Review: Beneath the Apple Leaves

Title: Beneath the Apple Leaves

Author: Harmony Verna

Publisher: 27 June 2017 Kensington Books

Pages: 516 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

From the author of Daughter of Australia comes a sweeping, heartfelt historical novel that follows a family of German immigrants who trade city living for the harsh realities of Pennsylvania farm life.
In 1914, Andrew Houghton s family is one of hundreds eking out an existence in the coal mines of southwestern Pennsylvania. Though he longs to be a veterinarian, he s fated for a life underground, picking rock alongside his father.

That destiny changes when his aunt, Eveline Kiser, arranges for her husband to secure Andrew an apprenticeship on the railroad. Wilhelm Kiser, a German immigrant, has found his American dream in Pittsburgh, with a well-paying job as a brakeman, and a secure pension. But on Andrew s first week, an incident goes tragically wrong, leaving him severely injured, his dreams shattered. Wracked with guilt, Wilhelm finally agrees to his wife s pleas to leave Pittsburgh s smog behind. With Andrew in tow, they swap their three-story row house for a rough-and-tumble farm.

Life in rural Pennsylvania is not as idyllic as Eveline imagined. The soil is slow to yield and their farmhouse is in disrepair. But there is one piece of beauty in this rugged land. Lily Morton is quick-witted and tough on the outside, but bears her own secret scars inside. Andrew s bond with her will help steer them through all the challenges to come, even as anti-German sentiment spreads across America with the outbreak of World War I.

Beneath the Apple Leaves is a vivid, deeply moving portrait of family its hardships, triumphs, and passions and a powerfully authentic evocation of life on the land and the hearts that sustain it.

My Thoughts

Having read and LOVED Harmony’s debut novel, ‘Daughter of Australia’ I did not hesitate to embark on another journey with her. Would it, however, live up to her first inspiring saga? I can say without the shadow of a doubt, it was right up there beside her first amazing novel. As Harmony states in her acknowledgements,

‘The seeds of this book came from my mother ... who shared the stories - the sorrows and the joys - of growing up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania ... I am humbled and proud of the strength and sacrifices of my German ancestors’.

‘Beneath the Apple Leaves’ is another emotional roller coaster ride, that is the epitome of what good historical drama is all about. This will undoubtedly pull at your heartstrings as Harmony takes you on a journey to another place and time. Yet another powerful drama that incorporates not only the plight of German immigrants during World War I, but topics ranging from the hardships of life on the land, family love and loss, terrible tragedies and great moments of hope and joy.

“It’s too much for any of us. We’re all drowning. Like the whole world is drowning!”

This book is indeed most beautifully scripted from the enduring love story to the emotional heartbreak of unbearable losses. There will be times when you feel, surely fate will cut them some slack for these much deserving characters; but as the war ensues and deliberate harassment and persecution is rife, you begin to wonder if you will get a happy ending. If things could go wrong, invariably they seemed to.

“They’re good people. Love this country as much as the Simpsons. Except they don’t have to attack people to prove it.”

Yet despite, or in fact because of this, these characters will pull at your heartstrings. You just have to read through hoping against hope that life will be kinder to these deserving souls. Will love endure ‘beneath the apple leaves’?

‘With ax in hand, Andrew stared at the enormity of the ancient apple tree. The limbs, old, had witnessed too much suffering. And they seemed to ask to be relieved, to say good-bye. A wind blew and rustled the branches, the leaves waving in surrender.’

This is another amazing journey that Harmony takes you on and you will be swept away as becoming emotionally invested in these characters, especially the stoic Andrew. Such a finely crafted story I cannot recommend highly enough - historical drama of immigrants in early 1900s Pennsylvania.

‘For life began anew, grew again, beneath the apple leaves.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Review: Daughter of Australia

Title: Daughter of Australia

Author: Harmony Verna

Publisher: 21 March 2016 by Harlequin (Australia) MIRA

Pages: 464 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, womens fiction, romance

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

In a stunning debut novel that evokes the epic scope of Colleen McCullough's classic The Thorn Birds, Harmony Verna creates a poignant, beautifully told story of love and courage, set in Australia and America in the early decades of the twentieth century.

The desert of Western Australia is vast and unforgiving. It's a miracle that the little girl dressed in rags and abandoned in the sand is still breathing when an old miner discovers her. Even more so that he is able to keep her alive long enough to bring her to the town from which she'll take her name: Leonora. Sent to an orphanage, mute with grief and fear, Leonora slowly bonds with another orphan, James, who fights to protect her until both are sent away - Leonora to a wealthy American family, James to relatives who have emigrated from Ireland to claim him. 

Years later, Leonora is given a chance to return to her beloved Australia. There, in Wanjarri Downs, she will again come face to face with James, who's grown from a reticent boy into a strong, resourceful man. Only James knows the truth about Leonora - that her roots and her heart are here, among the gum trees and red earth. And they will fight to find a way back to each other, even as war, turmoil, and jealousy test their courage again and again. 

Sweeping in scale yet filled with intricately drawn characters and vivid details that conjure the fascinating setting, Daughter of Australia is storytelling at its best.

My Thoughts

One is always a little wary of 'debut' novels, and to be compared to the Australian classic, 'The Thorn Birds', brings with it high expectations. Let me tell you now, this book did not fail to deliver. It was epic: it tore at your heartstrings and was truly unforgettable. I do believe a new Australian classic has been born.

Lucky for me it was a long weekend and I indulged, allowing myself to be swept away by this stirring tale. I could not put this book down. It truly is beautifully written, with evocative and heartfelt words:

"The stitches that held his hard parts together, sutured over a lifetime, disintegrated with the touch. He fumbled for each strand, trying to quickly sew them back into place, but the look was too soft. The simple purity hurt."

Equally commendable is the well researched detail of life in the outback at the time of the First World War. The hardships involved with the life of being a miner; the life and loneliness of outback station living and the sad tale of the Stolen Generation:

"We help the children - the natives and especially the half-breeds - find permanent homes where they can be raised properly."

I was immersed from the very first page. From the moment that little girl is abandoned in the desert and rescued by 'Ghan' (what a poignant and sincere character he turned out to be) until the end when Leonora draws the strength from her Australian roots to face her demons and carve out the life she deserves. This book is absolutely littered with characters that will draw you in, make you laugh and make you cry. 

Verna conveys the very essence of the Australian bush, the harshness and the rewards. I really did not highlight that many passages as I was just lost in the very being of the who and what this story was about. It was quintessentially Australian. 

"Twilight ... the insects took over in a worldly purr; a kookaburra cackled between the ghost gums."

At the conclusion, I am happy to concur that Harmony Verna has done Colleen McCullough’s novels proud. Indeed, this book can take its place amongst the Australian classics. It's pages overflow with tales of love and courage, hardship and endurance, friendships and family. This is one of those books that will sit with you long after the last page has been turned. 

"She hadn't changed, only emerged from hibernation. Australia was her spring and she would never retreat again."

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.