The Woodsman's Daughter

by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

Hailed as “vivid and unforgettable” by the New York Times Book Review, Gwyn Hyman Rubio’s Icy Sparks dazzled readers—including Oprah—and became an acclaimed bestseller. Now Rubio offers another sweeping example of Southern storytelling at its finest with The Woodsman’s Daughter. Set in post–Civil War southern Georgia, this is the saga of Dalia Miller, a headstrong beauty who is determined to rise above the sins of her father, a shrewd turpentine farmer haunted by a devastating secret. Brilliantly evoking the majestic estates and humble shantytowns of a South in transition and filled with vibrant characters, this epic page-turner with a spirited heroine at its heart confirms Rubio as “one of the South’s new treasures” (Lexington Herald-Leader).

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Southern, Novels

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Gwyn Hyman Rubio (born August 7, 1949 in Macon, Georgia) is an American author, best known for her novel Icy Sparks.

Rubio graduated from Florida State University in 1971 with a degree in English. She then joined the Peace Corps and spent several years working as a teacher in Costa Rica. After returning to the U.S. and settling in Kentucky she became interested in writing, ultimately receiving a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College in 1986.

She wrote for a decade before her first novel Icy Sparks was published in 1998. The book received favorable reviews from critics, but sales were modest until Icy Sparks was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2001. Rubio's second novel, The Woodsman's Daughter, was published in 2005.

Rubio's father was Mac Hyman, author of No Time for Sergeants.

Reviews

[Krista Liebrum · Rating 1 out of 5]

Depressing. Interesting, not necessarily good, but really depressing. I read it for the sake of reading it. The plot was slow and dropped off. There really wasn't a consistent flow into the 'new century' described in the book and the characters were stagnant in personality.



Dalia's character annoyed me, she was needy, greedy, cold and plotted against other characters too often. She was the villain in a book about her. She was the worst main character I have seen in a while.



The best point of view in the book is the father, who dies early in the book. Katie Mae and Dalia's second mother in-law were the only enjoyable characters.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to this book on c.d. By the 2nd chapter or so I was totally hooked and disturbed. I listened to the whole thing despite the urges to turn it off and deliver it back to the library directly. I needed something for my then commute of about an hour and a half each way from school to home. I kept thinking that it had to get better. Despite my thought, every time it got the least bit better it plunged into more terribleness. I would not recommend this book to anyone. In fact, I wish I could purge it from my memory.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

really whiny story and i had to force myself to keep reading. I really didn't like the attitude of the whole book toward marriage and the relationships between men and women. It was just bitter and sad and I feel bad for anyone who agrees with that view. I guess I'm just really fortunate to have a healthy relationship with my husband full of communication and caring.

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a good storyline behind it but the writing wasn't consistent.It would grab your interest then lose it . I think it kept dropping the storyline so it was difficult to keep focused .It did have a glimpse into societal values in that time period.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I randomly picked this up at the library, thought it would be an interesting time period to read about, but it was so boring I finally gave up. I hate to not finish books, but I couldn't even make it halfway through. I haven't disliked a book this much in a long time.

[Laura Hoyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to read this, I really did. I got about half way through and kept looking at the pile of books I still want to read, and couldn't waste another day on this one!

[Teri Stich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has sat on my shelf for a rather long time, since we are traveling through Georgia right now I decided to finally read it. It was a donation to the library I worked at and there was something about the cover that struck me, mysterious, haunting. Reading it, I still have to agree with that. Dark, sad, melancholy, tragic, full of fears, hopes shattered, but written in a way you need to keep reading. I think this would be a good book group book as there is a lot going on that could take the discussion in many ways.
Would I recommend it, yes there are a number of people I can think of that would appreciate this writing.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly engrossing novel set in Southern Georgia in the late nineteenth-century, Ms. Rubio delivers a complex and captivating saga. With well-drawn characters, tragic events and drama, Ms. Rubio shows a deep understanding of the power, conflicts and conditions that threaten our lives as women and men.

Monroe Miller is a self-made turpentine farmer who owns thousands of acres of pine woods which he refers to as 'Miller Town.' With great respect for Monroe and living on his land, his workers toil long hours for their boss. Monroe has an ongoing conflict with Lollie Morris who is a neighbour with more money than he. Monroe spends a great deal of time consuming alcohol which is the only way he feels he can deal with the mistake he made in his life. Monroe's home life is wrought with hatred from his wife Violet and his eldest daughter, 15-year-old Dalia who sees Monroe as a crass and arrogant drunk. Monroe tries to make amends with his family for the mistake he made but Dalia finds out what the mistake was and begins to hate her father with a deeper passion and conviction.

Violet, addicted to opium, spends most of her time in bed and is angered over Monroe's weekend drinking binges. Dalia is bold, outspoken and spoiled but eventually takes on the task of protecting her younger sister Nellie Ann, a sickly girl who has been blind from birth. Dalia is neglected by both her drug addicted and distant mother and her absent, drunken father which leaves her life wrought with hard choices and truly heart rendering moments. After learning of her father's mistake, Dalia becomes the axe that drives a wedge into any semblance of family the Miller's hoped to have.

Katie Mae, the family's long time cook, plays the role of 'mediator' in the Miller household. A smart woman who knows the people of the Miller household well and is adept at knowing what makes them tick.

Dalia, at nineteen, moves away to the town of Samson with what she sees as her "effeminate" son Marion and her daughter Clara Nell. Dalia's sights are set on hooking a rich man and marrying him. She marries Dr. Herman McKee the town dentist but soon realizes her marriage does not provide the stability, love and happiness that she so craves. Dalia repeats the distance and neglect that Monroe and Violet visited upon her with her own son Marion. Never holding the child, hugging or kissing him. Dalia instead focuses on Clara Nell and literally smothers the girl in protection and adoration. Dalia refuses to allow Clara Nell to be a child, to play jump rope with her school chums or play at recess. Dalia removes Clara Nell from school and hires tutors to teach her at home where she can keep a closer and tighter hold on her daughter.

Eventually Clara Nell runs away to marry Dayton Morris who is the son of Monroe's enemy Lollie Morris. Clara Nell being a free spirit, with a mind of her own, learns about Margaret Sanger and her fight for equality for women which bolsters her confidence and spiritedness in making choices in her life.

Through the novel, Dalia is an ambivalent, self-centered and selfish woman who becomes hardened and sullen from her years of trials and heartbreaking situations in her life. Just as Monroe finds redemption for his sinful soul, so does Dalia through her breakdown and stay at the Milledgeville State Hospital where "the atmosphere is safe and repetitive..." Family visits with Dalia prove to be silent and without conversation. Marion is frustrated with his mother's silence but Nurse Hendricks reminds him that "melancholia is unpredictable...we must keep our spirits up."

Through Vita, another patient in the hospital, Dalia begins the process of finding redemption, peace and understanding. Upon her return home, Dalia strives to make peace. She sees Marion's baby son, her grandson and says: "Why Marion, I didn't see it at first, but he has your hands. Those long delicate fingers. The first thing I noticed when you were born were your fingers...I'm already falling for this little boy." Marion is deeply touched by his mother's statement saying: "Oh, Mama, you don't know how happy I am that this day has finally come..." Dalia's heart is afire for Marion and says: "My sweet Marion...come here and let me hold you."

"The Woodsman's Daughter" is a superbly crafted novel showing remarkable detail and emotional depth. The novel clearly displays that as a writer, Ms. Rubio can establish herself in any genre. A standing ovation goes to this author. This is a novel you won't soon forget!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first half of The Woodsman's Daughter. Dalia is young and strong willed, I understood everything she did, it everything seemed to jive. She loved her father but after being let down so many times she had to turn away from him. She loved her sister but understood that she was manipulative. Her emotions and reactions were somthing I could relate to and understand.Midway through the story she becomes a mother and turns in to a cold and withholding woman and it got worse from there,by the end she unrecognizable her whole life run and ruined by her "fears" which I am not clear where a lot of these fears manifested,some where understandable ie: concern over a cheating spouse or sex in general. The way she treated the children,the way she worried for Clara Nell that she would die early, Nellie was born sick and feeble Clara Nell was the picture of health, Walter was a perfect husband and father. Blah the last half ruined the book for me.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm undecided about this one. Had some beautifully descriptive writing and some flawed, interested, well-fleshed-out characters, but something about it still left me a little cold. Maybe it was that all the flawed and realistically developed characters were pretty unlikeable. The main character, Dalia, was completely unsympathetic to me after she became a mother. The ending was supposed to provide her with some redemption, but I didn't really feel it. On the whole it was an interesting and probably worthwhile read, but I'm looking forward to moving on to something that will make me run harder on the elliptical at the gym.

[Lamadia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a slog to get through. It started out extremely slow and was in desperate need of a plot. As it went on, I went from disliking the main character, to hating her and wanting to slap her. She behaves completely irrationally and doesn't take any responsibility for her actions. She's a despicable person and a terrible mother. If the first part was supposed to show us why she acts so terribly as an adult, it's not sufficient. I couldn't even feel sorry for her at the end when so much goes badly, because I wanted her to suffer. It's like this book really wanted to be Gone With the Wind in a slightly later time period, but failed.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it to page 250, and then said "I can't do this any more." This was some poor imitation of "Gone With The Wind" meets "Main Street." (I realize that this book is set post-Civil War, but the "plantation" feel is very much there.) There are so many authors who have done it better. I remember liking Icy Sparks so I was very hopeful about this book. What a disappointment! There are some descriptive passages about the woods that are well done, but that's not enough to rescue this book from being a failure.

[Christene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't finish. I tried to get through the dysfunction of this family, the darkness, the disrespect, the scorn . . . .The daughter's were spoiled and without adult leadership. The adults were either alcoholics or drug addicts trying to maintain their perceived affluent social status while neglecting their children.

Had there been a hint of potential reformation, forgiveness, or hope in the story line I might have continued. I've read many "dark" story lines but they differed by allowing the reader to chase the glimmer of hope. No hope found in this story line. If there will be, the author takes far too long to reveal the possibility. Guess I'll just miss out. I'm depressed.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, as a mum, this was a hard book to continue reading. At times I wanted to shake and slap some of the characters! I suppose that is a good indicator of how well I was able to immerse myself in the story and characters.
But it was painful and heart breaking at times.

I can't say much more without going into details, but if you think you won't read it, I can let you know some more details :-)

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't finish it. I didn't get any plot. The characters were really ,really interesting. A mother who mutters crazy things under her breath, a father who literally creates his own town just to be away from his real home, a sweet blind daughter who really isn't so sweet. I really wanted to keep reading because I found them all so interesting, but I just couldn't find a plot. I could only read about 80 pages - I hope it didn't get really good at page 90.

[Gisele · Rating 3 out of 5]

If it were possible, I would have rated this book 2.5 stars and then only because of the ending. Not badly written, this novel failed to reach me. I have yet to read a book where I really disliked the protagonist as much, as well as the majority of the characters, most of which were cold and self-serving. A dark and depressing story : (

[Tina Munroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really did not enjoy this book. It was very depressing and sad and I just kept reading thinking that surely there would be a light at the end of the dark tunnel but there was not. Too many generations of despair.

[Roseanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. . .the writing is great, but I'm still undecided about whether I liked the story or not. It was definitely a compelling read. I found it difficult to pull myself away.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even make it through two chapters before I gave up on it. I found it bogged down in uninteresting details and I thought the characters were boring too.

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too dark and depressing for my taste....

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a well written family saga that follows the story of a woman from her childhood through adulthood in the post-Civil War south. There is not much action in this book. It moves rather slowly, but is descriptive and the writing is high quality. I struggled with the book, however, because the main character is so unlikable. Obviously, some characters are going to be unlikable and they can till be compelling. However, the motivation for many of the actions of this character were not fleshed out well for me. So, in the end, it did not make her compelling, or even slightly interesting. She is just annoying, whiny and self-centered and it made the book less enjoyable for me.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this audio book as I spent time sewing. I had several life interruptions throughout October so I had to listen to it on and off over a 8 week period. It is a l o n g story. One that almost makes you want to give up. Not a lot of people to really care much for so that also makes it hard to want to carry on. If you enjoy reading about one person's unhappy life and the unhappy decisions she makes in her adult life and the effects it has on those around her then you might like this book

[Renee Crook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The focus on the three different generations were very interesting. I felt that a major theme in this book was about family and protecting the ones you love. Unfortunately, sometimes protection that is given to loved ones ends up being the thing that harms them the most.

[ARK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of the Millers, a post-era Civil War turpentine plantation family. It begins with Monroe Miller and continues with his daughter, Dalia, after his death. Although this was a good book, it was the type of book that didn't need much concentration and/or imagination. Reminded me of the type of book my grandmother would have read.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to love this book, but I was hooked on the very first page. Gwyn Hyman Rubio has created beautiful, tragic, entirely human characters and has artfully woven their lives through generations. I couldn't put this book down.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plowed through bc I wanted to finish but did not really
Enjoy. More
About the drama of their lives
Than historical fiction-didn’t get much of a takeaway of having changed or learned anything from
This book which is why makes me enjoy what
I read.

[Lisamarie Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good book.

[Jean Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable, i liked the story and the characters. Not sure what the theme or point of the story is but it was a good read. 🤷‍♀️

[Sam Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writitng style is a little clunky, but is made up for in engaging characters and perspective switches. A well-paced read.

[Alphawoman · Rating 3 out of 5]

sneaked a peek at the reviews on Amazon before adding this book to my list of 2008 reads. First of all, I found this book on the shelves of "R's" at the downtown Main branch held up as a favorite of the staff...staff pick. Happily I grabbed it because I loved "Icy Sparks" and I know that GHR lives in my hometown (which is also made a minor role in the book as a small town that the wife of the son hails from).

In my defense, I have been reading The Book Club in between the two listed books. I did not finish TBC but returned it day before yesterday half read. Could not relate to the characters blah blah blah.

This book...is not Icy Sparks. Somewhere in the middle of it I thought of Scarlet O'Hara and sure enough, it was mentioned in the other reviews.

I found little sympathy for the main character as a young girl and could not identify her bitterness for her father, since his "sin" was revealed only after 50 or 60 (maybe 100) pages of the first part of the book. I even felt sorry for the old geezer and felt his reluctance to return to his home. Why even go home? Why not make yourself a more comfortable home elsewhere? Say, in Millerown? Anyway, I did not understand the hostility between the daughters and father, and the father punishing himself to return to them. Despite the "I love you's" and the love making she heard through the walls.

I just did not like them. All but the Mammy character. I hated that the girl who was so flip and disrespectful to her father could not own up to setting the barn on fire but allowing Mammy to take the rap and to be banished from the home.

BTW, all this takes place after the Civil War around the turn of the century.

A study in the lives of women, Delia as a turn of the century woman, her daughter as a flapper, her mother as a Civil War survivor and drug addict and Mammy as a free born black woman, slave none the less.

I read it at break neck speed unable to put it down because the story flowed easily. No big words to look up (as love in the time of cholera). Good story none the less, unsympathetic characters whoes motivation was sketchy at worst, left to the imagination at best. Some characters were but mere ghosts coming into the story as a minor character in a play enters from stage right and exits stage left. I did enjoy the brief introduction of the old Aunt (where the hell did she come from? The Miller side or her mothers side? Where did she get the money to live high on the hog, unencumbered by having to marry to survive. Her mothers people became poor after the war, her fathers people were dirt poor and he was a self made man. Made little sense to me) who had an affair or fling with a scoundrel from Charleston...Rhett Butler of course!

Predicable what was going to happen.

I read Icy Sparks years ago and loved it. Knew the author had been inspired by the Berea Writing Program and Icy Sparks was a prodigy of that program. Icy Sparks was her masterpiece, and this book is just a writing exercise to keep her chops greased until she finds another character like Icy.