…a late wake up time for me this morning, but I’ve decided to begin the day with a quick book review. I haven’t reviewed my reading for months now, so, over the coming weeks, I might write one here and there, as I’m at the easel and don’t want to steal too much writing time from that. I do love writing. And it relaxes me, all the while giving me the same fearful moments as I stare at the blank pages as I have when I tremble before a blank panel in the studio.
I have read Helen Humphreys before and thoroughly enjoy her connections with history…such an interesting measure of history and fiction that I have no troubles labeling her writing style as very unique. While there are some reviews that say that this novel is unresolved, I beg to differ. This is one of my favourite reads of summer. It’s a quick read, although this review says that the first half will slow you down, but with the caveat that if the reader takes an interest in the craft of writing, this section might be just as magical as the second. I am this person.
The book is titled, Machine Without Horses, a somewhat deceiving title, but it will make sense for the reader in time. Oh, never mind…I’ll offer my readers the literal meaning to start.
Given my time at the river, I’ve been speaking with the fly fishermen and others about their fishing rituals, this past summer. One evening I had a particularly interesting chat with a young man who shared his enthusiasm for fly dressing. When I met him he was stooped over with a small screen, capturing the nymphs or larvae of the flies and bugs that were seen hovering above the water and the vegetation that particular evening. Once identified, then he would make his selection from his collection. He shared these with me.
I told him about what I had learned about the fine art of fly dressing while reading the book, Machine Without Horses and he was intrigued. The novel is based on a Scottish protagonist and historical crafts person, Megan Boyd who gained a magical love and ability for salmon fly-dressing. She worked tirelessly at the craft for some sixty years. Megan provides the basis for the novel, but the means in which Humphreys writes this character is fascinating to me.
I hope that my young nephew, Jake, reads this post as he has tackled fly-dressing and I’m curious, now, if he continues to do this. Here are a few of Megan Boyd’s flies.
In the first half of the book, we meet a writer who has come upon the obituary of Mary Boyd. From the first spark, we learn what motivates the writer (fictional writer? Helen? who knows?) to tackle this subject. The reader becomes an observer of the writer’s process as she develops characters, events and setting. It is all so fascinating. As a huge relief, the reader then moves into the historical fiction with greater insight/knowledge about the narrative that unfolds. I’m leaving the synopsis just like this because I don’t wish to introduce you to any bits other than the protagonist and perhaps to say that the setting in Scotland…the atmosphere…the ocean views…and the rivers captivated me.
I think that this is a great little book and highly recommend. I know. I know. I certainly don’t have the same tastes in books as many of my friends, but give this one a try. I’m linking up to the other reviews I might have written on Helen Humphrey’s books. I may have my friend, Hollee Card, to credit for discovering this author and picked up my first book of hers, Coventry, in a second hand book store. Other novels were read by the same author, but not reviewed. One of the most aesthetically written books on my shelf is The River by Helen Humphreys. I also encourage you, if you romanticize about place, as I do, to pick this one up.
Coventry by Helen Humphreys
The Evening Chorus by Helen Humphreys
