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Water the Color of Slate
"A mystery, love story, family saga filled with memorable characters you care about deeply. The author moves between generations with a sure hand, keeping the reader securely grounded in each life and storyline." –Karen Osborne, author of Reckonings
Three women of different generations are bound together by history and Louise Wright, 19th century; her 20th century great-granddaughter, Lou McManus, and Kapi McManus, Lou's teenaged step-granddaughter, each full of conflicts, questions, and contradictions.
Two historical storylines run parallel, converging as Lou and Kapi explore the mystery of Louise Wright. Louise Wright, soon to marry the reverend's son, falls in love with a Native American, and gives birth to their multicultural baby. Three generations later, Lou McManus and Kapi, seeming to share nothing, are saddled with each other when Kapi's mother dies. However, they discover a shared love of history, local and personal.
In their explorations of Louise Wright's story, Kapi is convinced Louise was Native American, infuriating Lou, who was brought up to revile natives. The two of them try to work through devastating losses, generational differences, snarled opinions, and historical excavations in their searches.
Three women of different generations are bound together by history and Louise Wright, 19th century; her 20th century great-granddaughter, Lou McManus, and Kapi McManus, Lou's teenaged step-granddaughter, each full of conflicts, questions, and contradictions.
Two historical storylines run parallel, converging as Lou and Kapi explore the mystery of Louise Wright. Louise Wright, soon to marry the reverend's son, falls in love with a Native American, and gives birth to their multicultural baby. Three generations later, Lou McManus and Kapi, seeming to share nothing, are saddled with each other when Kapi's mother dies. However, they discover a shared love of history, local and personal.
In their explorations of Louise Wright's story, Kapi is convinced Louise was Native American, infuriating Lou, who was brought up to revile natives. The two of them try to work through devastating losses, generational differences, snarled opinions, and historical excavations in their searches.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2023
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 28, 2024
Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers’ Favorite
In Water the Colour of Slate by Mary Ann Noe, the author has taken a subject that even to this day is very sensitive; that of a mixed-race child and how the world feels and reacts to the situation. The author has written the story through the eyes of those in the modern day and how they trace their roots back in time after finding documents and hurtful notes in an old abandoned building in the town of Woods Portage. The plot revolves around Louise Wright and her father who, in the nineteenth century, moved to Woods Portage to start a new life. Louise was going to marry the reverend's son but fell in love with a Native American: the mixed-race baby was the result. The two main characters are Lou MacManus, Louise's great-granddaughter, and Kapi, Lou's step-granddaughter, who must work through their differences, beliefs, and shared history.
Mary Ann Noe writes with gentle care, persuasion, acceptance, understanding, and curiosity as the last of the descendants, Kapi, who is 14 years old, helps Lou find out just what happened to the family and why the Mercantile did not remain theirs over the years. Noe uses her characters most interestingly and excitingly as the story unfolds. The author captures the reader's attention from the beginning as everyone is intrigued about where they came from and who their ancestors are, even if it means bringing to light something that people want to keep buried. This book is a very interesting and unusual read. I really enjoyed it and found that I had empathy with the characters. Water the Colour of Slate is something quite different from the usual themes. A story well worth reading.
In Water the Colour of Slate by Mary Ann Noe, the author has taken a subject that even to this day is very sensitive; that of a mixed-race child and how the world feels and reacts to the situation. The author has written the story through the eyes of those in the modern day and how they trace their roots back in time after finding documents and hurtful notes in an old abandoned building in the town of Woods Portage. The plot revolves around Louise Wright and her father who, in the nineteenth century, moved to Woods Portage to start a new life. Louise was going to marry the reverend's son but fell in love with a Native American: the mixed-race baby was the result. The two main characters are Lou MacManus, Louise's great-granddaughter, and Kapi, Lou's step-granddaughter, who must work through their differences, beliefs, and shared history.
Mary Ann Noe writes with gentle care, persuasion, acceptance, understanding, and curiosity as the last of the descendants, Kapi, who is 14 years old, helps Lou find out just what happened to the family and why the Mercantile did not remain theirs over the years. Noe uses her characters most interestingly and excitingly as the story unfolds. The author captures the reader's attention from the beginning as everyone is intrigued about where they came from and who their ancestors are, even if it means bringing to light something that people want to keep buried. This book is a very interesting and unusual read. I really enjoyed it and found that I had empathy with the characters. Water the Colour of Slate is something quite different from the usual themes. A story well worth reading.
September 23, 2024
A captivating story of women spanning generations, triumphing over obstacles through the power of love and enduring friendships; navigating cultural clashes, and embracing acceptance. Themes include prejudice and the complexities of generational differences. Beautifully written and poignant.
December 31, 2024
Water the Color of Slate is an engrossing multi-generational story about two women in the 20th century uncovering the story of their 19th century matriarch. The chapters shift back and forth between the two centuries. Any lover of Laura Ingalls Wilder or Willa Cather will find themselves drawn into the world of frontier era Wisconsin. It is more than compelling historical fiction, however, it is a poignant tale about the fate of Native Americans in Civil War era Wisconsin (or anyone who was sympathetic to them). The 20th century storyline is just as engaging, with the grandmother and granddaughter as new roommates dynamic providing lots of zingers and a brutal honesty about family which I found very refreshing. This was definitely a can't put it down read, and I was completely drawn into the struggle of each character. Highly recommended for any fans of historical fiction.
October 27, 2023
This book should interest anyone who has researched their family's genealogy. As Lou and Kapi trace their ancestors in their small town, their new personal relationship as grandmother & granddaughter begins to gel. The reader is exposed to the prejudices against Native Americans, in the past and the present. This story also explores the difficulties of a grandparent who suddenly must take on the full responsibilities of raising a grandchild. I enjoyed this complicated but heartwarming book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews