Today We Go Home: A Novel

by Kelli Estes Narrated by Amy Landon, Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Overview

Two women, living centuries apart, fighting for our country's freedom ... and their own

Seattle, WashingtonLarkin Bennett has always known her place, whether it's surrounded by her loving family in the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest, or riding on a dusty convoy in Afghanistan. But all that changed the day tragedy struck her unit and took away everything she held dear. Soon after, Larkin discovers an unexpected treasure: the diary of Emily Wilson, a young woman who disguised herself as a man to fight for the Union in the Civil War. As Larkin struggles to heal, she finds herself drawn deep into Emily's life and the secrets she kept.

Indiana, 1861The only thing more dangerous to Emily Wilson than a rebel soldier is her own comrades in the Union. But in the minds of her fellow soldiers, if it dresses like a man, swears like a man, and shoots like a man, it must be a man. As the war marches on and takes its terrible toll, Emily begins to question everything she has been told about the freedom she is supposed to be fighting for.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Today We Go Homeshines an illuminating light on history and the female soldiers who have served this country from the Civil War to Afghanistan today. Kelli Estes passionately brings the past to life, interweaving the story of two women from different centuries whose journey towards hope is timeless." - Gwendolyn Womack, USA Today bestselling author of The Fortune Teller and The Time Collector

"Illuminating, sympathetic and deeply human, Today We Go Home shines a much-needed light on the brave, bold women of all eras whose military service puts even more than their lives on the line." - Greer Macallister, author of Woman 99 and The Magician's Lie

"Two women, separated by a century and a half, survive life in the United States military in Estes' suspenseful, neatly structured second novel...brings the Civil War era to life and effectively links it to contemporary times." - Kirkus Reviews

"Pairing the dual narratives of Larkin and Emily, Estes relates the hardships faced by women who serve in the military...Based on the real-life stories of women who served, this is an excellent read and highly recommended." - Booklist

"Through moving details in twin centuries, both the power of war to destroy and the healing nature of love and art, even across time, are beautifully conveyed." - Historical Novel Society

"This tender story about complex women is an easy one to fall into. It makes the perfect read for those who savor the finer details of historical fiction and love to cheer for strong female protagonists." - Due South Magazine

"A compelling examination of war and its contradictions, and a moving story of two women fighting for their own places in the world.
" - Shelf Awareness

"A story of breathtaking resilience, honor, and courage in the face of unprecedented challenges. Characters' struggles quite literally transcend time and generations, offering up connection and hope in a time of need. And, as Larkin comes to understand and say, hope never tasted so sweet." - Booktrib

Kirkus Reviews

2019-05-13
Two women, separated by a century and a half, survive life in the United States military in Estes' suspenseful, neatly structured second novel.

Larkin Bennett has recently returned home to the state of Washington after a stint in Afghanistan, suffering from PTSD and mourning the death of her best friend and fellow soldier, Sarah. As she cleans out Sarah's storage locker, she discovers the diary that Sarah said inspired her to become a soldier. It belonged to Emily Wilson, who grew up on a farm in Indiana and, during the Civil War, changed her name to Jesse and posed as a man in order to join the Army. Estes (The Girl Who Wrote in Silk, 2015) moves smoothly between the stories of Larkin, who with the help of her grandmother and other friends and relatives begins to find her way back into civilian life, and Emily, who both faces the horrors of war and starts to recognize the freedom inherent in appearing to others as a man. Estes includes passages from the (fictional) diary but primarily reveals Emily in the third person. Although the historical dialogue is occasionally anachronistic (would anyone in the 1860s say, "Yeah, me too"?) and the contemporary dialogue is sometimes overloaded with facts about the past, both central characters are credible and well developed. They're surrounded by equally intriguing secondary characters, including Emily's brother Ben and fellow soldier Willie and, in the contemporary sections, Sarah's brother, Zach, with whom Larkin forms a tentative relationship. Though it would have been easy to make Emily the more compelling character, Larkin's struggles with survivor's guilt and the day-to-day issues of recovering from war make her story just as riveting.

The novel brings the Civil War era to life and effectively links it to contemporary times.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169524864
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged

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