Even As We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clappsaddle
Happy Book Birthday to Even As We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle!
Set during WWII, this novel tells the story of Cowney, a young Cherokee man, who gets a job in Asheville, NC, at the Grove Park Inn as a member of their grounds crew. The American military are using the inn to hold foreign diplomats considered an enemy of the US. On this backdrop, Cowney tries to figure out what his next steps are and what he wants to do with his life.
The prose is so gorgeous I could cry, especially the descriptions of place. And I NEED to talk about the ending with someone, so definitely let me know when you all finish it.
Tomorrow (Sept. 9th), I have an interview with Annette coming out on Reading Women where we talk about this novel’s deep sense of place, how this book came to be published, and the challenges Annette faced writing a character with a visible disability.
If you haven’t already, be sure to head over to your local bookstore or library and get a copy of Even As We Breathe. This is definitely an Appalachian novel you won’t want to miss!
