While Anna has always been curious about her father’s “errands” for work, she has never questioned them. On the contrary, she adores accompanying her father and loves that he entrusts her with knowing how to conduct herself with his business associates. So why is it that she suddenly has become too old to continue to go? Does he not trust her anymore?
On the other hand, life has become quite complicated for her father, Eddie. He’d thought he’d figured out a way to save them from the poverty that surrounded New Yorkers in the late 1930’s, but it has become more complicated than he’d predicted. And no one in the family really understands. And he must protect them from understanding fully.
This is a hugely ambitious novel of historical fiction takes place just before and during WWII, primarily in New York harbor, focusing on the New York Naval Yard. Once Anna has grown, she is employed in the building of the warships in the Yard, and becomes entangled, in her own way, in the complicated world her father has left behind.
It is a bit of work, this novel. This is not an easy read. There is a lot of technical wording and esoteric jargon — seafaring-related –that admittedly flew right over my head. Sometimes this is a bit mind-numbing, I have to admit, but after awhile, it sinks in subconsciously.
On the other hand, it is likely that this very detail is what ultimately creates the understanding of the drama that builds up in later half of the book. It is the excruciating detail that enables us to visualize exactly what is going on when each of the characters encounter their respective dangers and we are right there experiencing those dangers with them.
I also loved these characters. Anna is a strong, painfully lonely character who is an admirable story heroine. She fights for what she wants to do, works hard and abides ridicule and interminable prejudice in order to achieve her goals, earning the respect of her male peers by her endurance. The reader adores cheering her on.
So I suppose I am encouraging patience and adherence for this book – it does pay off in the end for a dramatic and heartfelt story line. You will have to be willing to learn a lot about ships, sailing, and naval structure, but you will glean a reading experience with tenderness, complex characters, and a build-up to great suspense.
kindread spirits 