Hart, Emilia. Weyward: A Novel
– Hardcover. St. Martin’s Press, NY, 2023.
– Audio. Narrated by Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, and Nell Barlow, 20230307.
Emilia Hart’s 2023 novel Weyward ended up in my library via the Book of the Month Club*. Although I considered it interesting enough to select from the monthly list, it had no other distinguishing features that would escalate it on my TBR list. However, I did place this debut novel into the BBB Bookclub consideration box, and it became the July 2024 pick.
Although the dust jacket provided a list of the three main characters and their respective time periods, I still needed a bit of help at the beginning of the story. I found that jotting down relationship connections grouped by character in chronological order was very helpful while trying to get into the rhythm of the story (and not nearly as complicated as I think I just made it sound). Additionally, there are some slight differences between the audio and the print copy, but they seem to be linguistic choices based on region (i.e. “solicitor” in the audio vs. “lawyer” in print). In fact, after looking at Hart’s Instagram page, I think I probably have the UK audio and the USA print.
The story uses Kate’s plot line (the 2019 setting) to interweave all three stories of the Weyward women. These stories share the lives of women who were subjugated by men in ways that are different due to the historical period but essentially similar when considering the systemic oppression of the feminine. In the 1600s, they were tried as witches. In the 1900s, they were accused of being unruly. Presently, they were left vulnerable from childhood trauma and then emotionally and physically abused into paralyzing fear.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It was a quick, easy read, and I was invested in the characters (Violet is my personal favorite). The action, while mostly predictable and obvious, was satisfying. The ancillary female characters were supportive and not overly engineered. There were positive male characters in almost all the time periods – Adam (Altha), Graham (Violet), and Kate’s father (Kate). I am on the fence about this last one, but because I read the story for pleasure rather than criticism, he works in this regard.
I would classify this as a “beach read,” mostly because I haven’t come up with any other categories for these types of books that I read simply for pleasure. However, as you can imagine, it would probably read better in the fall while the leaves are changing, such is the feeling that nature is almost a fourth character itself.
That said, I caution against reading it as anything more involved than that. The novel’s themes easily tempt a reader to look for literary extrapolation that, I would wager, will fall apart rather easily if too closely examined. Please understand that this is not a negative criticism of the work; I would absolutely recommend it to my reader friends, and I assume my bookclub will have favorable things to say about it.
Favorite Quotes:
“Witch. The word slithers from the mouth like a serpent, drips from the tongue as thick and black as tar. We never thought of ourselves as witches, my mother and I. For this was a word invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not those it describes. A word that builds gallows and pyres, turns breathing women into corpses.” (139)
“Perhaps one day, she said, there would be a safer time. When women could walk the earth, shining bright with power, and yet live. But until then I should keep my gift hidden, move through only the darkest corners of the world, like a beetle through the soil.” (280)
*The Book of the Month link is an affiliate link. If you sign up using it, I get a book credit. No pressure, I just wanted you to know.
Leave a Reply