Stillwater

by Nicole Helget

Clement and Angel are fraternal twins separated at birth; they grow up in the same small, frontier logging town of Stillwater, Minnesota. Clement was left at the orphanage. Angel was adopted by the town’s richest couple, but is marked and threatened by her mother’s mental illness. They rarely meet, but Clement knows if he is truly in need, Angel will come to save him. Stillwater, near the Mississippi River and Canada, becomes an important stop on the Underground Railroad. As Clement and Angel grow up and the country marches to war, their lives are changed by many battles for freedom and by losses in the struggle for independence, large and small.

Stillwater reveals the hardscrabble lives of pioneers, nuns, squaws, fur trappers, loggers, runaway slaves and freedmen, outlaws and people of conscience, all seeking a better, freer, more prosperous future. It is a novel about mothers, about siblings, about the ways in which we must take care of one another and let go of one another. And it’s brought to us in Nicole Helget’s winning, gorgeous prose.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, 19th Century, Civil War, Adoption, Historical

326 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Born in 1976, Nicole Helget grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota, a childhood and place she drew on in the writing of her memoir, The Summer of Ordinary Ways. She received her BA and an MFA in creative writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Based on the novel's first chapter, NPR's Scott Simon awarded The Turtle Catcher the Tamarack Prize from Minnesota Monthly.

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mid eighteen hundreds, in a small town called Stillwater, in the Minnesota territory, near the Canadian border, two twins are born. Their mother, who was sold to a trapper by her stepmother, has run away to the local home for foundlings, headed by the indefatigable Mother St John, where she will give birth and then depart from their lives.

Lumber is king, and the forests of Stillwater provide plenty. The Civil War is a little ways in the future but already the South is disgruntled as more and more new states are turning their backs on slavery. Stillwater becomes a way station for former slaves who wish to go to Canada and other non slave holding territories.

This is a glimpse of the many different people who helped settle the West, the trappers, the priests, the Indian tribes, those who make their fortunes from the lumber and pioneers who are looking for opportunities of a better life. Eventually all come together in a wonderful story.

Angel and Clement are the twins who will grow up in very diffe3nt circumstances, there is even a mad woman in a house on the hill, a trapper who is at times crude and at others very amusing. There is a smallpox epidemic and even the war between Mexico and Texas plays a small role. This novel contains so much, but it all done extremely well, so very interesting to read, a true and poignant glimpse of the lives of many of our forebears. It shows that mothers come in many different shapes and sizes, and that fate has a way of wrapping back around itself. All in all a stellar read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite read for 2014 and it immediately went to my favorite shelf. Minnesota is fortunate to have Nicole Helget as a home state author. Her writing is amazing. If you like gritty, multiple characters and story lines that come together full circle then this may be a read for you. Every character and plot holds your attention and none are weak. All are very very strong in nature. The worse part about the read is that it had to end. The ending was very satisfying and all loose ends were tied up for me. The good news is, if you don't like the book you can have some comfort in the fact that that the author has great taste in music. She credits the band Trampled by Turtles for helping to develop one of the characters. Let me tell you, there are some craaazzzzy characters which makes it so much fun. Loved this book!

[Mmars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Occasionally a book comes along that makes me go right back to the beginning to skim it looking for themes and other bits and pieces I missed because I just wanted to read the story. Because the story itself was sooooo good. I also know that if these bits and pieces aren’t clear and don’t come together I feel cheated, like someone gave me a ticket to the big show and it turned out to be a geezers wannabe cover band. Well, if she mentions two of my favorite regional bands, ”Trampled by Turtles” as inspiration for Beaver Jean and “The Pines” as mood music she better pull it off! (Just an aside so noone gets the wrong idea…..the Turtles are from Duluth and they MAY wear red plaid felt and overalls as times, but they are NOT as scruffy as Beaver Jean. Although Dave Simonett could probably write a pretty wicked song about him!) Okay. She delivered. The ticket was good. Not front row, but still a good show.

There’s quite a few characters but all were distinct and she brings nearly all their tales to fruition, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do this justice, but here goes. The book opens in 1863 when Angel and Clement, twins separated at birth, encounter each other on the St. Croix river and Clement has just freed a log jam. A murder is committed by Angel. Clement takes the blame.

The book then flashes back to their birth in 1840. Their mother has fled Beaver Jean, a trapper and manhunter, and his two Indian wives and birthed the twins in an infirmary for orphans run by a nun and Big Waters, an aging Native American woman. Healthy Angel goes to a wealthy, manipulative woman who sickens Angel for selfish means. Clement, a sickly baby, is left in the orphanage and nursed to health and raised by Big Waters.

The years pass, and though they grow up near each other, their communication is largely telepathic and only when Angel is near-death. Their real-life encounters don’t go well. A lot of history happens. Stillwater is chosen as the location of the state’s prison (it’s now a historical site you can tour---it’s pretty interesting.) And Clement, goes off to the Civil War with Davis, a part-black orphan raised by a town prostitute.

There was perhaps a bit too much history crammed in, but I love books about Minnesota in this era. There’s a skein of dark, tough, warped Southern literature in this book (Minnesota has backwoods, too.) Amputating frostbit toes gone gangrenous, eye gouging to save someone’s life, etc. Feeding babies by dipping cloth in milk and letting them suck it dry.

“Lydian wondered if at some time someone felt for her what she now felt for these babes, which was an odd urge to ladle them up and lick them. Doubtful that such a thought had ever crossed the mind of the ma who birthed her, her pa, or the stepmother who raised her and then sold her to Beaver Jean, Lydian did scoop up first the boy and then the girl and licked them both on the cheek. Neither seemed to mind. She lay them back on the bed.”

“Then the door opened all the way, and Mrs. Hatterby emerged at the top of the stairs. Her eyes were red and watery, but Angel did not worry because she had often witnessed how her mother would poke her own eyes to make them look that way. Angel had even tried that trick on Nanny to get extra treats until Nanny figured it out and gave her a spanking.”

But there’s also a community of caring in this book and these people of unskilled background do the best they can. Nannies, Mother St. John, Big Waters, Father Paul are good people.

“Angel hiccupped on the way home. Her eyes hurt and felt swollen. Nanny walked with her arm around Angel’s shoulders. Sometimes she gave her a squeeze. Nanny didn’t ask questions but seemed to know what happened. She told Angel that boys sometimes were gruff with girls they liked, that they sometimes teased and insulted because they didn’t know how to compliment and cuddle. ‘When they get older, they act better,’ she assured Angel.“

Wonderful writing.

I hope this reaches paperback and they CHANGE THE COVER! The hardcover image of clouds and hill reflected in water does nothing to draw in the reader. There’s a theme of swans in this book. Use it.

[Kirk Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story of Minnesota and the northern territories during the mid-1800's that is quickly and pleasantly consumed. The pace of the story never lags as themes of survival, unselfish service to others, and the real definitions of what it is to be a mother are explored. I especially enjoyed how the author uses a couple of symbolic elements, one the imagery of swans, and two an association of death with river/water and leaves those so that the reader may draw their own conclusions or meaning. The primary relationship throughout was the bond between the twins Angel and Clement. Clement wished for a swan-like relationship perhaps, but Angel's plans are none but her own. A good romp and an easy recommendation to others.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is either going to hit you well, or it isn't. For me, I really, really liked it. That said, it came to me at a good time. Admittedly, at other points in life I might have dismissed this book- perhaps finding it too whimsical or eccentric to kick the endorphin pumps into high gear. While the story uses scoundrels and gritty plot elements (which I normally enjoy), it's done in an affectionate way that uses those nasty twists and turns in a touching and tender way (which sadly I usually don't enjoy). In the end, each character doesn't necessarily sort out to all bad or all good, and you're kind of left rethinking any judgments you allowed yourself to form early on (even Mother St. John I would argue).

While most would disagree with me, I would stop short of classifying this as Historical Fiction. Despite being filled with interesting tones revolving around everything to the Midwestern expansion (to include the running off of Native Americans and stripping the land of valuable resources), the Civil War complete with non-typical Northern viewpoints, slave trade and the Underground Railroad.......it plays out more as a satirical fairy tale than a history lesson.

Vantage points abound for issues of all kinds: faith's role (or the lack there of) in humanity, selfishness compared to selfless service, good vs. evil, sibling rivalry and bonding, motherly instincts and the insanity it can occasionally bring about in some who harbor issues unique to their past. Really, like most books I gravitate toward, it contrasts mankind at both extremes.

So, in summary, for me, I agree with my wife who strongly recommended this one; it's worth the time you will spend with it. Others may disagree with our take- I wouldn't disagree with that assessment. There have been (and probably will again be) times in my life that this book would have missed the mark---but for now, it's a 5.

[Melle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been one of the great Minnesotan novels, but it falls short. This was a good story about family connections and about Minnesota's pre-statehood years. I liked a lot of the book, I really did. The twins have an interesting, cool, mystical-twin thing going on, and that's fun. There's an interesting and engaging subplot involving the slavery debate. There's even some issues of feminism, education, and the sex trade brought into play, all of which are, again, interesting and engaging. Unfortunately, I have some major reservations about recommending this book to anyone because I could not in good conscience recommend it to any of my Native friends. Many of the characters in this book are rich and well-developed. There's a big however coming. The portrayal of Indigenous people, particularly women, is problematic. I understand that for a book set in a particular time period and in a particular character's mindset, the word "squaw" will be used; however, referring in the general narration to the Anishinaabe (a term that is never used in this book, despite it being the word that Chippewa and Ojibwe are derived from) and Lakota wives of Beaver Jean are referred to as "squaws" (which is, in essence, a racist version of "cunts"), rather than women or wives. They are, at best, two-dimensional characters who speak in limited sentences, who are given names "Girl with Friend Eyes" and "In the Trees" rather than given proper Anishinaabe or Lakota names or anglicized versions of those names or even given Christian names (as was a common practice of the times) or, very commonly in Indigenous families and communities, nicknames. Why is this problematic, and why am I nitpicking and getting a little bitchy about this? Because too many books throw in token Indigenous characters like this and misrepresent Native cultures and does a disservice to contemporary Indigenous readers. Maybe the writer does not know any Anishinaabe or Lakota people, maybe the writer did not do enough research into Anishinaabe or Lakota cultures, maybe the editor has zero experience in reading for Indigenous diversity, or, more likely, maybe the publishing industry is really awful at ensuring authentic diverse representation in literature. One of the wives calls her husband a "shigog" (a phonetic spelling of zhigaag, the Anishinaabe word for skunk, easily found in A Concise Dictionary of Minnesota Ojibwe, which would be great to use as a resource for writing about, oh, an Ojibwe character in Minnesota). The character of Big Waters has some depth but, again, could have been a more authentic, real Indigenous character that connects an outside historical figure, Bugonaygeshig / Hole in the Day, to the story. These are not necessarily things the average white person would be aware of, so I cannot fault the author too harshly, but a book like this, as good as it is in its storytelling, has some major problematic issues that show how the publishing industry isn't looking out for all readers. I like many parts of this book, but, because of how Indigenous women are portrayed, I don't feel comfortable recommending it. I would feel ashamed if I recommended this book to one of my friends who is Native, especially a Shinaab, because these flaws and shortcomings would be so glaringly evident to them. We need to expect better from books, from authors, from the publishing industry, from critics and reviewers, and from librarians and booksellers who put these into the hands of readers of all different backgrounds.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love character-driven books and this is one, but its setting in time and place was still skillfully illustrated by the author. Perfect combination. I felt I knew Stillwater and its residents. Mother St. John, Big Waters, Father Paul....just lovely people who served others selflessly their whole lives. Clement was so loyal and sweet. Angel was crazy and made me mad but I did feel compassion for her at the same time because her mother was just evil. And I loved Davis as well.

I found Beaver Jean to be an interesting character, to say the least ;-) Even though he did some nasty stuff, I don't think he was all bad to be honest. There were times he showed some self-awareness and wished others well. At first I thought I'd really hate him through this book, but I really didn't. I kind of felt sorry for him that he wasn't raised a little better. He always talked about his father always threatening him as a child with talk of "ruination on a biblical scale". I think he could have been a really good man. A couple of his interactions that made me smile were:

Beaver Jean packed up his things and attempted to saddle his new horse, Charlemagne, which snorted at him in grave disdain and high-stepped his back legs in poor cooperation. 'Ye best not have an uppity posture with me, Charlemagne. Ye is a beast of burden and will behave as such.'

Beaver Jean is having a heated (weapons drawn) dispute with a couple brothers who are his arch enemies. He needs information and bargaining with them for it, all whilst they are bringing up old fights. After they finally give Beaver Jean the information he needs, one of the brothers says out of the blue that he might just go with him on his journey. To which BJ says "I'd never travel with yer crotchety self," said Beaver Jean. "But that's pretty good information, I must say."

I'm adding a couple more quotes from the book liked (all of these are more for me than anyone who reads this :-).

The beast was patient. Soon [the baby] used its nose to pull himself up to standing position, which the horse resigned itself to without complaint, even when the child's sharp fingernails scratched into its delicate skin. Because of this, Big Waters forgave the horse its bad disposition. Still, she looked forward to the day when the child, instead of her, could be charged with its care. For Big Waters knew the horse would have a long life, as did all males who were particularly bothersome to her.

She had always possessed every material contentment imaginable, and yet her life had not been easy either. She had never had the peace or the protection of a mother. Clement had grown up poor, but the old woman had loved him and shown him every kindness.

In her earlier years, she had been assigned to other orphanages and had witnessed how badly the sisters had treated the children. How they beat them with spoons or paddles. How they withheld food. How they kept them in dark rooms for wetting themselves. How they called them names. She remembered those sad faces and determined to never, ever treat a child in such a way. And now that she had her own place for the sick and unwanted, she could organize it like a regular family, with God as the head and her as the mother.

While the boy slept beneath the horse's nose, he grew and strengthened. The vapor healed whatever ailed the baby.

[Deb Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stillwater is the latest novel from author Nicole Helget. Set in the Northwoods of Minnesota this is a novel that reads like a poem with spectacular prose and clarity that is rare in this type of novel. Readers who are looking to experience a book, as much as read it, will fall in love with this novel. There are two distinct themes in this book, motherhood in all of it's various forms, good and evil and freedom which ultimately comes in the same shapes. A wonderful tale set during a traumatic time in our nations history. Helget has written a novel that requires heart, soul and imagination!

What I liked:

Wow! What didn't I like? Being a fan of historical fiction I was excited to read this story from Nicole Helget. I was fortunate to have read her novel, The Turtle Catcher, so I knew to expect the beautiful wording and style in that is unique to the author. She is truly a wordsmith. Sometimes an author has this uncommon talent for knowing which words fit together to form not only good sentences but beautiful ones as well and Helget is one of those rare few.

I also enjoyed the fact that Helget stays true to herself and her heritage by continuing to write stories set in her home state of Minnesota. I first became enamored with the Northwoods of Minnesota by reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder and I thought a lot about how both writers described the area and how things were done during these two very different time periods. I loved the setting and thought Helget did a fantastic job with it.

The town of Stillwater takes on the characteristics of an actual character in the story, so strong is it's connection to the entire book. There are many things going on in this town during this seething and changing time in American history. Helget writes with passion about the Underground Railroad, the Native American influences, as well as, that of the trappers and the missionaries. So many different kinds of forces all culminating in this one little logging town. What an incredible story!

This book is about freedom. But not just freedom from slavery but freedom from many things and Helget is ever conscious of this in her writing. The theme of motherhood also resonates throughout the book, as the author traces the many 'mothers' that both Angel and Clement have during their lifetime. And how each mother impacted their lives. Freedom and motherhood may not ring in the readers mind as synonymous until they've read this book, but after they will be reminded of how the two fit together forever.

What I didn't like:

I loved how Helget was also able to use humor with the character of Beaver Jean. It hard not to chuckle at his antics and how he impacted the story. But there were a few characters that may leave the reader hanging, because there is no resolution as to why they were in the book or what happens to them in the end. The book focuses on the journey of self discovery for Angel and Clement and skims a bit over the secondary characters. But that's almost forgivable when you look at how good the rest of the story is.

Bottom Line:

If you are remotely interested in historical fiction, read this book. If you are from Minnesota, read this book. If you want to read a lyrical, rhythmic tale of freedom at any cost, read this book. Get the point.... READ THIS BOOK!

[Jo Dervan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twins. Clement and Angel were left by their mother, Lydian, shortly after their birth at the orphanage run by Mother Saint John . Angel, the healthier of the 2, was adopted by the rich Hatterbys, while. Clement, a fragile baby, remained in the orphanage. Big Waters, an older Indian woman, nurtured and cared for Clement while he lived in the orphanage. The twins know nothing about their young mother who abandoned them and who left the home of their trapper father, Beaver Jean, before giving birth. Even though the twins grow up in separate homes near the St. Cloud River in what would become the state of Minnesota, they had very little early contact. Angel's mother, a mentally unstable individual, kept Angel away from other children. The orphanage also served as a way station for runaway slaves hoping to get to freedom. Another character, Davis, is the son of a runaway slave who died during their flight. Davis ends up being raised in the local whorehouse and learns to play the piano there. He and Clement become close friends and Davis also falls in love with Angel when they are teens. The book progresses through Clement's years as a Northern soldier in the Civil War and eventually his desertion from that fight. Several of the characters are not well developed and we are left wondering about them. The book had several confusing sections and never really explored the true nature of the connection between the two twins. This book may have appeal for readers in the Midwest as they can relate to the harsh setting and the early history of that part of the country.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous, poetic, historically accurate, descriptively detailed in its portrayal of the natural world, and full of fascinating, lively characters. Helget's novel looks at pre-statehood Minnesota, the Civil War, and the Underground Railroad through the eyes of a pair of orphaned twins and an aging fur trapper whose skills are no longer essential in a land now dedicated to timber logging and civilizing influences. She does an amazing job of delineating the lives of the residents of Stillwater. Among them: a madwoman whose afflictions (she feels) stem from the neglect of her wealthy politician husband; the sister in charge of the local orphanage who finds spirituality confusing, but the practical, hands-on work of caring for abandoned children, nursing sick patients, and helping fugitive slaves along the Underground Railroad meaningful and fulfilling; and one of those fugitives, the consumptive Eliza, whose small son Davis is taken by the priest to be sheltered by the local brothel when she can no longer care for him.
One of Helget's themes is how the westward expansion, with its annexations and steamboats and newspapers and new industries, "tamed" the wilderness - not always in a positive way. It's this clash of cultures that divides the twins, Angel and Clement: the sister a creature of privileges and comforts, the brother a man who from boyhood has known every willow and birch in the forest, "like a creature meant for those trees" (p. 299). Beautifully written and a pleasure to read and savor.

[Michelle Griep · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know those unending rainy days in May that are dreary and chill and you just cant wait for warmer, cheerier times? Yeah. That's what Stillwater is like. It's a sad little tale, one that leaves you generally depressed.

But I did love the history, especially since I adore the quaint Minnesota town of Stillwater. The lumber barons. The impending statehood. I also like how the author tied in the First Minnesota Regiment that was called up at the outbreak of the Civil War.

The story jumps around in time, often a bit disjointed, but the loose ends do eventually get tied up. The characters are mostly dysfunctional, often pitiable, and sometimes outright wicked.

If you happen to be a history buff and are curious about this snapshot of Minnesota history, or if you want to stoke a melancholy mood, then by all means go ahead and read this. Otherwise, I'd say pass.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chaotic. Might have worked better as a series of interconnected short stories or short vignettes. As it stands, there are too many characters and not enough character development. And, so many of the characters make choices that are bothersome. Not to mention curious. Why did Angel kill Beaver Jean? Why kill off Davis? Why are Angel's feelings for Clement so venomous? And that Epilogue- I mean WTF?

And yet. The descriptions of the town of Stillwater are enthralling. The time period is absorbing and the writing vibrant.

Why I read this novel ::

http://www.npr.org/2014/02/01/2689599...

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Stillwater, Minnesota Territory in the mid-19th century, Helget's novel presents a fascinating portrait of America's still-developing frontier in the years before statehood and the Civil War. Clement and Angel are fraternal twins, born in a Catholic orphanage to a girl escaping her trapper husband, an older man who bought her from her stepmother. Lydia has no intention of returning to Beaver Jean and his two Indian wives and leaves shortly after giving birth, hoping that the twins will find adoptive parents. Angel is adopted by the wealthiest family in town--a family whose newborn had recently died under questionable circumstances, but they refuse to take Clement, who appears to be weak and unhealthy. He will stay at the orphanage, raised by Big Waters, an Indian woman who works there. Clement has always felt that there is someone out there who silently communicates with him, and when he meets Angel, both seem to know immediately that they are separated twins. While it would appear that Angel has everything and Clement nothing, things are not always as they seem . . .

Helget brings a number of interesting characters attached to the story. There's Beaver Jean, who, despite his crude nature, seems to truly love his Lydia and sets out to find her and what he assumes is his son. Mother St. John, the youngish nun-out-of-habit who runs the orphanage/infirmary. Big Waters, who devotes her life to the sickly Clement. Little Davis Christmas and his mother, a runaway slave who is trying to get to Canada via the Underground Railroad. Beaver Jean's Indian wives, jealous of Lydia, practical, and devoted to the man who has taken them in. Father Paul, the local priest, who helps to move runaway slaves.

The story takes place over about 30 years, through the Civil War period and beyond. In the course of time, these characters meet and interact, often in very unexpected and sometimes tragic ways. I really enjoyed Helget's unique plot and engaging characters as well as her vivid, sensitive writing. I had never heard of this author before, but 'Stillwater' is the only book that has made my "Best of 2020" list so far, easily surpassing two highly acclaimed recent novels ('The Stationery Shop' and 'Africaville') and one by a well-known author ([Leila Aboulela]).

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The woman sharing my table also had a book, an easy conversation-starter with someone you don't know.
Her book was nonfiction, had "Empathy" in the title and had been recommended by her son. She was struggling with the book, she said, and wasn't sure what her son was trying to say by recommending it to her.
My book, "Stillwater," was fiction, set mostly in Stillwater, Minn., in the mid-1800s, and one of the plot elements involved the Underground Railroad, I said. It had just been sitting around at work. I read the first sentence there and liked it and decided to appropriate it from my workplace and read it. "It's an unusual book," I said. "I like it, but I don't love it."
Which is perhaps all I need to say about "Stillwater," except that the main plot line is about twins who are separated at, or a little after, birth. They grow up in close proximity, but in very different circumstances. This sounds like a standard plot device, but there's nothing standard about Helget's storytelling.
At times, "Stillwater" seems more like a series of interconnected short stories than a novel, and the side trips made me a little impatient.
But I very much like Helget's writing, which seems to have a lyrical quality to it.
Take that first sentence:
Thousands of white pine and tamarack logs were hung up, crisscrossed, and tangled to form a dam as tight as a sinner's fingers on the St. Croix River.
Not entirely sure why a sinner's fingers are particularly tight (and all of us are sinners anyway), but the sentence sure has a nice sound to it.
I also want to mention how much I enjoyed the acknowledgements, even though this is a portion of a book that I usually skip. I like that she credits a photograph taken in 1884 as the inspiration for the book. I like that the music of Trampled by Turtles "put me in the mode" to imagine one of her characters.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the novel Stillwater, Helget, the author, succeeds in delivering a marvelous yarn. The novel is infused with humor--the sort found in a particularly well done episode of the TV show Northern Exposure and a clever Coen Brothers' movie. Helget also injects occasional darkness reminiscent of Grimms' and Disney's fairy tales. Helget's story is grounded in U.S. history and seasoned with the spirit of myths. She has created a landscape of formidable imaginative world from her head to the written page. She has given life to memorable characters and their foibles--my favorite kind of read. Stillwater is quirky, creative, and compulsive--a must read.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cast of colorful characters. I felt that the personalities were somewhat exaggerated for effect because it seems highly unlikely that everyone in a Minnesota frontier logging town was crazy. But it certainly made for an interesting story. The heart of the story is the difference between the twins separated at birth- Angel gets adopted by the wealthiest family in town and enjoys a life of privilege and chronic poisoning by her insane mother while Clement stays at the orphanage and becomes the son of an elderly Native American woman who works there. Everything comes full circle and every loose end is tied up at the end-even the location of the twins' birth mother-which seems rather convenient but I liked it all the same.

[Lyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helgert is a new to me author, but I'm glad to know she has two more books waiting for me. Stillwater is set in the mid-nineteenth century, at a time before Minnesota was a state. Local Minnesota history is fairly new to me, so I've been borrowing my 6th grader's textbook to learn more about it. I loved how Stillwater brought together so many of the people integral to formation of the state. Helget showed how the different populations, competing indigenous tribes, European settlers, women of ill-repute, small traders, runaway slaves, church officials and logging barons each brought different elements to the path to statehood. There is so much history packed into this relatively slim volume, but it never feels heavy-handed. At times, I would have liked to explore those paths more, but perhaps it will inspire me to pick up more non-fiction. The author's use of language created beauty out of log jams, death, and pre-paved roads. I don't read a lot of historical fiction typically, but this makes me want to read more.

This review originally appeared in a slightly different form here: http://wp.me/p1wTDW-95

[Rebecca Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel. Since I'm from Minnesota and know the author, I'm embarrassed that it took me a couple years to crack this book. Spectacular characters. Helget has woven sad and lonely plot threads together with humor and pathos masterfully. A book that makes you laugh and cry? Written into recognizable Minnesota history? This is it. Nicole Helget lives up to her reputation as Minnesota's new literary giant. I'm proud of this book, and I wish I had written it! I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Diane Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of a 3 1/2 star read for me. Considered a 4 but couldn't go that high. The writing was very good, with a good plot, but for some reason I could not bring myself to care very much about these characters, probably because it read like a tall-tale with almost magical properties to the story overall. I could just never "lose" myself in this one. Minnesotans may find a lot to like since there's a lot of history about Stillwater and it's role in statehood.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will want to read this book to follow the lives of many characters. My favorites were Clement, Big Waters, Nanny and the guard for various reasons. As I read the following words came to my mind: fate, families, paths crossing, appearances, despair, "Go Forward", karma and hard lives. I am glad I visited this time and place but I am even more glad I didn't have to live there.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Civil War era story set in Minnesota centers around two twins orphaned as infants as their lives after being adopted by two very different mothers. The book was nice, but nothing special. The best thing I can say about it is that was wasn't too long.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my review and book giveaway, please visit my blog:
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/201...

19th century historical fiction set in Minnesota about twins abandoned at birth in an odd little orphanage...

[Jenni Swenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it... You won't be disappointed. The story of twins who are orphaned and raised in very different households.

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book at all. I found it extremely depressing. The author killed off a number of the main characters in the story. I do not like the style of this book that began in one year and then went back 23 years to catch up to the beginning of the book and then what happened after that. I find it annoying. I really didn't want to know what was going to happen ahead of time. I had an especially hard time with the crazy woman who raised Angel and their relationship and how Angel turned out (a contradiction in some ways). It was never made clear how Clement and Angel figured out who their father was. What became of their birth mother seemed a bit random and strange. The only part I did like was the people who were helping runaway slaves from the south, but that was a very small part of the story. A few of the characters were commendable in how they sacrificed to care for others. I kept hoping it would get better, but it mostly only got worse so I was glad that it was pretty quick to read. I do not recommend this book.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this hadn't been for a book club, I wouldn't have read past the first few chapters. I wasn't drawn in for quite a while with the gritty, unlikable characters like Angel and Clement as adults, and the trapper. I was curious to see the direction the book took and whether Angel and Clement maintained any relationship. Life was tough in the early days of Stillwater, and this story reflects that, with a runaway black servant desperate to save her son, who ends up being raised in the whorehouse, the mother who poisons her daughter repeatedly to get the attention of her husband, the separated twins who can communicate through their minds and more. While the characters and story did not appeal to me, I appreciated the writing and history.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is, without a doubt, one of the worst books I have ever read. It is certainly no mystery why I found it tucked away on a shelf at my local dollar store.
A heap of nonsensical rambling, supernatural drivel, a death or two in every chapter, and the most flat, two dimensional characters imagineable.
There is no lead up to any of the many "climactic events", the storyline (I use the term loosely) just jumps from one to the next and never really wraps one up in any satisfactory way.
If this was handed in as a fifth grade English assignment, I'd say "Not bad, keep trying." But as a published novel it need not be suffered through.

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Minnesota Territory prior to, during & after the civil war. Slavery of many kinds: black to white, wife to husband, women to circumstance, Indians to government all are present as well as those with enough heart to give food, care, education to those less fortunate. A set of twins reared with very different housing, clothing and social status. A crude old trapper and bounty hunter, a negro orphan, half breeds, prostitutes, priests, a nun and various Indian women inhabit the area called Stillwater.-

[Linda Spyhalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Nicole Helget's books. This might just have been my favorite one so far. The setting of Stillwater in Minnesota and the history shared added to my enjoyment. Definitely not a happy go lucky book but one that deals with the lives of twins born in terrible circumstances and how their lives intersect once they are separated. The end brings it all together in the most unlikely way! A very good read!

[Jenny Newell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went back and forth between a 3 or a 4 for this book. It started off strong, and some of the descriptive passages are absolutely beautiful. I felt the story began to lag halfway through, though, and some parts of the storyline were rather disjointed. This book was full of loose ends and unanswered questions. Strong beginning, mediocre middle, and by the end I no longer cared about some of the characters.

[Christie K · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointing. I was very much enjoying this, and then with about 50 pages left, the focus and interest fizzles. Nothing is resolved satisfactorily, and I was left wondering what the point of the entire endeavor was. The epilogue goes down as the worst ever (and epilogues are almost never a good idea to begin with).