Review: The Ways of Mud and Bone by Carrie Ann Lahain

Title: The Ways of Mud and Bone
Author: Carrie Ann Lahain
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Self-published
Publish Date: December 1, 2013
Source: I received a copy from the author; however, that didn't affect my review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

• You're a historical fiction fan.
• You like new perspectives.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "In the summer of 1918, as the Great War rages in Europe, nineteen-year-old Meryl Goodson’s small-town life is shattered when her cousin Nora’s fiancé is killed in France. The tragedy causes a rift in the community between those for the war and those against it. As local tensions rise, Meryl begins her service with an overseas relief unit. Caught up in her own brutal day-to-day struggle in war-weary France, she is unaware of how far matters have deteriorated at home. The truth leaves her broken and grieving. Is the world she once knew gone forever? Or can the friendships she’s made help Meryl find the strength to begin again?"

My Two Cents:

"The Ways of Mud and Bone" is the story of Meryl, a young woman who lives through the horrors of WWI at home and abroad. She witnesses the mistreatment of those at home that happen to share the same heritage as the Kaiser abroad. She witnesses her loved ones face heartbreak because of the war. All of this pushes her to join the war effort herself, which will push her further out of her comfort zone than she ever thought that she could go.

This book started out a little slowly for me and it took awhile for me to warm to Meryl. She does a lot of growing up in the book but at first, she seemed like she was very much into her own life and didn't take notice of the things around her.

This book has a very interesting perspective, which made for an interesting read. I liked that you got to see different aspects of WWI, especially how people in the United States dealt with WWI. A lot of times the history of how people were mistreated because of where they came from is sort of glossed over in history books because it was so ugly. I thought it was really interesting to read about how those of German descent faced scrutiny even though they were Americans. I also really enjoyed reading about Meryl's time abroad. You could really see how going away from home helped to change and shape her. The storylines are quite different and I would have wished for a little more transition or perhaps to stick with the first storyline having to do with the people of Meryl's town for a little bit longer.

Overall, I did like this book for the new perspectives and the armchair traveling.