The Windcatcher

by Andrew Beahrs

Melode is seventeen: sensuous, spiritual, and fierce. Orphaned as an infant, she has never been able to hope for a true place among the Christian Separatists she serves—until she falls in love with Adam, whose minister father plans to lead the congregation to a new American colony.

Melode’s quest for a place and voice of her own will lead her to the wilds of Newfoundland and New England, and from passionate romance to the rawest struggle for survival.

Thoroughly revised and updated for ebook release on the 10th anniversary of its publication as Strange Saint, The Windcatcher is a vivid, haunting work--absolutely unforgettable.

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2005

About the author

Andrew Beahrs’s writing takes deep dives into unexpected historical pools. In Twain’s Feast: Searching for America’s Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens, he explored the links between flavor and place that defined Mark Twain’s favorite wild dishes–and have since caused them to disappear from American tables. He has written about food and history for Smithsonian, the New York Times, the Atlantic, Gastronomica, Virginia Quarterly Review, and many more. His pair of historical novels, Strange Saint and The Sin Eaters, drew on his graduate work in archaeology to offer a unique vision of early America. Andrew lives in Berkeley with his family.

Reviews

[stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read this book about 30% of the way through. Quite frankly the verbiage and style made this extremely tiresome to read. I've only quit reading one other book in my life. The style appeared to be trying to speak in old English.

[Monika Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but found it difficult to read at times

[Paula Schumm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melode is an orphan who is taken in by the Saints. She begins her adventures when she travels with them to the New World. Melode is abandoned along the way, and her struggle to stay alive, birth a baby, and return to humanity is recounted with descriptive prose. She is able to bring closure to her hardships in the end so that she may go on with her life in what will become America. Recommended.

[Sharon Aldridge]

Started slow for me....but don't let that detour you. An orphan who is taken in by a "the Saints" and and mistreated. Journey to the new land, America, led this girl on a hard a treacherous road. Quite hard to put this book down.

[Megan Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Windcatcher

An interesting read overall. It is a little disjointed overall. Sometimes it is hard to follow the story line. But it has an interesting premise.