on Portius's growth or lack thereof during the interim. Did he ever show up for a birth?
4) I'm not a fan of the name Resolve because I prefer names with good nickames because otherwise people will always come up with a nickname. Solve or Re don't work that well, and Ray might be acceptable. But absent a good choice, my youthful friends would probably have assigned him the name "Wheels." (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Savita wrote: "I have finished chapter 1 . The writing style is good and the use of the local dialect is not too bothersome so far . Sayward , Portius , Achsa , Louie , Genny , Worth and George Roebuck have been ..."

Savita, you asked about their marriage in The Trees. (view spoiler)[ Some of Portius' friends got him very drunk before he married Sayward. The marriage was totally unplanned. Portius was turning into a recluse in the woods so he needed some companionship. They did say the wedding vows, but he was not sober. I don't know if it was legal or not. (hide spoiler)]

[Sue]

I started on this but had to put it down for awhile due to a lot of distractions. I'm going to get back to it tomorrow hopefully.

Chapter 1 Lawfully Married - (view spoiler)[ I agree Sara that a case can be made that they weren't since he was held up and I agree with Connie that the parents will likely be causing trouble especially because Sayward didn't try to sugarcoat anything and even left out mitigating points. Even though Portis was held up, she gave him an out and he decided to stay and eventually consummated the marriage so I think a good case could be made that the marriage is lawful also. But, I also think it could be possible that he was previously married. Just a feeling and if he was and that that was "the problem" an it wasn't taken care of by the date of their marriage, that could make the marriage invalid too possibly.

I was disappointed that Portis didn't teach Sayward to read or write. I expected that he would have.

(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2 - First Come - (view spoiler)[

I agree that it's horrible that Portis stayed away as long as he could and then wouldn't even look at the baby. I don't think he is mean spirited or a bad man, he just seems to be a very weak person. He's skittish and afraid of everything new. He's lucky that Sayward is so strong. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 Sawmill Church (view spoiler)[ I love that Resolve made Genny sing again. I hope she gets with the bound boy or someone. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 The Taxin - (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Genny is going to pay the taxes on Louie Scurrha's place but I hope he doesn't come back because she would likely get screwed. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 The Face at the Winder - (view spoiler)[ poor little Sulie. I'm so disappointed that she died already. She was a great little character. What an horrific way to die. How sad that Resolve thinks she was the black boy he saw in the window. This chapter was so sad. I was glad to learn that at least Portis was teaching the kids to read and write. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 - His Own Man (view spoiler)[ I can't believe Wyatt left without word. I guess Sayward is used to this kind of behavior by now, but he should have thought of the boys who just lost their sister. (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[It broke my heart to see the men drive every last animal out of the area. Not only is it unfair to the animals, but they should be thinking about their children who need the protein from the meat to help them grow. What is going to be in their soup pot the next time there is a drought or flood? (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Connie wrote: "Savita wrote: "I have finished chapter 1 . The writing style is good and the use of the local dialect is not too bothersome so far . Sayward , Portius , Achsa , Louie , Genny , Worth and George Roe..."

Thanks for the information, Connie ! I also read Sue's comment on the possibility of an ☆☆ Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ already married status ( of Portius ) (hide spoiler)] ☆☆ I feel Sayward's situation is rather dicey !

[Connie]

Savita, Portius kept checking at the general store to see if someone back in Boston wrote him a letter in The Trees. I got the impression there may have been a woman back in Boston that rejected him, but we really don't know what the situation is. Another possibility is that he's married, and he left after they had a terrible disagreement. I have the feeling that it may be explained eventually.

[Savita]

Connie wrote: "Savita, Portius kept checking at the general store to see if someone back in Boston wrote him a letter in The Trees. I got the impression there may have been a woman back in Boston tha..."

Hmm ..... I am not able to like or trust Portius at this stage , Connie . Moreover , I was astonished by the way he behaved when ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ his son was born .... why the indifference ? He just ignored the baby ! 🤔🤨 (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

[Sue]

Connie wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

I agree about the animals, Connie. It's sad (view spoiler)[ sad how they don't realize the negative consequences that will follow. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Found a moment to pop in and say I enjoyed this one only slightly less than The Trees. I agree that it was very short-sighted regarding the big hunt. Interesting how Wyitt seemed to have his father just embedded in him and needed to follow his example...nature over nurture.

Do not read until you have finished: (view spoiler)[I wondered if Richter expected us to blame Sayward a bit for Portius straying, by having her return to his bed and that seeming to stop his philandering. Who could blame her for not really wanting to have another child?

I love the way she gave of her land until she suddenly had her own settlement right at her back door. I'm sure this is exactly how towns sprang up, especially with a landing site so near at the river. I was glad we learned that Louis was dead and that Genny was free...and I liked her choice. :o) I hope it isn't too late for her to have at least one baby, but she never got pregnant with Louis, so maybe she cannot. I'm anxious to see how Richter finishes up this tale in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

I apologize for not being present for the discussion. I will pop in and see what is going on when I can, but right now it is a bit unpredictable.

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

I've just finished Chapter 8 "The Improvement", and I must say this book has really touched me emotionally much more than even The Trees did. I'll explain a little later.

Comments on Chapter 1 "Lawfully Married". I see there's been a lot of discussion on whether Sayward and Portius' marriage was legal.(view spoiler)[I believe it was. I went back to the passage in Chapter 19 (It Came a Tuesday) in Trees dealing with their marriage, and it certainly sounded valid to me. First of all, the wedding was performed by a squire who it was said "only married lawful because the squire got his papers last week." And most of all, Portius not only willingly married Sayward, but made up his own wedding vows: I, Portius Wheeler, a citizen of this territory, do take Miss Luckett as my lawfully married wife, vowing to protect and assuage her, to guide and direct her, and, living with her in the state of holy wedlock, to forsake all others so long as the twain of us may live or take our breath, so help me God.

I am curious as to what Portius left behind in the Bay State. (hide spoiler)]

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Chapter 2, "First Come":

Re: Sayward and Portius
(view spoiler)[Wow... what a jerk Portius Wheeler was to miss the birth and first few days (weeks?) of his first-born child's life! And when he does finally deign to look at him, he shows such contempt for him. I thought it was interesting how wise Sayward recognized his behavior for what it was... jealousy! Now who would have thought Portius would feel like that about his own flesh and blood, she asked herself. He was jealous of his own young one, that's what he was,... [he] liked to sleep just with her in his bed... he wasn't partial to a young one laying between her and him at night.... Obviously Portius and Sayward had not had a discussion about having children. But then, I don't think Portius places family as a high priority. It sounds to me like he may be setting his sights on a political career in the new State of Ohio. I can't help but wonder how illiterate (but so much wiser) Sayward will fit into those dreams. Will he leave her behind too like he may have left someone behind in the Bay State? Portius is becoming very unlikeable to me. (hide spoiler)]

Re: Genny and the "bound boy"
(view spoiler)[I was curious to see how Richter hinted that there might be a relationship developing between these two. I don't know how a marriage could happen between these two as Genny is still technically married to Louie Scurrah. Would she be able to declare him dead after so many years of absence? I'm amazed at how content Genny appears to be with her life, considering how much love she has to give and how she has to bottle it up. I really want the best for her!

And regarding the "bound boy", if memory serves me correctly, I think the term of an indentured servant was only seven years. Surely, that time is now up, and the "bound boy" is a free man? Richter mentions that a Will Beagle was staying in the shanty with Wyitt. Is Will Beagle the name of the "bound boy"? (hide spoiler)]

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Chapter 3, "Sawmill Church"

(My comment contains a quote from the Bible) (view spoiler)[I love how there was just One Church in the wilderness. No divisiveness, just unity of spirit. The little church in the woods reminded me of Christ's prayer in John 17:21, "That they may all be one." This was so uplifting to me.

I loved the name "Resolve". It reminded me so much of the names given Puritan children, which were really aspirational names. I think this might have been on Sayward's mind when she chose it for her firstborn child. (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Shirley, you asked if the name of the "bound boy" was Will Beagle. You have it right, although it is confusing since the author calls him by both names. He seems like a genuinely nice person, and an excellent carpenter. I also have hopes for Genny having a future with him - maybe in the next book????

Chapter 12 (The Fields): (view spoiler)[
Sayward's feelings about her attachment to her land are in the last paragraph of this chapter:

"Oh, if she wanted to sell this place, never should she have walked the boundaries today. Going through the deep woods like that and coming out in the cleared fields just made her see how much she had done here. Her fields lay around her house like a bright star with its points running into the dark woods here and yonder, following the richest and easiest-cleared land. She hated to disappoint the boys and Portius. But never did she see how she could sign any paper giving up this place she had made with her own sweat and hands. Come to think of it, the work didn't seem quite so hard any more. With her boys a helping, she reckoned she could get through."

We see later that it's not necessary to move to a planned town. As a community grows, the types of services needed (church, school, store, mill, etc) can be added on, and soon an unplanned town exists.
(hide spoiler)]

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Chapter 4, "The Taxin'"

Connie, thank you for the research you did on old customs brought up in Chapter 4. I was a little confused about Old Christmas and New Christmas, but I never realized that some Americans were still going by the Julian calendar. This was fascinating. Thank you!

I agree with you, Sara, Connie and Sue that the young boy (view spoiler)[that was captured by the Indians seemed to resent the old Indian hunter (Captain Butt) for having freed him. I thought this was in line with what we read in Paulette Jiles' The Color of Lightning. It seemed that once young captive boys got a taste of the freedoms of being a Native American, they had a hard time adjusting back to the more structured white societies. (hide spoiler)]

On taxation, it certainly didn't take long for taxes to be collected once a community became incorporated. I wonder if the early settlers had a vote in these decisions. This is the first time I've thought of how communities were formed in the Territories. Very interesting!

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Chapter 5, "The Face At the Winder"

Oh, my goodness... this chapter was beyond heartbreaking!

(view spoiler)[Little Sulie was so full of life, so full of spirit, so smart... I had such high hopes for her. And then, the plans that Richter had for this character just made me ache reading what happened to her. Such a horrible, long-drawn out way to die, and oh poor Sayward who must have felt so guilty for leaving the fire burning, for leaving the children unattended, for even naming Sulie after her ill-fated sister. This chapter was almost too hard to read.

I'm trying to remember if Sayward's mother Jary had the gift of clairvoyance. I seem to remember she did. Sayward definitely has it, and now apparently Resolve has also inherited this trait (when he realizes he had seen his sister - and not a little dark boy - outside the window shortly before his sister died). This is a fascinating gift that Richter has given at least two of his characters. (hide spoiler)]

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Chapter 6, "His Own Man"

This chapter dealing with Wyitt Luckett made me imagine how Dick Summers (in A. B. Guthrie, Jr.'s The Big Sky series) became the man he was. (view spoiler)[Wyitt did try hard to become the farmer his sister wanted him to be, but the nomadic life of a hunter was a calling he couldn't ignore. I just thought it was sad that he didn't say goodbye to his family before leaving. I also thought it was sad when he said that, if he were to come across his sister Sulie, she would no longer be the person she had been before her capture. (hide spoiler)]

Regarding indiscriminate hunting, (view spoiler)[I understood why the men wanted to rid their settlement of the wild animals (bear, panthers, wolves) who posed a danger to them. But when Richter listed the number of animals that the settlers depended on for food (297 deer, as well as too many "coon, fox, squirrel and turkeys to tally"), that just made no sense. I couldn't help but wonder if they will have to leave their homes just like the Lucketts had to leave their home in Pennsylvania because the game had all been killed. (hide spoiler)]

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Chapter 7, "The Flesh Pots of Egypt"

Well, that didn't take long for the chickens to come home to roost! (view spoiler)[Apparently Sayward's dad, Worth Luckett, had witnessed the same indiscriminate killing of wildlife in Pennsylvania and yelled at the hunters "Couldn't [you] leave enough game to breed for next year?" (hide spoiler)]

I am really enjoying Richter's style of writing, and his drawing on old Biblical stories to relate to their present condition.

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Chapter 8, "The Improvement"

I thought this was a beautiful chapter. I love how Richter speaks through his characters. The language is so authentic!

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Chapter 9, "The Dog Day"

Another sad chapter that makes you realize the many perils of living in the wild.

Another incidence that shows just how unlikeable (view spoiler)[Portius Wheeler is. He hasn't seen his son Resolve in over a year, and Resolve was badly wounded when Portius left him in Kentucky, yet when Resolve finally comes home, all Portius can say to him is "I see you got safely back to the promised land". The man really lacks bonding skills! (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I agree, Shirley. Portius is a hard man to like! But, I am glad Sayward found him anyway, because she got two things she wanted: a house full of children, and an education for them.

[Lori]

Finally started this and 2 chapters in. My thoughts are in line with the group about Sayward and Portius and Ginny and the bound boy. I appreciate that Richter is giving us the exact year and location now. I know exactly where Chillicothe is - right off of US 23 south of Columbus as we discussed in The Trees. They are still fearing Indian attacks but he mentions the Treaty of Greenville of 1795 which redefined the boundary between their land and land for settlement communities. This is just a few years before Ohio becomes a state as Connie mentioned.

We still have many questions left from The Trees and new ones to add after just 2 chapters.

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Sara (taking a break) wrote: "I agree, Shirley. Portius is a hard man to like! But, I am glad Sayward found him anyway, because she got two things she wanted: a house full of children, and an education for them."

That's quite true, Sara!

[Lori]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[I'm with Brian on the time jump from ch 3 to 4 and missing those years and the progression of the marriage and family life. Also, we didn't get all of the kids' names. Resolve, Guerdon, boy 3 and girl 1. I will look forward to finding out what their names are. Guerdon is another unusual name that means a reward or recompense. Sayward might be naming based on meaning. This is a word I am unfamiliar with.
And poor little Resolve - Sayward thought he was getting feverish but he just needed to go out to relieve himself but was too frightened after listening to the stories of Indians. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I loved that, Lori, so funny.

[Savita]

I am reading chapter 6 .
@ Shirley : chapter 5 - ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ oh , was it clairvoyance ? I didn't realize ! Yes , that's interesting !
And it was unfortunate naming the little girl Sulie ! (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

@ Lori : chapter 5 has the names , Lori .

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Lori wrote: "Chapter 4 I'm with Brian on the time jump from ch 3 to 4 and missing those years and the progression of the marriage and family life. Also, we didn't get all of the kids' names. Resolve, Guerdon, b..."

Hi, Lori~ I'm so glad to see you joining in and posting. I look forward to reading what you think. I feel the same way as you and Brian about the jumps of time in this book. I guess there was just so much ground to cover.

[Lori]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[Sulie sounded like a delightful little girl. I am just so saddened by the fire incident and I cannot even imagine what Sayward went through - guilt most likely. And to be the one who prepared the body for burial - she thought it would make her look weak to have someone else do it. Boy, Sayward is made of tough stuff. I'd be putty and have to be sedated most likely.
Shirley I think you're right about the clairvoyance. What a sad chapter. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[Ah Wyitt! I'm not surprised that you participated in the slaughter. You are your father's child. You tried to be someone you're not with farming, but I wish you'd at least said goodbye. And I definitely think this slaughter is a very bad omen. I'm sure we'll see problems for them in the chapters to come. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[I loved this story and how it matched up with a biblical story. Shirley you mentioned this as well. No matter if times are hard or not, babies are going to be born.

I was surprised that Portius and Resolve went on the trip to Kentucky. The fact that he doesn't carry a gun lead me to think something was going to happen to him, not Resolve. Richter sure kept us in suspense about Resolve. I wanted to skim ahead quickly to find out if he had been killed. Thankfully, he's just hurt, but.......to leave your first born behind to be cared for and nursed by strangers who promise to bring him home when he's well. I know that people helped their fellow man in times like these then, so I'm sure he will be back home before long. Sayward ought to be upset at Portius. (hide spoiler)]

As others have already mentioned, Portius is difficult to like.

[Lori]

One thing I find lacking is any interaction between Portius and Sayward. And I've lost track of how many children she has (they are Sayward's children, imho) as I begin Chapter 10.

[Sue]

Shirley, like Savita, it never crossed my mind that there was clairvoyance. It makes sense now that you say it.

[Lori]

Well Chapter 10 provided some interaction with Sayward and Portius. Is it me, or does this couple not seem suited to each other? They are like night and day!

[Sue]

Sue wrote: "Shirley, like Savita, it never crossed my mind that there was clairvoyance. It makes sense now that you say it."

Lori wrote: "One thing I find lacking is any interaction between Portius and Sayward. And I've lost track of how many children she has (they are Sayward's children, imho) as I begin Chapter 10."

I agree about the lack of interaction between Portius and Sayward, Lori. I'm through chapter 11 and it hasn't got any better in that regard

[Sue]

Chapters 9 10 & 11 - I loved these three chapters. It was great to see the advancements of (view spoiler)[ the new church, the mill, the big and little wheels and the school. It was also good and to see Resolve return. How sad that he broke his own leg just so he'd have time to read! It seems to be working out well for him because he's learning a lot. It was so sweet when Sayward was finally able to write her name and feel the pride that went with it. It is hard to keep track of all the kids and to bond with them (other than Resolve)(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sue]

Lori wrote: "Well Chapter 10 provided some interaction with Sayward and Portius. Is it me, or does this couple not seem suited to each other? They are like night and day!"

it's not you, Lori. They are not the least bit suited for each other but at least Sayward is able to get an education for her kids and he does earn money and help sometimes. It's better than having a husband who just up and leaves like her father or an abusive one like Louie Scurrah.

[Savita]

Lori wrote: "Chapter 5 Sulie sounded like a delightful little girl. I am just so saddened by the fire incident and I cannot even imagine what Sayward went through - guilt most likely. And to be the one who prep..."

Chapter 6 : I didn't enjoy this chapter too . ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Hunting is such a cruel sport ! Wyitt and the others seemed to enjoy it thoroughly ! Ugh ! .... And , Wyitt leaves behind his home and his loved ones ... to become a hunter ?! .... well , to each his own . But , at least he could have said goodbye 🤔 (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

[Lori]

I have finished. Here are some thoughts from the end chapters:

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[Sayward gave up her chance to move to the town, but I'm glad that she kept what was hers. I don't know exactly how far the town of Tateville will be from her land though but a short enough distance that Portius will be spending time there doing lawyer business. With the kids, the grass is always greener and they also don't realize that you don't know what you've got until it's gone. They don't know regret right now, and it's possible it would be a regret-filled move for them. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13(view spoiler)[I hate snakes and this chapter freaked me out with Guerdon's bite and slicing off of his fingertip. What was great about this chapter is how this scare brought him closer to his mother and he saw that she does love him and not just Resolve. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 - This was my favorite (view spoiler)[I enjoyed how much Sayward demonstrated her love for Resolve in making him a new suit for the last day of school - but it had to be from scratch (if it were a cake!) To know how to turn wool into cloth like that is just amazing.

I didn't think the new teacher was a good idea, but understood that Portius had to choose between his business and the school. I enjoyed so much the speech that Resolve prepared to give and the evident shame on the neighbor for him telling the story. And of course that Portius is going to teach his son all he knows about the law. It's endearing to see Resolve wanting to be like his dad in that way. Let's just hope that when he grows up and has a family that he takes after his mom! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16 - 19, Sara, to answer your spoiler (view spoiler)[ Yes, I think Richter wanted us to blame Sayward somewhat for Portius's straying. It's not right to blame her for choosing to end the cycle of life - no more children. Portius should have respected her decision and they should have talked about the consequences. I just hated how she found out about his indiscretions. It's usually true that everyone knows but the one who is wronged.

I'm happy that Sayward had her own little unplanned town come up around her as she provided the land for so much of what they had. Ginny will now be able to move on YAY! I also hope she is able to have a child with Will.

Sulie and Achsa were only mentioned and I was so hoping to have some resolution to Sulie's fate. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Lori - (view spoiler)[I still have hopes that we will know what happened to Sulie. At some point exchanges were made with the Indians for hostages. But Sulie was so young, she will not assimilate easily into the life she left behind. That is going to be a sad tale, I think, if we get it.

I hope Achsa has a man who treats her like crap (sorry).

Like you, I loved the making of the suit. I had to go out and find a video showing the entire process that Sayward had to go through to do this. I felt the weight of this, because I have made a dress from scratch, but with a sewing machine and a bolt of cloth you could just buy and a pattern already lined out for me. And, that is work enough!

Sayward is a grand mother and a strong one. The humiliation of the Portius situation would be very hard to move beyond. I don't think a modern woman (I guess, meaning me) would allow him back into her bed afterward, but I understand why Sayward did. And, I think she blames herself in some respects.

The Town is the one that won the Pulitzer, so I am hoping that it proves to be the best of the three. I am very happy with this trilogy so far. I spent a lot of time online looking up some of these places, words, and things they did and enjoyed learning a lot from these books. (hide spoiler)]

[Sue]

I finished this yesterday and I agree with all your spoilers Sara and Lori, but (view spoiler)[ I do confess that I had wished Sayward had gone to town in order to make her life easier. I think not going could have also contributed to the affair. Not that it would justify it. I was so glad when she saw that picture of her own little town from the river though so in the end, I was glad she stayed. (hide spoiler)]

I'm looking forward to The Town next month!