Crows Over A Wheatfield

by Paula Sharp

This extraordinary bestseller, set in small-town Wisconsin and spanning thirty years, is the story of Judge Melanie Klonecki, the daughter of an abusive and brilliant criminal defense lawyer. Returning to the rural landscape of her youth, Melanie befriends the flamboyant Mildred Steck, a woman who leads an insurrectionist movement and creates an underground railroad for mothers and children whom the courts and child custody laws have failed to protect from domestic violence. Crows Over a Wheatfield is a triumphant fusion of the personal and political -- a controversial, suspenseful story written with rare beauty and insight.

Genres: Fiction, Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary

464 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 1996

About the author

Paula Sharp is an American author whose fictional works focus on the American family and explore themes of social injustice.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Elysabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh dear GOD, what a cumbersome end to this book. I liked it so MUCH and cared SO MUCH about the story until the final part -- and then it really all just crumbled for me. This felt so tiring in so many ways, especially since the first 3/4 of the novel was a really interesting and thoughtful journey.

Overall, I'm glad I read it because I think it related to my job in a lot of ways, but I couldn't wait for it to be over -- thanks to the last part.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great story, which is painfully overwritten.

[Pamela Pickering · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing What to say about this one? Traditionally, if I abandon a book I give it one star but since I slogged through most of this one (390+ pages) before just flipping to the last three pages to avoid the last 60 pages, I decided it at least warranted 2 stars. The last few pages didn't tell me much but at this point I just didn't care to go any further.

The story showed such promise but could have benefited from some serious editing. One of my fellow GR reviewers'--Smarter Lilac--stated it best, "...painfully overwritten". What do I mean by this? It wasn't that it was overly descriptive (something I don't care for in my reading) but my gosh, just get to the point already! Perhaps having a main character who doesn't speak much lends towards too much inward dialogue but I fear cutting that out wouldn't have done much for the story. There also did not seem to be any clear focus of the story. It was as if the two main main themes--mental illness and spousal/child abuse--were battling it out to see which one would win.

[Kelly Bronner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book to anyone who isn't a lawyer, law student, social worker, or courtroom advocate for DV victims. The plot has a "forced" feel to it and seems like it was written specifically for discussion in a law school class. Although the writer demonstrates a broad vocabulary, talent for metaphor, and intimate knowledge of the legal system and the Wisconsin landscape, she was unable to figure out how to tell this story in an interesting, suspenseful, or emotionally compelling way. The narrator is a dull character, the abuse is very "textbook," and the reader is left counting down the pages in the hopes that the chapter is almost over.

[Chuckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

jesus christ, that was one of the best books i’ve ever read. it’s so heavy but so good. all the imagery is very midwestern and beautiful and it’s told in such depth that you get angry and feel joy as the characters do. i love mildred and melanie and ben and matt and ottilie, i just love them all 😭

TW: domestic violence, child sexual abuse

you will get so angry at the injustice of it, but going along with the characters as they save themselves from the law that failed them is the most amazing experience ever

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This courtroom drama that deals with mental illness and domestic violence had the potential to be great-- excellent writing and intriguing characters. However, for me, the story really dragged and the author was far more focused on describing things in minute detail than on advancing the plot. For me, this book was good, but not great.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book with 3 distinct parts, which only sorta fit together in terms of the tone. Does have interesting "this is how lives evolve" feel and each section is engaging in different ways.

I'm not sure if maybe this was more literary than I was ready for and I missed some of the underlying depth by reading in it shortish (<20 pages at a time in most cases) bursts.

The final section raised some particularly interesting questions about legal rights inside families that are splitting up...one more place that (abused) women are getting the short end of the stick.

Not a beach read, but definitely worth the time investment.

[Justice Tinker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to get into. I feel like the main character, Melanie was centered as the point of the story but she wasn't truly explored. I forgot her name countless times to be honest and everytime I saw it, I had to take a few seconds or even minutes to remember who it was which just shows how the main character wasn't really that expanded upon. Also unlike the popular opinion it seems on Goodreads regarding this book which finds the first 75% percent of the book the best and the last bit poorer in quality I feel rather the opposite. The last bit was the only bit I actually read with much interest, urgency and passion. A read that kinda felt like a chore which is sad considering the interesting topic.

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crows Over a Wheatfield is a somewhat lengthy polemic about how the American legal system fails to protect abused women and children. The narrator, Melanie Kloncecki, was bullied by her father as a child. She became a successful lawyer and judge, but her brother, Matt, was not so fortunate. He descended into mental illness, perhaps precipitated by the LSD that he took to escape the abuse. Years later, while visiting Matt at the haflway house in Wisconsin where he lives, she meets a charismatic free spirit named Mildred Steck, who has recently married an enigmatic, abusive man. When the law fails to protect Mildred and her young son, she escapes and founds an underground railroad for other women like herself.

I found this novel to be a bit frustrating. Sharp has a way with words (despite an annoying stylistic gimmick of misusing the colon multiple times per page, making the former English teacher in me want to whip out my red pen), and at her best she is capturing a moment in the Midwestern landscape in a way that feels both realistic and poetic.

She is less successful at characterization. Even Melanie was not that convincing, and Mildred and her husband seemed more like props to keep the story flowing. Neither one was very believable to me. And while I did enjoy the courtroom drama in the section called "Custody," I felt that the way the husband was presented was a bit manipulative on the author's part.

I applaud the author's conviction about an important topic, but alas, Crows Over a Wheatfield did not quite work for me. I guess I need more story, and less concept. I thought the novels Sleeping with the Enemy by Nancy Price and Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen, both on the same topic, were more engaging. Neither had Sharp's scope (the whole legal system is to blame!), but they had characters I really wanted to root for, which ultimately is why I read fiction.

[Regan J · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enthralling, yet equally appalling read. This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster whilst also forcing you to think about a number of social issues that you may not notice in everyday life.
I had to read this for a law class and, if you're in training to become a lawyer, or even already there, I would give this book a read. It really encourages you to think about the power of law and whether it's inherently good, bad or neutral. Sharp also opens your eyes to the dual nature of law in the books versus law on the streets and in the courtrooms; a heartbreaking and captivating demonstration of legal realism and social justice in the eyes of the law.
Having said this, I agree with other reviewers in that this book may seem dull and lengthy at points, especially if you're not a law student, or, at least, somewhat fascinated by legality. Even as a law student myself, I sometimes found myself counting the pages until the end of the chapter, as the main character rambled on and seemed to avoid making a point.

[☮Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the story took a while to take hold (about mid-point), once the domestic abuse became forefront and the underground Railroad for abuse victims came out, the book was intriguing and thought provoking. The Railroad aimed to free wives and children of batterers, and to fight the useless and obviously prejudicial Wisconsin court system. In many cases, since the courts refused to reverse decisions in favor of the abusive husbands, the Railroad would help the wives and children develop new identities and new lives. The main character/narrator is Melanie, whose father was violent and moody, yet a highly respected attorney. Melanie was a bit strange to me, with not much of a personality; but the other characters were well developed and deserving of our sympathies.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this is quite the emotional rollercoaster. Melanie, the protagonist was raised by an emotionally and physically abusive father. As an adult she befriends another woman who along with her young son is being abused by her husband. It was difficult to read due to the subject matter even though it's not graphic.

I found the writing to be enchanting. Ms. Sharp has a way with words that few authors can match. Batbara Kingsolver comes to mind. She has an ability to describe the simplest things that is uncanny. Describing smells with words is a unique talent.

My problem with the story is the conclusion. It just seemed liked she couldn't figure out how to put the finishing touches on it. It doesn't feel right.

[Sarah Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly good book. Rooted in the juxtaposition of domestic violence and the legal system it begins in the sixties in Wisconsin with a man, an effective defense lawyer, who abuses his second wife and two children, particularly the son, in almost every conceivable way. He combines his exaggeratedly high expectations, and definition, of his son with a nightmarish degree of
intrusiveness, leading to his son's chronic mental illness. This may have also been caused by LSD, or it may be genetic schizophrenia.
His daughter grows up to become a lawyer. She befriends a woman (who has been greatly helpful to her brother) who eventually goes underground with her young child because the town's judge (this would be in the 1970s) is refusing to recognize that his father abuses him, and is threatening to give the father custody. This is actually a familiar trope from the '70s, but the underground railroad created from then to the '90s is powerful. Although the brutality is hard to read about, particularly when you consider it is not fictional, historically speaking, the ultimate success of the resistance begins in the middle of the book and carries you through to the end. Sharp uses foreshadowing very skillfully; she gives you a taste of the future, but does not nail it down.

[Hans Brienesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be like making a stew; you begin with water and a bit of stock which is the introduction. Then the first three sections are like gradually adding the vegetables a bit at a time then finally the meat then cook, simmer and serve. However the final section was like having the stew and picking all the good bits out until you are left with the water and stock albeit a bit more flavoured. And so I enjoyed the first three sections, in fact written so well I had to google the subject in case I was reading a non fiction book; I wasn't But even though the events and especially the characters' names were quite contrived it was a good read. Then the fourth section "Mirror Image" just fell away and became almost comic-book like or Boys' Own Annual. Everything, and I mean everything, just dropped into it's assigned pigeon hole and it became a bit boring and disinteresting. I laboured to the end but even now wonder why I did. Some may enjoy this book and I did initially but in the end....ugh!

[Maria D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overwritten. Found myself skimming over so much just to get through it. Could have been/should have been 2 books because of the themes...I wish the author would have honed her focus better...maybe it’s the editing team’s misdirection in this book. I kept waiting for Joel Ratleer to wind back into the book since so. much. time. was devoted to developing this character in the first part. It was like that with most of the story. I actually felt okay that I read scant parts of the final section and didn’t miss much, if anything.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Highlighting the injustice done to so many victims and children of abusive relationships forced by the interpretation of the law to stay involved in the abuse. The story is told by the grown child of an abusive father, now a judge herself, following the case of a family friend forced to flee with her child and setting up a “railroad” to help others flee abusive relationships. Beautifully told with wonderful quirky characters. It was a hard read for me at times, but a brilliant book!

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was average. And I felt it could have ended sooner. The first 2/3 was OK... More of a character story... And then at the point where I felt it could have concluded, it almost tried to change genres and become some kind of legal commentary. That didn't really go anywhere and when then the last few chapters wrapped up in the "personal" genre again.

For anyone wondering what the topic/theme was, it was about domestic violence and the bias of law and society towards the perpetrators rather than the victim, especially where there were children involved.

[Anna Cipoletti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful, moving, and very well-written. I felt this book did a great job shining light on an issue that doesn't get enough attention: women and children who suffer from domestic violence and do not get the help they need from the courts. I picked this book up on a whim and I'm very glad I did. I highly recommend it; my only caveat is that one should be aware this book discusses abuse (obviously) and mental illness, so proceed with caution if either topic is a trigger.

[Margaret Pagnotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to place a LOT of the blame for the ongoing issue of abusive partners right where it belongs. Societal prejudices and refusal to acknowledge what is actually going on by attorneys and judges fosters the continuation of this issue.
Makes me wonder if this railroad actually exists. It shouldn't have to.

[Oseana Bratton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Quite surprising since I randomly picked it up out of the free bin.

It’s separated into 3 parts, each of which has its own theme and subplot. Themes include domestic violence, mental health, women’s rights, family and more. It’s a book I’d might even read again.

[Angie Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealing w domestic violence, mental illness and the law in the Midwest. While I won't say it is riveting, it is an excellent read. It covers mysoginy, prejudicial men lying and grandstanding to discredit women. Ends in the mid 1990s, just yesterday.

[Ains-lee Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well written just incredibly intense and full of raw material that reminds one of the evil that exists in the world. not something i recommend to those in the child care services as it makes you fear for every child you see

[Bluejay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book multiple times. The plot did not reveal itself until halfway through.

[Rosa]

Too long and boring, did not wish to finish it.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some beautiful writing. Great in the middle, but too long.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow read, but it's one of the only books ive actually liked out of my stash of cheap books that I bought years ago, so it deserves 4 stars

[Amber Lang · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly the most boring book ever written :/

[Terry Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disturbing how things were for mothers trying to protect themselves and their children in the past. Think it is still that way sometimes today.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn in by the subject matter but I'm not sure I'd read more. I didn't really like Melanie nor could I relate to her character.

[Jodell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know why I tortured myself today. But I did I read this whole damn book from morning till night and now I'm mad at myself. Afterwards I lay there on my bed wondering why did torture myself reading this book all of 404 pages. Most of what I swallowed by eating the words of this book would be called "eating crow". Meaning most of it was hard to swallow. But I kept holding out for something. Maybe as in thinking it would get better. Like, "Wait for it"........But trust me........I got nothing....

All I got out of what should have been a great read was a bull shit ending and a lot of lawyer jargon that left me believing almost every lawyer must be a a lying mother fucker who talks out their ass and charges you to do it.

The most interesting part of the book was about Melanie and her brother Matt and the abuse they endured at the hands of their brilliant, violent, and cruel father who happens to be a notoriously famous defense attorney who has never lost a case. How he impacted the lives of his children. How madness and mental illness invades their lives. I wondered how much of the brutality of the brilliant mad father impacted the son's mental illness. Plus I find it humorless that the daughter becomes an attorney then a judge.

There was a side story that introduces the underground railroad that ran throughout the second half of the book and it may have been more interesting if it didn't intertwine with the first story. It involves a woman and her sociopath husband and their son Ben and how Melanie and Matt become involved in helping the woman and in turn thus begins the story of the underground railroad.

So what I have to say is the cover of this book is beautiful and brilliant and mad like Vincent Van Gogh but the inside is mostly sad, depressing and empty. Every thing that glitters is not gold and I ate crow. One star for Vincent.