Book Review: "Natchez" by Pamela Jekel

One of the perks of growing older, and being an avid reader my entire life, is that you can reread books and it's like reading them all over again for the first time! Such was the case with Pamela Jekel's Natchez, a sweeping, historical saga of not only the Natchez area, but the tragedies and triumphs of several generations of one family as they wrest and lose empires in the soil of the Mississippi frontier.

Natchez is a stunning saga by NY Times bestselling author, Pamela Jekel, the second in her Southern trilogy. Spanning four generations of proud, strong-willed women, Natchez tells the story of hardships of frontier life, the glitter and opulence of plantation balls, the ravages of the Civil War, and the Great Flood of 1885. (Backcover copy found on Amazon)

Now, let me first say that Mississippi was, of course, a slave state, and this book is raw and real regarding that institution. While the language at times, which was accepted to ears even as late as the mid-80s, can seem coarse today, the book, nevertheless, does not gloss over the evils of slavery, nor does it ignore the intricate dance of loyalty between some plantation owners and their slaves. Betrayal and loyalty had no color distinctions in the Old South, and Natchez does a marvelous job of moving the reader aptly through both.

The book begins in the 1729 when the Natchez area was no more than a territory and ends in 1885. It is a long book, one of those books you will have to spend a week or more reading as you immerse yourself into the lives of the characters. Four generations come to life in the pages . . .

Anne, whose parents carved out an empire from the rich delta soil and created Graced Ground, destined to become one of the finest plantations in Louisiana; Arden, the southern belle raised in a land of King Cotton and unparalleled luxury until the Civil War forces her to face an uncertain future; Felicity who endures the terror of the night riders, the hope and heartbreak of Reconstruction, and LeeAnn, who must struggle for her place in a changing world, caught between two powerful, domineering women. Natchez is a story of mothers and daughters, of the unspoken struggle for control of the hearts and minds of each new generation, and the lesson that it is in the letting go that hearts are finally bound fast. (From Amazon backcover copy)

While Jekel's prose is not particularly flashy or unforgettable, she nevertheless manages to weave a story that makes you feel as if you are feeling the heat of the flames of fire, sweating amidst the swampy reaches of the Mississippi River, feeling the sting of every mosquito, or agonizing over the loss of a life or a fortune.

The only thing I did not care for, and I remember that from before, were the soliloquoys of the animals interspersed among the story. This time I read with a writer's eye, wondering if the stories were symbolic of something larger going on with the story? In a few instances, I did discover parallels. At other times, I did not. So, while on the one hand these scenes brought the Natchez River country and forest to life, they also slowed down the main storyline. By the end, I was skipping over these just like last time. It didn't help, either, that Jekel was able to bring the animals to life in such a way that the sadness inherent in most of these interjections was just too much for me right now.

Pamela Jekel has written 13 books, all of which can be found on Amazon here. Four of her books were New York Times Bestsellers, and her books have been published in 16 languages, as well as Braille and large print editions. Natchez was a national bestseller and published in ten foreign languages.

While Jekel is well regarded for her historical sagas, she is also an artist of some renown. Pamela's father, William Jekel, was a successful California watercolorist and muralist, and Pamela grew up at his feet and in a home inspired by art. Although her historical sagas have earned her fame, her first love has always been art. So, after twenty years writing novels, she returned to her first love. She paints both oils and watercolrs, and her floral and bird studies have become increasingly popular among collectors.

You can see her gallery at her website here.

Natchez, as well as Jekel's other books, are available on Amazon.

About Donna

Donna Hechler Porter has always had stories in her head. When they were not swirling and gnawing, she had her head in a history book - both fiction and non-fiction. Now, she puts her love of old things, including her genealogy, to good use by writing both genealogy books and novels. She has published five historical novels, several of which have won awards, four genealogy books on her family history, and several smallish books including a book on the 1778 Big Siege of Fort Boonesborough and a book with tips and tricks for bringing history to life for young people. A graduate of Texas A & M University, Donna recently embarked on a career in real estate. She lives northIeast of Houston with twin sons who are launching into the world on their own and way too many animals that are not. She dreams of life in a log cabin in the woods, even as she is addicted to antique and thrift shopping.

If you live in southeast Texas and would like Donna to come speak at your reading, genealogy, or history club, please contact her. She is more than likely to say yes!