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The Kentuckians #7
Savanna
A girl of the Arkansas Territory, widowed at 19, faces life alone on the rough frontier, determined to show herself the equal of any man.
Hardcover
First published October 12, 1972
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About the author
Janice Holt Giles
39 books47 followersJanice Holt Giles was an American writer best known for her series of pseudo historical novels focusing on life on the American frontier, particularly within Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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March 6, 2021When a teenager, I found this book abandoned in a corner of my church. I still have it and it’s a heart book of mine. I didn’t realize it was part of a series called The Kentuckians. I remember that I admired Savanna as a strong, feisty and independent pioneer. For quite a few years I planned to name my first daughter Savanna because of this character. (Didn’t happen).
July 8, 2018
It is amazing how creative good authors can be. They can take a character from the same family, with a similar setting and challenges, and write a new story line, from a different time in history.
The main character Savanna is the granddaughter of Hannah Fowler, daughter of Matthew Fowler, niece of Johnny Fowler. She is born in Hannah’s cabin and “caught” by the same well-known grandmother. Savanna is every bit a throwback of both Grandmothers Hannah Fowler and Tattie Cartwright, a strong-willed settler.
When Johnny Fowler went to Santa Fe, his brother Matthew took over Fort Smith trading post and land. After Savanna is married and widowed at age 19, Fort Smith, plus 2 other posts become hers. This is a story of coming of age.
The only thing that got on my nerves was reading over and over how beautiful Savanna was. All the men at Fort Gibson and beyond were in love with her, and most of the women hated her. Only in fiction can someone be that brave, beautiful and strong.
I did appreciate the enlightening theological discussion on human nature, as well as the history. As with other books in this series, historical figures such as Sam Houston are written into the story, as well the author’s relative army post surgeon David Holt.
The main character Savanna is the granddaughter of Hannah Fowler, daughter of Matthew Fowler, niece of Johnny Fowler. She is born in Hannah’s cabin and “caught” by the same well-known grandmother. Savanna is every bit a throwback of both Grandmothers Hannah Fowler and Tattie Cartwright, a strong-willed settler.
When Johnny Fowler went to Santa Fe, his brother Matthew took over Fort Smith trading post and land. After Savanna is married and widowed at age 19, Fort Smith, plus 2 other posts become hers. This is a story of coming of age.
The only thing that got on my nerves was reading over and over how beautiful Savanna was. All the men at Fort Gibson and beyond were in love with her, and most of the women hated her. Only in fiction can someone be that brave, beautiful and strong.
I did appreciate the enlightening theological discussion on human nature, as well as the history. As with other books in this series, historical figures such as Sam Houston are written into the story, as well the author’s relative army post surgeon David Holt.
May 18, 2018
Not my favorite of Janice Giles’. I rather did not like the arrogant, thoughtless heroine who was so sure of her own strengths that she couldn’t appreciate those whose were different. It took her til the last page and ½ to acknowledge this character flaw which was dissatisfying to me, but at least we were given a glimpse of who she might become had there been a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2013
It has been many years since I've ready anything by Janice Holt Giles, and I forgot how good she is. So when I finally dusted off my copy of Savanna and decided to read it (mostly to have it done and then donate it to the library), I was thinking, "ho hum, another mid-century historical romancy story with some spunky heroine."
Well. It is mid-century, it is historical, it has some falling in love, and the heroine is spunky. But it is not an old-hat, worn out conventional novel.
Savannah is set during Andrew Jackson's presidency in the frontier area of Ft. Smith Arkansas, and Ft. Gibson Oklahoma. Those unfamiliar with Oklahoma would be surprised, looking at the map on the endpapers, to see the number of rivers, hills, etc. in the eastern part of the state. I am not because I came from there.
What I liked most about the book was more the editorializing from the author than the actual plotting of the book. Savannah has moments of epiphany and learns some lessons that most of us soft Americans would be well off learning or being reminded of.
Another thing that I really like is that the story line does NOT follow the usual routine. Falling in love lasts a only a short time, and then there is the work of growing that love which is not nearly so romantic. That is not the stuff of romance novels. There is no happily ever after in this book. There is work, and there is hope. I can live with that kind of philosophy.
What I did not like about the book can probably be chalked up to this author's generation and the culture she was in. The black people in the story all speak with really awful dialect. Yes, I think I'm able to get a better feel of the character - maybe - but I feel like Kizzy, Savanna's slave, is going to screech "Miss Scarlett, Miss Scarlett! I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies!" at any second. It's all a little off-putting. Does Kizzy need to speak perfect grammatical English? No. Does she need the butchery that Giles has emitting from her mouth? I don't think so.
That aside, I was surpised at how much I enjoyed reading this book. I'm afraid that library won't be getting this one.
Well. It is mid-century, it is historical, it has some falling in love, and the heroine is spunky. But it is not an old-hat, worn out conventional novel.
Savannah is set during Andrew Jackson's presidency in the frontier area of Ft. Smith Arkansas, and Ft. Gibson Oklahoma. Those unfamiliar with Oklahoma would be surprised, looking at the map on the endpapers, to see the number of rivers, hills, etc. in the eastern part of the state. I am not because I came from there.
What I liked most about the book was more the editorializing from the author than the actual plotting of the book. Savannah has moments of epiphany and learns some lessons that most of us soft Americans would be well off learning or being reminded of.
Another thing that I really like is that the story line does NOT follow the usual routine. Falling in love lasts a only a short time, and then there is the work of growing that love which is not nearly so romantic. That is not the stuff of romance novels. There is no happily ever after in this book. There is work, and there is hope. I can live with that kind of philosophy.
What I did not like about the book can probably be chalked up to this author's generation and the culture she was in. The black people in the story all speak with really awful dialect. Yes, I think I'm able to get a better feel of the character - maybe - but I feel like Kizzy, Savanna's slave, is going to screech "Miss Scarlett, Miss Scarlett! I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies!" at any second. It's all a little off-putting. Does Kizzy need to speak perfect grammatical English? No. Does she need the butchery that Giles has emitting from her mouth? I don't think so.
That aside, I was surpised at how much I enjoyed reading this book. I'm afraid that library won't be getting this one.
May 20, 2016
An enjoyable read, but I think I was hoping for more from a story about my beloved Hannah Fowler's granddaughter... JHG really worked hard to create a flawed main character in Savanna, who has good intentions that tend to go all wrong. She seems to learn her big lesson by the end of the story though.
August 19, 2009
Book about a frontier romance. Very interesting.
August 26, 2010
A beautiful good old-fashioned love story during the westward movement.
April 30, 2013
Probably my most favorite book EVER!
August 15, 2016
A love story of the American frontier, set at an Army Post in the Arkansas territory (now Oklahoma) in 1824. I read and loved many of her books.
March 18, 2014
It kept me absorbed even during the times of day I could not spend reading it. I love the exploration of the way of life back then, the male/female tensions, and the learning of the life lessons.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews