The Boston Girl is a meandering, confusing literary stroll... but it does prompt great discussion and is generally well written.

In this debut novel, author Asha Lemmie explores a unique aspect of history: mixed race children of American soldiers in WWII Japan - and, in an even more complex twist, children of African American soldiers. I was excited going into this novel, and Lemmie's talent with writing is obvious, but I was disappointed that the subject matter was not explored more deeply. The novel lacked the complexity and richness it had the potential for, and the ending of the novel was anticlimactic, disappointing, confusing, and not a little out of character for the heroine. Overall, I have mixed feelings regarding this title. While Lemmie is a wonderful writer, her story lacked depth and the conflict was drawn out. The relationship between the main character and her brother bordered on incestuous - and emotionally abusive, or at least unhealthily controlling. There was so much more that this novel could have been - an exploration of societal, cultural, and racial issues... a saga of a young woman who rose above her childhood trauma and social constraints to become a better woman than her predecessors. Instead, her rise to greatness - or at least betterment - was at once stunted and confused by uncharacteristic decisions and unrealistic responses to severe trauma. Acceptance of unethical social mores seems to underlie Lemmie's plot, as well as a lack of concern for historical accuracy or depth. Significant historical events and issues were brushed over or completely ignored, implying that Lemmie did the bare minimum of research, something that I find borderline unethical when dealing with issues that are so little known to begin with - her opportunity to educate through literature was ignored in favor for what one reviewer called "tragedy porn". Certainly this was a novel filled with emotional conflict, but acumen in depicting character growth and the process of emotional maturing was obtrusively lacking.

I dislike writing wholeheartedly negative reviews, especially for local authors, but I find myself more than frustrated with this novel. It is my first read of Heller's, and it has left a poor enough taste in my mouth (and mind) that I am reluctant to try even his bestselling Dog Stars. In order to be most fair, I'm simply going to list what I disliked most about this book, after listing the qualities I did enjoy.Of the things I appreciated, the accuracy of the author's descriptions of outdoor activities, particularly fishing and horse training, is at the top of the list. The author obviously knows about the beauty of these activities first hands. Secondly, I did appreciate that there was backstory to the main character.Of the things I did not like (at all), there were far more than what I enjoyed. You won't know it until you run across it, but there are some spoilers to Heller's earlier The River throughout this book. The main character, Jack, is the same main character as The River. Second, but a personal preference, is that I disliked the style of writing. While some described it as lyrical, the majority was some of the most prosaic writing I've ever read, with sentences abruptly short and sharp. While descriptions of fly fishing are indeed lyrical, the rest of the book seems to be abrupt in changes of topic, perspective, etc. Third, the language. Again, this is largely a personal preference. However, the excessive, gratuitous use of foul language turned me off early on. If I hadn't been reading this for a book club, I'd have stopped within a chapter. The problem is not simply that there is language, it is that the foul language does not serve a literary purpose. All characters swear regularly and in the same way, no matter what region of the country, cultural, or social background they come from. Not all cowboys emit such language from their mouths in every sentence, nor does every other individual in the world. Characters become more and more shallow as their personal style of speaking is not conveyed. When all characters speak and think the same, it does nothing to improve the plot.Fourth, the plot itself was thin. It seems to me as thought it is a rewrite of The Island of Dr. Moreau - except, the island is now a fishing lodge in the Rockies, and the beasts are men themselves (although they are perhaps more accurately described as monsters and vampires). Yet there is little to explain why the atrocities that happen behind the veil of the lodge's blissful-looking surroundings actually occur. Why the two lodges? Why hire unknowing guides instead of invested employees? Why was the former guide killed? What about the boots? What about Shea's mother? Who is Alison, and why is she there without prior knowledge? So many unresolved plot points, as well as the fact that the mystery itself seems trite yet disturbing (I wasn't anticipating some of the nauseatingly violent scenes), make it a poor work in my opinion. (Also, why in the world would someone not immediately die after being shot in the chest by an AR-15?!)

In a beautifully written ode to life, to youth, to mistakes, to hope, Rutledge marks her spot as an inspired author. A tiny piece of history comes to vibrant life in West with Giraffes, an adventure following a teenage boy on the verge of becoming a man in the middle of the heartbreaking desperation of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Woodrow Wilson Nickel - more commonly known as Woody - is struggling at 105 to remember his youthful adventure across the country with a pair of wonderfully exotic creatures… but something tells him its critical that he does. So he begins to write his story… it all begins with a hurricane that tosses the simultaneously powerful, hardy, and unbelievably fragile pair of young giraffes that will forever change Woody's life. As characters from his past haunt his memories, Woody is transported back in time. Transported back to driving a group of unlikely characters across a broken and ravaged country, trauma from his hometown coming unexpectedly nearer by the mile.
Rutledge's story doesn't just tell Woody's story, or the story of the Hurricane Giraffes - she tells the story of a country fighting to hope amidst the worst times. She tells of Black hotels, of newly paved mountain roads, of ramshackle trucks and of hopeless hearts finding second chances. She tells the story of us all, and we find that the love we find for Woody and the giraffes encapsulates the love we have for our unlimited potential in this life. Fear and hope intermingle in this tenuous race to save giraffes… and one boy hungry for a home.