Face the Winter Naked: A Great Depression Novel

by Bonnie Turner

For fans of Steinbeck’s timeless classic, THE GRAPES OF WRATHDaniel Tomelin, a battle-worn veteran with PTSD—haunted by the carnage of World War 1—deserts his wife and children in the Great Depression and becomes a hobo seeking work and relief from his nightmares.

This page-turning tale of courage is set in a tragic era in which hope was sometimes all they had and parallels today's economic turmoil and unemployment.

… "We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land. The poorhouse is vanishing from among us." (Herbert Hoover, accepting the Republican presidential nomination. Palo Alto, California, August 1928) …

It's a wife and mother providing for her children under miserable, heartbreaking circumstances, while her husband tramps around the country playing a banjo, searching for answers to the puzzle of Daniel Tomelin, keeping his hillbilly sense of humor, his humanity, his love of God and nature intact, while deep inside feeling ashamed and unworthy of the family he loves with all his heart.

Like scores of other men who abandoned their families during the Depression, Daniel's wounded pride for being unable to care for his wife and children prevents him from going home. . . .

And if her deserting husband has the guts to show his face again, his wife, LaDaisy—who finds the strength and means to provide for her fatherless children while fending off the advances of a man with the power to leave them homeless—may feel like killing him!

FACE THE WINTER NAKED provides an engrossing read in which Turner interweaves history, geography, and a compelling love story.

More than that, it is a story that looks beyond the surface, delving into the inner workings of the human mind, a powerful narrative that illuminates larger issues of humanity that are timeless and volatile and just as apropos today as decades

- War

- Political strife

- Economic collapse

- Environmental catastrophe

- Division of families

- Cruelty and oppression

- Poverty, inequity, and all the faces of prejudice.

But it is also about love

and faith

and strength

and hope, forgiveness, and perseverance.

Readers may feel they are traveling with this simple carpenter through the Ozark hills of Missouri as he wears out his cardboard "Hoover" insoles searching for his next meal, an odd job that pays only pennies, or shelter from the dust and sweltering heat that summer of 1932.

But they'll be glad they're not.

____"FACE THE WINTER NAKED is a gorgeously written and evocative novel of an earlier economic the Great Depression. Readers looking for a stunning read, intelligent and emotional on every level, will not be disappointed." ~ Lauren Baratz-Logsted, author of "Crazy Beautiful" and "The Education of Bet"

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Drama, Literature, War, Novels

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1991

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Tomelin suffers nightmares - the kind of nightmares that place him back in the trenches of The First World War. On top of that, he and countless others can no longer find work due to the Great Depression. Tormented by his nightmares and his inability to put his skills as a cabinet maker to use, he walks out on his wife and kids, feeling they will be better off without him, and spends a year living a hobo existence.

Freight hopping from one place to another, picking up the odd job here and there, he lives with the guilt of abandoning his family. His wife LaDaisy struggles to provide for the kids, and her life goes from bad to worse when her landlord demands back payment for the rent. It would be easy to condemn Daniel, but we realise that he loves his family deeply, and that sometimes circumstances can make people do crazy things. His hope as he travels the country is that he might be able to make enough money to take back to them, that's if LaDaisy will forgive him for abandoning them. This was a tragic period in history, with abject poverty everywhere. The author tells the story with compassion and humour, and allows the human spirit of endurance to shine through.

[Carrie Kellenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another terrific FREE Kindle title from Amazon! Face the Winter Naked is set during the 1930s during the Great Depression and tells the story of Daniel, a war veteran who takes to the road in an attempt to rid himself of the constant night terrors that he has endured since his return. Leaving his young family behind, Daniel wanders the United States, living amongst hobos and tramps and searching for a way to earn money for his family. Meanwhile, his wife LaDaisy tries to make ends meet at home for their children, one of which is born while Daniel is away. LaDaisy is the real hero of this story, in my opinion. She does whatever it takes to put food on the table, even going so far as to wet nurse another woman's baby. She is also plagued by her sister's husband Clay, a real snake in the grass with no respect for women or for his young and pregnant wife at home. All the all, a great read and one that I would recommend to anyone with a passion for historical fiction.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually read this book by mistake. I had downloaded some books to my Kindle and clicked on one and began reading. After a few paragraphs I realized I wasn't reading the book that I had thought I was. However, once I start a book, I have to finish--so on I went. I'm glad I did.

This is a book about a family who is struggling through the Great Depression. Daniel is plagued by nightmares after returning from war. He is unemployed with three children to feed and leaves home with the intention of making some money and getting his life in order. The story begins while he's on the road. His wife, LaDaisy, faces her own challenges at home. She has no idea where her husband is,why he left,or whether he's coming back. While her husband is away she discovers she's pregnant and gives birth to a daughter that her husband has no idea he has.

The issues this family faces are realistic. We see Daniel hopping trains, sleeping in fields, looking for work, going without food, and dreaming of when he'll be able to return home. LaDaisy is doing all she can to keep a roof over her family's head and meager food on the table. The book left me wanting to know more about them. What happened to them after Roosevelt was elected? This is a family that you care about.

[Dierdra McGill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me longer to finish this then it should have but I kept finding my mind wandering and I would put it down in favor of doing something else. The first half of the book was so slow moving! I never got to the point where I liked Daniel at all! He was so selfish it was irritating.
When I read, I feel like I am there in the book wherever it is set and I never once got that with this book. I seen several reviews that said glad I stuck with it but I am not. There were a few times that I started to just put it down and now I wish I had because I would not have missed much if I did. The ending you could see coming about halfway through the book. The only part I didn't see coming was Daniel bringing Chris home but that didn't even make much sense anyway, there were so many kids homeless at that time so why bring him home and make it harder on your own family. The other thing that really pissed me off was how he reacted to Mary. Who cares who's baby it was he left so he had no right to act like that
Ladaisy's POV chapters were ok at best, I never did connect with her as much as I should have. to be honest when she gets raped I really don't even overly care! That is pretty bad for me because I usually cringe at things like that in books.
This is a not a book I personally would recommend but I can't say the writing was bad, the style of writing I liked but the story was just boring.

[Jane McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I could get into this subject matter when I first started, but am glad I stuck with it. I was also glad for the constant POV changes, because if this had been told strictly from LaDaisy's perspective, I would have spent the whole book hating Daniel. Instead, I saw what he was going through and got the reasons for why he left and why he stayed away. People in modern times may not realize that a lot of men really did leave their families during the Depression, and it wasn't because they were eager to be homeless bums or because they wanted to be away from their families. It was to find work. In spite of their desperation, they still had hope that somewhere, in the next town, or the next one after that, things were better, and that if they looked for that place, they might find it. I didn't live in that time myself, but I think the author really nailed it. Well researched, well thought out, well done!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for .99 on my Kindle. I did not really have any high expectations for this book going into it. This non-fiction book is set in the depression era and has TONS of twists and turns that kept me guessing the entire time. I found myself hating certain characters (Clay in particular) and loving others. This is a sign of a great book! I felt completely drawn into the characters' lives and felt their pain and struggle. The only reason why I rated it four stars and not five is because of the ending. I think it ended a bit abruptly. Then again, maybe I just was sad to be finished! This is a must read if you like non-fiction and can relate to financial struggle, sacrafice, love, and inspiration.

[Dori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpected surprise for sure. It isn't often that a free book is not only good; but also really good! I thoroughly enjoyed this story about a young man during the Depression desperate to give his family a better life the only way he thinks he can only to realize his choices would have consequences he never could have imagined.

A entertaining and addictive read! Recommend for a great poolside or beach read!

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

I completely enjoyed this story about the depression and the struggles endured by a family. It was a real page turner and kept my attention throughout.

I also enjoyed how the author came at the overall story from two perspectives.

[Kathy Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Face the Winter Naked” by Bonnie Turner is a novel that follows the life of Daniel Tomelin, LaDaisy Tomelin and their family during the Great Depression. Daniel served in WWI and came home with ptsd, (although it wasn’t diagnosed then) suffered nightmares and depression. Without telling his family how he was suffering, and feeling guilty about not providing for his family adequately, He decided he would leave home to look for work and save money for his family by living on the road and hopping boxcars. His time on the road told of the many encounters Daniel had with people who were mostly in the same dire situation across the nation. This is an up-close look at life during the depression and what ordinary people had to endure to stay alive.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was happy to receive this book as part of a first-reads giveaway.

Face the Winter Naked is a thoughtful, moving novel that takes place during the Great Depression. From the first pages to the last I enjoyed reading about the main characters' strength of spirit as they faced many difficulties and hardships. Daniel Tomelin leaves his wife and family and travels around the country searching for work. Along the way, he meets many people, all of whom are also effected by the Depression. Some are willing to help him by offering a meal or giving him work, others are travelling and in even worse shape than himself. Daniel's wife LaDaisy faces her own challenges and hardships as she raises her kids back home and wonders what has become of Daniel.
The author, Bonnie Turner, does an excellent job at portraying the complexity of it all. The characters in this novel have many sides to them as they make hard choices that are effected by the times in which they live. Throughout the novel, we learn just how much Daniel's choice to leave hurt his family back home, yet we are also struck by his innate goodness and strength as he is kind to those he meets on the way and struggles to do the right thing. Those he meets are just as complex. Some of them help him, but they are also trying to survive themselves and make their choices based on that.
While reading this novel, I also enjoyed learning about the history of the Great Depression. Daniel is a veteran and has nightmares from the war. Also, I had not previously heard of the Bonus Army's march on Washington in 1932 which Daniel takes part in. He helps build shelters for the participants and is there when the shanty town is burned and the marchers are confronted by the authorities.
I enjoyed the author's style of writing in this novel. It's all the detailed descriptions of Daniel's day to day survival from the cardboard inserts in his worn out shoes, to his battered banjo with broken strings that really bring this novel to life.
This novel definitely has the ability to transport the reader to another time and place, and to give the reader a unique, emotional, and thought-provoking experience. I would highly recommend it.

[Kimmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book on Kindle for free I am not sure if I would have read it otherwise. But I am so glad I did it was such a good book! It was similar to Water for Elephants probably because they were both based around the same time period of the great depression. It tells the story of Daniel Tomlin who feels worthless because he can't find a job to help support his family beacuse of the depression so he leaves his family to fend for themselves, thinking they would get along better without him. He travels the countryside hopping freight trains while his wife is trying to survive and raise their children without her husband. The book goes back in fourth between Daniel and LaDaisy and shares their point of views and struggles and is beautifully written and one of the best books I have read in a really long time!

[Lorrea - WhatChaReadin'? · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me about a month to finish this book which is rare for me. But I commit myself to finish once I start. So Daniel wakes up one morning and leaves his family during the Great Depression to go and find work and handle some unfinished business. The only problem is his family has no idea. His wife is left with three kids and a newborn her husband doen't know about. While he travels the country looking for work to take care of his family and deals with the nughtmares of the war, his wife has her own nightmares to deal with and no idea where to find her husband. This book is full of interesting "adventures" for all parties involved. If you can make it through the first half of the book with the slow start you won't put it down after that.

[Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

1933, right in the middle of the Great Depression Daniel decides that he must leave his wife and 3 kids to walk the country in search of work. LaDaisy, his wife, has no idea where he is or why he just disappeared. She is left to fend for herself with no money for food or rent and a vile landlord who wants his rent paid, while Daniel traipses around the country walking or riding the rails, getting paid pennies for back breaking work when he can find it.

This was a free kindle book and it kept my interest. The descriptions of the depression era were heartbreaking, and while I never did completely understand Daniel's thought process for leaving, I thought the book was well plotted and the character makeup excellent.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Face the Winter Naked was about a man who couldn't stop facing the horrors of WWI. So he runs away and for the next year or so wanders around the country on the rails. He stops at places to work - to eat, but he keeps on moving. Meanwhile at home, his wife LaDaisy tries to keep the home going with little to no money. The story shows the devastation that can happen to soldiers in wars and the devastation that can happen to a family. Bonnie Turner has written a deep and thoughtful book about the times during the depression and the human consequences of WWI.

[shannon Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than I thought

This story was better than I thought. It's about the Tomelin family and their struggles through the great depression.
It followed Daniel setting out to chase ghosts from his memories from WWI and trying to find work to support his family.
It also follows his family and everything they had to do to survive.
There was a surprise towards the end that I didn't see coming.
It was a pretty good story.

[kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give it a 3.5 if I could. Even though it wasn't a page turner, it was on my mind constantly while reading it. for the first half of the book I thought it was going to turn out to be a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. In the end it turned out to be a book about love and the endurance of the human spirit

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was painful to get through. It could have been a good story, but I had absolutely no sympathy for the man and only slightly more for the woman, even after she was brutally attacked. There responses and reactions seemed so... tame and almost... phoney.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the potential to be a really good book. It covers some powerful subject matter...but somehow, I felt let down when I finished it. There seemed to be a lot of filler. It held my attention, I'm just a little disappointed.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Grapes of Wrath-like, but certainly not Steinbeck quality. If you can push through the slow pace, it's a decent read with interesting character development.

[Nason Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a good book this is!

Read this from start to finish in one day. Couldn't put it down. Well written and good character development as it follows two parallel stories. One of the husband who leaves his family in search of honest work during the Depression, and the second of the struggles of the wife and kids he left behind. The author captured the time of the Depression very well, so it is a good historical novel as well as a good overall story. The part that I found most disturbing was the description of how a rally in Washington by unemployed WW1 veterans who only wanted the money the Government promised them was brutally broken up. You will be shocked when you read the names of the military men who led this shamefully brutal action against their own citizens, and veterans to boot. I won't reveal their names (which you will instantly recognize), but it is ironic given the future history of these men. The impact that bad governmental decisions have on "the common man" is so sadly clear in this book, and something that clearly resonates until today. The book is depressing, uplifting and educational. Well worth the time to read.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would make a great play

This book highlights the struggles of The Great Depression and illustrates the mental torment that WWI soldiers had to contend with after the war. The PTSD, the stigma associated with it, and the impact to life and were depicted well. A former soldier left his wife and children, in search of work, while trying to outrun his nightmares. His family knew nothing of his torment.

This book reminded me of the writing by the playwright, Jim Leonard Jr (The Diviners, The Anatomy of Gray). A stage adaptation would be wonderful.

[Glen Chern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonnie Turner‘s novel about the great depression is a remarkably well written and moving literary work. There aren’t very many novels that have inspiring me to read as much as I would in one sitting as I did today and have done throughout the time since starting on July 21.

The main characters in this novel, Daniel and LaDaisy Tomelin, are presented in such a powerful manner that it made putting this book down so difficult. All I can say is read this book! It brings to life what life was in the middle of the great depression when millions of Americans just trying to scrape by.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

never give up

what I loved the most about the book was a sense of hope when there seemed to be no reason to do so. everything was going against this family. but true love prevails and we need to remember that when things go wrong. I cannot name anything I didnt like about this book. I would read it again and in fact, will start as soon as i finish this review. i am also planning on reading more books by the same author.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about a man dealing with his family, The Great Depression while fighting demons from his bad experiences during the war. Trying to escape his demons, he abandons his family at the worst possible time, putting them through a hell almost s bad as his own. The period piece does well keeping with the times and its difficulties. Starts slow, so give it a good 10 chapters and then you will find it hard to put down.

[J. A. Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read about a man who suffers from PTSD after WWI and is also struggling to live and provide for his family during the depression. After dealing with his nightmares and feelings of failure, he leaves his family and goes on a year long search, not only for jobs, but a soul search for all he's lost. There is an alternate storyline about his wife and her struggle to provide for their children, one an infant that Daniel is unaware he's even fathered.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent depiction of life in the depression. I found it very intense, so much so that I had to put it down about two-thirds of the way through and have a respite before I could finish it. It does have a positive ending, but the characters to through considerable difficulty getting there. Good characters and good descriptions.

[Ken Grater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great depression

I enjoyed reading "Face the Winter Naked" very much. It helped me understand how terrible the "great depression" era was for many families. The way WW1 affected veterans lives years later was another interesting aspect of the story. The importance of family is woven through the heart warming book.

[Roger Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

To close to reality. Hits home

This book gives a great view of the struggles that so many families went through during the Great Depression. My grandfather recalled working all day in hay for a dollar and said it was the first one he had seen in a long time.

[John Harmand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earthy and well-written. Offers greater understanding of PTSD.

I so enjoyed this book. Delves deep into the mind of its strong characters. Gives a feeling of being there and experiencing a year of the Great Depression through the eyes of its characters.

[teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Depression

Financial loss, love loss and emotional loss. All this written in in one great novel. This is an emotionally intense book taking you thru one extended families woes of the depression. This era was about so much more than a financial crisis.